With a big holiday approaching, finding the perfect gift for the people you care about can feel stressful and expensive. The “best gift” does not necessarily have to be pricey; making homemade gifts that reflect the person you are giving them to can be just as heartening as expensive things bought. Below are ideas to help you brainstorm the best gift for your partner or close friend:
Low-Budget High quality Gifts
Origami Flowers
Flower prices tend to skyrocket near Valentine’s Day, starting from mid january up until Feb. 14. Roses, the most popular flower, are already quite expensive and only last on average six days, which is why Origami (or paper) flowers are a great choice. There are a plethora of tutorials on crafting flowers out of paper and paper is relatively easy to obtain with little to no money. Though you can dry regular flowers to preserve them, they are fragile in their preserved state. Paper flowers last forever and are much more durable. Paper Flowers Tutorial
Letters
Taking the time to write out a letter can demonstrate just how much you value someone. Receiving long paragraphs through text is sweet, however writing a letter shows a deeper level of appreciation you have for a person. This gesture is seen as more romantic because you are putting your sincere emotions into writing. Writing is significantly slower and so it gives you more time to think. Write how you genuinely feel about someone, and decorate it to their liking. Examples: 100 reasons I love you, A poem, Open when you are feeling… (certain emotions like sadness or anger).
Artwork
If you like creating art, craft an art piece in your preferred medium. Make it personal to the individual you are giving it to. Artwork can come in many forms, maybe it’s a piece of pottery with their favorite colors, or a watercolor painting of the place you two share a fond memory.
Plushies
Low-quality stuffed animals are a cliche valentine gift; instead of running to the store and buying a stuffed animal, you can create one yourself. This may sound expensive due to fabric prices, however you do not have to buy new fabric. If you have fuzzy socks lying around or an article of clothing you do not wear anymore with just a needle and thread you can create a small stuffed animal. D.I.Y Plush toy tutorial
Other Gifts ideas
Lego Flowers
Lego Flowers have become increasingly popular in recent years with lots regarding them as a cute gift. Building the flowers together can become a date within itself, it’s a great way to bond with your partner or whoever may be receiving them. Though Lego brand flowers tend to be pricey, five below has their own building block brand called Block Tech that are much more cost friendly.
Matching Jewelry
Matching rings or necklaces are things you can wear everyday, it can be a reminder of how close you are with your special person. Lots of craft stores sell different types of beads, you could make a whole date out of making different bracelets and necklaces for each other.
Photo Album
Shutterfly offers personalized photo albums, you can create a cover specific to them with photos of special moments on every page.
Gift Basket
Gift baskets have become a staple for every holiday. If you are having trouble figuring out what to put in your basket, start off with Chocolates, a stuffed animal, socks, a card, and a drink. From there you can add different small things they love.
The most important factor in gift giving is to listen to the recipient’s wishes, especially near the holidays. If they have brought up their love for sour candy, a box of chocolates may not be the best option. Just because it’s popular or tradition does not automatically make it the “right gift”. Gifts are all about showing that you care, and these gift ideas take that into consideration.
