Homemade Valentine gifts: unique Valentine's gift ideas from Italy.

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Homemade Valentine gifts: unique Valentine's gift ideas from Italy.

Cath's collage photo of some of our special Rome wedding moments.

Homemade Valentine gifts don't have to cost much.

Here are our ideas for last minute Valentine gifts based on Italian culture and traditions.

Write poetry. It doesn't have to be long words and floury language. The twenty winners from the poetry competition which forms part of the Valentine's day traditions in Camogli, Italy tend to be simple and heartfelt. Write from your heart as though you're talking to your Valentine, and the words will come.

Write a letter. So you don't think you're up to writing a sonnet? Here's an easier idea.

The art of letter-writing is dying out with the ever-increasing use of computers, but it makes it all the more special to receive one.

Unlike flowers, writing a letter isn't expensive and doesn't fade away. So, make the most unique Valentine's gift you could give - follow the Valentine's day creative ideas from Verona, Italy and write a letter to your loved one.

Make your card special - use Italian notepaper. Florence and Venice are two of the most romantic cities in the world, and the home of beautiful handmade Italian note paper. Try making your own card.

If you have keepsakes from places you've enjoyed together, stick them as a collage to form the front, and use the inside to write your special message.

If you're feeling very adventurous, try using some of our Italian love phrases to really impress!

And if you haven't time to order Italian paper, or if it's too expensive, use simple heavy notepaper from your local stationer's. One of the most simple, personalised Italian-themed homemade Valentine gifts you could dream of.

Draw a picture. If you're anything like us, you might not necessarily think that's a great idea - our skills as artists could best be described as limited! But who cares? Again, if it comes from the heart, why not?

Sketch your favourite place, a sunset, a sunny mountain lake - think about what will mean the most to your Valentine and make an unique Valentine's gift.

Cath made this art form using a simple photo of a sunset in Liguria and free internet software.

Invest in some homemade art. OK - so you can't draw to save your life. Have a look for some beautiful pictures which won't cost the earth.

Have you got old postcards stored away from favourite destinations? Make a collage and frame it for one of the homemade Valentine gifts sure to spark lots of happy memories.

Or for some really impressive homemade Valentine gifts get together some memorable photos on your computer and use a free software programme to make an collage - it's simple to do and very effective. Try www.Picture2Life.com.

Take a picture. If you really can't draw, why not use a photo of your partner, or have someone take a picture of the two of you, and put it in a frame as an unique Valentine's gift?   Think about somewhere you were particularly happy together and dig out your old albums.

What about photos of the two of you as children growing up? Make a scrapbook - even old photos can be enhanced to look good with computer technology.   Or make an e-collage as a screensaver - see above.

And if you want pictures of places in Italy you dream of visiting, follow this link to send free e-cards of Italy.

Run a bath. Give your Valentine the most precious gift ever - time together. Italians are one of the most romantic nations in the world and Italian culture and traditions view time spent together as a necessity of life, not a luxury.

So do as the Italians do and invest some time together : run a bath, add some oil if you've got some, light your room with tiny tea lights and open a bottle of sparkling wine. One of the best last minute Valentine gifts you could give.

Buy some candles. Originally used by the ancient Romans as a source of light, candles in Italian culture traditions have come to signify devotion and commitment. Valentine's meals in Italy are inevitably lit by candles - and they don't have to cost a lot.

Invest in a packet of tea lights and light your whole room with them; cluster them in the centre of the table when you eat; light the bathroom with them while you take a bath together - one of the most romantic of homemade Valentine gifts.

Make dinner. Want to give one of the best truly homemade Valentine's gifts? Cooking for loved ones, whether a partner or a whole family, is a big part of Italian culture and traditions. Italian food customs mean you can cook a large meal or small - as long as you cook it with love.

Italian hotels always present sumptuous meals on Valentine's day but yours needn't be over-the-top. Try a simple pasta dish, which doesn't have to be expensive.

Have a look at these great Italian pasta recipes for some cheap and easy to make pasta Valentine recipes.

Make heart-shaped bread and cakes. One of the yummiest recipes we've ever made - and one of the simplest - is this focaccia bread recipe.

Turn it into a truly homemade Valentine gift by using some heart-shaped silicone cookware to tell your loved one how much you care!

Make Italian chocolate biscotti. What's the one food lovers love? - Chocolate! There's no need to buy expensive boxed sweets or to follow Italian Easter egg tradition and go for ornate wrappings - why not try making some gorgeous Italian chocolate biscotti instead?

Follow the link for a simple recipe - it's ideal if you're looking for last minute homemade Valentine gifts because most of the ingredients can be found in the average food cupboard.

The smell of warm chocolate and the fact that you've invested your time and effort into baking them make these one of the most sensuous and unique Valentine's gifts.

Valentine's day facts from Italy.

Homemade Valentine gifts from Italy
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