Ten Unique Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

So you don't know what to get your partner for Valentine's Day? You're not alone. Most people struggle to find a good gift for their partner on this special day. You want to buy something that expresses how much you love your significant other, something they will be delighted to receive. Of course, there are heaps of unoriginal gifts you can buy, but what can you do if you want to surprise him/her with something more unique than chocolate, flowers, or stuffed animals?

I have researched ten Valentine's Day gifts that are unique, and have also provided links to some of the items. There is a wide price range...some gifts you can make yourself with very little cost, or there are also more expensive items you can purchase if you really want to splurge and spoil your partner.

I hope you enjoy reading about them! Leave me a comment if you give one of these items to your partner, and let me know his/her reaction!

What better way to show your feelings for your loved one than by naming a star for him or her? There are different organisations you can visit that can register a name for a star as chosen by you.

Not only can you have a star named for your loved one, but in some cases you can purchase extras. These may include a framed certificate, a visit to an observatory to view the star through a telescope, or maps showing exactly where the star is located.

I was lucky enough to receive this gift from a boyfriend many years ago. We went to the observatory, and he surprised me with the gift. We got to view the star, and the whole experience was very romantic! It is a gift I have never forgotten, and I assure you your partner would be delighted to receive this. The only difficulty is in deciding what to name the star...do you simply use your partner's first name, or something else? Spend some time thinking about it before you set it in stone.

Handmade gifts are always special, as the person who has made them has had to put in time and effort to make something that has come from the heart. These gifts may include homemade food, cards, clothes, etc.

There are also kits you can buy online that allow you to make a personalised gift for your loved one. These kits include making your own board game, making your own bumper stickers (you can stick a bumper sticker to your car saying, "I love Mary" for example), and making your own food items (e.g. chocolate, sushi, etc.). Check out the links to the right for some inspiration.

Also available online are "How to" books and movies. These items provide step-by-step instructions you can follow to create your own movies, jewellery, music...and just about everything else!

If you are a talented poet or songwriter, why not write a poem or song for your partner? The best thing about this gift is that it doesn't cost anything!

You can present this poem or song to your partner on paper, but there are more creative things you can do. You can have it printed and framed, placed in a newspaper, or published on your blog or webpage as a way of publicly acknowledging your love for your significant other. You can also film yourself reciting or singing your poem/song, and upload it to YouTube, or burn it to dvd. The possibilities are endless!

There are books available that can give you tips and advice on how to write the best poems or songs if you need a bit of help in this area.

There are many charitable organisations to which you can donate, instead of buying a gift for your partner, on Valentine's Day.

There are a few ways you can do it. Your first option is to simply make a one-off donation in your partner's name to his or her favourite charity, or a charity that has special significance to him or her. Another option is to sponsor something in his or her name. You can sponsor a child, an animal or even a tree. Some charities actually have a gift catalogue where you can purchase an item for someone in need in your partner's name, and this is your third option. Depending on your budget you could donate anything from a mosquito net to a child in Africa, to equipment to provide an entire community with clean water.

Instead of buying an item for your partner, you can take him/her on a "Mystery Tour." You can purchase these through travel agencies, or you can also arrange your own.

You need to think of a special place to take your loved one, and make all the arrangements. These arrangements may include booking tickets, organising food, being prepared for wet weather, etc. Don't tell your partner in advance where you are taking him/her; it has to be a surprise! Don't forget to take a camera to capture all those special moments.

There are many books and websites you can consult to choose the perfect surprise getaway for you and your partner. Depending on your budget, you could take your partner anywhere, from a local national park for a picnic, to another country for sightseeing!

I'm not talking about gift vouchers from department stores! If you're short on cash, you can make vouchers for your partner which they can exchange for a variety of things. For example, you can make vouchers that can be redeemed for massages, chores, and other special things. Be creative! You can make these by hand, or print them from your computer. You can also buy ready-made vouchers online or at certain stores. There are some links for these to the right.

Scrapbooking is a great way you can display photos and other mementos in one book or album. You'll need to collect all your materials, such as photos, mementos, coloured paper, ribbon, buttons, glue, scissors, textas, paint...anything you can use to create a beautiful scrapbook of your memories. Then you can start creating your masterpiece! Another option is to make a photobook. You can do this through various websites. All you need to do is upload your photos and the company print them and make them into a book for you. Much more stylish than your average photo album.

A different idea is to send your partner on a treaure hunt. All you need to do is buy a few small gifts, and hide them around your house and/or garden with clues. You can even extend the treasure hunt outside of your home, by placing gifts in the homes of friends and family, and even in public places (although, for obvious reasons, they must be very well hidden).

There are many adventurous things you can do with your partner to ensure you have a memorable Valentine's Day. You can choose from the following list, or come up with your own ideas!

• Hot Air Balloon Ride
• Shark Cage Diving
• Bungee Jumping
• Skydiving
• Canyoning
• Rally Driving
• Helicopter Flying
• Scuba Diving
• Surfing
• Rock Climbing
• Abseiling

This last gift idea can be done cheaply, but you can also spend a lot of money if you desire. It involves proclaiming your love for your partner publicly.

You can do this for almost no cost by painting a message on a large piece of fabric (e.g. a bedsheet) and hanging it off a bridge. Then, you can go for a drive with your partner and wait how long it takes for him/her to notice it! You can also print a message on pieces of paper and post them on powerpoles and trees in your partner's area.

Many newspapers allow people to publish short ads in the classifieds section on Valentine's Day for their partners. This is normally quite affordable. The longer the ad, the more expensive it costs.

If you are VERY rich, and willing to spend several thousand dollars, you can even hire a skywriting plane to write a message in the sky for your loved one.