The Gift Detective » For Birthday http://www.thegiftdetective.com/blog Making Gift Giving Personal Wed, 30 Jun 2010 08:22:02 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Happy Spring 2010! http://www.thegiftdetective.com/blog/archives/4125 http://www.thegiftdetective.com/blog/archives/4125#comments Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:01:42 +0000 The Gift Detective http://www.thegiftdetective.com/blog/?p=4125 Happy Spring!!!

Now that the long winter has ended and warmer weather is gracing our days, you notice yourself going out more, accepting more invitations to get-togethers and find yourself seated at some dinner parties so you might be needing some nice, easy Spring-like hostess gifts for these impromptu meets. Or maybe you made so many excuses to spend time outdoors you find yourself in dire need of a last minute birthday present that doesn’t scream “I forgot!”

Photo courtesy of Paper Source

A great solution? Read this wonderful Paper Source how-to on creating an easy centerpiece and personalize it so that it becomes a gift worthy creation that is perfect for your recipient! ...read more]]> Happy Spring!!!

Now that the long winter has ended and warmer weather is gracing our days, you notice yourself going out more, accepting more invitations to get-togethers and find yourself seated at some dinner parties so you might be needing some nice, easy Spring-like hostess gifts for these impromptu meets. Or maybe you made so many excuses to spend time outdoors you find yourself in dire need of a last minute birthday present that doesn’t scream “I forgot!”

Paper Source Easy-centerpiece-ideas

Photo courtesy of Paper Source


A great solution? Read this wonderful Paper Source how-to on creating an easy centerpiece and personalize it so that it becomes a gift worthy creation that is perfect for your recipient! Whether you have a plain vase you can spare or have to use a milk carton – it won’t matter because you will be wrapping it in gorgeous paper, that reflects upon your recipient in some way – their favorite color, themed paper that is indicative of the occasion the gift is for, paper that coordinates with their decor, etc.

Pick the flowers (or plant!) in the same fashion. What will make them all warm and fuzzy inside? Their favorite flower? Something in season? Are you giving them a housewarming gift? Maybe an easy to care for plant is in order. A hostess gift? What flowers will go well in the dining room that you are bringing them to?

You even have the opportunity to make this more feminine or masculine (yes, men like flowers too!) depending on the colors and patterns you choose and the addition of or even the way you tie a bow.

Tip: For men, don’t tie a traditional bow, simply wrap the ribbon around and secure with double-sided tape or get a nice necktie and attach this as your “ribbon” instead!

This is a great way to personalize any plant or bouquet, whether you’ve spent a bunch or grew them yourself!

Visit Paper Source for an incredible selection of papers and ribbons!

Don’t you love this easy and beautiful take on giving someone flowers?  Who would make something like this for?  Leave me a comment!

Happy gifting!


]]> http://www.thegiftdetective.com/blog/archives/4125/feed 0 Toy Tuesday: Monkey Business Sports Stomp Walkers http://www.thegiftdetective.com/blog/archives/1781 http://www.thegiftdetective.com/blog/archives/1781#comments Tue, 26 May 2009 07:00:17 +0000 The Gift Detective http://thegiftdetective.com/blog/?p=1781 Monkey Business Sports Stomp Walkers Want to get your favorite kid a cool present? The Monkey Business Sports Stomp Walkers support up to 100 pounds of the munchkin on your gift list and will provide hours of fun. Don’t believe me? Check out the reviews! This is a great gift for the child on your list (starting at about age 6 and up) who loves to try new things and be active. Good coordination and confidence builder! (You know that feeling when you get the hang of something tough…it can be exhilarating!) The soft foam feet won’t harm floors and they offer a wider base than stilts so that, although still challenging, it offers an easier starting point for the child. This makes an excellent birthday gift (won’t you be the coolest Aunt, Uncle Grandpa or Grandma?!?), Christmas gift, holiday gift, summer fun ...read more]]>

Monkey Business Sports Stomp Walkers

Want to get your favorite kid a cool present? The Monkey Business Sports Stomp Walkers support up to 100 pounds of the munchkin on your gift list and will provide hours of fun. Don’t believe me? Check out the reviews!


