A Box of Love for Valentine's Day
by Michelle Jones

Tell your sweetheart just how much you love them; not with expensive diamonds or new electronics, but with something no amount of money could buy… your love!

I thought of this homemade gift to be made during the 30 days before Valentine's Day... but next year you could do one for the entire year!

Here's the idea...

Cut a large piece of nice stationary or construction paper into 30 small strips; one for each day from now until the week of Valentine's Day. Then spend the next few weeks thinking about meaningful and thoughtful ways to tell your sweetheart just how much you love them, and why. The more time you take to make this gift, the more thoughtful your writing will be. Fold each piece of paper in half so that when they are opened on the big day each one will be like a new gift.

Next you need to start looking for a nice place to put your love notes. If you can afford a small ornamental box this would be great, there are many beautiful boxes that come in every shape and size. It's possible you may even have a small box like this put away in the attic or cedar chest, and now might be just the right time to pass it on to the one you love.

You can even wrap the small notes in pretty gift-wrap or tissue and place them inside a box of chocolates if this is something you're planning to give already. What a nice surprise your sweetheart will have when he or she opens the box to find the extra love you have placed inside.

If you'd prefer to make a box, you can use empty tissue boxes, checkbook boxes, or even empty heart candy boxes from last year. If using the tissue or checkbook boxes, you can cover them with wrapping paper, construction paper, or spray paint them with gold metallic paint and add your own designs. Cut out heart shapes of construction paper or red foil wrapping paper would be nice, and sequins or glitter would also add a unique touch.

Be creative and spend some time on it, you want it to look nice. The outside of the package represents the inside, and the inside of this gift is filled with pure gold that no amount of money could buy.

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