I’m looking for help from all of you super creative readers out there! Unfortunately, I do not have a creative/crafty bone in my body and can’t possibly come up with a bunch of good ones on my own. :)
I know so many of you come up with awesome and cheap Valentine’s Day ideas… whether is is for decorating, a special night home with the spouse, or Valentine’s for your kids to pass out. I am looking for super cute yet frugal ideas! And I’m sure that other readers could benefit from your great ideas as well.
Good Things Utah has invited me to come on their show again Feb 1st and although I have a few frugal Valentine’s Day ideas up my sleeve, I would love some from you! And if I end up featuring your idea, I’ll give you a shout out on Good Things Utah letting everyone know how awesome your idea was!
So have an idea to share?? Just leave it in the comments below! Or, if you have a blog where you have given instructions on how to do the project, just link it in the comment section below so we can all check out the creative ideas out there.
Thanks everyone!
Morgan Andersen
I made Valentines dominoes for real cheap and also a Be-My-Valentine Banner, they were both under $2! Granted, if you already have the supplies lying around. But I’m guessing you do! Hopefully this helps!
Raelyn
When my kids were in elementary we bought Red Vines licorice and snipped both ends off. Put a scoop of vanilla ice cream in a cup, fill with a red Shasta soda and used the Red Vines for a straw. They loved it.
Another easy treat for home or a party is to bake regular cupcake. Pour the batter in the cupcake liner and slip a marble between the liner and the pan and it makes a heart shaped cupcake. They turn out darling!
Lori Smith
I have some ideas for valentines for your kids to give out:
1.Starburst in a package that says ” I am bursting with happiness that you’re my friend.
2. “You make my heart glow” with a glow stick attached
3. Pop Rocks with a note that says “Your rock valentine”
4. Cut out a paper butterfly and make a hole in the middle to stick a lollipop in the middle and the top of the lollipop is the head of the butterfly.
5. “Valentine you make my heart bounce” with a bouncy ball attached
6. “Valentine I chews you” with bubble gum balls attached
7. Goldfishe attached with a note that says ” Will you o’fish’ally be my valentine?
8. A fun sippy straw attached with a note that says ” Sip-a-dee-doo-dah, Sip-a-dee-ay Have a wonderful valentines day!!!
I know these are all really corny but they are all inexpensive and cute ideas!! At least i thought. 🙂
Debbie
How clever!
Rachael
Super cute! Valentine’s for kids is all about being corny!
Shantelle Ericson
We cut out a bunch of hearts and I let the kids color them and write messages on them. Then we taped them on the walls starting at the front door. My husband followed the path of hearts around the house until it ended at a “treasure” of goodies at the end. The kids had a lot of fun setting up then going on the treasure hunt with their dad.
Terri Comolli
Some really cute ideas here https://pinterest.com/pin/219761656786570933/
Jessica Muelleck
A couple of years ago I made a coupon book for my husband with cheap fun things he could redeem whenever he wanted. For example: 1 pan of homemade brownies, 1 movie night (his choice), ice cream run, breakfast in bed, back rub, etc. He loved it!
Jocy
i have done this too 🙂
Michelle
We made two sets of these, one from me and one from the kids-when my husband tried to redeem one with the kids for some cleaning my son told him it wasn’t a “manufacturers” coupon so he didn’t have to accept it! LOL! (I guess he really does listen to mom ;-D )
Nicole MacPherson
We got all our leftover and broken crayons and broke them into little pieces. Then we filled a heart-shaped silicon mold tray with one of each crayon piece (the white looks AWESOME mixed with the other colors. Bake at 250 until the crayons melt. Let cool and pop them out. Tada! Multi-color heart crayons! We then taped them to a circle paper and wrote: “You color me happy! Happpy Valentine’s Day!”
Jess R.
Love it! With all the half eaten (my 18 mo. old son) crayons and broken ones we have around this idea is a great one. BTW I don’t actally feed crayons to him- his big sister usually gets them out and forgets to put them away. 🙂
Trisha Bailey
We make rice krispie treats and put it in a funnel. Pull it out and wrap it with tin foil. It looks like a large Hersey kiss. Then you can put whatever message you want on the top.
Desiree
That is a totally cute idea and its cheap. Thanks
Amanda Tullis
Check on your pinterest account….you will have a billion ideas!
Amy
i did a fun date for the hubs and i that could easily be valentine themed. you can check it out on my blog:
https://amykcreates.blogspot.com/2011/12/sdn-1.html
Laurie Ann
I took all my valentine themed cookies cutters, put ribbons on them, and hung them on all the door knobs around the house. It’s been super festive and my boys love playing with them too.
Jenette Marie
Valentines for kids to pass out: fill a clear cellophane bag with popcorn (Mmm white chocolate covered popcorn with heart shaped sprinkled maybe!) and label it with a heart shaped sticker that says something like “I’m going to POP the question… will you be my valentine?”
