This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Ky Tanella. Find them on Instagram at @ky.tanella. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! Whether you’re cuddling up to your partner, spending time with friends, or just getting some sweet, sweet alone time, gifts are a great way to spread the love! If you’re stressed about the perfect present for that perfect person (or are looking for a way to treat yourself), look no further! I’ll be guiding you through a few ideas for both Valentine’s Day DIY gifts, and some other sentimental ideas that’ll help ease your worries!
Love Letters
Love Letters have been a staple and tradition for showing affection for thousands of years, and there really is nothing like a hand-written letter nowadays! If you have difficulty finding the “right” words, I recommend looking at some letters or poetry from the past – they really got the art of earning down in the 1700s! However, don’t overthink it, and speak from the heart. I guarantee your recipient will love it either way!
If you want to fancify it, I also recommend delicately dipping your paper in a bowl of coffee, it really adds that vintage feel (and a nice scent)! Roll it up, and tie it with a pretty ribbon! Or, if you want to add a flair of elegance (and you’re really crafty), wax steal a stamp on a pretty envelope!
Altoids Tins
I’m sure you’ve heard of the Altoids Tin wallet Tiktok Trend! But if not, taking an old Altoids tin and customizing/decorating it to make it your own, and hold your coins, pictures of loved ones, or little trinkets! There are all kinds of purposes and crafts you can make, and I love the idea of re-purposing something mundane to make it cute and trendy!
Pinterest is obviously a great home for inspiration, but making a cute photo album or commemorating a time in your relationship is a fantastic idea for these. It’s extremely sentimental and easy to make, and relatively inexpensive! So if you’re almost out of Altoids (or just want to go buy a tin) I highly recommend repurposing it this Valentine’s season.
Baking
Are you a baker? Perhaps your partner likes baked goods? Even if you’re not super skilled with a whisk, there are plenty of easy on-theme recipes for cookies or small cakes! More specifically, those super cute shortbread cookies with the jam in the middle are extremely easy to make! Find those cute heart-shaped cookie cutouts from your local Michaels or Target, and you’re all set for some fun!
If baking from scratch is too difficult (which, I get it) plenty of mixes or pre-made cookies are available to provide that special someone with a sweet treat. And you could even pass it off as handmade – and it’ll be our little secret!
Hand-Made Bracelets
A quick run to Michaels can provide you with so many cute charms and beads for some hand-made bracelets! The diversity is insane in the beaded section, from crystals to colored beads, to funky and bulky beads! You can find dozens of cute charms that could match the traits or interests of your recipient!
Personally, I loved that beaded bracelet trend on TikTok where couples would match the bead colors to their eyes, and mix them together on the bracelet! Sometimes, they’d even include a pet or a kid they had together, so cute! Alternatively, you could make this trip together, pick out harms that represent each other, and make your respective bracelets in private! Matching bracelets are such a cute act of devotion to your partner or bestie, especially if you’re long-distance.
Jars or Mini Boxes
If you’re a jar collector (or just recently ran out of jam), themed jars are an adorable way to show affection to the one you love! This usually requires a lot of paper and good handwriting, and you could really take this theme of devotion anywhere! A few common themes are: Date ideas, “What I love about you,” and “Songs that remind me of you!”
Alternatively, decorating and painting a cute jar for another purpose is just as cute – especially if you provide their favorite candy inside!
Decorated Picture Frame
On my last suggestion for DIY’s, a small picture frame with one of your favorite photos together is adorable! But why not spice it up with some stickers, beads, buttons, fun paper, and little scraps of mamories! If you’re a scrapbooker, this is a perfect way to condense your skills and make a mini collage – especially if you have little keepsakes over the years! I personally keep our movie tickets and fortune cookie papers, which would just add another touch of deep sentimentality to this keepsake!
Boo Basket
Boo Baskets are great for couples, and they specifically trend around Halloween-Time, hence the name! However, I think this is a great, simple way to combine your partner’s favorite things into one little basket, or if you’re feeling just a little bit stuck gift-wise!
Starting off with the essential Boo Basket item – candy. For Valentine’s, I always recommend some kind of chocolate (bonus points if it has cute packaging) or a cute pink/red candy so it’s on theme! If they have less of a sweet tooth, savory snacks are also a fantastic option for this!
Secondly, spice it up with some fuzzy socks, or other comfortable item of clothing – like boxers, or matching pajama sets. If you’re feeling fancy, maybe an item of jewlery! Thirdly, add some beauty or specifically scented products. Does your partner have a favorite makeup company, favorite color of nail polish? Throw it in there! Or maybe they have a favorite scent? Add some candles, perfume, or cologne!
If you need any more suggestions, you could definitely grab some flowers, throw blankets, stuffed animals, face masks, or an actively/toy like Legos. The world is your oyster with this one, but don’t overthink it! Everyone’s partner is different, so as long as it’s sentimental and related to what they like, this would be a fantastic gift! And, it’s easy to keep budget-friendly!
Blind Date With a Book
Is your partner or bestie book-ish? The “Blind Date With A Book” trend is always a cute surprise, and there are plenty of ways to customize it for your recipient! Do they have a book they’ve ben thinking about for a while? Or do they gravitate towards a specific section of the bookstore? Get them a book and wrap it up real nicely! You can even customize the wrapping and add some dried flowers, tea/coffee bags, stickers, bookmarks, or annotation supplies!!
What do you think about these Valentine’s Day DIY gifts? Let us know in the comments down below, and share some of your favorites! I hope everyone has an amazingn Valentine’s Day! <3
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