3 easy Valentine's Day DIYs to impress loved ones

04 Feb 2026

Valentine's Day can be expensive! A box of chocolates, a card, dining out for dinner – it all adds up! Keep things simple and affordable this year with a one-of-a-kind gift that you can make yourself! Loved ones are sure to love these special projects, made just for them, or have some fun and make them for your friends.

Hung up on love

Looking for a unique and simple way to display your photos of your loved one? Try this DIY heart photo holder. Our image displays wedding photos, but this would work for any type of photos. You can also paint in your favourite colours to suit your home.

You will need:

• A piece of wood which is 60cm long, 9cm wide and 2cm thick 
• Glue
• Paintbrush
• Testpots in Resene Poppy and Black

Step 1: Gather everything you need.

Step 2: Paint the wood in Resene Black.

Step 3: Paint the heart pegs in Resene Poppy.

Step 4: Space out the pegs along the piece of wood and secure to the wood using glue.

Step 5: Clip on your photos and hang on the wall.

Wall in Resene Half Pearl Lusta, love sign in Candy Floss.

I love surprises

Whether this is for your kids or maybe a friend or family member, these heart shaped treat boxes make a great gift at Valentine's Day.  Simply paint boxes and add painted letters to the top of the boxes and pop treats inside.

You will need:

• Heart-shaped craft boxes (ours were from Spotlight and are 11cm wide and 11.5cm in height)
• Wooden letters
• Testpots in Resene Riptide, Dancing Girl and Ballerina
• Paintbrush
• Glue

Step 1: Paint your first box and letters in Resene Riptide

Step 2: Paint the second box and letters in Resene Dancing Girl.

Step 3: Paint the final box and letters in Resene Ballerina.

Step 4: Glue the painted letters onto the boxes. We mixed the colours up for interest but this is up to you.

Step 5: Pop in some treats and give to your friends, family and loved ones.

Background in Resene Half Pearl Lusta.

Pretty little vase

One of the most common gifts at Valentine's Day is flowers, so why not have a go at painting your own unique one. Then simply buy some inexpensive flowers and give to your favourite person.  This could also be a gift for Mother’s Day a friend’s birthday etc…

You will need:

• A flat vase (ours was from Farmers for $9.99 and was 19.5cm in height and 9cm wide)
• Wooden hearts (ours were from Looksharp)
• Glue
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Fine paintbrush
• Paintbrush
• Testpots in Resene Poppy and Hopbush

Step 1: Paint your vase in Resene Hopbush.

Step 2: Using a ruler and pencil draw your squares ready to paint.

Step 3: Using a fine paintbrush, paint the squares in Resene Poppy.

Step 4: Paint the wooden love hearts in Resene Poppy and Hopbush.

Step 5: Glue the painted hearts onto the squares of the vase.

Step 6: Pop in some flowers and give to your favourite person.

Background in Resene Half Pearl Lusta, books in Hopbush and Poppy, love sign in Ballerina.

projects Vanessa Nouwens

images Bryce Carleton

Published: 04 Feb 2026