Creative Valentine's Day Ideas

Creative Valentine's Day Ideas

12 DAYS OF ROMANCE

submitted by: Katie SparrowThis year I decided to be a little creative and yet try to save a little money while doing something special for Valentine's. I am going to do the 12 Days of Valentine's. Starting 11 days before Valentine's, I will leave little gifts for my loved one to find.

Day 1 - one balloon that says "I Love You";

Day 2 - two coupons for various special favors or treats;

Day 3 - three love songs, some taped and some written words, that mean something special to us;

Day 4 - four love poems, I found on a postcard site and hand written;

Day 5 - five terms of endearment;

Day 6 - six chocolate candy hearts;

Day 7 - seven flowers;

Day 8 - eight heart shaped cookies;

Day 9 - nine message heart candies;

Day 10 - ten reasons (of the millions) why I love him;

Day 11 - eleven Hershey's hugs and kisses;

Day 12 (Valentine's) - twelve ways to say "I Love You", languages.

I am still in the process of trying to figure out if I want to leave them in the same spot to be found at the same time every day, or if I want it to be more random. This was a lot of fun planning and didn't cost much at all with our "poor student" budget. I think it will be very memorable.

FROM WORST TO BEST

Submitted by: Amanda Williams

My boyfriend is the world's worst gift giver. He either always forgets and goes out at the last minute, buys wilted flowers, or the worst chocolate ever. He doesn't mean to he just can't seem to get good gifts.

Finally, last Valentine's Day, I decided that I was going to force him to get me a quality gift. We made a pact to actually make each other's gifts. I spent two whole days on his gift and card. I was getting kinda' nervous when the day before Valentine's Day I saw him cutting out little red and pink hearts from construction paper when I wasn't looking.

Once Valentine's Day rolled around and since my guy had to work I spent most of the day home alone. I was kinda' depressed all day long as I thought of the gift he was going to give me. I know its the thought that counts, and that he always meant well, but around noon a delivery guy stopped by with a wilted rose for me. I was so upset.

Aaron called me later from work and asked did I want to go out to dinner. I said sure and went to take a shower. After I got out I found a card under the edge of the bathroom door. When I opened the door there was no one there. I opened the envelope and inside was a hand made card with the red and pink heart glued to it.

The card read, "Love is big, love is tall, look for me in the hall." So I went to the hallway and there taped to the wall was a second envelope and a rose. This time I was lead to the kitchen. There in the refrigerator was a third letter and a box of my favorite chocolates.

I was then led to the bedroom, and a bed covered with petals. Fresh ones might I add. I was getting so excited. I the center of the bed I found one final letter. This letter led me out my balcony where my boyfriend sat with the dinner he had made at his sister's house earlier that day (he had taken the day off) lit by candlelight.

He even had my favoritesong playing in the background. It was the most romantic night of my life and it totally made up for all the bad gifts I had ever gotten.

MY SPECIAL VALENTINE

Submitted by: Dianne Werthmuller

These are my ideas, I gave these to my husband for 3 different Valentines Days in past...

1) I found old games at garage sales (bought at next to nothing prices) and saved only the game pieces and cards (Monopoly was a score) I used the Monopoly "chance" cards - wrapped in red and listed for my hubby how he could exchange the card for, get out of an argument free, forgetfulness free card, I'm sorry card, etc. along with a handmade Valentine's card to him saying how I was glad I was married to him.

2) One year I made and laminated 2 ea. (2" x 3") cards printed with FREE PASS anytime, anywhere --were in small fine print and added this to my blonde brownies in heart basket. He has a pass to anywhere anytime (one was in case he lost one of them.) He really liked that card!

3) I found a small red mail box, addressed it to him with the flag up, and made up my own coupons (free manicure, free facial, free foot rub, free I'm Sorry, free day with the guys, free wash and wax, free 'I don't want to have to go to ________, free to do what I want to do day,etc. He used them all up for his special occasions! And I got the benefits of all those coupons too, because I love doting on him!

You can be creative and cost-conscious at the same time.

NOT JUST FEBRUARY 14

submitted by: Mark HughesTwo years ago I decided to stretch Valentine's Day out all year long. After cutting out 365 pink, red and white hearts from copy paper, I set out on the daunting yet loving task of placing a special message on each one.

