Valentine's Day always has a way of sneaking up on me. It feels distant until the day before and then suddenly, it’s a mad scramble. And even though I ordered a gift for my girlfriend weeks ago, there are two problems with what I ordered online: one, it's not coming on time, and two, it feels impersonal. If you've found yourself in a similar position, handmade gifts are the way to prove not just that you remembered the holiday, but that you put thought into it. Here are some ideas to help you get started.
Jar of Hearts
Take a jar. Fill it with hearts. That’s it. You’re done. The hearts are, of course, love notes, not just empty hearts. These small pieces of paper in a mason jar or a fancy glass bottle are perhaps one of the easiest ways to gift handmade love. The best part is that your loved one can take a note whenever they need a little bit more love (because who doesn’t love constant validation?). It’s a great way to give love that will last for the rest of the year.
Personalized Wine Glass
Nothing is more romantic than sipping some fine wine (or Franzia) from a personalized wine glass.
To make this:
- Tape the rim, the top few inches of the glass stem, and the top of the inside with painter’s tape.
- Sticker your glass. Use stickers of big hearts, small hearts, medium hearts. If hearts aren’t your thing, any sticker will work honestly.
- Paint the glass with etching cream and let it dry for 15 minutes.
- After it dries, wash off the etching cream and remove the stickers.
Cute and useful. What more could you want?
Homemade Bath Bomb
If you live on campus, this may be a bit more difficult. But if you have access to a bathtub, infuse your significant other with a heart–shaped homemade bath bomb sure to melt hearts (because LUSH is overrated). Or make one for yourself! Treat yourself to a bath and a calming crafting session to keep your mind off looming midterms.
For this, you’ll need the following:
- 1 cup of baking soda
- ½ cup of citric acid
- ½ cup of Epsom Salt (available at Fresh Grocer)
- ¾ cup of cornstarch
- 2 tbsp of any oil, 2 tsp of water
- 1 tsp of vanilla extract
- Essential Oils (also available at Fresh Grocer)
To make this, mix the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients separately. Combine them and then, mold the mixture into the shape you want. Leave it to dry for at least 24 hours and then you’re done!
It’s an easy and thoughtful way to get your significant other to relax and destress by taking a bath.
Knitted Cozy
If you, for some reason, know how to knit, take advantage of that skill. Though by this time, it may be a little late to knit an entire sweater, a knitted cozy for your mug may be just as cute, but so much easier. Warm up someone’s heart by warming up their morning coffee.
At the end of the day, the best Valentine’s Day gifts are the ones that are personalized and speak to each individual (aka homemade ones are the best). So forget the box of chocolates and spend an extra 15 to 20 minutes to make something. It will make Valentine’s Day so much more special for everyone.
