DIY Craft: Date Ideas in A Jar

Photo by pressfoto from freepik

Married? One-half of a couple in a long-term relationship? In the early stages of dating? Still looking for "The One?" Why not come up with a date ideas in a jar as a DIY craft? 

Why Come Up With Date Ideas?

Planning dates is essential to keep the spark and romance alive in a relationship. 

According to The Marriage Foundation, "couples who have around 1 dedicated date night a month are 14% less likely to break up."

You'll always have fresh ideas if you're going out on multiple dates with different people. 

Lest you think that date ideas are for married couples only, or those in a long-term relationship, think again. 

If you're at a stage where nothing's exclusive yet and still going out with different people, coming up with a multitude of date ideas will help keep things fresh and exciting. No potential date will find you boring.

And by placing yourself and your date in different social situations, you get to see their attributes that go beyond the physical. 

For example, how do they act in a crowded, informal diner in contrast to a high-brow restaurant? 

Or, would they be okay with a low-key activity that doesn't require getting dressed to the nines, or being fully made up?

Couples in various stages of a relationship can budget their resources while still having a good time. 

The royal road to romance was never paved with thick wads of cash. 

This fact alone can lead you to stretch your imagination and be as creative as possible when coming up with date ideas.

No 2 couples are alike. 

There are couples who have day jobs, and may only have time to go out at night, while others enjoy day-time dates during weekends. 

Some long-term couples drive their own vehicle, or take the bus for an exciting out-of-town getaway. 

By coming up with a variety of date ideas, couples realize the importance of compromise. 

Just as no 2 couples are alike, there are couples who have stark contrasts in their personalities as well. Some have vastly different hobbies, tastes, or preferences.

To illustrate, someone who's free-spirited may be dating a perpetual planner. An introvert can end up with an extrovert. An individual working a regular 9-to-5 can get attracted to a creative type.  

That's why couples who wish to keep the relationship going must learn the importance of compromise during dates. 

An introvert may wish to spend most nights and weekends at home, while an extrovert may seek company. A good example of compromising on a date is hosting friends at home.  

For this DIY craft, you can use
an empty jar of mayonnaise,
jam, pickles, or fruit preserve.

Having said all of the above, here's how to DIY date ideas in a jar:

Date Ideas in A Jar: Materials 

Essentials:

• Empty jar (you can recycle a jar of mayonnaise, jam, fruit preserves, or pickle relish) 
• 6-8 sheets of construction paper of different colors
• Paper cutter
• Felt-tip pen 
• Washi tapes

Optional:  

• Twine 
• Ribbons 
• Bright-colored yarn 
• Gift tag

Date Ideas in A Jar: Procedure 

Take your sheets of construction paper and
paper cutter and make around 50-60 paper strips.
Come up with different date categories, and assign a
color for each category (see examples below). And then,
think of around 10-12 date ideas for each category.

Using a felt-tip pen, write a
date idea on each paper strip.

When you're done, fold all
paper strips and neatly
arrange them inside the jar.

You can insert a piece of twine, ribbon, or any bright-colored yarn into a gift tag and tie it around the lid of your jar.

Here's a list of suggestions for date categories and ideas for each category:

Frugal Date Ideas 

• Make a batch of pancakes and enjoy them with hot chocolate
• Free-admission day at the museum
• Make a pair of couple's bracelets at a souvenir store 
• Play games at an arcade 
• Thrift store date
• Look at vinyl records and posters of classic rock bands at music stores

Daytime Date Ideas 

• Buy toys from a pet store 
• Go to a department store and help her recreate 3 of the latest designer looks, at only a fraction of the designer price 
• Attend an author signing

Evening Date Ideas

• Catch the final screening at a cinema
• Go stargazing
• Go to an open mic night

Dining Date Ideas 

• Candle-lit dinner at a rooftop 
• Picnic at the nearest park
• Make your own pizza 
• Grab hotdogs at a hotdog stand
• Enjoy a 3-course meal after payday
• Fast food date 
• Go Chinese or Japanese 
• Order bubbly pink champagne with shrimp and crabs
• Have tacos while sharing a platter of nachos at a Mexican restaurant
• Wake up early to have sandwiches and coffee at the nearest convenience store

Themed Date Ideas 

• Cupsleeve event 
• Themed convention
• Car show

Arts and Crafts Date Ideas

• Paint and sip session 
• Learn calligraphy 
• Take a class in balloon making or flower arrangement
• Enroll in a ceramics or pottery class

Would you like to try a crafty activity with friends? Read --

7 Ways to Plan Crafty Activities With Friends

Date Ideas That Involve Physical Activity 

• Rent a pair of bikes and go on an early-morning ride 
• Take the dog out for a walk 
• Ride bump karts
• Try indoor rock climbing, parkour, or anti-gravity yoga 

Outdoor Dates

• Go on a hike 
• Visit an aviary, garden, or bee sanctuary 
• Pitch a tent at a camp site 
• Ride canoes
• Take a leisurely stroll on a tree-lined street
• Try rappelling 

His and Hers (Compromise) Dates 

• Date at furniture store after lunch at his favorite steak house
• Treat him to a banana split after carrying shopping bags from the thrift store
• Split a platter of pasta with Coke after an entire afternoon at the hardware

Double Date and Group Date Ideas 

• Host a potluck 
• Adult board games cafe 
• Attend a music festival 
• Attend trivia night at a pub
• Go bowling or swimming
• Try archery
• Go to a venue and pay to solve a locked-room mystery
• Go 2-on-2 on hoops with another couple
• Support your local community theater by watching their actors' plays 
• Amusement park date