I've always thoroughly enjoyed buying and giving gifts to the
people I love. I like to browse through catalogs and online
stores and come up with great ideas for gifts. When I am
browsing, I always have a list of gift-giving occasions and gift
recipients nearby. That way, when I run across the perfect gift
- whether it's jewelry, electronics, handbags, or toys - I can
jot down the item on my list next to the person's name. I try to
do my shopping ahead of time, and have a special closet in my
home to store gifts until I'm ready to wrap them.
When it comes time to wrap the gifts, I really try to go the
extra mile. As they say, it's the thought that counts, and I try
to express my thoughtfulness in both the gifts I select and the
ways in which I package them. For example, when I recently gave
a DVD player to my son, I put it in a larger box along with a
bag of microwavable popcorn, a box of his favorite candy, and a
new DVD that I knew he'd love.
Likewise, when I give household items, I try to get creative. If
I'm giving a set of mixing bowls to a bride-to-be, for example,
I'll attach rubber spatulas to the ribbon on the outside of the
box. If I'm giving a coffeemaker, I make sure to tuck a bag of
freshly ground premium coffee into the box. I recently gave a
recipe book as a hostess thank you gift, and tied cookie cutters
to the ribbons. When I wrapped the cordless telephone that a
close friend wanted for her birthday, I made sure to include an
address book with the names, addresses, and phone numbers of her
friends and family in the package. I also took the liberty of
programming the new telephone's speed dial with her husband's
work number, her kids' cell phone numbers, and - of course - my
telephone number.
My mother was always superstitious about giving knives, saying
that if you gift knives, they can cut the recipient. So, like my
mother, if I ever give knives as a gift, I always ask the
recipient for a penny in return.
The only limit to creative gift packaging is your own
imagination. So, the next time you wrap a gift, go that extra
step by using accessories or packaging that highlight the theme
of your gift. Your thoughtfulness is certain to bring an extra
smile of delight from your recipient.
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