Valentines has long been about your expressions of love and appreciation to those around you; but in a world of mass-produced “heartfelt” Valentines chocolates, cards, and teddy bears, it is hard to come across as sincere. Below, any of these easy-to-make items, along with a description of it’s historical background/significance, can show your loved ones how much you really care. Plus, because most of these crafts use odds and ends you already have lying around, there’s no worries about going overboard with Valentines spending!
Make your own cards
One of the first traditions to arise with the growing popularity of Valentines Day is cards. Nowadays, for three or four dollars you can buy one with it’s own, churned-out “heartfelt” message on the inside. But how romantic is that? In the old days, people would use scraps from their sewing baskets such as lace, and ribbons, as well as pictures they found in magazines (or made themselves) to make cards with much more meaning and value.
Supplies:
Old magazine clippings, photos, clip art, old playing cards etc.
Card stock (at any craft store)
Scraps of ribbon, lace, paper doilies etc.
Glue
Scissors
Instructions:
Fold the card stock into a card (either portrait or landscape). Arrange your scraps in an artful/creative way and paste them down. On the inside, write a meaningful message, or even a tidbit of Valentine’s day trivia.
Valentines Day Garland
A garland is a festive, easy, and vintage way to give your home some fun, Valentines cheer. The materials are cheap, and with some imagination you can create a variety of fun messages and themes.
Supplies:
Card stock
Magazine clippings, scrap paper etc.
Scraps of ribbon/lace
Markers
Long ribbon
Hole puncher
Stamps
Instructions:
Cut the card stock into about 10 identically sized pieces (a rectangle that’s 5×7 is a good start) decorate each card with stamps, ribbons, etc. Choose your message (make sure you have enough cards) and carefully draw one letter on each card. Punch a hole in the upper corner of each card, thread the ribbon through the cards, and hang! Since the cards can be taken off the ribbon, feel free to rearrange for different, fun messages.
Dangles
Dangles; paper mobiles that hang from the ceiling, act much in the same way as Mistletoe around Christmas time. People who stand under dangles are said to receive good luck with romance and relationships, and some say that if you stand under a dangle, within a year you will be married (although this idea has faded over time). Dangles can be made with what things you already have: string and old cards/magazine pictures.
Supplies:
Card stock
Scrap paper, photos, etc.
Glue
Scissors
String
Beads (optional)
Instructions:
To make dangles, cut four sheets of card stock into a heart shape (lay them on top of each other while cutting to make sure they are the same). Decorate the four hearts with whatever manner of lace, ribbon, photos etc. To make the mobile, fold the hearts in half and glue the backs together (from the top they should resemble a clover shape) Before gluing in the final heart, be sure to thread the string through the middle of the hearts, and tie a know at the end. You can also add small beads for a more decorative “tail.” After gluing, the hearts should be able to spin on the thread. Tack the thread to the ceiling and you’re done!
Make a “love bag” Amulet
Traditionally, men on Valentines Day would wear the name of their sweetheart stitched onto the sleeve of their clothing; which resulted in the popular expression of “wearing one’s hear on one’s sleeve”. Women would write the name of their sweetheart on a piece of paper, and wear it in a small bag or bottle on a long necklace.
Supplies:
Scraps of paper
Pen
Small vial, or scraps of felt.
Sewing supplies (if using felt)
Jewelry Wire
Long necklace or chain (can be obtained in the beading section of any craft store)
Instructions:
Write your loved ones name on one of the scraps of paper, roll it up, and place gently in the bottle. (if desired, you can write more than one thing, such as reasons why you love them, names of multiple people etc.) If you are using felt, use a simple back stick to sew three sides of the felt together. Place papers into the sachet, and use a piece of thread to tie it up. Using a bit of jewelry wire, either loop it through the sachet or around the neck of your bottle and onto the necklace. You can also decorate the outside of your bottle/sachet with hearts, flowers, etc.
Love birds
Valentines has long been associated with the time of year when birds find their mates (from Chaucer, who first linked the two ideas together in his love poem) so, decorating two birds, one for you and one for your sweetheart, and lining a “nest” for the lovebirds with scraps of photos, memories, goals, dreams, etc. can be a thoughtful and beautiful gift that can last year round.
Supplies:
2 small birds (craft store/hobby store)
Glue (I recommend a hot glue gun)
Small sticks, moss, and branches
Various memorabilia, such as photos, pictures, ticket stubs etc.
Instructions:
You can decorate the birds how you wish (it’s fun to give them genders or personalities by drawing silly faces on them, giving them clothing etc). Using your glue, carefully construct a nest of moss, sticks, etc. Interweave bits of memorabilia among the branches to remind your loved ones of their place in your heart.
Bracelet
In many European cultures, there is a particular tradition of “surprising” your sweetheart by tying a bracelet around their wrist. It’s said that if they take it off forcefully (instead of letting it naturally disintegrate) will cause them bad luck. Thus the bracelet stands as a constant reminder of the giver, and is said to unite the two.
Supplies:
Embroidery thread (various colors)
Scissors
Instructions:
Using a simple tutorial for a friendship bracelet, use significant colors to remind your loved one of you.