Valentine’s Day is a divisive holiday – some people hate and some love it. My husband and I aren’t big into gifts, we only do them at Christmas, but my Mom’s birthday is in February and I try to think of gift ideas year round. So if you’re not into red candy hearts, flowers, and drug-store teddy bears read on a for a few ideas, both to DIY or buy, to give a more personal gift this Valentine’s Day!
Can’t think of what words to put on a papercut, pillow, or cutting board? Brainstorm words with meaning, like special song lyrics, birthday/wedding date, or searching the Vintage category on Etsy with a first / last name (I love finding vintage postcards this way!). If the gift recipient is crafty themselves, maybe they’d like a crafty book that’s perfect for giving, I have a list here!
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BUY
1.Gift a personalized papercut (you could also DIY this, but be prepared it is harder than it looks, I tried it myself!)
2. Order a customized calligraphy print
3. Comission a custom home painting – I had one done for my Mom, of her parents’ old house, by Jillian Cride (as seen above) but it looks like she might be out of service, so here is another artist on Etsy* who does house portraits!
4.Custom pet portraits are so fun!
5. Order an engraved Cutting Board with a recipe or grace, written by a friend or relative.
DIY
1. Sew a special pillow
- Valentine’s Pillow from U Create
- (not pictured) Giant Movie Ticket Pillow, using a sentimental ticket stub
2. Make a t-shirt quilt, using their ratty old tshirts that still have sentimental value
- (not pictured) Tutorial from The Sewing Loft
3. Sensory Goo – not just for kids! We got some kinetic sand as a gift recently, and all the adults found themselves playing with it as much as the children.
- Melting Heart Slime from Growing a Jeweled Rose
- (not pictured) DIY Kinetic Sand from PBS Kids
- (not pictured) Use one of the several recipes I tested out for the 7 Days of Goo experiment here at Swoodson Says
4. Sew a bag, using fabric you know they’ll love.
- (not pictured) Heart Tote Bag from Prudent Baby
- Origami Bento Bag from Very Shannon
- (not pictured) Convertible Hip Pouch here at Swoodson Says
5. FOOD! I love receiving homemade food as a gift.
- Cherry Cheesecake Puppy Chow from Lady Behind the Curtain
- (not pictured) Oreo Cheesecake Cookies from Sally’s Baking Addiction (I’ve made these and they are amazing)
- (not pictured) Sweet and Spicy Mixed Nuts from Brown Eyed Baker