Staying at Home with Your Valentine

In a wave of confectionary and flowers how do you stand out on Valentine’s Day? How do you avoid that wave of panic when you see the pricetag on the “perfect’ gift? This year, reduce your anxiety, and the likelihood of a cavity, and give a gift that says more than ‘I went to the mall and came home with this.’ Instead, let's shift the focus from expensive or expected gifts, to spontaneous and thoughtful gestures that really show how much you care. Below we’ve put together some ideas for unique gifts that that are easy to make and certainly won’t be putting you into any credit card debt.

Valentine's Day mini-zine - via designsponge.com

There’s nothing personal or thoughtful about buying a card at the drugstore and signing your name at the bottom. In reality, it’s usually the little gestures that might take a little more time and thought that end up making the biggest impact. This year, tell your partner or friend how much they mean to you by tapping into your creative side. If you’ve got some time, spend an afternoon on a Valentine’s Day Mini-Zine. Design Sponge has published a full tutorial for a zine card with 8 full pages to express your love and gratitude for that special someone.

If you’re really last minute, Pinterest has your back. They’ve asked some of their designer friends to create some unique Valentines for lovers and friends (and Serial fans). For those health nuts, get inspired by Twig & Thistle’s Naturally Sweet DIY Valentines. These stickers can be placed on any piece of fruit to make a quick and unexpected Valentine. Slip one of these into your partner’s lunch bag, or better yet, make a lunch delivery in person!

Valentine's Day card for Serial fans - via Pinterest

Valentine’s Day should be about showing your partner you appreciate them - and  if you're staying at home with your Valentine, cooking is a great way of showing you put some effort and thought into the evening. If you need some inspiration, New York Times Cooking has curated a collection of romantic recipes. Novice cooks can try the Roast Oysters and Tomato Butter, a festive meal that requires relatively little skill and attention. If you’re short for time, try a dish where most of the prep work can be done beforehand, like the Spicy Lobster Pasta. If you’ve already got a dish in mind, add some cherry tomato hearts as a festive garnish to any meal, or learn how to turn just about any food into a heart-shaped creation. Finish the meal with Dark Chocolate Cherry Ganache Bars, some Chocolate Raspberry Tarts, or a delicious Red Velvet Cake. If you’re on a budget, decorate the table with these quick and cheap Hershey Kiss valentines, set the mood with some mason jar candles, and add a festive touch with some floating hearts.

Heart shaped Dark Chocolate Cherry Ganache Bars - via cooking.nytimes.com

If you’re in a long term relationship, consider giving the gift of your own home or apartment.  Have a key made for your significant other and get creative by adding one of these nifty customizable keychains. Personalize it with an inside joke, a reference to your relationship, or something sentimental.

Valentine's Day fruit sticker! - via twigandthistle.com

If you’re not ready for that level of commitment, put a twist on a traditional Valentine’s Day gift by customizing a box of chocolates. Pick out any box of chocolates and open it up, throw away the questionable chocolates, and fill the compartments with sentimental trinkets, photos, art, or Tattly’s Valentine’s Day-themed temporary tattoos. A terrarium workshop is also a great twist on a traditional Valentine’s Day gift. Instead of sorting through the leftovers at the florist, sign up for a terrarium workshop at Toronto’s own Crown Flora Studio. Spending time together is a great way to show that you care and terrariums are a great way to add a personalized touch to your home in the midst of a dreary February.

Bokeh hearts - via diyphotography.net (it's okay if you're spending V-Day with your pup!)

Framed pictures are also a classic and relatively inexpensive gift. You don’t have to be a professional photographer to take great pictures; simply step up your photography game with a heart-shaped Bokeh lens, snap some pictures of you and your boo, and frame your creation for a great Valentine’s Day gift. Bokeh is the Japanese term for “blur” and describes the areas in a photo that are not in focus. If you affix a heart-shaped Bokeh lens to your camera, all of the unfocused light will appear to be heart-shaped. Fortunately you can quickly create a Bokeh lens by cutting a heart shape out of a piece of cardboard and affixing it to your 15mm lens. Set your camera to its lowest aperture value, and voila! - all out of focus light will appear in a heart shape. This gift can easily be modified for other holidays as well!

Valentine's Day fort - via designsponge.com

If a romantic getaway isn’t in the budget, get inspired by Justina Blakeney’s Valentines Day Fort. This sophisticated fort design can function as a Valentine’s Day escape right in your very own living room! Blakeney’s tutorial is available on Design Sponge with some helpful hints for maximizing the magic and adding your own personal touches. Bring some snacks, a bottle of wine, and some candles for an intimate Valentine’s Day snuggle.

Regardless of whether you’re in a committed relationship, just starting out, or single, these Valentine’s Day ideas will help you reduce your anxiety and thoughtfully show your loved ones that you care.