DIY Creative Valentines

Show your love with a handcrafted valentine.

Go the extra mile for your special someone by crafting a homemade valentine. The time and effort you put into making a creative and heartfelt valentine will communicate your sincere affection. When you make it yourself, you don't have to limit yourself to traditional cards. Your valentine can take any size or shape. If you think the recipient will enjoy a burst of excitement, make the balloon surprise. The recipient must pop the balloon in order to receive the message. The heart flower is an elegant gift, especially if you make a bunch and put them in a vase. Upon close examination, the recipient will see a message written on each flower petal.

Things You'll Need

• Balloon Surprise:
• Small piece of paper
• Valentine's Day-themed confetti
• Heart-shaped balloon
• Felt-tipped permanent marker
• Curling ribbon
• Straight pin or safety pin
• Heart Flower:
• Cardstock
• Scissors
• Thumbtack
• Brad fastener
• Writing utensil
• Craft wire
• Cloth ribbon
• Glue dots

Instructions

Balloon Surprise

1. Write a heartfelt message to your valentine on a small piece of paper.

2. Roll the paper like a scroll until it looks like a thin tube. Insert it into the balloon along with some confetti. You can even put a small gift in the balloon, such as concert tickets or a few pieces of the person's favorite candy.

3. Blow up the balloon with the message inside and tie it closed.

4. Write "I love you so much, I'm about to pop" with a felt-tipped permanent marker on the outside of the balloon.

5. Cut a length of curling ribbon and tie one end to the balloon.

6. On the other end of the ribbon, tie a straight pin or an open safety pin so the recipient can pop the balloon to receive the surprise inside.

Heart Flower

1. Cut at least five same-sized heart shapes from red or pink cardstock with scissors.

2. Use a thumbtack to poke a hole at the point of each heart.

3. Stack the hearts and line up the holes. Insert a small brad fastener through the holes to attach the hearts together.

4. Fan out the hearts into a circle. This should look like a flower, each heart representing a petal.

5. Write your message by putting a word or letter on each heart.

6. Cut a 20-inch length of craft wire. Fold it in half and place the folded end around the back of the brad on the back of the flower. Twist the two ends of the wire around the brad a few times to secure.

7. Wrap the wire with a colorful ribbon and use a glue dot to secure the loose ends.

Tips & Warnings

• For the balloon surprise, you can ask your local party store to inflate the balloon with helium so it floats. Just make sure the items inside are lightweight.

• Make 12 heart flower valentines and put them in a vase for your special someone. Tie a ribbon around the vase and attach a note that says "12 Things I Love About You."

References

• Martha Stewart: Valentine Flowers