Recycled Valentine's Day Decorations

Most of us look forward to the bit of festivity and color that Valentine's Day brings. Quite a few weeks past Christmas and still too long before Spring arrives, this mid winter holiday offers an opportunity for romance, fun and a break from the daily routine. If your bank account is a little lean and your decor supply a bit thin, don't resign yourself to celebrating Valentine's Day sans decorations. Here are some fun ways to spruce up your home for the holiday using items you would normally throw away.

Melt Your Candle Nubs. Have a bunch of leftover Christmas candles that are just about down to the end? Instead of throwing them away and splurging on new candles for Valentine's Day, melt down the nubs to create a bold and colorful pillar candle for the February holiday. Gather all your red candle bits. Remove any metal casings or disks from the bottoms. Wrap a length of candle wick around a pencil and position the utensil across the top with the wick extending to the bottom of the new candle container. Use a double boiler system to melt the old candles down to liquid wax. Pour the wax into the new candle container and allow to harden completely before lighting.

Give Old Christmas Balls New Life. Holiday balls often become chipped and scarred after years of use and enjoyment. Though you may not want to hang them on your Christmas tree next year, they can surely substitute as a festive Valentine's Day decoration. Position the ornaments in a clear glass vase or jar so that the flaws do not show. Hang a strand of wooden or plastic hearts around the base of the receptacle and use as a pretty and unique table centerpiece.

Red Paper Shredding is Very Versatile. If you have a ton of school notices or bold colored stationary with old grocery lists laying around, use your paper shredder to create a fun filler for Valentine's Day decor. Spend some time shredding all the old papers you have in the traditional color of the holiday and then use the bits to fill wicker baskets, jelly jars, champagne glasses and wooden bowls. Lay cupid or heart cut outs on top of the filler to create sweet and romantic decorations for end tables, kitchen counters and bathroom shelves.

Spent Flower Petals Make Great Sachets. Silk or dried floral arrangements can become dirty and tattered over time. No matter how well they are taken care of, they surely have their expiration dates. If you have an arrangement that still has several clean and perky looking blooms, remove the usable flowers and clip off the petals. Fill clear sachet bags with the petals and tie off with a red or pink silk ribbon. Use the bags as Valentine's Day gift package decor or in small and out of the way places of your home that need a little bit of holiday fun.

Bring Back the Baby Clothes. Dig through your box of clothing that you held on to from your children's babyhood. Tiny red or pink tee shirts with hearts can be used to dress up teddy bears or dolls on display. Pillows and quilts for beds and couches can be made from sweaters, shirts and pants. Instead of holding on to the entire stack of clothing, set aside your favorites for the future grandchildren and use the rest to create a beautiful craft item that you can proudly display on the holiday and all through the year.

Photograph Doubles. We all have a box or two of picture doubles that were not needed for the family album, sit in a box and eventually get thrown away. Use those photographs to insert into Valentine's Day themed picture frames for a mantel, coffee table or bookcase. Insert the extra ones into holiday greetings you send family and friends. If you have an abundance of photographs, create a large collage display with red or pink matting that will surely bring visitors some holiday cheer.