Good Luck!
Tori Plaisted
the kids have a great time making i-pods and cell phones from candy (both from the family fun magazine) or last year we made a small flower hair clip and clipped it to the top of a pencil for the girls. They turned out really cute!
Abby
We buy those big costco size boxes of microwave popcorn bags and put a little note on it that says “Just poppin’ by to see if you’ll be my valentine.” It is super cheap, two boxes take care of both of my kids school classmates.
Amy
I have one for a teacher gift!
Decorated Hand sanitizer or hand soap
You will need:
Hand sanitizer or hand soap (any brand, any size-but must have a label you can remove)
Ribbon
paper or card stock
hole punch
Craft items to decorate valentines stickers, glitter, glue, construction paper, etc.
Peel off labels of hand sanitizer/hand soap. If you have trouble getting off the sticky residue use alcohol or goo be gone and then follow up with windex
Decorate the bottle with valentine stickers or cut out hearts.
Make a small gift tag with your message, then punch a hole in it and attach to the bottle with a ribbon.
Give to teachers in a gift bag or basket
Shantelle
I like this webpage I found! They have some super cute and easy stuff!
https://www.allcrafts.net/holidays.htm
Caryn
Check your local library! Most have free things going on all the time. I noticed last night that the Pleasant Valley Branch of the Weber County Libraries (They are in the South Ogden area) is have a Valentines Pizza and a movie night on Feb 1, I asked at the front desk and we can bring kids :). Our local library has other great freebies like Zumba classes every saturday going on all the time- especially around the holidays they try to do extra creative. BTW, our local library has free movies at least twice a week- the saturday ones are family/kids ones.
Caryn
pizza at 6pm, movie at 7pm… the Princess Bride… if anyones interested
Jess R.
Every year growing up my family would have Valentine’s dinner together. My mom would dye all of the food red or pink. We would light candles and all sit around the table together. After dinner we exchanged home made valentines and usually a little treat that we had made or bought. This was so special to me, especially when I was in high school. While everyone else was worried about having or not having a boyfriend/girlfriend to spend Valentine’s day with I got to look foreward to our special dinner, and knew that I was loved (even if it wasn’t in a romantic way).
When I got married my hubby was disgusted by all of the dye in the food (some of it did look pretty gross- but that was part of the fun of it!). Now my mom often makes food in heart shapes, such as personal home made pizza in the shape of hearts, and uses food that is more naturally red. 🙂
shawn'l
I grew up with this too, sans the food coloring. We would just have a fancy candle lit dinner for the whole family. When I got married I continued the tradition. One reason is my birthday is February 13th so my hubby takes me out on that day (less crowds!) and I make a fancy dinner for Valentines for him and the kids. This year will be our 20th together.
Marcie
Easy and inexpensive idea. HEART ATTACK YOUR HUBBY’S CAR, OFFICE, ROOM, ETC! Cut out a bunch of different sized hearts out of pink, red, purple and white paper (you and the kids can write things on them if you wish) then tape them all over the inside of his car or all over his office or room and also spread a bunch of unopened Hershey’s kisses all over the inside of the car or spread them on the floor, then leave a sign saying “Now that I’ve given you a “Heart Attack”, and “Kissed” the ground you walk on, will you be my Valentine?”
Rachael
Love this!
Bethinee
I totally did this for my hubby last year while he was in the gym !!!! He said his face was red the whole time he was drivin around and everyone was sayin how cute it was. the downfall hearts were flyin off his truck as he drove around
Tammy Guzman
We did this about 5 or 6 yrs ago for my husband after he went to sleep and woke up to the surprise when leaving for work and he actually liked it (he called us and said “Thank you, that means a lot to me.”), but we only did the inside so he only had to remove the ones that blocked his vision and didn’t need to worry about them flying off. =)
Rachael
From pinterest: 1.) 52 reasons I love you!: a deck of cards hole punched with a ring…or I’m going to try and find a jumbo size deck and have it bound…then decorate each card with a note that lists a reason you love him/her. This will take a little more doing so I’m saving it for our anniversary, but then my other idea: 2.) Cut out 2 hands, make an extremely long slinky type (or use a slinky)/accordian folded paper (glue a bunch together), and then put one hand on each end of the paper/slinky. Put “I love you” on one hand and “This much” on the other. Often times you can find heart shaped slinkies this time of year.
Sandy Allen
I did the “hands” and accordion paper craft with my grandson for my son’s first Father’s Day. It was so cute. I traced my grandson’s hands and cut them out to use for the project and it made it much more personal for my son.
