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Just
because it’s Valentine’s Day doesn’t mean you have to empty your wallet on
your sweetheart’s gift. Often, the most cherished presents cost no more than a
bit of time and imagination, like these gifts:
A
romantic collage puzzle
Heart-shaped
pretzels
A
cassette of "your" songs
The
book of love
A
closet full of balloons
A
newspaper dedicated to your life together
An
appreciation tree
A
romantic collage puzzle.
Gather
special photos of
your relationship, (i.e., dating, engagement, wedding, honeymoon).
Arrange photos “collage-style” and use removable glue to attach them to a
piece of paper. Make a color photocopy of the collage. Glue the photocopied
collage to posterboard
and cut it into a heart shape. Cut the heart shape into smaller
pieces to make a puzzle. Place all the pieces in a large decorated
envelope. Re-live those precious moments while you and he put the puzzle
together!
Heart-shaped
pretzels.
Mix
up a batch of pretzel dough, then shape the dough into cupids, hearts or a
loving message.
To
obtain pretzel recipe, click on this link:
Valentine's
Day pretzel recipe
A
cassette of “your” songs.
Record
a tape of your favorite love songs. Play the role of deejay; before each song
explain why the melody
is an important part of your relationship.
Slip the cassette into his car’s tape
player before he heads to work, and attach a note to the steering wheel,
telling him to enjoy this special gift during his commute to work.
The
book of love.
Buy
a blank book and write “I love you because...” on the first page. Then fill
the book with reasons why you love her. Tuck it under her
pillow to read before bed.
A
closet full of balloons.
Inflate
many red, white and pink balloons.
Write one reason why you love her on each balloon. Fill her closet with
the balloons. Then
watch her face when she opens the closet and sees this wonderful surprise!
A
newspaper dedicated to your life together.
To
create this gift, you will need a computer and a software package that creates
page layout templates (like Microsoft Word or Publisher). Use one of the
templates to develop a layout for your newspaper.
Fill
the newspaper with stories about your relationship. The front page story might
describe the unusual way you met. An editorial page might include an opinion
piece on why your spouse should win the “Sweetheart of the Year” award.
The
“lifestyle” page could include stories about home projects you have tackled
or the prize-winning pumpkin you grew together in your garden. The “family”
section could describe your children or your pets. Fill the “sports” section
with an article on the sports you enjoy together. When appropriate, illustrate
your articles with photos or drawings.
Don’t
forget to include a comic strip that
describes a funny incident in your lives. Design the comic strip yourself
or clip a favorite one from your town’s newspaper.
Although
this gift requires some work, it will certainly be cherished for many years!
An
appreciation tree.
Although
this gift costs virtually nothing, it’s a great way to show your sweetheart
that you appreciate everything he does.
Trim
a small branch from a tree in your backyard, and spray paint it white. Fill a
clean terracotta pot with plaster of paris, and then mount the branch in it. Let
the plaster dry and then attach a large red bow to the pot.
Using
red and pink construction paper, cut 15-20 hearts in various sizes. On each
heart, write something that you appreciate about your sweetheart. (For example,
“Thank you for keeping my car running in good shape!”
or “I love your warm hugs at the end of a hard day!”) Attach the
hearts to the tree with invisible thread.
See,
it doesn’t take a mink coat, a diamond ring or a bundle of money to make the
day special!
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