present ideas?

[houseelf]

I have several impossible people to buy for---do you all have any good ideas? I hate to keep on giving gift certificates.



Kelly

who are the people? age, gender, likes?

Well, I'm with Claudia on this one.....who, for what, etc....



I tend to like gift certificates for people that are farther away....I buy a lot of Amazon or Barnes and Nobles gift certificates and send them as email gifts for certain occasions....My mom has bought toys for the kids at etoys (is that still open?) and had them mailed...



Books are a fun present to get people...and they fit for any occasion. Are you thinking about Christmas?



One of my friends from residency used to make gift baskets for all of her friends/relatives. She would buy inexpensive (read: cheap ) but nice-looking baskets and her and her husband made a special rum drink that was spiced. They made a huge batch and then poured the drinks into those different shaped bottles that you can get from the $1 store. They made homemade candy and wrapped it up in the basket. Then she added a home-made ornament. The cost was minimal to her if you consider what you sometimes have to give out for a X-mas gift....and it was personalized..I thought it was an awesome idea...you may be getting one this year, Kelly hahaha!



Kris

[houseelf]

Actually, I'm seeking Christmas gift ideas for my inlaws who: a) already have everything that they need; b) have downsized into a smaller living area; and c) are chronic shoppers. In addition, I'm shopping for my brother and his family who really have more than they need already. It sort of takes the fun out of shopping when the recipients have everything that they could ever possibly want! This is especially true when we are scraping together money to buy gifts. However, these people are very dear to us and I aspire to find that "perfect gift". {sigh}



Help!



Kelly

I say then to personalize a gift....How about having Cade paint some Christmas ornaments? Or Buy some fabric paint: Get his hands Green and then stamp them down on the shirts.....and then decorate them as if they were Christmas trees....or something....(it will be one of our fun night crafts ) The best way to go is with something personal!



Kris

I agree with Kris, go personal! My in-law are the same. They have absolutely EVERYTHING. The things they treasure are the personal things, especially from grandkids. Last year we gave both my parents and my in-laws calendars with a different picture of our family and/or the kids each month. We did that at Office Max. They usually go on sale closer to Christmas and ran me only $20. It was also inexpensive to mail.



Good luck. I have got to get started about Christmas presents too!



Robin

how much are you looking to spend, kelly? i just sent my mother-in-law a birthday gift - i bought her the book "the red tent" and a tin of herb tea.

I'm going to do some brainstorming because I need some ideas myself...then I'll add them to the craft section....so I'll let everyone know when I actually get that far...



kris

[houseelf]

Here is the one gift idea that I'm proud of: an Irish claddagh (sp?) brass door knocker for my in laws. My MIL was adopted at birth and knows only that her birth mother was Irish. Thus her Irish heritage is particularly important to her. Hopefully, she will love it.



Robin, I may try that personal photo calendar idea. It sounds really cute and affordable.



Now if I can just come up with 10 other personal and unique gift ideas! <sigh>



Kelly