Some were scripture notes from the Bible to give encouragement or verses that were special to me and by wife. Some were date notes: movie of your choice, dinner out, dinner fixed by me, a drive to the beach, etc. Some were chore or help notes: I do the dishes for a week, I'll clean the bathrooms, I'll watch the baby this weekend, etc. And some were sweet nothings: back rub, take a long bath, take a nap while I take the baby, let's look at our wedding photos and

reminisce...Once all the hearts had a message, each was folded and placed in a large jar decorated with appropriate Valentine's colors and shapes. I wrapped her special gift, which she opened and then placed on the counter where she could reach for each day's note, to be used at her discretion. It has been a simple yet wonderful way to keep us aware of each others needs.

VALENTINES IN A BOX

submitted by: Elizabeth PeedenLast year at this time my fiancé was in the Army, stationed in Germany. With us being so far apart it was impossible to spend Valentines together, but I still wanted to do something special for him. The only problem was I could not come up with anything original. Sending him flowers seemed too trite, but what do you do for someone when they are so far away.

With Valentines fast approaching I was still out of ideas, so I went to the store hoping to come up with something to do for him. I kept thinking that things would be so much easier if he was here. Then it dawned on me that since he could not spend Valentines evening with me, I would send one to him.

So, I decided to send him a Valentines evening in a box. The first thing in the box was a note and a balloon explaining how much I hated being apart on this special day and if we could spend Valentines together this is how our evening would go. Then the next thing he came to in the box was 2 candles and a box of macaroni and cheese (candle light dinner).

The next item he came to was the movie "While you were Sleeping" with a note attached to it saying how we would spend the night cuddled in each others arms watching a movie. The last thing I placed in the box was the book Chicken Soup for the Couples Soul with a note explaining how we would end the evening cuddled up reminiscing over the "story" of how our love has grown. And of course I filled every empty space with Hershey Hugs & Kisses. He absolutely loved the package when he got it!

HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU

Submitted by: Greg Jones

Last year for Valentine's Day I came across a copy of the children's book How Much Do I Love You. I thought the story was very cute about a big hare and its little hare and how they try to show one another their love. To make the story more personalized, I printed out our "pet" names for one another and glued them over the names of the characters in the book (so now the story was about us!). She was so amazed to open up the book and read the story that she took it to her mother to show what I had done (the book still sits by our two stuffed bunny rabbits in our guest bedroom).

RENT A ROMANCE

Submitted by: Darlene O'Donnell

Four years ago I wanted to come up with something totally unexpected and unusual for Valentine's Day. My husband is very easy to please and I knew that what ever I did he would be appreciative. I didn't want to just buy something for him to wear or to eat. So, I put my thinking cap on and this is what I came up with.I got out the yellow pages and looked for Hot Tub companies. I actually found a couple of them that rented out portable hot tubs! After calling a few of them I decided on one and then put my plan into action.It was being delivered while my husband was at work and they came early in the morning. I had to move all the dining room furniture out of the dining room to so the hot tub would fit! I moved all the furniture into the living room before they arrived.

These guys rolled in a 4 person hot tub and set it up in my dining room! They started filling it and got it running for me before they left. Now my only concern was that it would be warm enough to go in by the time Steve got home from work! In the mean time I went to the store and bought some wine for later that evening. I kept calling Steve at work to be sure he wasn't making a surprise visit home!

I made a card and in it I explained that his Valentine's gift was inside the house waiting for him and I put the card on our front door. You cannot imagine the surprised look on his face when he saw a hot tub in the dining room! And I was in it! Above the hot tub was our dining room light and I had the lights dimmed, candles in the background and soft music on the CD player.We had the best time and made lasting memories while that hot tub was there. The best part of renting the hot tub, the company that I rented it from was in a home and garden show and called to tell me that they couldn't pick it up for a few days!

ROSES ARE RED, POTATOES ARE PINK...

Submitted by: Janet

Because the members of my family are all my special loves, my Valentine's idea was for all of them several years ago.For dinner on Valentine's Day, all the food I prepared was red or pink. I can't remember the whole menu, but it included pink mashed potatoes, pink bread, red Jell-O, and a red tinted heart cake with pink icing. The kids weren't sure what to think, and to this day, they groan when I mention the pink mashed potatoes!

My hubby must love me a lot, because he sticks with me in spite of my crazy ideas.