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Need a low-cost gift that’s big on personality? Whether you need something thoughtful to give your sweetheart for Valentine’s Day, an anniversary, birthday or any special occasion, custom art made by your two hands is a great gift. You don’t need to have any special artistic skills to complete this DIY art either. The only thing you’ll need are a few bucks worth of supplies.

Lay Out Your Letters on the Canvas

Step 1: Get Your Supplies

Your canvas for this project is going to be a cheap piece of underlayment from a hardware store. This will cost you about $6. Make sure you have it cut to the size you want at the hardware store to avoid extra work at home. You’ll also need some paint colors of your choice (any kind works) and a paint brush. Small bottles of paint from the craft store will work, or you could even use leftover wall paint stashed in your garage.

Step 2: Select a Quote

Pick a quote that will easily fit on your board. For our artwork we used Proverbs 25:11, A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. But you can choose a quote, song lyrics or poem that is meaningful to you and your special someone.

Step 3: Print Your Letters and Cut them Out

Choose a font and size and then print your letters. It’s best to choose a basic font that will be easy to cut out. We used Impact. Cutting out your letters may take a little while, but it’s a project you can complete while sitting on the couch.

Step 4: Prep Your Canvas

Choose Your Colors and Paint

This step is optional. You may want your letters to show the natural wood color, or you may want to paint the canvas. Either way your artwork will be lovely. We painted ours white.

Step 5: Tape On Your Letters

There are many ways to adhere your letters to the board, including just using regular tape. Stick them down well so that paint is less likely to seep underneath.

Step 6: Start Painting

This is where your creativity can really show. Select your colors and start painting. There are no real rules– just have fun! And if it doesn’t turn out the way you imagined, simply start over with more paint!

Step 7: Allow Paint to Dry

The Finished Product: DIY Custom Artwork

Make sure the paint dries completely before peeling away your letters. This will help the edges of your letters stay more crisp.

Step 8: Remove Letters and Hang

Start tearing away your letters. Don’t be alarmed if your paint leaked under them. This just adds to the artistic affect. Framing your custom artwork is definitely optional. The board works fine on its own, or you can add a frame to give it more of a finished, gallery look. Either way you’ve got a one-of-a-kind gift that your sweetheart will love.

Photos courtesy of Alison Storm

Show Your Front Door Some Love for Valentine's Day. photo courtesy of Alison Storm

Need to add a little Valentine’s Day love to your home? This project is easy (we’re talking done-in-less-than-five-minutes-easy) and affordable! The finished product is festive, flirty and fun! It’s perfect for adding spice to your home, or for giving away to someone you love. Here are the simple instructions from making a feather boa wreath just in time for February 14th.

Gather Supplies

For this project you will need just a few key supplies. Pick up a foam wreath form at a craft store. You can pick them up for just a few dollars at CreateforLess.com. They even have heart-shaped foam forms which would be perfect for this project. You will also need about four feather boas. For our feather boa wreath we used two Pink Multi Luxe Boas from The House of Bachelorette and two Modern Marabou Boas in Hot Passion Pink. Finally, you will need some straight pushpins. You likely already have these somewhere around your house!

Start Wrapping

Securing one end of one of the thicker, Luxe boas to the back of your foam form with a pin, beginning wrapping the boa around the form. Leave a small gap in between the rows. You will fill this in later with the thinner Marabou boa. Space your layers so that you are able to make it half-way around your form with one Luxe boa. When you reach the end, secure it with a pin on what will be the back of you wreath. Continue this process with the second Luxe boa on the other half of your wreath.

Fill in the Gaps

Now that your entire foam form is covered with two Luxe boas, it’s time to fill in the gaps with the coordinating Marabou boa. Since the feathers are slightly different, this will add some visual interest to your feather boa wreath. Secure the Marabou boa in the same way, using a pushpin. Each Marabou boa should cover half of the wreath.

