Valentines Day Ideas to Show your true Love

Express love and appreciation this Valentine's Day with the help of our creative ideas. The most important aspect of all things Valentine's Day is not price but thoughtfulness and creativity. Planning is key so be sure to check out our tips for affordable gift ideas and romantic inspiration to ensure a fun and fabulous Valentine's Day.

Whether you're planning a romantic dinner for two, looking for Valentine's Day ideas for your family or planning a Valentine's Day party for friends and singles, we have plenty of tips and ideas to inspire you to connect with the people you love.

Flowers have a magical way of saying what words sometimes cannot. At the same time the words that accompany the flowers can have a power all their own. Those words can be heart wrenching or funny, a simple "I love you" or something a bit more complex like those the great Irish writer and poet James Joyce wrote to his wife:

"You are my only love.
You have me completely in your power.

I know and feel that if I am to write anything fine and noble in the future I shall do so only by listening at the doors of your heart.

I would like to go through life side by side with you, telling you more and more until we grew to be one being together until the hour should come for us to die."

TIPS

You Really Know How To Sake To Me

A sweet rose bouquet nestled inside of a vintage sewing basket would be a beautiful way to tell a Mom she's loved on Valentine's Day and everyday.

I Love You So Much

This year the Chinese New Year - the year of the tiger - falls on February 14th. Celebrate both with a few stems of fresh orchids displayed in a sake vase and add a votive candle to the sake cup.

Anyone old enough to remember the ground breaking TV show Laugh In would get a kick out of this play on words! Sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me....

Your Two Lips Are The Only Lips For Me
This play on words and the stunning purple and red tulips make this gift both beautiful and funny - just like your Valentine!

NOT JUST FEBRUARY 14

Two years ago I decided to stretch Valentine's Day out all year long. After cutting out 365 pink, red and white hearts from copy paper, I set out on the daunting yet loving task of placing a special message on each one.

Some were scripture notes from the Bible to give encouragement or verses that were special to me and by wife. Some were date notes: movie of your choice, dinner out, dinner fixed by me, a drive to the beach, etc. Some were chore or help notes: I do the dishes for a week, I'll clean the bathrooms, I'll watch the baby this weekend, etc. And some were sweet nothings: back rub, take a long bath, take a nap while I take the baby, let's look at our wedding photos and reminisce...

Once all the hearts had a message, each was folded and placed in a large jar decorated with appropriate Valentine's colors and shapes. I wrapped her special gift, which she opened and then placed on the counter where she could reach for each day's note, to be used at her discretion. It has been a simple yet wonderful way to keep us aware of each others needs.

FROM WORST TO BEST

My boyfriend is the world's worst gift giver. He either always forgets and goes out at the last minute, buys wilted flowers, or the worst chocolate ever. He doesn't mean to he just can't seem to get good gifts.

Finally, last Valentine's Day, I decided that I was going to force him to get me a quality gift. We made a pact to actually make each other's gifts. I spent two whole days on his gift and card. I was getting kinda' nervous when the day before Valentine's Day I saw him cutting out little red and pink hearts from construction paper when I wasn't looking.

Once Valentine's Day rolled around and since my guy had to work I spent most of the day home alone. I was kinda' depressed all day long as I thought of the gift he was going to give me. I know its the thought that counts, and that he always meant well, but around noon a delivery guy stopped by with a wilted rose for me. I was so upset.

Aaron called me later from work and asked did I want to go out to dinner. I said sure and went to take a shower. After I got out I found a card under the edge of the bathroom door. When I opened the door there was no one there. I opened the envelope and inside was a hand made card with the red and pink heart glued to it. The card read, "Love is big, love is tall, look for me in the hall." So I went to the hallway and there taped to the wall was a second envelope and a rose. This time I was lead to the kitchen. There in the refrigerator was a third letter and a box of my favorite chocolates.

I was then led to the bedroom, and a bed covered with petals. Fresh ones might I add. I was getting so excited. I the center of the bed I found one final letter. This letter led me out my balcony where my boyfriend sat with the dinner he had made at his sister's house earlier that day (he had taken the day off) lit by candlelight. He even had my favorite song playing in the background. It was the most romantic night of my life and it totally made up for all the bad gifts I had ever gotten.

MY SPECIAL VALENTINE

1) I found old games at garage sales (bought at next to nothing prices) and saved only the game pieces and cards (Monopoly was a score) I used the Monopoly "chance" cards - wrapped in red and listed for my hubby how he could exchange the card for, get out of an argument free, forgetfulness free card, I'm sorry card, etc. along with a handmade Valentine's card to him saying how I was glad I was married to him.

2) One year I made and laminated 2 ea. (2" x 3") cards printed with FREE PASS anytime, anywhere --were in small fine print and added this to my blonde brownies in heart basket. He has a pass to anywhere anytime (one was in case he lost one of them.) He really liked that card!

3) I found a small red mail box, addressed it to him with the flag up, and made up my own coupons (free manicure, free facial, free foot rub, free I'm Sorry, free day with the guys, free wash and wax, free 'I don't want to have to go to ________, free to do what I want to do day,etc. He used them all up for his special occasions! And I got the benefits of all those coupons too, because I love doting on him!

You can be creative and cost-conscious at the same time.

SHOW THE WORLD YOUR LOVE

One year when we had no money, my husband spelled "I love you Susan Jo" with cutout letters of cardboard and put it on our garage door. When I came home from work, that was there for all the world to see. He was used to coming up with creative idea's on a budget :-)

Well, this year was no different, we live in Ohio, where there is usually snow on the ground in February. So, my hubby got a red can of spray paint (he had already) and out in our pasture, he wrote his Valentine message to me! It was beautiful! Bright red paint on the glistening snow saying "I love you, the love of my life!" The people he worked with thought it was so neat, the newspaper came and took a picture and it was in the evening news! It is one of my most memorable gifts ever!

HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU

Last year for Valentine's Day I came across a copy of the children's book How Much Do I Love You. I thought the story was very cute about a big hare and its little hare and how they try to show one another their love. To make the story more personalized, I printed out our "pet" names for one another and glued them over the names of the characters in the book (so now the story was about us!). She was so amazed to open up the book and read the story that she took it to her mother to show what I had done (the book still sits by our two stuffed bunny rabbits in our guest bedroom).