Brittany Jensen
allfreeholidaycrafts.com
Such cute ideas!!!
meredinn
Something my mom would do for use sometimes is make homemade cards, heart shaped sugar cookies, and sometimes she would make heart shaped pouches out of felt and stitch them up by hand then fill them with treats. Something I did for my mom is I would make her picture frames using popsicle sticks, coloring the sticks with markers. She still has them sitting around 15 years later!
Christie
There are a million awesome printables out there! I actually posted a cute one today (but really, there are so many great ones that are super duper cute). Here’s mine: https://alemonsqueezyhome.blogspot.com/2012/01/love-gives-us-fairy-tale-valentines.html
Also, have you tried pinterest? You can check out some really great ideas on my board here:
https://pinterest.com/cw262dh/valentines-day/
or just do some general searches. You will love what you find! So many great ideas! And congrats on the show! That will be so awesome!
Teri Kutsch
1) 100 (2) sided Business Cards ($4.95 shipped) http://www.inkgarden.com
•Use promo code 100FREE for 1 sided cards (Free after promo code)
•Use promo code 100FREE2 for 2 sided cards (Free after promo code)
2) 100 Lollipops ( I used a 100ct. Charms Blow Pops pack $14.99)
•Also try: Mini-Tootsie Pops 200ct. ($12.99)
3) A one hole punch
Step 1:
Once you have your Free Valentine’s Day cards in hand (mine took about 4 days to arrive), simply punch two holes along the side, bottom or top.
•Tip: Leave enough room from the edge to avoid tearing.
Step 2:
Thread your Lollipop through the holes punched in step 1.
•Tip: This “craft” is simple enough for smaller children!
Viola!
*Since the Free business card offer is 100 cards, this craft is great for teachers with rotating students and anyone working in a large office building too!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Toni
One of the most fun ideas that was absolutely free was to write down 10 reasons that I love you and really think them through and make them heartfelt. This was a bonus for both me and my husband because he got a chance to read all the nice reasons that I did love him and I got to fall in love with him all over again because as I really thought about the reasons, I realized that I am married to a pretty awesome guy. Sometimes we get busy and forget about how truly great are spouse is. Another thing that we do is serve dinner on the nice china. It doesn’t get out very often and it makes the dinner (no matter what you make) feel a little more romantic and nice.
Brenda
Use these web sites, I have a 5 yr old grandson and we use these links all the time for all the holidays
there is a ton more, just google holiday grafts from paper, if that what you like,,, have fun.
Or email me and I will attach the ones I found from a bunch of web sites that are so easy and really cute… will send them to anyone.
commercialenders@hotmail.com
https://familyfun.go.com/valentines-day/valentines-day-cards/best-valentines-day-cards-834796/
https://www.makingfriends.com/valentines_day_paper_crafts.htm
Donna
Something I do for my little preschool classes is “Love Potion”. It’s raspberry sherbet, lemon lime soda, whipped cream, and sprinkles (valentine sprinkles are fun but I’ve used regular sprinkles too). Put a scoop or two of sherbet in small clear plastic cups, pour soda over top add whipped cream and sprinkles. The kids love it and the name always brings out the giggles! This is fairly inexpensive, I always get the generic (store) brands on everything. 🙂
Ashlee
I just went to Target today and in their dollar section there are little mailboxes and they have a little flag on them! I bought one for each of my kids and thought it would be fun to put something in it each day until valentines for the kids & put the flag up, I’m not sure what yet, maybe little notes and a candy or something! Growing up my Dad always gave his kids a valentine (chocolate candy hearts) and I’ve had my Husband carry that on tradition, I loved getting this from my Dad and still do even now!!
A couple of years ago I did “14 Days of Valentines” for my husband, each day he got something until Valentines! You could come up with cute sayings… here were some that I used. You are a Lifesaver (I have him lifesavers), We’ve made great Memories (Pictures in a frame), You spice up my life (Mexican Dinner), You lift my spirits (balloons), Its great being in your arms (rent a movie) etc..!! It was fun to get him something everyday and he’d get excited to see what the next day would be!!
Kristi
This year I am making these cute candy ‘airplanes’ with my boys to give. I got the idea off Pinterest here: https://pinterest.com/pin/135248795029192061/
Penny
My sister has a blog and this week is posting Valentine activities. Her is the post about the Valentine cards her kids will be handing out. https://amomwithalessonplan.com/2012/01/12/you-color-my-heart-valentine-cards/
Wendy
My favorite creative idea I ever did is similar to the two heart-attack ideas mentioned above. I cut a lot of small (1.5 – 2″) hearts out of pink, red & white construction paper, and wrote “conversation hearts” type messages on them–U-R Cute, etc. for my husband. Then I had them laminated and taped them to the shower wall before he got up in the morning. He loved it!
Sara
A friend of mine is having 14 of us make 14 valentines each that are the same. We are going to trade them next week so we will go home with 14 different valentines. Then, starting Feb 1st, we can all give our hubbies a valentine a day !
