Tired of giving the same old-same old? Embarrassed to give out those impersonal department store gift certificates because you're stumped and don't know what to buy for the person who has everything? Well, here are some wonderful ideas for unique gifts; some unusual, some personal; something for everyone on your list!
Group two, three or more items (mix and match) and place in an interesting basket or unusual container to present your gifts, covering the container with colorful cellophane and topping it all off with a fancy ribbon and bow.
Purely Personal
- Scented candles, handmade soaps, bubble bath and a big fluffy bath towel.
- Fancy hair ties, hair clips, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner for the teenage girl
- A movie night basket with a video of DVD of a movie you know they don't have, a box of microwave popcorn, candy and a movie guide book
- An interesting book or magazine (and a gift subscription), a tiny booklight, a cute mug and packets of hot chocolate with mini marshmallows, or a small bag of flavored gourmet coffee
- A cozy robe - one pocket containing envelopes of hot chocolate and the other, a small bag of mini-marshmallows.
- A spa day with a pair of comfy slippers and a big fluffy towel or robe
- A set of fancy beeswax candles and a brass candle snuffer
- A towel wrap, terry-cloth slippers, shower soap, shaving lotion and a fancy hair comb (or a special moustache comb for the moustached man!)
- Buy a variety of medium to large seashells and fill some of the shells with melted red wax and a few drops of cinnamon candle scent; and the rest of the shells with melted green wax and a few drops of pine candle scent; adding a short wick before the wax sets and you have an assortment of bath candles all ready for the holidays.
Holiday Bath Salts
2-1/3 cups of epsom salts
1/2 cup of sea salt
5 drops of peppermint scent
3 drops of red food coloring
Pour half of the first three ingredients into a bowl. Pour the other half of the ingredients into another bowl, adding the red food coloring only to the second bowl. Using a tall, clear bottle, layer contents of each bowl until all ingredients are used up (think red and white stripes). Close the bottle and tie with a festive ribbon and a couple of small candy canes.
- The Gift of Time: coupons for one night of baby-sitting, car washing, gardening, cleaning out the garage, walking the dog, re- arranging a closet, etc.
Hobbies and Sports Gifts
- Tickets to their favorite game and a sweatshirt or t-shirt imprinted with their favorite team logo
- Art supplies that they use often - sketch pads, paint in often- used colors, charcoal pencils, etc.
- Scrapbooking supplies, storage boxes to keep supplies in, rubber stamp set, embossing powder and heat gun
- Computer supplies: CDRW's, blank CD cases, a furry Pet Virus novelty or a Virus Survival Kit just for fun
- For the aspiring writer (or student): folders, pencil case, binders and lined paper, fancy colorful pens, notebooks, personalized notes, a good thesaurus and dictionary, an agenda or diary, colorful post-it notes and a personalized CD coaster to hold their favorite mug of coffee