Valentine's Day: Lovin' Green While Saving Green

Valentine's Day is a little less than two weeks away. I'll be having several posts, both here and on MNN, talking about ways to show your love to the earth over the next week or so. 

Everyone likes to get a Valentine's card, and if there was ever an appropriate time for a homemade card, Valentine's Day is it. Making a card from what you've already got around the house is more earth friendly than buying a pre-made card, it can save you several dollars, and it's more personal than a manufactured card. 

Today's post on homemade Valentine's cards comes courtesy of Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson , a mother and daughter team who co-authored Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, available at www.CelebrateGreen.net. Lynn and Corey have graciously allowed me to reprint their advice.

The card

Valentine's Day is the second biggest holiday for greeting card sales. Literally billions of cards are sent each year and most come from virgin trees. Making your own cards from recycled and or unconventional materials leaves trees standing and your sweetheart thanking the stars for your creatively thoughtful gesture.

And what to say inside a custom card?

You may not believe you are a writer, but honestly, can a professional truly express what is in your heart in a more meaningful way than you can? Even if you believe she can, just for the fun of it, why not give it a whirl? You (and your love) might be pleasantly surprised. Here are a few pointers for producing poetic prose:

· Five syllables, seven syllables, five syllables--that's haiku, a simply beautiful form of poetry that you'll catch onto quickly. Read a few, then give it a try.

· Of course, a letter or free verse is always an option, or if you're really wanting to knock your partner's socks off, how about writing a sonnet?

· These sound to difficult? Here's an easier, but still romantic idea. Take each letter of the words "My Valentine," and next to it, write something about your beloved. Here's an example:

M My heart
Y You are the only one I'll ever love

V Very best
A Always my partner
L Love you forever
etc.

· If your words don't capture the exact tone you're looking for, remember that laughter is a gift - even if it is unintentional.

Beyond the card

And if you're feeling creative, how about making some seeded paper or thinking inside the box? Select a small box. Cover the outside with pictures of you and your honey or appropriate words cut from a magazine. Inside, place some stones on which you've stamped words of love, a small bag of beans with a tag that says, "I love how you've always BEAN there for me," or come up with a (much) better play on words and items to go with it.

Image: Sister72