While many people are still recovering mentally, physically and financially from the winter holidays, Feb. 14 has come again. Stores, flower shops and malls have rolled out a myriad of decorations and red-and-pink presents.
These more traditional Valentine’s Day gifts, such as red roses and boxes of chocolate, may lack the special thought and meaning some people value. A possible solution for those who are financially strapped and desire creativity is to gather personal talent and raw materials and enter the realm of handmade gifts.
“They mean so much more when you make them yourself,” said Reagan Hauswald, an employee at Oregon Art Supply, located at 1020 Pearl St.
Hauswald, who has taught a Valentine’s Day craft class, added that every year her father creates a wooden gift for her mother, who cherishes and displays it for years to come. She said gifts like this can be much more valuable and meaningful than store-bought presents.
However, if creative talent is lacking, there are craft options for people of all skill levels. One of Hauswald’s favorite craft ideas is tissue-paper flowers. She said she likes them because they are so easy and cheap, which allows people to give them to everyone they know. Colored tissue paper, pens and pipecleaners are all that is needed.
Picture frames are also fairly easy to construct and can be tailored to match specific interests. One of the simplest ways to personalize a plain wooden frame is to glue magazine pictures, confetti and newspaper print onto it. Let it dry and cover it with glaze or shellac, which are available at most craft stores. This clip, paste and shellac method also works well on other things, such as personalized lightswitch plates and gift boxes.
Brush-Fire, located at 954 Pearl St., provides materials and space for people to paint their own pottery. Simply pick out an item from the wide selection of boxes, glasses, picture frames, and figurines and paint. The piece will be fired within three to four days. With the purchase of one Brush-Fire item on Valentine’s Day, the second is halfprice.
A scrapbook can be as simple or as complex as needed, and it adds sentimental value. Materials for making all of these gifts and more are readily available at any art store and the art department at the University Bookstore. Valentine’s Day-related supplies are located in a special display on the bookstore’s main floor.
Add to the gifts with candy or flowers, but remember flowers eventually wilt and candy will disappear. It’s the gifts that involve thought and creativity that people can treasure forever.