Amber
Something I did with my son the last few years is make a heart wreath for the door. You take a paper plate, cut out the middle. Then you cut up a bunch of paper hearts in all sizes with valentines colored paper. You then glue the hearts all around the paper plate. They are way cute and way easy.
As for class valentines. Parenting magazine had a cute idea in this months issue that I am going to do for my sons class this year. They made some cute paper frogs out of hearts!! If you have the magazine, go check it out.
Amber Mae
My cup runneth over: You make a love jar (mason jar mod podged with scrapbooking paper) and then fill it with reasons you love someone. It could be a special gift for your spouse or a fun activity with the family. Fun and cheap! Woot 🙂
Here’s a link to the version I did for my wedding anniversary:
https://ambermaybe.com/amb_blog/?p=302
Bonnie Hardy
Being a grandma I make fun treats for all my little ones. I use a heart shaped cookie cutter to make heart shaped pancakes, peanut butter sandwiches, cheese tortilla’s anything that you can use the cookie cutter on. A great recipe for everyone is ‘Fruit Salsa & Chips’:
FRUIT SALSA
1 pint strawberries 2 Granny Smith apples 2 kiwi 2Tbs. br. sugar 1 orange (just juice)
Chop all together in food processor
CHIPS
flower tortillas cinnamon & sugar water bottle heart cookie cutter
Cut hearts out of the tortilla with cookie cutter, lay them out on cookie sheet and spritz lightly with water. Sprinkle with cinnamon & sugar and bake for 10min. @ 400 degrees.
Beckee
I made my husband a “love box” and filled it with everything I love about him written on strips of paper. You can find boxes at Dollar Tree this time of year. You can also make your own jar or box and design it how you like.
Candace
Pinterest!!!
Heather O.
I find all my ideas on pinterest! Here are two I want to try:
1. Valentines to do with my son https://rosinahuber.blogspot.com/2011/01/valentine-handprint-cards-one-for-you.html
2. Cute hearts to hang up https://www.marthastewart.com/272535/crayon-hearts
lizziemc
https://familyfun.go.com/valentines-day/valentines-day-cards/
pages of ideas!
Heather Francis
We had a reader send this one in and I think it’s adorable. Here is the link https://utahsweetsavings.com/2012/01/inexpensive-way-to-say-happy-v-day-with-flowers/
hi
Make a ipod: First you get a box of nerds as big as a iPod and you have black paper and you cut the screen out and wrap it on the box and you do all the details and then you cover the screen with a print out of a i pod screen and finally you take 2 hershey kisses connect them to string for ear phones
DeAnna Earnest
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150136138707664&set=a.10150136137242664.333289.546252663&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150136137362664&set=a.10150136137242664.333289.546252663&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150136137712664&set=a.10150136137242664.333289.546252663&type=3&theater
We made this last year for my son to use as his Valentine’s Day box at school…its an easy way to make something that is not so girly for a boy. Everyone loved it.
Kristen
My husband came up with this unique valentine for those who like classic rock/jazz music. He can personalize an audio valentine with 1 female and 1 male name. There are also 4 different lyrics to choose from – depending on how involved the relationship is. He is also able to make the valentine into a ringtone. I think it’s awesome.
Kristen
the web site is… https://barneywhitevalentine.com/
Heather @ Pinfluence
At this link I have:
https://www.pinfluence.com/category/valentines-day/
-2 different printable chains to help you countdown to Valentine’s Day {one with Bible verses the other with 21 different valentine’s day activities to complete}
-5 Different ideas for quick & frugal Valentine’s Day decorating {vase filler idea, using gel clings to decorate family pictures, pedestal mailboxes for love letters, link to free subway art printables, and a CUTE queen of hearts playing card banner}
Randi
I made some inexpensive Valentine magnets for my son’s teachers last year, but you could make them for anyone. Here’s the link for the instructions:
https://foreignquang.blogspot.com/2011/02/easy-peasy-valentines-day-gift.html
Michele @ {Primp}
I just posted a very quick and easy, cute {and cheap} doily heart garland. It was basically free for me because I had everything already, but if someone had to go out and buy the supplies, it would only cost a few bucks.
See it here on my blog:
https://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/2012/01/doily-heart-garland-ten-minute.html
Jackie
A lot of fun and cheap tips, ideas, crafts, and recipes here for Valentine’s Day on a budget > https://www.skinnyscoop.com/allresults/valentine/list/1/
Aubrey Zaruba
I finally posted my Valentine’s Day decorations for this year. I’m doing a spending freeze right now so everything is very cheap.
https://ineeditrightnow.blogspot.com/2012/01/valentines-day-decor.html
Christina
For my kid’s Valentines for school I got a box of hot chocolate packets at a warehouse club and attached a note to it that said Valentine you warm my heart!