Holiday gift tips: Great Valentine's Ideas

How to create a meaningful Valentine's Day gift for a girlfriend or boyfriend. Craft advice for sharing your love with someone special.

A gift for the love of your life on Valentine's Day should tell that person how much you love them. Give them a gift that shows how much you love them by making the gift yourself. You are not only giving the gift itself, but also the time and thought that went into crafting the perfect gift for them.

When you think about the person you want to give a gift to, what is the first thing that springs to mind? Do you think of outdoors, quiet moments, reading, or some other activity? The gift that matches that thought is the one that will most closely match your love. After all, if you took the time to know them well enough to know what they like, then you know them well enough to find a gift that is perfectly matched to them.

If your friend likes to read, you could pick up the latest best seller, or a book you know they have been wanting, but haven't purchased for themselves yet. If you add a handmade bookmark your gift has just become even more special. Bookmarks can be made from almost anything: A flower pressed and then glued to a strip of cardboard. A crocheted bookmark is unique, and as individual as the giver.

Perhaps you picture them playing cards, or a board game. How about making a wooden box to hold the game pieces? A deck of cards for them is thoughtful. Stitch a bag from denim or other heavy long wearing material, add his or her initials and you have created a wonderful gift for someone. To make the bag, simply cut a piece of material that is 2 inches wider and twice as long, plus 4 inches. Stitch up the sides, turn the open top over, and put in a one-inch hem, thread a ribbon through the hem to create a drawstring bag.

Cooks usually appreciate cookbooks, but instead of running out and buying the first cookbook you find, create one of your own. Copy favorite recipes that you think they might enjoy having. You could copy the recipes on to 3X5 cards, and add a small box to contain them, or print them up and put them in a binder. If you like add a kitchen gadget that you know they want, or would like. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

If the person is very sports orientated maybe a set of tickets to a game they would like to see, or an autograph of their favorite player. If you are reasonably skilled knit a sweater or cap with their favorite team logo on it. A scrap book with pictures of them playing football, or baseball. You could even create 'newspaper' articles to go with the pictures for a truly creative gift.

If you picture them sipping wine while watching an old movie, a bottle of good wine, a couple of glasses and a video of a favorite movie is perfect. Customize the wine glasses with their initials using paint formulated for glassware.

If your friend is a fan of puzzles, consider having a photo blown up, mounted and cut into a jigsaw puzzle. This would be fun, and unique. Or if you are good with words create a crossword puzzle, or word search puzzle that uses words that have special meaning for you both.

If you use your imagination you can create a meaningful gift that will remind the recipient of you every time they see it. Enjoy the chance to surprise someone with the perfect gift on Valentines day.