Conversation hearts are one of those love-'em-or-hate-'em kind of candies.  They're not my favorites (they remind me of heart-shaped Tums), but they are one of those classic, iconic candies nonetheless.  If you'd rather non eat them, how about crafting with them instead?  Katie from Sew Woodsy turned a box of them into a set of magnets, sealing them up with a coat of sparkle Mod Podge.  (Gloss or matte Mod Podge would also work if you don't have any of the glittery kind or if glitter just isn't your bag.)  [how to make conversation heart magnets]

Project estimate:

• Conversation hearts, about $0.50
• Mod podge, on hand
• Sheet magnet, on hand or $1 and up
• Hot glue, on hand

Total:  about $0.50 and up

If the special someone in your life doesn't go for frivolous gifts, they will surely appreciate a functional Valentine's Day gift like this adorable "love" key holder.  Over at Mod Podge Rocks!, Man Podger Walter used an unfinished, heart-shaped frame from the $1 section at Michael's as the starting point for a useful key station that will also remind you of the one you love every time you come and go.  It's both practical and romantic, a difficult balance to find!  [how to make a Valentine's Day key holder]

Project estimate:

• Unfinished heart frame, $1 at Michael's
• Wooden heart shapes, $1
• Screw hooks, $1
• Scrapbook paper, on hand
• Paint, on hand
• Mod Podge, on hand
• Rubber stamps, on hand
• Ink pad, on hand
• Screws, on hand or $1
• Photo, on hand

Total:  $3 and up

We love hex nut projects.  Hardware bits are such fun as craft supplies!  Over at i try DIY, Mikko used hex nuts joined with jump rings to create a heart-shaped pendant that would make a great Valentine's Day gift.  If hearts aren't your thing, you could arrange the hex nuts in an endless number of other patterns instead.  For a different look, try using nuts with different finishes, or use colored rings to connect them.  [how to make a hex nut heart pendant]

Project estimate:

• Hex nuts, on hand or $1 and up
• Jump rings, on hand or $1
• Cord or chain, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  Free and up

Candy is my favorite of all the classic Valentine's Day gifts, hands down.  I have such a huge sweet tooth!  If you want to give something a little more special than a box of assorted Russell Stover whatnots, try making your own candy.  This strawberry fudge by Shelly at Cookies and Cups is the easiest recipe you'll ever see, requiring just two ingredients!  Just looking at the pictures is making me want to hoard a whole batch all to myself...  [how to make two-ingredient strawberry fudge]

Project estimate:

• Strawberry frosting, $1 and up
• White chocolate chips, about $2.50 and up

Total:  about $3.50 and up

This gumball machine idea is so stinkin' adorable!  They are made by stacking flower pots and glass bowls together; isn't it amazing how much they look like the real deal?  I tip my hat to Pamela of Pamela Susan's Fine Jewelry & Gifts for coming up with these!  When I first saw them, I totally did a double-take as I realized how they were constructed.  Whether you make one for your own holiday decor or you give them as gifts to your sweetest friends, this is a clever idea that is certain to make people smile when they see it!  [how to make a Valentine's Day gumball machine]

Project estimate:

• Flower pot with drainage saucer, $1 and up
• Glass bowl, $1
• Paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Wooden ball or knob, on hand or $1
• Glue, on hand
• Candy, $1 and up

Total:  $3 and up

I've long been a fan of the plain little notebooks made by an Italian company called Moleskine.  They're a blank slate inside and out (perfect for us artsy types) and come in various sizes, the smaller of which are perfect for throwing in your purse or glove box so you always have them handy.  They're awesome, but that awesomeness comes at a price.  They aren't ridiculously expensive, but for me (I prefer to purchase notebooks for 29 cents each at back-to-school time), they are more than I want to spend.  Feeling the same way, Josie from Fine & Feathered wrote a simple tutorial for making your own...  for free!  The most difficult part of the project is (brace yourself)...  sewing in a straight line.  Sounds tough, eh?  [how to make faux moleskine notebooks]

Project estimate:

• Cereal box, on hand
• Paper, on hand
• Rounded corner punch (optional), on hand
• Glue stick, on hand
• Ruler, in hand
• X-acto knife, on hand
• Sewing machine, on hand

Total:  Free

The decorations are hung, the dinner menu is finalized, and gifts have all been bought.  Now all that's left to do is wrap them up and tuck them under the tree.  You reach into the depths of your wrapping paper supply, and you pull out wedding paper, baby shower paper, over-the-hill paper....  Oh no, you're out of Christmas wrapping paper!  There are four options at this point:  1) Brave going to the store in the last few days before Christmas and risk life and limb (not to mention spending an hour in line) to make it through the checkouts; 2) Go with the Bert and Ernie birthday paper and hope no one notices; 3) Panic; or 4) Improvise!  Jessica from How About Orange dug some newspaper out of her recycling bin and fashioned it into some simple, sturdy gift bags.  I don't know about you, but I would be diving straight into the Sunday comic pages for this project!  [how to make recycled newspaper gift bags]

Project estimate:

• Newspaper, on hand
• Cardstock or chipboard, on hand or $1
• Glue, on hand
• Hole punch, on hand
• String or ribbon, on hand

