A box of chocolates, a dinner, a bouquet of flowers … The typical Valentine’s gifts are not bad, but there are many other options that will help you go one step further and surprise this year with a different gift. Do you dare with something a little riskier this year? Personalised photo frames, hand-decorated cushions or ideas with photos … All these Valentine’s gifts will make Cupid feel very very proud of you.

And if you are a fan of Valentine’s Day and you want more, you have to see this list with more crafts: DIY Valentine’s Day.

1. A THREAD FOR VALENTINE’S DAY

Give a thread to your partner and leave him speechless. Doing so is very easy. You just need a wooden base, some nails, hammer and some thread. Start by drawing the shape you are going to do at the base and then place the nails following that silhouette. The final part is the funniest and the one that gives the most play, you just have to roll the thread all the way using the nails you put to give the shape. The result is super cool and it takes less than it seems.

Original Gifts For Valentine's Day: 23 Ideas To Give To Your Partner

2. MINIATURE HEARTS

More ideas for Valentine’s Day with hearts. If you have some hot glue and a heat gun at home, you can make mini-hearts like these to create magnets, pins or anything else you can think of. You will have to use a silicone heart-shaped bucket -which you can easily find in bazaars or decoration stores-, fill the molds with hot glue and place the magnet or pin pin at the end.

DIY-Heart-Magnets

Image Source: https://www.momentswithmandi.com/diy-valentines-day-heart-magnets/

If you want to give them a more industrial touch, you can use cement instead of hot glue. It will take a little longer, but the result is worth it. When the cement is dry, you can paint the pieces with a beautiful color and write a personalized message on them.

cement hears

3. GIVE A LOVING PILLOW ON VALENTINE’S DAY

It may seem silly to give a pillow, but if your partner does not live in the same city as you … this option will be the winner. Send him a pillow with a message like this: “If you miss me, hug this pillow.” Pimp, right? You can get a basic in any establishment that sells bedding and then with a marker or fabric paint write the message.

if you miss me hug this pillow

4. 3D WORDS

Do you know the book folding technique? Find a book you don’t want and create a three-dimensional word inside. There are lots of tutorials and blogs explaining this technique and even free patterns so you can follow and get a result like this. How about it?

3D WORDS

5. GIVE A MATCHBOX

The flame of love! ❤❤ To make this picture, get a photo frame with a background and many matches. Draw the silhouette of the word or the shape you want to make and go hitting the matches and filling in the entire space. Make sure you use a powerful adhesive because otherwise the matches will fall.

match box love

6. PHOTO CUBE TO GIVE ON VALENTINE’S DAY

Giving a frame with a photo is a very useful gift but that frame can evolve to this wooden cube, with its six faces in which you can put not only a few photos but a message of love, a word, the name of your couple, or even for the most romantic … a hand request.

7. CANDLE HOLDERS DECORATED WITH PHOTOS FOR VALENTINE

Another idea with beautiful photos. In this case, they have used an old photo to decorate a basic glass candle holder, automatically turning it into a very special gift. They have done so by transferring the photo to a transparent self-adhesive paper and placing it all around the inside perimeter of the candle holder. Ideal!

CANDLE HOLDERS DECORATED WITH PHOTOS FOR VALENTINE

8. GIVE A PERSONALIZED JENGA TO YOUR PARTNER

Who has not ever played Jenga? Who does not feel like on a rainy and cold night staying at home playing board games as a couple? Buy the Jenga and customize it by adding phrases and moments lived with your partner so that each time you move, read one and play it moves even more.

personalised jenga

9. GIFT TO REMIND YOUR PARTNER WHAT YOU FEEL

When we have been with the same partner for a long time, we sometimes fall into the routine of the few words. You understand, you love each other, but do you tell him what you feel every day? We all like to fill our ears with beautiful things and what better way than reading what your partner feels every day. Fill a glass jar with funky papers in which you write one of the reasons why you love your partner, how it makes you feel, what inspires you and the confidence you have. That person can open one every day and cheer up every morning before going to work.

reasons why i love you jar

10. ROMANTIC CUSHION FOR VALENTINE

Make a cushion to your partner with a little felt expressing your feelings towards her, or better yet, her favorite movie, or that first trip together … The case is to express a special moment with felt. A cushion is a very useful gift since it always comes in handy, whether it’s for the sofa, the bed, or that chill out area  that we like so much.

