Make-Your-Own Valentine's Day Gifts

Make a case of your valentine's favorite soda or beer even more special -- with a few simple touches. Wrap a piece of embossed red scrapbook paper around the cardboard case, securing with double-stick tape. Fold another piece of cardstock to cover the handle and cut out the opening. Embellish the package with a length of narrow velvet ribbon and a stamped tag.

Make your sweetheart feel special on Valentine's Day by giving them a unique card describing 10 reasons why you love them. Tuck a handwritten library card (our template is available, below) inside a library card pocket (found at school supply stores), stamp the pocket with a pretty image, and attach it to a nice journal to complete the gift.

Give the sweetest gift of all with a homemade sugar cookie in a cute package. Add a few drops of gel food coloring (we used a rose pink) to the batter; use a cookie cutter to cut out hearts; bake and cool. After cooling, embellish the cookies with sugar hearts (adhered with a frosting pen) or brush on a thin coat of luster dust (available in the cake decorating section).

To package: Cut pieces of decorative cardstock to fit inside flat cellophane bags. Place a cookie in each bag. Cut another piece of cardstock the width of the bag and 3 inches high. Fold in half and place over top of cardstock-lined cellophane bag. Punch two holes in the middle, string a ribbon through the holes, and tie a knot.

Put together a date night in a box with your valentine's favorite movie, two small bottles of champagne, and his favorite candy for the two of you to enjoy together. Your thoughtfulness will make the perfect Valentine's Day gift. Bonus: Include marshmallows and roasting twigs for an evening by the fire.

This homemade scratch-off card will tell your special someone the date you have planned for them on Valentine's Day. Get the card template, below, and type in your date choices. We help you make the scratch-off material, too.

Give your crafting friend a gift that will inspire them year-round. Paint the interior of a wooden box and line with silicone cupcake liners, filled with bits and pieces of inspirational findings for craft projects, such as spools of thread, buttons, and cotton balls. Finish the box with a big bow for a pretty presentation.

This pretty flower makes an easy gift for a friend or valentine to put in their window. Wrap the pot with a square of burlap large enough to surround it, and pull threads from each side to create a fringed effect. Tie the burlap in place with red crochet thread to add a sweet touch.

Give your valentine their favorite candy in a hand-designed muslin bag. To make, place a piece of smooth cardstock inside a muslin bag and stamp an image onto the front. Remove the cardstock and set the bag aside to dry for a few minutes; fill with candy.

Editor's Tip: Make the gift en masse for coworkers or as a Valentine's Day party favor.

Add some homemade Valentine's flair to a plain heart-shape chocolate box to make a fun and simple gift. Trace around the top of the lid onto the back side of embossed scrapbook paper and cut out, leaving a 1/4-inch allowance. Cut slits into the edges of the paper, up to the penciled line. Glue the embossed paper to the lid, and fold cut around the edge; adhere to the side of the box lid with glue. Cut two pieces of ribbon, criss-cross them, and glue onto the lid.

To make paper flowers, flatten scalloped cupcake and candy liners in both mini and regular sizes and scrunch them in the middle to create a ruffled effect. Stack three layers and glue them together, embellishing the center with a glittered dimensional sticker or button.

Personalize a small candy box to make a special gift. Cut a square of decorative paper large enough to cover the box lid and sides; cut diagonal slits in the corners. Glue paper to the lid and fold the paper edges down, lining up the corners and trimming any excess if necessary. Download the Special Delivery pattern, available below, and print onto cardstock. Cut out and attach to the box lid with double-sided tape or glue.

Fill a simple cylinder vase with pretty flowers and wrap the vase with a matching-color piece of burlap. Cut a strip of burlap wide enough to wrap around the cylinder, and line the top and bottom edges and the ends of the burlap with double-sided tape. Peel the paper backing from the double-sided tape and attach the burlap strip to the vase. Cover the top and bottom edges of the burlap with thin velvet ribbon, attaching with fabric glue.

This perky pail idea punches up that Valentine's Day standby of a dozen red flowers. Cover plain buckets with decorative papers, wallpaper scraps, or pretty magazine images using decoupage medium and let dry. Then amass at least a dozen blooms for a lush arrangement, immersing the cut tips in plain, lukewarm water to keep them fresh. The pail handle even makes this gift easy to transport.

Editor's Tip: Use colorful ribbon to tie a beautiful bow around the pail for extra Valentine's Day flair.