Total:  Free and up

If you're looking for a quick-and-easy idea for a little holiday treat, candy is a classic choice.  Can you ever really go wrong with chocolate?  Laura from The Pharma Blog came up with this cute idea for gifting a handful of Hershey's Kisses, complete with a free printable template.  This project has more possibilities than just Christmas treats, though; I think these would make awesome wedding favors, which could be personalized by adding names and a date to the little paper flags sticking out of the tops.  [how to make merry kiss-mas treat pouches]

Project estimate:

• Scrapbook paper, on hand
• Sewing machine or glue, on hand
• Printable template, free
• Hershey Kisses, $1 and up

Total:  $1 and up

Let's face it, button pins make everything more awesome. I've seen street vendors and trendy hipster stores sell custom pins for a few dollars each. I figured I could make my own easily enough and would make great gifts for friends, the best part is that I can customize each button so it's personal to each recipient.

This project uses old bottle caps as the base for each pin, clear casting resin to hold the image in place and a regular safety pin to affix it to your clothes. This inexpensive and fun project is sure to delight everyone. Did I mention it's customizable? It bears repeating because it's just so amazing!

Project estimate:

• Bottle caps, free
• Resin, on hand or about $10 and up
• Safety pins, on hand or $1
• Disposable cups, on hand
• Stir sticks or popsicle sticks, on hand
• Soldering iron and solder, on hand or about $10 and up
• Sandpaper, on hand
• Scissors, on hand
• Computer and printer, on hand

Total: Free and up

I brainstormed image ideas that I thought would be easily understood at a quick glance. I scoured the internet for images and dumped them into an imaging editing software (GIMP is great free image editing tool).

In your image editing software set up a new work space with the same dimensions as standard printer paper, A4 [8.5"x11"]. The inside diameter of the bottle caps were measured at about 25mm [1"]. In the image editing software I set up a simple grid template of circles with the same diameter as my bottle caps. Accounting for printing margins I got about 8 circles across and 11 deep.

Each image I found from the internet was copied onto the circle template. I've provided the sheet I used, feel free to use it as-is or as a template for your own images.

When your template is full of images print in colour and then cut out each circle. After cutting place one circular image cut-out in each bottle cap.

I got my caps from a local bar, I asked nicely and they set aside the caps for me. After a busy weekend I had more bottle caps than I knew what to do with!

Since I got my bottle caps from a bar, they reeked of beer and regret. So, I tossed all the dirty bottle caps into a large bowl with warm, soapy water and let soak overnight. In the morning I cleaned and rinsed the caps, then left them on a towel to dry. After, I sorted out the really bend or damaged caps, and tried to re-bend all the misshapen ones.

Following the directions from the package of EasyCast, I warmed the resin and hardener bottles in warm water for a few minutes. Then I poured equal amount into separate disposable cups (exact measurements are important, do not 'eyeball'). When equal portions have been measured out, combine into one cup and stir for 2 minutes. Ensure sides, bottom and stir stick itself have been incorporated into the mixing, resin mixture must be homogeneous.

After mixing pour contents into a new clean disposable cup and mixed for another 2 minutes with a new stir stick. After secondary mixing the resin is ready to be poured. Use resin immediately, as the chemical reaction has begun once mixed and will begin to harden.

The resin was carefully poured into each bottle cap, filling only about halfway. I used about half of the resin and hardener for my 80 caps (each bottle is 4oz [120ml] and I used 2oz [60ml]). After pouring I went back with a new stir stick and poked down any images that had floated to the top or were otherwise misaligned. Allow resin to cure overnight.

After the resin has cured it's time to attach our pins. The reason this is done after the resin has been cast is that we needed the bottle caps to lie flat when casting to ensure a level surface for each pin button.

All bottle caps have a logo or image on the top, to ensure good contact for our solder each cap needs to be sanded to remove this logo, allowing the solder to have good contact. No need to sand the entire top of the cap, just a strip where the safety pin will be. Leaving some of the logo or image adds a neat bit of flair to an otherwise boring pin back.

Using fine sandpaper (100grit) or a rotary tool, sand away a strip on the back of each pin to reveal bare metal, then solder on a safety pin to the back. Repeat for each pin.
Step 6Pin to stuff

All that's left is to pin your new buttons to your favourite jacket, bag or whatever else you wear!
So, what are you going to pin your bottle cap buttons to?

This one is sure to be a hit with all of you who prefer to give practical gifts. I mean, stockings are cute and traditional and all, but they aren't very useful once they've been unstuffed. You could always slap a pair on your feet and go strutting around town in them, but what would the neighbors say? Colleen from Mural Maker and More opted to stuff an oven mitt instead, creating a great gift for anyone with a kitchen!  Okay, maybe not that single guy from your office whose culinary repertoire ends at thawing a Lean Cuisine in the microwave.  Let's rephrase:  anyone who uses their kitchen!  [how to stuff an oven mitt "stocking"]

Project estimate:

• Oven mitt, $1 and up
• Wooden spoons, $1 and up
• Cinnamon sticks, $1 and up
• Pine garland, on hand or $1
• Ribbon, on hand

Total:  $3 and up