I know Valentine's Day is one of those subjects about which people tend to have strong opinions. On one side, we have those who adore the holiday--the flowers, the chocolate, the lovey-dovey cards, Cupids everywhere, all the pink and red hearts... And on the other side, we have those vehemently opposed to it. Why, they ask, do you need one day of the year to celebrate your love for another person? Shouldn't you be doing that all year anyway?

Well, love it or hate it, it happens every year, and it's probably not going away. So in honor of Valentine's Day, I've gathered a handful of tutorials to help you have the "greenest" Valentine's Day you can.

Cards
Let's be honest, most Valentine's Day cards are pretty cheesy and unoriginal. Plus, they are a waste of paper. So why not make your own? You can be more creative and personal than some giant card company can! Check out this awesome video tutorial from Crafting a Greener World for directions on how to make your own pop-up card. Bonus points for using all recycled materials!

Flowers
A dozen roses? Boring! Not only are they super-expensive, but they're going to wilt and die in a few days. Do you even know where they come from? Were they grown in an sustainable and ethical manner? We can solve this problem by making a bouquet of fabric flowers. They are bright and cheery, and they will stay like that forever. See this tutorial on Green Upgrader for the how-to!

(image: lavender and limes)

Candy
So I don't know about you, but I ate more than my fair share of candy around the holidays and I'm still working it off. As delicious as it is, do I really need more? Probably not. But what about making your own Valentine message hearts out of felt? Zero calories, no guilt, and they won't go stale. (Does anyone even know what is in those things, anyway??) You can personalize the message to say whatever you want it to! Lavender and Limes has a great tutorial on her blog here.

And if you're still looking to get your chocolate fix, why don't you check out Jwrobel's tutorial from last week? Maybe not as guilt-free, but it sure does look delicious!

(image: Oh So Crafty)

Decorations
I was never one to decorate for Valentine's Day, but I know there must be some of you out there. Here's a Valentine Garland tutorial from Oh So Crafty for those of you who just can't get enough hearts in your life.

(image: inchmark)

Class Valentines
Got kids? Are they in elementary school? Then you might need valentines for them to hand out in class. Here's a cute idea from Inchmark that uses decorated matchboxes to hold small amounts of candy. It's like a card and candy in one!

Try your hand at as many of these tutorials as you like. Just remember to reuse as many of the materials as you can! Old magazines, cereal box cardboard, leftover tissue paper and ribbon from the holidays...I'm sure you have everything you need. Now go get started!

Erin Mapes is a public school art teacher by day, and a fiber artist/designer by night. She believes strongly in the power of handmade to create a more sustainable world.

find her on cosa verde here