The clock is ticking! You’ve got just over a week to get a Valentine’s Day gift prepared. A last-minute drugstore card and teddy bear is cute and all, but don’t you want to go that extra mile for who you love?

Creativity and personalization, I think are the key elements of an awesome gift. Your partner (or crush) wants something that’s specific to the bond you have. Which can be as simple as getting the type of flowers they’ve complimented, or a plushy of their favourite animal. It just shows that you listen and care, rather than just an after-thought.

But don’t worry, you’ve got over a week to prepare a gift that will blow your luvr away!

Personalized CD

A really cute idea is to curate a bunch of songs that remind you of your person. They can be sappy romance songs, sexy n slow R&B, happy pop love songs, whatever you want! Then, burn them onto a CD.

If you don’t know how to burn a CD: (because we aren’t in the stone age Neena)

In the Music app on your Mac, create a playlist that contains the songs or files you want to burn to the disc.

Choose View > as Songs and make sure the items you want to include have a checkmark beside them.

If you don’t see checkboxes next to the songs, choose Music > Preferences, click General, then make sure “Songs list checkboxes” is selected.

Insert a blank disc.

Select the playlist, then choose File > Burn Playlist to Disc.

and then your done! It may take a few minutes to burn.

If you’re a PC user:

After you have your personalized CD done. You can get creative in Photoshop and create an album cover. How adorable is that?

This can be a picture of you both, a funny picture/meme, a collage, anything that fits your relationship and speaks to your bond. You can also create a fun tracklist in Photoshop!

Print out the cover and tracklist in (5.59 in × 4.92 in × 0.39 in), and insert them into a CD plastic case, which you can buy at Staples.

You can add personal touches, like stickers, doodles, etc. Make it yours!

Now you have a completely unique, customized CD ‘Mixtape’ for your Valentine.

Collage

Can you tell I like homemade gifts?

Get together your scissors, glue, and patience, it’s time to collage! But seriously, when you put intent and care into a collage, whoever’s receiving it can feel that love. It’s so special to see all the times you’ve shared together mapped out into a piece of art. It’s one thing to have all those memories stored away in your brain, but it’s another to see them, framed, on your wall.

I’d suggest going to London Drugs, or any photo lab and printing out photos of you and your bae. If you have any sentimental things like concert tickets, notes, or even receipts, pull those out.

Map all your items out on canvas, poster board, or in a scrapbook. Figure out your layout and where you want everything to go, and just go ham.

If you need space fillers, you can write little notes and labels, stickers, doodles, I think it would look really pretty to put some dry pressed flowers in your collage.

https://www.tiktok.com/@elysiana_studio/video/6950308880404499717?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1&lang=en&q=dry%20press&t=1643928197476

To finalize your collage I’d recommend framing it. Not only does this protect the photos and artifacts in your collage but it makes it look mature and presentable not “arts and crafty.”

This is such an easy, affordable and thoughtful gift that’ll put a smile on anyone’s face.

Adventure

If you and your Valentine aren’t huge on material presents, treat them to an adventure. I don’t necessarily zip-lining through the jungle (unless that’s what you want to do), I just mean that sometimes the best gifts can be an experience.

Examples in Vancouver could be,

• Buying one-day ski passes to Grouse, Cypress or even Whistler. Treat them to some hot cocoa or Bailey’s at the chalet and hit the slopes together.
• A day trip to Bowen Island. Hike the trails, picnic on the beach, and be home by dinner time.
• Get dressed up and walk around the Vancouver Art Gallery, maybe pick up their favourite print at the gift shop.
• Try out a Valentine’s cooking class together, or an art workshop. Create something together!
• Book a couples massage, because who doesn’t love a couples massage?
• If it’s in your budget, spend the night together at a fancy hotel Downtown, like the Fairmont, Pan Pacific, the Hyatt, etc.
• Again, a bit pricier, but take them out for a fancy dinner, steak at Gotham, sushi at Miku, or maybe pasta at Lupo!

 

Custom Print

Do you and your s/o have an inside joke or a favourite meme? Even just an image that speaks to your relationship?

Get it printed on a hoodie, crew neck, t-shirt, pillowcase, mug, whatever you’d like! I’ve gotten a few custom prints done and I recommend going to MAKE Vancouver on Granville Island.

It’s fun to get creative on Photoshop and make your own personal designs. Some ideas for Valentine’s could be,

• Your s/o face (or even your face) in a heart
• Your initials plus theirs
• A reference to your first date
• Lyrics from “your song”
• A meme —>

@Polteaqeist someone sent you this card! pic.twitter.com/t8ofeX3xzX

— Valentine Cards Bot (@ValentineCardB3) December 5, 2019

Just design on the MAKE Vancouver website, submit it, and you’re done! All from the comfort of your home! They’ll notify you to pick up your order when it’s ready. It’s really that easy!