Get Crafty

With cash running low, it might be hard to come up with the perfect gift for a Valentine without emptying your pockets.

The National Retail Federation estimated total spending for Valentine’s Day will reach $17.3 billion nationally with the average person spending about $133.

By putting together crafts, it is easier to show loved ones that Valentine’s Day isn’t just a Hallmark holiday. Here are a few DIY projects for the sweetheart that won’t break the bank.

“52 Things I Love About You”
The list can probably go on and on, but use a deck of cards to show them 52 special reasons behind your love. You can even spend the night making games out of the cards.

Material:
• Deck of cards
•Marker
•Paper

Trace and cut out 52 card-sized pieces of paper. Write those mushy sentiments out and glue them to the face-side of each card. Let the cards dry face-up separately so they don’t bind together. There are two options on keeping the deck together. Decorate the card box by gluing a photo of you together and slip the cards inside. Another way is to hole-punch each of the cards in the same spot and put two binder rings through the side to make them a flippable book.

Candy Card
Whether your Valentine is a goober, a nerd or a smartie, this clever card made with their favorite candy is bound to satisfy their sweet tooth.

Material:
•Poster
•Candy
•Marker
•Cut-out hearts

Get clever with candy puns. Write out a greeting or poem, leaving space to tape a snack in order to fill in the blank, such as “ You are the [Swedish Fish] in the sea.” Then tape the back of the boxes into the spaces creating an edible message. Use the hearts to fill in empty spaces or block out words on the candy boxes that don’t flow with the sentence.

Scratch-off card
Feeling lucky? Put together this scratch-off ticket and enter your significant other in a love lotto.

Material:
•Paper
•Marker
•Tape
•Acrylic paint
•Dish soap

1. Decorate a Valentine card.
2. Cover the scratch-off options with clear tape. Include prizes like movie night, home-made treats and an evening at their favorite restaurant.
3. Mix acrylic paint with dish soap. Paint over the tape with the mix and let dry.

Bottle labels coasters
These personalized bottle labels are a perfect way to win them over. Make crafty labels for their favorite beer and use the beer’s original cardboard box to make coasters.

Material:
•Paper
•Crayons
•Markers
•Glue
1. Measure enough paper to cover the beer labels.
2. Decorate the new labels.
3. Glue the new labels on.

Coasters to match

Along with the personalized brews, add in some nifty coasters. Transform a six-pack beer carton that would normally be crammed in the trash into some awesome gifts,

Material:
•Six-pack cardboard beer carton
•Foam board
•Mod podge
•Scissors
•Ruler
•High-gloss lacquer

1. Use a ruler to outline 4-inch by 4-inch squares on the foam board and cut them out.
2. Trace the outline of the squares on the cardboard beer carton and cut them out.
3. Apply mod podge to the back of the cardboard squares and attach to the foam boards. Let dry.
4. Spray two layers of high-gloss lacquer around the coaster to protect against spills.

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