I know I’ve already done a puzzle letter post, but I had to share this one. Just in case you’re late to the cafe press party, it’s a fun site that lets you customize stationery and other products. My sister just sent us an adorable custom puzzle for Christmas. As I was oohing and ahhing, she sang the praises of the cafepress website. How fun would it be to receive a puzzle of a special family portrait, or a photo of the two of you for a Valentine’s Day gift, or even a picture of favorite pet!

Head over to the cafepress website by clicking here.

Check out theses cuties from Veronica over at Life in the Thrifty Lane:

Valentine matchboxes! Check out her blog for full instructions. You could easily make several of these boxes and turn it into a Valentine countdown. Label the boxes with numbers and have the missionary open one each day until Valentine’s Day. Matchboxes are pretty small, but with a little creativity, you can find tiny treasures to tuck inside each one. A clipping of a photo? A handwritten note? A scripture? Mini candies? Confetti? The possibilities are tiny, but endless.

If you’re looking for a more personal gift for your missionary, check out Lily Gene on Etsy.  She does these cute prints of special places, and can even add little details like a postage ink-stamp of a particularly important date.  It’s all totally customizable!   With all the options she offers, there are several fun things you could do.  Either send the missionary a map of the country or state where he’s serving (what a great idea for a farewell or homecoming gift!), or send a print of his home state / country.  Lily Gene also has a “someone in _____ loves you” custom postcard and other ideas.  Lily Gene was featured in this month’s InStyle, so check out the shop before things get backed up! I can’t stop thinking about what a cute idea this is, not only for missionaries, but anyone!

Do I even need to convince you? How cute is this craft? And so simple! My one reservation would be using chocolate (see the Reese’s peanut butter cup earbuds?), but I’m sure it could be easily substituted for something that won’t melt, like starburst. Yes, the shape will be a little different, but it will translate. I first saw this featured on KellyAndNate, then found the original (with instructions) on FamilyFun.

This idea is pretty fun — an egg shaper!  You place it on your frying pan or skillet, and pour the egg into the middle.  It also works for pancakes.  This seems like it would be pretty easy and inexpensive to mail. What a fun way to do something creative for Valentine’s Day!  Find out more about this product, or order now, by clicking here.

Get creative with your Valentines this year. There are so many options available that are a little more artistic than your average greeting card. You can buy online at www.papercrave.com, or use the photos as inspiration for your own creation! Your missionary will appreciate the extra effort.