Unusual Gifts to Make and Buy!

by Bonny Styles
(Chicago, USA)

Giving a gift is a very generous and thoughtful thing to do. It tangibly shows the giftee that you care enough to make or purchase something with only that person in mind. This is more difficult to do for some people than others, especially if you must be cost conscious.

You can become tired of giving the same old expected gifts and getting the same old predictable response. It may be time to get resourceful and begin thinking outside the gift box. With a little creativity and maybe a little work you can come up with gifts that go beyond the ho-hum and into the realm of extraordinary.

An IOU gift certificate is practically free. Compose a gift certificate or card that says you owe that person some sort of service. It can be whatever you’re good at such as a home cooked meal or prepared picnic basket.

Offer an evening of baby-sitting or one hour of house cleaning. If you’re an artist it could be one of your sketches or a free sitting for a painting. Even if you’re not trained, offer to give a neck or foot massage. You may get a request for the same gift next year.

An inexpensive wall hanging corkboard can be transformed into a distinctive display board with easy artwork. Cover the corkboard with a piece of bright fabric. Glue appropriate decorations on it depending on the interest of the recipient such as flowers or seashells. Add a small dry erase board and you not only have a display board but a message board. You’re no longer just giving a drab corkboard.

Build a lattice wood photo display. Cut the lattice, one or more pieces, to fill a suitable place on the wall then cut photos to fit in the diamond shaped holes. Cover the pictures with clear plastic and decorate to suit the photo theme. You can leave the lattice as is or frame it with molding.

Buying land on Venus, Mars or the moon goes into the bizarre but it’s being done. You get a deed to your land with a map and location. Stars are also being named for both adults and children. A certificate is provided with the star coordinates. Several extraterrestrial real estate companies can be found on line and in big city newspapers.

Photos of that special person offer countless ideas for unique gifting. Place the photo on a mouse pad, a coffee cup, plate or T-shirt. Photos can be put on almost anything so use your imagination. This can be especially appropriate for the person who works at home.

At Christmas time, give a dreaded fruitcake but with a humorous twist. Include with the cake a barf bag, a roll of stomach tablets and a first aid kit. This is a gift best given in person to share the laughs. Actually, most fruitcakes aren’t bad and a first aid kit is something most of us plan to buy but don’t.

These are gifts that incline toward the bizarre but would be enjoyed and most of them probably needed. If you hand craft a gift, make sure you’re careful to make it look nice and worth giving. Nothing says love better than a gift selected personally for someone. And, if it borders on the unusual, rest assured it will be treasured and remembered.

Unusual Gifts to Make and Buy!

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