DIY gifts sure to put a smile on a face!

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! By now, you’ve seen store aisles covered in everything heart shaped from shades of light pink to dark red. February 14th is a great way to let a friend, family member, or significant other know you care about them.  

Stumped on what to gift someone? We’ve got you covered! From sweet treats to homemade crafts, these gifts are sure to be a big hit without breaking the bank. 

Sugar Cookies with a Message

If you love baking, these decorated sugar cookies are sure to be a hit. They’re perfect for a friend or significant other.  

Items Needed: 

• Heart shaped sugar cookies (either homemade or store bought)
• Frosting
• Fine-Tip Frosting Pipe
• Frosting Knife
• Food Dye (your choice of colors) 

Frost the cookies with your choice of color and then letter a message on top with a different frosting color. Simple phrases such as “luv you” or “ur mine” or “bff” mimic the heart message candy everyone loves.  

Memory Book

Get creative with a mini memory book! A memory book could be something as simple as a filled photo album or carefully crafted scrapbook. This is the perfect gift to reflect on adventures, laughter, and memories.  

Supplies Needed: 

• Printed Photographs 
• Photo Album or Scrapbook
• Scrapbook Paper
• Scissors, Glue, Stickers
• Pen or Marker 

Candy Bouquet

Want to avoid the typical Valentine’s cliché of flowers but still want to show your sweet side? Make your very own DIY candy bouquet! 

Supplies Needed: 

• Skewer Sticks
• Scotch Tape
• Hot Glue Gun
  
• FloraCraft Green Foam
• 4 King Sized Candy Bars
• Candy Bars, Suckers, Personal Size Bags of Candy
• Individually Wrapped Candies (ex: Jolly Ranchers or Hershey Kisses)
  
  

Step 1: Use the hot glue gun to secure vertical edges of the king size candy bars together. Be careful to use only as little glue as needed to avoid melting the chocolate. 

Step 2: Cut a cube of FloraCraft Green Foam to fit inside of the candy bars. Press the foam cube into the “vase” of candy bars and use hot glue to secure as needed. Set it aside.  

Step 3: Tape the personal sized candy bars or bags to the end of the skewers. Create a fuller bouquet look by taping two back-to-back. Insert the skewer into the green foam to mimic a floral arrangement. 

Step 4: Fill the remaining room in the vase with the individually wrapped candies. 

After completing Step 4, this sweet bouquet of blooming candy is ready to be gifted. This sure does beat a dozen roses! 

Family Time Capsule

A time capsule is the gift that keeps on giving! Literally. Because you will open it again years down the road.  

Have everyone in your family choose a hard copy of a photograph that is important to them to place in the capsule. This will be a fun way to see how people have changed over the years. 

Write a note to your future self! Some information to include in the note you might want to look back on: 

• Date Written
• Your Age
• Height
• Favorite Current Quote
  
• Favorite Movie, Book, Television Series
• The Last Thing that Made You Laugh
• Family Pets at the Time
• Occupation/Expected Occupation/Dream Occupation
• Goals You Hope to Achieve

Avoid adding any items that have expiration dates or anything food related. Some great objects to put in the capsule would be empty perfume bottles, books, trophies, or durable souvenirs collected from recent travels. 

Store these items in a large tin coffee can or plastic box that securely closes.  

Pro Tip: Avoiding putting any sort of padlock or device that requires a key to reopen your time capsule. It would be a bummer to lose the key in the meantime! 

Choose a date in the future that your family will reopen this capsule—maybe Valentine’s Day a few years down the road. Finally, tuck the collection of memories away in your basement, closet, or other secret space. 

Any of these gifts are sure to wow the recipient(s)! Whether it’s a time capsule with your family or baking and decorating sugary, sweet cookies for a loved one, memories are sure to be created with these homemade DIY Valentine’s gifts.