10 Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for Your Gal

In my search for creative and meaningful gifts for my man, I couldn't help but stumble across more than a few gift ideas that I myself would love to receive...so I decided to make a guide for all you guys out there that don't have a clue what to do or get your gal for Valentine's Day.

I encourage you to go beyond the chocolate and roses, and let this list serve as inspiration...your lady will appreciate something that shows you know and love her personality.

Enjoy, and good luck guys ;)

Personalized Mother's Necklace - Calla Lily Charm - $56

"Design your own beautiful and unique personalized necklace. Three highly detailed calla lily charms are engraved and accented with the gemstone of your choice. Makes a lovely gift to celebrate your little ones!"
Click here to purchase

Bracelet made out of your first house key - DIY

What a unique and meaningful gift for the woman you love and share a home with!  This is a DIY project from the heart; however if you are not a DIY man - check out a local jeweler for assistance in creating something beautiful and custom!

Colt 45 Bullet Earrings in Gold Rush - $19.99

"Winchester Colt 45 brass bullet casings approximately 1/2 inch in diameter feature large 6mm Swarovski Crystal Elements.  The Brass Bullet Casings are real and have been cleaned and lightly polished."

Do you and your sweetie go to the range or hunting together?  This gift will celebrate your shared love of this activity while still appealing to her girly side!  
Click here to purchase

Personalized Brass Initial Ring - $20

"This personalized ring can hold two initials and be adjusted to fit your finger as you wish.  Wear your initials or those of someone you love, the initials are custom!" 

Click here to purchase

True Love Hammered Ring - $25
"This wonderful ring starts with a beautiful hammered band that is paired with a sweet domed heart (8x10mm) that can be left blank or stamped. A beautiful reminder of the true love in your life! Entirely sterling silver."
Click here to purchase

The Clutch for iPad - $89.99

For the chic geek girl in your life..."stylish lamb-skin iPad purse with pleated front and optional shoulder strap, comes in Red or Black"

Click here to purchase

Kate Spade "Whistle While You Work" iPad Case - $50

"A whimsical script styles a cushioned case designed to protect the Apple iPad or other e-readers."
Click here to purchase

Tory Burch 'Robinson' Smartphone Wallet - $155

"Saffiano texture brings scratch-resistant finish to a tidy wallet furnished with a compartment that fits just about any style of smartphone. A wrist strap provides an added element of carrying security."
Click here to purchase

Luxe 1080p HD Camcorder - $80

"Take a chic shot with this dream camcorder. It boasts 1080p HD technology, features a 3" swivel HDMI touch-screen interface for easy programming, and captures up to 12-megapixel pictures as well as cinema-quality video. When you're finished shooting, replay your memories on any HDTV with the included HDMI cable."
Click here to order

Bodum Eileen French Press - $30

"We developed the EILEEN French press coffee maker not only in honor of the great Irish designer Eileen Gray (1879 – 1976), but for all the coffee connoisseurs who frequent the bistros and cafés of Paris - Gray’s adopted city. It’s specifically designed to withstand the exacting conditions of busy café and restaurant use."
Click here to purchase

Wedding Picture with Lyrics to Your First Song - Price Varies

Pick your favorite picture from your wedding, and send it to GeeZees Custom Art Gallery to be printed on a canvas in your choice of size with lyrics to your first dance...she is SURE to absolutely love the thought put into this.  Caution...may be a tear-jerker:)

Click here to order

10 Valentine's Day Gifts For Your Man

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching, and it's time for us ladies to ask ourselves...what in the WORLD do I get for my man?  Searching "Valentine's gift for men" via google may produce generic and/or cheesy suggestions.  For example, during my initial search the first item that came up was a gift basket of Sweet and Salty Chocolate Balls (This is no joke).  Um...not only is this wildly inappropriate, but incredibly impersonal for the person whom I have spent the last 8 years with.

So - I made it my mission to compile a list of gift items "for him" that are unique, funny, useful, or just plain cool.  And most importantly...gifts I would actually give to my own man.

Enjoy, and feel free to add additional gift suggestions in the comments area below!

Latitude Longitude Keychain $32

"A personalized keychain in hammered copper, hand stamped with the latitude and longitude coordinates of your choosing. The perfect gift to mark the special location of...your first kiss, proposal, wedding, anniversary, birth of a baby, first home...anywhere on the globe that is special to you and yours. "

Click here to purchase

Acoustic iPhone 5 dock in Curly Maple $39.50

"Precision crafted out of beautiful North West curly maple, typically used for instruments like guitars, this dock is specifically designed for iPhone 5.  The most EXCITING feature is the pockets for the speaker and the mike. The pockets are acoustically connected with your iPhone 5 speaker and microphone so that your music is louder and clearer." 

