When Valentine's day is coming closer, many people start thinking of Valentine's day gift ideas. Every year on February 14 chocolates, roses, cards and other Valentine's Day gifts are exchanged. Learning how to make Valentine is an activity the whole family can be involved in. Besides that, you will also save some money, because instead of purchasing a valentine's day gift, you will be making one yourself.

Legend has it that Valentine's day is named after St. Valentine, a priest who served during the third century in Rome. He was sentenced to death and thrown in prison for secretly consummating the marriages of young lovers after Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage for young men. He believed single men made better soldiers. From prison Valentine wrote a letter to a girl he had fallen in love with. He signed the letter "From your Valentine".http://www.history.com/content/valentine/history-of-valentine-s-day

Valentine's Day is the day you express your feelings to someone you love. Some people do this through giving gifts and others send cards (sometimes anonymous). There are many different Valentines you can make. You can find various designs and crafts online. The steps below describe instructions to making a very easy to make Valentine's day card and a butterfly valentine's day card.

There are different kinds of Valentines you can make. You can keep it simple, or you can go all out. To make the simple Valentine described on this page you will need: http://crafts.kaboose.com/valentine_homemade.html

1. 8.5 x 11 Construction paper or card stock any colors and/or patterns
2. Valentine's Day stickers and/or heart stickers
3. Scissors
4. Glue stick
5. Glitter
6. Markers

To make the butterfly Valentine described on this page you will need:

1. Craft Stick
2. Construction Paper
3. Markers
4. Chenille for the stem
5. Glitter
6. Craft Glue
7. Scissors

To make a Valentine, you don't have to be a craft making expert. The following card is very simple and easy to make and is sure to get the message across:

1. Take a piece of construction paper and cut it into four equal parts.
2. Fold the four pieces in half to make cards
3. Decorate the cards to your own liking. You can use stickers, glitter, markers and any other decorative supplies you have. Make sure to use contrasting patterns and colors so that it stands out.
4. If the cards curl up, place them under a heavy phone book so they will straighten out.
5. Write any note to a loved one inside the card.

Keep in mind that decorations like stickers and glitter come in wide varieties. Stores like Wal-Mart sell them for cheap. It doesn't have to be expensive. http://crafts.kaboose.com/valentine_homemade.html

This is a Valentine's day card is in the shape of a butterfly. To make it do the following: http://familycrafts.about.com/od/butterflycrafts/a/HeartButterfly.htm

1. Cut 2 hearts out or red paper, about the height of the craft stick.
2. Cut off the bottom of the heats.
3. These two hearts are your butterfly wings. Lay the hearts down so the bottom overlapping. (Like wings) The hearts are basically lying sideways in front of you.
4. Use the glue stick and glue the bottom of the hearts together. Now you will have your wings.
5. Use a marker to make eyes and a mouth on the craft stick.
6. If you want you can color the craft stick in a color of your choice.
7. Use 2 inches of a chenille stem to make the butterfly's antler. Just glue them on the back of the craft stick.

You can decorate the butterfly with stickers, colored paper, glitter and basically any decorations of your choice. You can also write a Valentine's day message on the wings.