11. IDEAS FOR A ROMANTIC BREAKFAST

Do you like calligraphy? With this idea, you have the opportunity to implement your skills to succeed on Valentine’s Day. Buy basic cups, markers capable of painting on your material and decorating! You can write a beautiful message, a date that means something special …

personalised romantic mug

12. GIFT CLOCK ON VALENTINE’S DAY

If your partner does not like crafts, you can also opt for a wooden watch from Hashtagbamboo and engrave a beautiful phrase on the back that you like, that you want to tell and remind each time you wear that watch.

wooden watch

13. WHAT TO GIVE ON VALENTINE’S DAY? A SCULPTURE WITH STRING

Dare with a sculpture! It is not the biggest thing in the world but of course there is no doubt that it is one of the most original. For this, you will need a wooden base, some wire, string and some magazine paper. The creativity is yours !!!

romantic string sculpture

14. LOVOPOLY: THE LOVING VERSION OF MONOPOLY FOR VALENTINE

For lovers of board games, in addition to Jenga you can also make the love version of the classic Monopoly. Give the Lovopoly . Use some cardboard to make the board and with cards, photos and markers, fill in each box. The rules of the game are set by you!

15. GIVE FLOWERS ON VALENTINE’S DAY

Ok, ok … a bouquet is not the most original gift, but when it is you who makes and prepares the bouquet with all your love, things change. Give your partner a bouquet of flowers made by you and tell him how much you love him. Flowers do not fail!

Mother's Day Glass Vase of Colourful Flowers

16. AN ORIGINAL LAMP

So that the light and magic of love does not go out, give it a personalized lamp. You can do it with a very large bulb and empty it to be able to put some colored LED strips with some beautiful shape, like these hearts and then glue it to a wooden base. You dare?

17. GIVE A COLLAGE BOX

You can also choose to take a series of photos that form a heart. Help yourself with an image like this one for reference, then bring them together with Photoshop or any computer program and have it printed. The result is very cool!

collage photos

18. HEART-SHAPED RINGS

19. BOOK OF ADVENTURES

Who has not seen the Pixar Up! Movie? Recreate that book of adventures that they did in the movie and fill with trips and important moments that you have shared, and especially with those that you want to happen in the future. Always leaving, yes, blank sheets so you can continue writing your story together.

20. THE MISSING PIECE

Something easy and beautiful is always a success. To make this picture you will need a photo frame, white pen cardboard, a red cardboard and a marker. Draw the pieces of a puzzle on the cardboard pen and cut out each of them. Then go pasting them in the frame and leave a space in which to write something like in the photo: “You complete me …”. Then add hearts and voila, you already have your gift for Valentine’s Day !

21. BOOK IN MOTION FOR VALENTINE

The idea of ​​this gift is to tell a story or a message through images. How? You need to take many photos that tell a story. Print them and go placing them in order so that with a hand movement you can read all that love story you want to tell your partner.

22. HEARTS WITH MESSAGE FOR THE WALL

A small circular wooden ribbon, some rope, colored cloth and your creativity. It’s what you need to create these heart-shaped wall ornaments with personalized message. They can serve as a gift for Valentine’s Day or to decorate the walls of the house during that day. What do you think?

HEARTS WITH MESSAGE FOR THE WALL

23. CUSTOM CLOTH BAGS

Eye to this original, fun and ecological gift. You can customize a basic cloth bag with a cool design – they don’t have to be hearts – or a special message. You will need a special paint for fabric or markers capable of painting on textile. If you fill the bag with flowers, chocolates or more gifts, guaranteed success!

I hope you liked these gift ideas for Valentine’s Day: they will help you leave your partner with their mouth open and especially to enjoy that emotion together.  ❤❤

Craig Sandeman

Craig Sandeman is South Africa’s go-to guru for all things gift-giving, blending psychology and cultural insights to curate perfect presents. A Cape Town native with a global perspective, he’s renowned for his blog, workshops, and media features that delve into the art and science of thoughtful gifting. If you’re ever stumped on finding the ideal gift, Craig’s expert advice is your ticket to gifting success.