Make-Your-Own Valentine's Day Gifts
Express your affection by making your own gifts this Valentine's Day. These creative gift ideas will show any loved one how much you care.
- view all thumbnails
A simple wooden frame embellished with a few heart shapes displays a memorable love quote. Using a word-processing program, type a love quote in red script and print; fit inside the wooden frame. Download our free pattern with the quote, "Love without reason lasts the longest," or find more love quotes below.
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.
Personalize a throw pillow with our pretty pattern that spells out “love” with a heart. Print the pattern, available below, onto iron-on transfer paper (available at crafts stores) to make this sweet gift.
Baked goods are always a sweet way to wish someone Happy Valentine's Day. Print our recipe, available below, onto a medium glassine bag (available at some crafts stores or etsy.com) and fill with our tea-scented biscotti to give to a friend or coworker.
Sometimes a labor of love means more than cologne or roses, so give the gift of service this February. Our free downloadable coupons can get you started.
Make your sweetheart feel special on Valentine's Day by giving him a unique card describing 10 reasons why you love him. 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.
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.
Custom spice mixes are a quick and easy gift to give someone who likes to cook. Fill a small spice jar with our Jamaican Jerk Rub (or other custom spice mix recipe), and wrap the jar with twine. Cut a piece of narrow ribbon to fit a clothespin and adhere using glue; use the clothespin to attach a card with the spice name and instructions to the twine.
Your valentine's favorite bottle of wine, wrapped in a cute label with a love quote, is a simple and sweet gift. Make an evening out of it and pair her favorite wine with a romantic dinner using our suggestions for food and wine pairings, below.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dress up a cake pan with festive cookies in pink cupcake liners. Make it personal with a paper tag with the recipient's monogram in a fun font attached to ribbon wrapped around the pan. Our Almond Brenton Biscuits (or any other sliced cookie) work well with this fun gift idea.
Watch this video for five easy ideas for handmade gifts, from customizable stoneware to fun food gifts.
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.
Can't decide on just one love quote for your Valentine's Day gift? Include your favorite love quotes (our three are available, below) in mini decorative frames, and attach them to a magnetic surface by adding magnetic backing to each piece.
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.
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.
If your valentine likes to cook, she'll love this apron with a bold quote reminding her of your affection. Get the pattern, below, and print onto iron-on transfer paper, following the manufacturer's instructions.
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 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.
Iron-on T-shirt transfers are the perfect gift to exchange between friends. Get our patterns, below, and print onto iron-on transfer paper, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
A handmade valentine will mean a lot to your loved one, but a picture frame will keep it secure. Punch or cut heart shapes from different colors and patterns of cardstock, and adhere the hearts to a pink sheet of paper to create matting. Print our quote or make your own card, cut out, and attach to the backing. Frame it for a special gift for your sweetheart.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