Click here to purchase

Sardina and Flash Grand Cru Camera $109

"Instead of champagne for Valentine's Day (or in addition?) consider the champagne-themed line of cameras like the La Sardinia and Flash Grand Cru. It's finished with metallic paint and actual cork, plus a super powerful flash for indoor, wide angle shooting."

There are a wide range of colors and patterns to choose from too!

Click here to purchase

1965 Playboy Pair $40

If he is a Playboy reader (or a "looker" shall we say?) he may enjoy a pair of vintage Playboy magazines.  These are the September 1965 and October 1965 issues. 

Click here to purchase

Story of How You Met - DIY

"Everyone has a story of the exact moment they met the BIG LOVE of their life – I bet you're smiling just thinking about it, aren't you? What a sweet moment for a happy a couple to hang on their wall."

This personalized print can be purchased on Etsy, or would be a great meaningful DIY gift for your special man!

Click here to purchase

Warby Parker x The Standard Sunglasses - $95

"The charitable and on-trend team at Warby Parker have partnered with The Standard hotel to create a limited edition pair of their Winston shades in a classic striped ale colorway."

They are a mix of 60's style and modern; perfect for the on-trend guy.

Click here to purchase

Ticket Stub Diary - $12.99

"If you have a box full of ticket stubs that could use some organizational attention, this is the perfect scrapbook for you! Like a photo album for your old tickets, this book is filled with 22 acid-free pages with clear pockets ideal for displaying those little pieces of your personal history."

Great gift for the concert going guy in your life!

Click here to purchase

Personalized Magnetic Capcatcher - $38.90

"The classic Magnetic Capcatcher measures 3" x 10", and comes with our Mega Magnet.  Easily attaches to a refrigerator (door or side), or any metal surface that will take a magnet."

This is perfect for the bar in the man cave!

Click here to purchase

Lightsaber Icepop Maker - $20

For the Star Wars geek in your life - this is not the most romantic gift, but it's certainly funny!

Click here to purchase

Anthony Bourdain's Les Halles Cookbook - $40

"In this long-awaited cookbook, Anthony Bourdain brings you a cookbook like no other: candid, funny, audacious, full of his signature charm and bravado. Inside, he teaches you everything you need to know to prepare classic French bistro fare."

Perfect for the man who cooks - and ladies, it's beneficial for you too! 

Click here to purchase

I hope this list helped - at the very least inspired you - to think about more creative options than a salty-ball filled gift basket :)  

Happy Valentine's Day to you all, and remember to keep it creative!

Casey Noelle Bahl

Belle Noelle Events & Design

Belle Noelle's DIY Custom Coasters

Holiday gift giving can be so much fun (or stressful depending on how you look at it!), and a time to put your creative mind to work for the ones you love.  However, when the presents are all bought and wrapped up beautifully under the tree you realize it can take quite a toll out of your pocketbook.  

This year my mother in law mentioned they needed new coasters for their living room and bar area, so being the gift-researcher that I am I found some beautiful options for custom coasters...for about $40 per set!  It seemed to be something that could turn into a fun DIY project that would save us money at the same time, so I decided to give it a shot.

Here is the process I used to make these fun and inexpensive coasters!

1.  Find 4x4 distressed looking tumbled tiles - I prefer Chiaro Tumbled Tiles. You can get them at Home Depot or Lowes; 9 in a box for around $4.00. 

2.  Wipe the tile off with a wet paper towel and let dry before you start.

3.  Cut out a small 1/2" square from a post-it from the sticky end, and stick on the middle of the tile.  (Mine has some ink from previous coasters I stamped).

4.  Using any stamp that you like (I used a chevron pattern for my coasters; $12 Michaels), stamp the image using StazOn or Archival Ink over the post-it.  StazOn ink around $7, bigger Archival Ink around $12.

5.  Now take the post-it piece off.  You will be left with a perfect spot to stamp on the initial of your choice!  

I used Recollections stamps from Michaels; $14.95.

6.  Let ink dry for about an hour or so.

7.  After ink is dry, use a sponge (a clean dish sponge cut into a small square will do) to apply a coat of Modge Podge to the tile.  This will seal your design, and prevent any moisture from affecting the ink.  I used a matte finish.

8.  Let the tiles sit out overnight so the Modge Podge dries completely.  To use as coasters be sure to put sticky felt rounds or cork squares on the bottom corners so they do not scratch any tabletop surface.

9.  Finally, you have a set of beautiful handmade custom coasters!  They make wonderful gifts for the holidays, as a housewarming gift, birthdays, or even as favors at a party.  Get creative with it, and have fun!

Original Photos by: Casey Noelle Bahl of Belle Noelle

Materials Needed:

• Rubber stamp(s) of your choice
• Tumbled 4x4 tiles (I used Chiaro Tumbled)
• StazOn, Brilliance, Archival or Hybrid Palette ink pads 
• Mod Podge
• Sponges
• Cork or sticky felt rounds