Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and suddenly we’re frantically searching the web for a gift that screams ‘I love you’ in the best possible way to our loved one without breaking the bank.
Ever thought about making your gifts instead? Not only will the gift be handmade with TLC but, it can save you some serious pennies along the way. Buzz Bingo is sharing ways in which we can use a new hobby to make some pretty thoughtful gifts without breaking the bank.
A spokesperson from Buzz Bingo says: “Our customers love doing something fun and entertaining. Many of us are making cutbacks due to the cost of living and may not be able to afford lavish gifts this Valentine’s. We wanted to share some creative ways that you can spread love, make your own gifts, and maybe pick up a new hobby this Valentine’s Day.”
Crochet Flower Bouquet
Crochet has taken social media by storm, the #crochettok tag has been linked to 1.5 billion videos on TikTok alone. It’s a great hobby to pick up if you’re creative or wanting to whip up some quick gifts. All you need to start is a ball of yarn and a crochet hook, all of which you can grab for around £5.
Crochet flower bouquets are currently trending with 119.9 million mentions on TikTok, and the best thing about them is that they last a lifetime. If you’ve got a galentine or valentine that loves receiving flowers, but isn’t the best at looking after them – this is a great gift idea! Simply search #crochetflowers on TikTok to learn how to make them.
Polymer Jewellery
Who doesn’t want to receive a new pair of earrings for Valentine’s Day, even better, with a bracelet to match.
If your friend or partner loves all things maximalism, they’ll probably love receiving a quirky pair of handmade polymer earrings by yours truly. This craft has gained major momentum in 2022 with just over 40 thousand videos on TikTok using the hashtag and is set to keep growing in popularity throughout 2023.
Polymer kits start from just £10 on Amazon and include everything you need to get started! If you’re looking for inspiration or how to make certain designs, search #polymerjewellery on TikTok for tutorials and inspiration.
Date Jar
One thing that most of us can relate to is being indecisive when it comes to places to eat or date night activities. A super cheap, but extremely thoughtful, gift idea is to make a date ideas jar.
All you need for this gift idea is a jar, paper and pen – all of which you probably already have at home, meaning you don’t have to spend a penny! All you have to do is cut up the paper into small pieces, write down date ideas and pop them into the jar. Between 52-100 ideas is a good number to go for, so you’ve got at least one idea for each week of the year.
Knitted Blanket or Scarf
Arguably the same, but different. Knitting is becoming just as popular as crochet, with 2.9 million videos using the hashtag on TikTok.
Valentine’s Day falls while we’re still in the midst of winter, and one can never have too many blankets or scarves. Rather than heading out and buying them something cosy, why not make it instead? There’s something super special about a hand knitted item, and it’ll be one of a kind!
You can either start out with traditional knitting by using needles and a ball of yarn which you can get from £5, or you could invest in a Knitting Machine which is trending right now among the #KnittingTok community – this way, you don’t need to know how to knit, the machine does all the hard work for you!
Handmade Candle
Candles are always a good gift, but a way to make gifting one that little more special is by making it yourself. Candlemaking is a super satisfying process and 1.3 billion videos on TikTok have tagged #candlemaking. Candle making is also pretty inexpensive, with kits starting from £15 over on Etsy. Whether you’re looking for soy candles, a DIY bubble candle-making kit, or one that you can embellish with dried flowers – they’ve got it all.
