Will You Be My (Recycled) Valentine?
I have a confession: January was a very busy month for me personally, and I didn’t get a single new article published. That’s been really weighing on me, but I’m up and at ‘em with outlines on outlines for new articles this month! Now I have one more confession: no matter how many trips to Target I make, I physically cannot resist the dollar section right at the entrance. This time of year, it’s all Valentine’s Day decorations and cards, and as I slapped my own hands away from buying all the red glitter glue that I could hold (when else will it only cost $1???), I got to thinking how quickly most of this stuff was going to wind up in the trash. Making little crafts is one of my favorite ways to de-stress, and I also love to throw up a few seasonal decorations to keep my apartment cheerful. It didn’t take long for me to put 2 and 2 together on my last Target run and realize how wasteful my Valentine’s Day plans were. Buy paper and plastic decorations, buy valentines cards for friends and family, maybe get this cute valentine mailbox to receive all zero of my valentine cards (because I’m not in elementary school) cute cellophane bags to deliver cookies to my neighbors in…
This all got me to thinking about how I could marry two of my loves: sustainability and seasonal crafts/decorations. I’ve put down a few of my ideas below in the spirit of rethinking our daily habits and inching toward a more sustainable society. Don’t worry, I’m not turning the Troop into a crafting blog, but don’t be whatever the Valentine’s Day equivalent of a grinch is. LET ME HAVE THIS.
Without further ado, I give you the Scout Leader’s guide to your most sustainable Valentine’s Day yet!
First things first: let’s set the ~mood~ with some decorations! The main idea here is to work with what you already have, and steer clear of the landfill. Try making your own cards with what you have at home instead of buying a set that’s wrapped in trash-bound plastic film. I know this tiny act isn’t going to change the world and I’m not trying to guilt-trip you for your simple pleasures - I only want to encourage you to make small changes where you can and let that habit build up to the big changes. Want to hand out treats to your friends or your kids’ classmates? Try baking some at home instead of buying individually wrapped candies. Decorate paper lunch sacks instead of using cellophane bags. Stamp the bags with paper towel roll hearts instead of buying stickers. See how many Scout points you can earn in a single project by making sustainable swaps. I think of this as a little game, but if this type of creativity makes you stressed, scroll through Pinterest! The internet is a bottomless resource, so don’t let the overwhelm of thinking up your own ideas stop you from your project. In fact, allow me to scroll through Pinterest for you while I avoid doing my laundry…
I found some gorgeous bathroom tiles, but more importantly, I found some great Valentine’s Day ideas!! Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t want to give any of these a whirl.
Let’s start simple: fold up some paper hearts for a little texture! This trick makes it easy to level up your craft game.
Channel your inner middle schooler/serial killer and get to cutting and pasting! I always have old copies of The Economist laying around and this is such a cute use!
This potato stamped gift wrap is precious! Who doesn’t have some newspaper laying around? Make a stamp out of a potato, a toilet paper roll, and old shoe… get creative!
Newspaper and paint coming in clutch again! So easy.
Why buy a valentine mailbox when you can make your own? This one is made out of an old box of laundry or dishwasher soap pods. The penguin is adorable, but you could make any animal!
Want a little more guidance for making your mailbox? Check out this llama box that has printable templates!
And last but certainly not least, check out these little seed packets!! They can be planted in a little dirt and will grow into flowers! Honestly I love this idea so much I’m considering it as a wedding favor.
If crafting truly isn’t your thing, head to a thrift store! Thrift shops always have a box of candles between the odd-numbered set of margarita glasses and the ballerina keepsake figurines. Reusing previously-used items is a great way to live more sustainably. From clothes to furniture to seasonal decor, there’s almost always a great used option that eliminates packaging and the cycle of wasteful single-use consumerism.
Now that everything is decorated, what about some date night or family activities?
Hit that thrift shop again! Give you and your date (or Galentine) a budget, and buy eachother a gift from the thrift shop. I promise you’ll have some laughs looking through the store, and whether your gift is silly or serious, you’ll have a reminder of the time you spent together that day.
Volunteer! One of my favorite ways to spend time with my fiance or friends is to volunteer together. Sign up to work at a food bank or family shelter, or just head to your favorite park with some gloves and pick up trash! You can tailor the activity to your interests, and it’s a great way to spend time and create memories without producing waste.
Take a class together! Take a cooking class, a class at a craft store, a dance class, or just find a youtube recipe you want to try at home. I know Fort Worth offers classes on composting, which is a great skill to bring home! Learning something new is a great bonding experience and creates even more date night options down the line.
Take a hike! In the good way. Support our national and state parks by visiting one for a camping or day trip. Extra romance points if you pack a little picnic or bring an extra activity like a scavenger hunt list. Just remember what Tina Belcher says: “leave only footprints and take only memories.” Does she actually say that or did I just make that up? Let me know.
Go bowling! If you can get past the shoe thing, this will make for a very cute date. I promise once you cozy up under the weird bowling lights in your own little lane, it’ll be like you’re the only ones there. Plus you get the opportunity to touch hands alot.
Can you tell by now that I’m a big fan of experiences as gifts? The list could go on and on, and in fact it does if you just google “date ideas.” The bottom line is that there are tons of options out there that will give you a great holiday AND won’t create any waste! All the seasonal knicknacks are adorable, but will your valentine actually keep them longer than a month? Chances are that they won’t, so why don’t you skip the stuff altogether and invest in a memory? If you have your heart set on a physical gift, check out my gifting guide.
I’m off to probably glue my fingers together while I make some Valentine’s Day crafts. I hope this article was a lighthearted reminder that we can always rethink our minor habits and that it can be fun to make sustainable swaps! If you use any of these ideas, throw a picture on the Troop 7B Facebook page! Happy Scouting, and Happy Valentine’s Day!