Who doesn't love a bit of chocolate on Valentine's Day? Whether you want to hand out these cute candy favors solo or attached to a bag full of tasty treats, they are sure to be appreciated this holiday. To make, use pinking shears to cut a scalloped border around red cardstock. Layer on a contrasting piece of paper and attach foil-wrapped chocolates with double-sided tape.

Cover your valentine's favorite chocolate bar for a sweet gift in just minutes. Add ribbon, buttons, stamps, or cutouts to make it even more personal.

Place your gift in a votive holder, top with a paper muffin liner, and tie with a colorful string or ribbon. Try one of these diminutive gifts for giving jewelry, movie tickets, flavored lip balms, truffles, or a favorite poem.

Lavender-filled heart sachets bring a sweet aroma to the home. Sewn up with linen towels and toile remnants, these hearts can be displayed or given out to your closest friends.

Browse thrift shops for 45s with special significance, such as Elvis singing "Can't Help Falling in Love," to decorate a box of chocolates. Attach a personal photo to the back of the record with artist's tape before tying the vinyl in place.

Give your coworkers a treat with vintage film canisters filled with goodies. The canisters are cheap -- just $1.25 at a flea market. Superglue drawer pulls to the tops for a sparkly finishing touch.

Dress up a frame with candy hearts. Cut out a cardboard circle to fit on top of a square frame. Glue on hearts head-to-head, then glue the cardboard to the frame.

Set the mood with this glowing gift: a candle adorned with an easy-to-make paper heart wreath.

A teapot brimming with flowers is a gift within a gift. Make a tag in the shape of a tea bag out of cardstock and attach it to the flowers with string. Complete the gesture with a pair of cups and an assortment of teas.

Sometimes a labor of love means more than any cologne or roses, so try giving the gift of service this February. Our free downloadable coupons can get you started.

Say good-night and cuddle up with a handmade, personalized pillow to which you've added a pocket. Insert a love note or picture into the pocket so you can hold onto memories.

To make the red-and-cream bookmark, cut a rectangle shape out of cream-color wool felt and trace a heart on the back side; cut out the shape with scissors. Glue the bookmark onto red wool felt and trim the edges with scallop-edge scissors. For the stitched bookmark, use disappearing ink to mark stitches, then stitch along the lines using embroidery floss. Cut a heart from red felt and glue it on the front.

Give your sweetheart a personalized box of chocolates this year. Just purchase a heart-shape box and decorate it with fabric and buttons to give it a special touch.

Vintage finds can make fabulous wraps, too. Thread a pretty ribbon through vintage brass locks and keys. They don't have to be a matched set to make a statement.

Put your heart in hand with this treat.
1. Start with a box of chocolate wafer cookies.
2. Place an easy-to-clean mylar heart-shape stencil on the cookie. Using a small brush, "paint" the exposed surface with a thin layer of piping gel.
3. Dust the gel with edible glitter.

Source: Find gel and glitter at a baking supply store or wilton.com.

Use a laser printer to print a short message on a sheet of translucent vellum. Cut a piece of red-and-white cardstock to size. Trim vellum to fit the cardstock, making sure the message is centered. Layer the vellum over the paper, punch a small hole at the top, and bind both sheets with a length of coordinating satin ribbon.

Turn one person's junk into a romantic valentine by spelling out your sentiments with antique cookie cutters. (New ones will work just as well!) Enhance the scene by tucking a pretty flower inside a vintage glass container.

Float a tiny candle inside this fringed and gilded candleholder.

Wrap up something sweet -- such as a truffle or a trinket -- inside these pretty party favor boxes. They're perfect for bridal showers, graduation parties, wedding favors, or Valentine's Day.

Inspired by fortune cookies, these nondrippy cones let you send a secret message to your special someone. You'll need purchased sugar cones; meringue cookies and chocolate chips for the treat; and pretty paper and nonpareils for the secret message. See the next three slides for more directions.

Print love fortunes on pretty paper and cut them into strips. Roll the note and tuck in the bottom of a cone. For an additional surprise, sprinkle a few colorful nonpareils inside the cone on top of the note.

Using a pastry brush, coat the bottoms of two store-bought meringue cookies with melted chocolate chips and stick them together.

Coat the top inside of the sugar cone with melted chocolate, then set the meringue cookie "scoop" on top. Let the chocolate set before giving or eating.