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It is February – the month of love. If you are in a relationship, or if there’s someone special who you’d like to be in a relationship with, the chances are you will be sending them a St. Valentine’s Day card on the 14^th of the month. Some people know exactly what they want to write in their card, but others struggle, or end up writing exactly the same message every year. Follow the tips below and give your beloved the best Valentine’s Day card ever!

Make your own card

If you’re creative, nothing says “I planned ahead and put in real effort” like a homemade card. Decorate it in a romantic fashion, or tailor it to your loved one’s passions and hobbies to show how well you know them. Don’t forget to give what you write some real thought, too.

Keep it personal

If you give a shop-bought card, don’t just let the greeting inside do the talking by just adding “To Karen, love Brian xxx”. Always add a little extra, to personalise the card. Do you have a pet name for your Valentine? Make sure to use that. Do you have an appropriate in-joke that only the two of you know? Reference that in there, too. And don’t forget to tell them how you feel about them, of course!

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Take it to the next level

Instead of giving your Valentine one card, why not leave them little notes around the house that they’ll find throughout the day? Or, go a step further and have the notes delivered in various ways: get one sent to their office or place of work, leave one on their car seat, hide one in the bed, and so on. Imagine how fun it would be to find a handwritten note from your partner in your cereal box in the morning!

Be yourself

Overall, it is most important to be yourself when writing a Valentine’s Day card. If you’re not the romantic type, don’t force yourself to write a ‘mushy’ sentiment in your card – your partner won’t thank you for it, as it will appear fake! On the other hand though, do try to inject a little bit of affection in there, even if it’s just “Love from, Stephanie” instead of “From Stephanie”. If you’re not comfortable with big romantic gestures though, perhaps a risqué message is more your and your partner’s thing?

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Use the great words of others

Don’t be afraid to use a quote in your Valentine’s Day card – it may not be your own words, but if it reflects how you feel, it will still hit the spot with your partner. An example of a great quote for a card is:

“In your letter from Madras you wrote some words very dear to me, about my having enriched your life. I cannot tell you what pleasure this gave me, because I always feel so overwhelmingly in your debt, if there can be accounts in love…. What it has been to me to live all these years in your heart and companionship no phrases can convey.”

– Winston Churchill, sent to Clementine Churchill

Wishing you all a Happy Valentine’s Day! Find 7 fun facts about Valentine’s Day, here.