These days our loved ones may be feeling more isolated than they ever have. Giving small gifts to friends or family members who are having a hard time is a small but effective way to connect with those you love and care about. A gift from someone you love is a physical representation of thoughtfulness and love.
5 Creative Ideas That Show You Care
1. 365 Notes in a Jar
This is one of the best romantic DIY gift ideas because it gives your partner a mini-letter to open from you every single day of the year. It’s like getting a text, but better! To make this gift, grab a mason jar at your local craft store along with some scrap paper and some string.
Cut the paper so that they are small notes and begin making a list of things to write. Picture something that would make your spouse smile and write it down. The jar can be full of any messages you like, from funny jokes to sweet and sentimental messages.
Some great ideas include:
- Recount favorite memories you have together
- Share an inside joke
- Tell your spouse all the many reasons why you love them
- Share a naughty fantasy
- Date ideas
- Dreams and goals for the future
- Positive affirmations
- Favorite quotes or song lyrics
- Things about your spouse you’re grateful for
You can theme your jar with any of the above, or make a collection of all of the listed topics to keep your partner guessing.
2. Candy Tackle Box
This cute DIY gift idea is as simple as taking a trip to your local dollar store. Buy a plastic tackle box usually used for fishing gear and a bunch of your spouse’s’ favorite candies. Fill the tackle box sections with the candy and sweets. Feel free to embellish and decorate your box as you see fit! Don’t forget to include a cute note that says “Hooked on you!” above your gummy worms.
3. Date Night Ideas
Research done by The National Marriage Institute shows that married couples who have a regular date night are happier, share a more intense intimate life, and are less likely to get divorced.
Making a DIY date night jar. This is a really easy and fun idea that won’t cost you more than a couple of dollars to make. Start with an empty candle jar complete with lid. Decorate it with a pretty bow and then get to work. Grab some popsicle sticks and decorate them as you see fit (glitter, color-coded tips). Next, take a sharpie and start writing down some great date ideas. Write them on as many popsicle-sticks as will fit in the jar and you’re done!
Some great ideas include:
- Plan a vacation
- Go roller skating
- Play a sport together
- Attend a festival
- Movie night
- Play video games
- Take a cooking/dance class
- Go on a wine tour
- Underwater date (going to the beach/pool/surfing/swimming)
- Plant a tree together
- Visit a waterfall
- Go take pictures together
- Dinner by candlelight
- Feed the ducks
- Bake something together
- Learn a language/instrument
- Work out together
- Build a blanket fort
- Play tourist for a day
- Do a pub crawl
Never again will you and your spouse have the back and forth “What do you want to do?” “I don’t know, what do you want to do?” conversation. Now, you’ll be able to consult the date night jar any time you’re feeling bored or inspired by romance.
4. Chalkboard Frame
Find a unique or interesting shaped frame, like a heart or a circle, and pop out the glass from the center. Paint or spray over the glass with chalkboard paint and wait for it to dry. Once it has dried and adhered, pop the glass back into the frame and write a sweet love note on the frame in chalk.
5. DIY Photo Calendar
Start with a piece of wood that has been cut to 10×7 inches. You can stain the wood any color you like.
Nail or glue this piece of wood to another piece that has been cut to roughly 10 x 5 inches perpendicularly and allow it to dry. This second piece will be the base of your calendar and will help it stand upright.
Now that your piece is standing, measure along the calendar board and apply three utility hooks. This is where your calendars and photos will hang.
Make 12 Polaroid snaps for each month of the year. You can get creative by using snowy pictures for the colder months and beach inspired shots for the summer. Simply grab snaps of you and your beau to remind them of you all year long. On the bottom of each Polaroid, write the abbreviations of all the months. Next, punch holes in the tops of the photos so that you can hang them on the first utility hook. Place the month of December first and work your way back until January or February is the first month visible.
Next, using a card paper that’s been measured to fit your next two hooks, start writing out numbers from 1-3 on one set of cards and 1-9 on the cards so that your spouse can change the dates with ease. Hang your card paper on the remaining hooks and watch the magic unfold.
These DIY gift ideas can work any day of the year and your spouse (or other loved one) will be more than happy to receive a handmade token of your affection. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Baked goods, scrapbooks, and other personalized gifts work just as well as any of the above.
More to Read:
21 Perfect Graduation Gifts for Girls for 2020 Grads
Great Graduation Gift Ideas for High School Seniors – Lots!
Sylvia Smith, a writer at Marriage.com, is a big believer in living consciously and encourages couples to adopt this principle in their lives too. By taking purposeful and a whole-hearted action, Sylvia feels that every couple can transform their relationship into a happier, healthier one
