Edition offers holiday gift ideas

A Top 10 Romantic Movies listing is also offered.

McClatchy Newspapers

Looking for an inexpensive way to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Here are some ideas from Better Homes and Gardens magazine’s February 2009 edition:

IDEAS FROM THE HEART

ULetter Perfect: Put down that messy piping bag! Here’s an easier way: Glaze alphabet crackers with thin icing then sprinkle with colored sugar. Perch atop frosted cupcakes. Trader Joe’s Cinnamon Schoolbook Cookies, $3 per 16-oz. tub; traderjoes.com for stores

UNow Showing: Make a Valentine’s Day movie date with your sweetie. Package up some popcorn, a couple DVDs, and a list of more movies you want to watch together.

USpoon Me: Fun to give and fun to get, heart-shape measuring spoons in hefty hand-cast pewter will become an instant kitchen heirloom. $42; beehivekitchenware.com

UOn a Pedestal: Skirt a footed cake plate with a sash of colorful paper and a ribbon belt. Just cut a 3-inch strip of card stock and attach it to the rim of the plate with double-stick tape.

UEars to You: Here’s a sweet way to give jewelry: stuck to a wool felt heart and tucked into a truffle box lined with paper. Find boxes and mini paper cups in the cake decorating aisle of your crafts store. Wool felt hearts, $4 for 3; leesartshop.com

UCard Carrying: Present a gift card in a colorful business card holder tied with ribbon. Cut a card-size greeting out of paper and tuck it in, too. Leather magic wallet, $28; jcrew.com

URose Bowl: Present traditional Valentine’s Day blooms in a new way. Cut rose stems to 6 inches and remove leaves. Pack them tightly in a straight-sided glass hurricane or bowl accented with ribbon.

UWho doesn’t love getting pictures? An easy-to-make photo booklet is a card and a frame in one. Fold it flat for mailing; unfurl it for display.

Top 10 romantic movies

1. “When Harry Met Sally,” 1989; Starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan.

2. “Pride & Prejudice,” 2005; Starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen.

3. “Pretty Woman,” 1990; Starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts.

4. “While You Were Sleeping,” 1995; Starring Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman.

5. “Sleepless in Seattle,” 1993; Starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.

6. “An Officer and a Gentleman,” 1982; Starring Richard Gere and Debra Winger.

7. “The Notebook,” 2004; Starring Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, Gena Rowlands, and James Garner.

8. “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” 2001; Starring Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, and Hugh Grant.

9. “Bull Durham,” 1988; Starring Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, and Tim Robbins.

10. “Casablanca,” 1942; Starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.