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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Casper Libero chapter.

One day you’re laying on your bed, listening to music and checking your social media accounts, when suddenly you remember Valentine’s Day is right on the corner and you still don’t have a gift for your lover. Well, don’t panic, because you’re not completely lost.

Here are some handmade gifts you can use to show how much you love the person who’s by your side through every situation. However, it’s important to say that some of these ideas can be easily used in other celebrations, so remember to save it for later ;)

1. I Love You Canvas

This is a wonderful option if your valentine loves decoration or simply wants a new frame to decorate her/his house!

Image Source: Kindly Unspoken

You’re going to need:

  • 11X14 canvas
  • Letter molds
  • Black and red acrylic paint
  • Ruler
  • Scissors
  • Red paper

It’s incredibly easy to do:

STEP 1: First things first, position all your letter molds onto the canvas (if you’re kind of a perfectionist like me, you can use your ruler just to measure the distance between the molds). And don’t forget to make sure you have enough space to make the “I Heart You” part!

STEP 2: Once you’ve done this, just grab the black acrylic paint and fill the molds, remembering to paint the letter I and U in red.  

STEP 3: Now it’s time to make the heart. I strongly recommend you to draw in pencil in a piece of paper, cut out and glue it to the canvas. However, if you have drawing abilities, you can draw straight into the canvas and fill it with red ink.

STEP 4: Let it dry overnight and it’s ready!

2. Marble Mug

This one is perfect if he/she loves to drink coffee, hot chocolate or simply loves mugs (who knows?!)

Image Source:

You’re going to need:

  • A white mug
  • Two or three nail polish of the same color but with different shades
  • Toothpick
  • A bowl
  • Varnish paint

STEP 1: First and foremost, fill the bowl with warm water till the top

STEP 2: Put the nail polish onto the surface of the water

STEP 3: Grab the toothpick and swirl the nail polish across the water trying to create a marble effect.

  • PS: Don’t think too much, otherwise the nail polish will to dry!

STEP 4: Dunk your mug onto the water, moving gently to cover up all its sides

Image Source: The Sweetest Occasion

STEP 5: Let it dry overnight and apply a thin layer of varnish paint to make sure everything continues at the same place for a looong time         

3. Love Locator

If you belong to the team of the sentimental ones and you’d like to gift you partner with something that reminds her/him of it, this one’s perfect for you two!

Image Source: di.ai.guay

You’re going to need:

  • A portrait
  • Paper (you can choose the color)
  • A black sheet of paper
  • A GPS tracker (on your mobile or computer)
  • Printer
  • Pen (the color you prefer)
  • Glue
  • Small piece of jute fabric

STEP 1: Go to Google Maps, search for the locations you would like to put on you masterpiece, screenshot it and print it

STEP 2: Cut the locations in heart shape

  • PS: Don’t forget to cut a black heart too!

STEP 3: Open your portrait and put the paper color you chose as a background

STEP 4: Glue the jute fabric to the middle of the portrait

STEP 5: Write some kind of subtitle to the hearts in a piece of paper

STEP 6: Glue the hearts and its names to the jute

4. Frame Future Fund  

This DIY is perfect if you two have future plans together and need to save money for it!

Source: Try Try Try

You’re going to need:

  •  A portrait with 5 centimeters of depth
  • A printer
  • A marker
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Sharp knife
  • Pencil

STEP 1: Open your portrait and remove the background and the glass panel

STEP 2: Draw a rectangle on the top of the frame and then cut it out with the knife (to put the money inside the box)

STEP 3: Print the image you want to use in the bottom and glue to the background of the portrait

STEP 4: Write what you prefer in the glass using the marker

STEP 5: And it’s ready! Now, you just have to fill in with money!

Leticia Moreira

Casper Libero '21

Student of journalism São Paulo, Brazil