No one wants to be away from loved ones on any holiday, much less Valentine’s Day. This year, we have close family members deployed overseas. Being away during a special time is hard for everyone. To help ease the distance, mom and kiddo spent a few days at home making a care package filled with fourteen gifts – one for each day of February leading up to the 14th. It still won’t be the same, but he certainly knows he is loved. Their little girl is almost 3, and she loves to see Daddy open the gifts via Skype.
If you have someone long-distance — grandparents, friends who have moved away, someone who is deployed — or you simply want to surprise loved ones here at home, here are the 14 gifts they drew inspiration from (and inspired me with!). If you have more ideas for simple and fun Valentine’s gifts to make, be sure to comment and/or link it up at the end of the post.
14 Days of Valentine’s Gifts
1. Heart-Stamped Cards
Toilet paper rolls make adorable homemade heart stamps. Stamp your paper up and then use that paper to make Valentine’s cards.
2. Paper Heart Chains
There is a chance your long-distance Valentine isn’t able to put up decorations, or they may not be in an environment that feels much like celebrating. Paper heart chains make a quick project that will brighten up their space and their day.
3. Special Bookmarks
Reading can truly transport you to another time and place. With a special bookmark from home, you can be part of that special time. This particular family loves fun monsters, so the monster bookmark was the perfect choice.
4. Handprint Hearts
When you can’t hold their hand, send them yours to hold. As a bonus, kids love getting messy and making new shapes and designs.
5. A Special Picture in a DIY Frame
Print off a special picture on your home computer, and then make a quick popsicle stick frame to hold it. This was just a quick snapshot of their hands making a heart (and the streaking printer actually made it look artsy and unique, I thought!).
6. Tissue Paper Heart Collage
Tissue paper collages always turn out so well. I love the texture and colors. If you are saving space, the collage can be on paper, either as-is or made into a card. Or, you can collage onto an old baby food jar to make a tealight candle holder.
7. I Love You Hand
This is a unique way to use the kid’s handprints – turn them into an I Love You sign-language sign, just the size their Valentine remembers seeing it from them.
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These are very cute ideas. I am going to share them with my daughter for her little one.