Did Valentine's Day suddenly creep up on you and you are not ready at all? It happens to me all the time. It seems like I just get the tree down and it's Valentine's Day already.

Well, we are going to give you some very quick, easy and inexpensive ideas for Valentine's Day (and they can be adapted to any other holiday, too!).

For the first item we used a 375ml PET wine bottle. Simply fill it with conversation hearts, cinnamon hearts, tiny chocolates, jelly beans, M & M's, pearls, diamonds, etc.

Top it with a pretty bow and you have an instant gift. Great for teachers, day care workers, kids (although I wouldn't put the diamonds and pearls in for them. I'd save those for someone a little closer to home).

Another easy one….

Take Epson salts, a little food coloring and your sweetie's favorite fragrance. Put them in an air tight jar a few days before the holiday. Daily shake the contents to fully distribute the color and scent and voila! instant bath crystals! Top with something pretty. We used a double row of lace trim, but you could use almost anything. Put a crystal figurine, a bow, colored tissue paper or whatever and just liven up your package.

Potpourri is always a favorite. If you have talent and a green thumb, you can use the flowers from your garden. Dry them. Mix lots of different types of items and you have instant potpourri…..or you can do as I did and buy the mix and just put it in a decorative container. Again, presentation is everything…. top it with a bow or tie it with colored jute. Personalize your container with anything that reminds you of the person.