If you're looking to forgo the usual Valentine's Day items this year (jewelry, candy, flowers) but still want to surprise your significant other this Feb. 14 without breaking the bank, then you're in luck. Here are five affordable, DIY gift ideas that are sure to make your lover smile.

BACON ROSE BOUQUET

A play on a regular bouquets of flowers, a bacon bouquet is a great alternative for fans of the salty, meaty treat. In order to make this DIY present, you will need bacon, skewers and either a real or fake flower arrangement.

According to a how-to guide from YouTuber Mel Rose (see the instructional how-to video here), the bacon bouquets can be achieved by first rolling your meat "tip to tip" to form a rose-like shape. The bacon should be cooked in an oven set to 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. After cooking, allow the bacon rolls to cool before placing a skewer halfway into the meat. For the final touch, arrange the skewers to your liking in the bouquet and, enjoy!

365 REASONS JAR

What a better way to say "I love you" than to give your loved one a gift that will remind them of your feelings every day this year. The "365 reasons why I love you jar," which only requires imagination, paper and an empty jar, allows the giver to share 365 things they love about the other person. It's a near-perfect gift for Valentine's Day. For some ideas to fill your jar, click here.

BEER LABELS

Free Beer Labels
Free, customizable beer labels from BeerLabelizer.com. Screenshot: BeerLabelizer.com

If you're lover isn't interested in the traditional Valentine's Day gifts but always enjoys a good beer, consider gifting him/her homemade beer labels this holiday. Templates for the labels, which include customizable messages and designs, are available for free on BeerLabelizer.com. If you're feeling especially creative, you can even create your own labels using card stock.

'YOU'RE A HOTTIE' JAR

"You're A Hottie" Jar
Etsy.com seller STITCHandCABOODLE's Hot Tamale "You're a hottie" jar. Screenshot: Etsy.com

Spice up your Valentine's life this Feb. 14 while also giving them a compliment with the "You're a hottie" jar. This DIY gift idea, which includes the use of Hot Tamales, or any other "hot" candy, not only voices your feelings but also includes a sweet treat sure to make any Valentine grin ear-to-ear. A similar creation can also be purchased at Etsy.com seller STITCHandCABOODLE for $12 USD.

LOVE MESSAGE MUG

Make your Valentine's morning coffee all that much more special this Friday, Feb. 14, by making them their very own personalized mug. All you need for this DIY gift is a blank porcelain mug of your choice and an oil based paint marker, or several. This homemade gift allows you to draw or write the love message of your choice, and that message can remain a permanent part of the mug by allowing it to "bake" at 350 to 425 degrees in an oven for approximately 30 minutes. TheCozyOldFarmhouse.com suggests letting your creation sit for 24 hours before baking.