Buying a gift is absolutely fine, but there’s nothing like spending hours at home crafting a gift for your beloved. It’s personal, it’s quirky, messy, and it shows how much you know about the other person. All that paper cuts, scotch tapes messing up your fingers and colour papers that don’t turn out into the shapes you had in mind, it’s all these little imperfections that make it perfect. Yes, that sounds very idealistic, but as they say, it’s really the thought that counts. Do it old-school!
Apart from love coupons and baked mugs, here are some quick yet thoughtful gifts you can whip up for your valentine:
Love Letter
A classic trick seen in old movies, this always works! In this technology-swamped era, where communication mostly revolves around text messages and e-mails, nothing makes a person happier than receiving a handwritten letter. Just pick up a piece of paper and a pen, and start expressing how you feel; you can tell him or her how much they mean to you, how they have changed your life and how much you treasure them. Or simply write whatever you’re thinking. Whether it’s a long winded essay, or a short message like the one above, it’s memorable and absolutely sweet!
What you need: Pen and Paper
Memory Jar
This is one of our favourites and it takes you back in time, and really makes you think of all the good times you’ve had together. Whether it was that 4am trip to McDonald’s, that weekend getaway where you forgot your swimsuit, or that fight that made both of you realise how much you mean to each other, list them all down on separate pieces of paper and put them in a jar. Your partner will be pleasantly surprised by the things you remember, and it also helps them understand what’s important to you.
Alternatively, you can also write down your favourite song lyrics or uplifting quotes for them.
What You Need: Any cookie jar, colour papers, sharpies, a roll of ribbon
Boy-Meets-Girl Story
Use a colour paper to illustrate how you two first met, where your first date took place, and some of your favourite memories together. You don’t have to be good at drawing to do this; keep it simple, use stick figures, and add some dialogues. It’s super-cute and fun!
To make it look more presentable, just add some colours when you’re done, and put it in a DIY envelope with a bow on it.
What You Need: Pen, paper, coloured markers and coloured paper for envelope
Handmade Photo Frame
Choose your favourite photo together and make your own photo frame. You can easily make one with a cardboard or popsicle sticks. If that is too much work, you can also get a white photo frame and decorate it with heart shapes and write “Happy Valentine’s Day” with a sharpie.
What You Need: Cardboard, glue, sharpie, a photo of yourselves together. This video teaches you how to make a simple photo frame in minutes!
Message-Filled Envelopes
This is a great way to constantly remind him or her that you’re thinking of them, and the best part is, it extends beyond Valentine’s Day. If you’ve been dating for 6 months, you can make 6 envelopes and fill them with messages, song lyrics, or quotes. If you’ve been dating for only 2 months, break it down to 8 weeks so you can come up with 8 envelopes. Envelopes are also really easy to make, you can also do it origami style!
What You Need: Colour paper, glue, scissors, sharpie.
Basket of his (or her) favourite things
If you have only a couple of hours to work on the gift, just purchase a huge gift bag or basket, fill it with some Valentine’s Day staples, wine bottles, chocolates, flowers, and then add on some of his favourite items. If you’re guy is a classic man, a couple of Star Wars figurines, a jersey of his favourite football team (most probably Man Utd), a couple of beer bottles and a superhero movie DVD in Blu-ray should do the trick. Don’t forget some munchies!
What You Need: Basket, ribbon, convenience store, Speedy Video
Happy Valentine’s Day 😀
