Valentine's Day Special: Upcycled gifts!
Hello Again Gleaners!!
We're back for a special mid-month blog to help you come up with some ideas for Valentine's day using things you may already have floating around your house but might be wondering how you can use in a new way! We are all about sustainability and reusing things we already have so let's see what we can come up with!
First up: Some framed designs! We all know that we’re bound to receive a box or six of candy hearts for Valentine’s day but sometimes we don’t want to or don’t have time to eat them before they get stale—and what a waste that is! Preserve the sentiments of the candy hearts year round with a decorative frame made of them with a photo hole in the center (for a photo of you and your special someone!). If you don’t have a frame with a border like this one, fear not, you could still use paper or some thin cardboard to make a frame covered in hearts for underneath the glass of a frame you already have! Have fun with it and make it your own!
Know someone who isn’t necessarily into candy hearts but maybe leans more into tech? Never fear, there’s finally a constructive use for those old desktop keyboards we’ve got shoved in a closet somewhere. Come up with some cute sayings that show your special valentine how much they mean to you for some cute and unique wall art reminders that they are loved because after all they are your type.
What about those old jars that you can’t can in anymore? Or maybe you have some jars that you’ve saved from other things that aren’t quite big enough for other uses but you just can’t bring yourself to throw them out? We have ideas for that too!
Using some tape and paint, you can mark off pieces of your jars to spell out a romantic phrase or perhaps just give the person hugs and kisses in X’s and O’s! Fill the jars with fresh flowers, herbs, their favorite candies, or maybe a homemade cookie or cake mix! The possibilities are endless for reusing glass (just like glass is an indefinitely recyclable resource) so go crazy with that paint you have from art projects long since done and those jars that need a new and exciting second life!
Looking for ways to use other things you’ve had sitting around? Board games and puzzles with missing pieces? Maybe a deck of cards that’s seen better days or is a bit torn up? Look no further than here for ideas!
Use your puzzles and some popsicle sticks, scrap wood or cardboard and a photo frame to make a beautiful puzzle heart to show your beloved that they are your missing piece (or that all the pieces come together with them around!). Scrabble tiles have been insanely popular for use in making phrases and valentines decorations (or any decorations for that matter) in recent years but don’t discount the puzzle or another favorite board game! Repurpose an monopoly board with your favorite places together on each square and add photos to the center as a collage!
Those playing cards can also come in handy. If you have a string or a metal binder ring you can turn that deck of cards into a 52 reasons why I love you deck! Each card gets a taped photo and short note on the many reasons you love, appreciate and couldn’t live without your significant other, partner or even your friends and kids! It’s important to show everyone in your life how much you love them so make sure to get creative with everyone in your life!
Finally, we reach the point where you may need something to decorate around the house if that’s your thing and don’t worry, we’ve got ideas for that, too!
Love the rustic look and antiquing? Have extra old utensils or tools that don’t get used but you can’t bare to part with them? Got extra wood scraps? Congrats, you’re already most of the way to beautiful decor! shape your tools into a Valentine’s phrase or just use “LOVE” like the above did on a white painted board. The other decor can be used for not just one but two holidays—which is great if you’re the type that doesn’t have as much space but loves to decorate! Align four pieces of wood together on a base (either wood or something else) and decorate one side with Love and one side with Luck!