Hang and Enjoy

That’s all there is to this simple, but lovely project that will add some spice to your home for Valentine’s Day. The great thing about this project is that you can reuse all of the materials in other ways. Once February 14th passes, unpin your boas and use them for a bachelorette party or a girls’ night out. You can re-purpose your foam form and create a wreath for another upcoming holiday. Or, snatch up some black boas and create a fun wreath for Halloween.

Gift tag. photo courtesy of Fern R

Gift tags are a great way to add some flare and creativity to your packages and bags. It makes a gift more personal when someone’s name is attached to it. Plus, if you are reusing a gift bag, there is a good chance that the matching gift tag it came with has your name written on the inside– not the person you’re giving the gift to. In just a few steps and with a few key tools, you can have a personalized gift tag ready to go.

Gather up some supplies. You’ll need some ribbon, a paper hole punch, and some scissors. Scissors that cut more detailed and fancy edges can add some visual interest. Pull out some cookie cutters stashed in that kitchen drawer. For the paper part of your project, use construction paper, scrapbook paper or even the front of pretty greeting cards.

Cut out shapes. Using the cookie cutter as your guide, trace a shape on the back of the greeting card or on the paper you chose. Cut out the shape.

Punch a hole in the corner. Using your hole punch, create a hole in the top of the gift tag. You could even use a hole punch with a creative shape like a heart or a star.You may want to use a small reinforcement circle like this one to make sure your paper doesn’t easily rip. It also adds a decorative element.

Size up some ribbon. Using coordinating ribbon, figure out just how much you need to attach the gift tag to the bag or package. cut the right amount and feed it through the hole punch.

Write a note. On the back of the gift tag you just so thoughtfully created, make sure you use it for it’s intended purpose and write the recipient’s name. You can also include a short, but sweet note and that way you won’t have to worry about picking out a greeting card.

Attach your tag! Now the only thing left to do is attach your beautiful new gift tag!

photo courtesy of LollyKnit

Sometimes the best (and most affordable) gifts are made by hand. But if your creative juices just aren’t flowing or you need to jump start your inner-craftiness, try checking out some of these eight ideas for DIY gifts.

1. Miniature Books: At LostButtonStudios.com you’ll find step-by-step instructions along with printable templates for making your own miniature books. Use wrapping paper, junk mail or old calendars as the cover. They’re great for keeping little notes or writing down thoughts.

2. Cookie Mix in a Jar: Everyone loves freshly baked cookies, but sometimes by the time the gift arrives, those cookies aren’t so fresh. By making your own mix and packaging it in a cute jar, the receiver can have yummy cookies whenever they want. Check out this recipe from About.com.

3. Creative Coasters: Coasters are a great gift for a wide variety of people. Pick up cork coasters for just a buck or two and use this tutorial from Paper and Stitch to embellish them with your own creative flair.

4. Dog Clothes: If you like to sew, make a gift any pet lover would love: a jacket for Fido! Check out this free pattern from Circle of Crafters.

5. Salt Scrub: Make your own salt scrub by mixing Epsom salts and baby oil until it looks like very wet snow.Â Add aromatherapy oil to make it smell pretty. Package it in a creative way.

6. Storage Crate: Laura Gunn came up with a lovely way to transform ugly plastic crates into cool containers. Print off her instructions, pick up some fabric and get to work.

7. Cookbook: Create, organize, and store your recipes in your very own customizable cookbook with TasteBook. A hardcover, full-color book with tabbed chapters starts at just $19.95. Put in your favorite recipes and pass them on to friends and family.

8. Pin Cushion: This one is easy enough for kids to try. Using scrap fabric, a round container and a few other supplies, easily create a pin cushion and pin storage container that anybody (especially seamstresses) will love.

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Now, let’s talk! Have you tried any of these? Let us know your opinion! Leave a comment!

How to Make Custom Art for Someone Special

How to Make a Feather Boa Wreath for Valentine’s Day

How to Make Creative Gift Tags

Eight Ideas for Handmade Gifts

Today’s Featured Gift Idea

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