Let’s face it; a lot of us get pretty stumped when it comes to gift giving for that special someone. We want the gift to say “I adore you,” in not so many words and perhaps with not so many dollars. Fortunately, the most romantic, heart tickling gifts are affordable, whether on a budget or not. Here are 3 of my favorite romantic gifts, given or received.
Handmade Scarf
If you’re not needle handy don’t let this idea scare you. There are a variety of ways and fabrics to make scarves for any range of skill levels, even for first timers. A simple yet sweet way of doing this is buying a length of polar fleece fabric from your local Wal-Mart or fabric store. You can simply cut to measure the size scarf you want and cut out some tassels or for a thicker effect you can cut out a piece of fabric with double your desired width, fold and then hem the edges together. Next you can personalize the scarf by ironing on an embroidery sticker to the corner. The sticker could be the person’s initials or something else you think they’d might appreciate (their favorite hockey team logo). The more needle savvy individual may choose to knit their loved one that scarf. Either way the effect is warm, loving and intimate. Spray a spritz of your personal perfume/cologne and they’ll be sure never to take that scarf off this winter.
Photo & Frame
This may sound ordinary at first but there’s a lot you can do with a frame and what you put inside. There are many ways to make an originally charming picture frame. Pick out a simple frame from your local dollar store, wooden, metal, or plastic. Next, check out the craft section of the store and pick out some creative glue-ons to personalize your frame. My favorite glue-ons are seashells for wooden frames and foam letters painted gold for black plastic or metal frames (the persons name at the top left, and your name at the bottom right of a horizontal frame). The photo you choose is equally important. It could be a photo of yourself, a photo of the two of you, or even a framed collage. Using a shadow box (an indepth picture frame box) filled with romantic memorabilia (photos, ticket stubs, mementos) can be another creatively loving gift. A picture really can speak a thousand words.
Coupon book
This one here is a personal favorite. Create a customized coupon book offering your loved one an assortment of affectionate freebies. For example, a “complimentary massage,” a “dinner date for two,” a “dozen freshly baked cookies,” or a “free movie date”- the possibilities are endless and I’m sure you can think of more creative personal ideas. It might also be fun to add typical coupon limitations like “offer good while quantities last,” “void if copied or sold,” or “limit one coupon per customer.” The main idea is to make something that’s fun and enjoyable for the both of you while at the same time spoiling your special someone.
When it comes down to it, the best romantic gifts come from the heart and from someone who knows their partner inside out. A gift doesn’t have to be expensive, or even bought with money in the first place to be heart warming. Make sure to keep that surprise element, and present your gift well whatever it might be. This means taking special care in wrapping (yes wrapping does make a difference!) and presenting the gift at the perfect moment. So get your hands busy and prepare yourself for plenty of hugs, tears and kisses.