This is a great gift for the child on your list (starting at about age 6 and up) who loves to try new things and be active. Good coordination and confidence builder! (You know that feeling when you get the hang of something tough…it can be exhilarating!) The soft foam feet won’t harm floors and they offer a wider base than stilts so that, although still challenging, it offers an easier starting point for the child.


This makes an excellent birthday gift (won’t you be the coolest Aunt, Uncle Grandpa or Grandma?!?), Christmas gift, holiday gift, summer fun gift, anytime gift, etc. It’s a gift that not only promotes activity but also allows a child to use their imagination. Is he a monster stomping through the forest? Is she a princess tiptoeing through the moat on stilts? Trying to avoid the sharks below? Can’t put their feet down because of the cave full of poisonous snakes?


I had “stompers” of sorts when I was a child. The upside-down buckets with plastic strings attached. They were similar to these, only mine were actual plastic buckets so they made tons of noise! Well, this is something you don’t have to worry about with the foam bottomed Stomp Walkers. Not only are the parents’ floors saved but their ears are too. A gift to both the child and the adults in the house! You really will be the coolest gift giver in the room, from everyone’s perspective!


These come in a box, but if you want to make this gift even more personal, assemble the Stomp Walkers and then wrap them up with bright, colorful paper and a big bow. These won’t be the easiest present to wrap but assembling then wrapping will make it more personal and kid-friendly so please go to the trouble of wrapping them anyway! Use paper you know will appeal to the child or use an old bed sheet (make sure it is plain or patterned appropriately for the boy or girl you plan to give these to!) and tie a humongous (I mean huge!) bow at the top. Kids are often impressed by the size of a wrapped gift and will be seriously intrigued when they see this one all wrapped up for them. Plus, if you take the time to put these together prior to wrapping them you give them the opportunity to start using the gift right away which is always a plus.


Happy gifting!

]]> http://www.thegiftdetective.com/blog/archives/1781/feed 0 Toy Tuesday: Butterfly Garden and Book http://www.thegiftdetective.com/blog/archives/1630 http://www.thegiftdetective.com/blog/archives/1630#comments Tue, 12 May 2009 09:12:01 +0000 The Gift Detective http://thegiftdetective.com/blog/?p=1630 What an excellent way to engage children and teach them something about science and life at the same time!  I think that the butterfly garden on its own is a fantastic gift – if you read the reviews people are just so consistently happy and both the children and adults love the experience of watching this amazing life transformation. If you are giving this to young kids, getting the book can really add to the experience – the book is geared toward kids between 4 to 8 years of age and is a really wonderful way to explain to them how the butterfly garden will work. Who do you give this to?  Of course you can give this gift to kids or a classroom to enjoy but don’t limit yourself to young ones!  Do you have a friend going through a transition in life?  An unexpected change in career, newly ...read more]]> What an excellent way to engage children and teach them something about science and life at the same time!  I think that the butterfly garden on its own is a fantastic gift – if you read the reviews people are just so consistently happy and both the children and adults love the experience of watching this amazing life transformation. If you are giving this to young kids, getting the book can really add to the experience – the book is geared toward kids between 4 to 8 years of age and is a really wonderful way to explain to them how the butterfly garden will work.

Who do you give this to?  Of course you can give this gift to kids or a classroom to enjoy but don’t limit yourself to young ones!  Do you have a friend going through a transition in life?  An unexpected change in career, newly divorced or diagnosed with illness?  Although these life changes can be challenging and hurt they can also help us grow and transform ourselves – this is a wonderful way to support a friend through tough times and remind them that they can come out of this stronger and more beautiful than when they began. The metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly is a wonderful and positive analogy for our loved ones that are facing new challenges.


You could also give this to someone as a celebration of change!  Newly engaged, married, pregnant, graduating from high school or college?  Celebrate your loved ones transformation in this metaphorical way! 


This also just makes a nice, simple Spring or Summer gift for a birthday or just because present to both children or adults since you can let the butterflies go after you have raised them.


If you give this gift to an adult or a couple, make sure to accompany the gift with an appropriate card that offers an explanation as to why you chose such a unique gift as a representation of the life changes that they are embarking upon.  Be prepared to bring tears of joy to their eyes when they realize what a wonderful and supportive friend they have!


Men: This is a really unique way to let the love of your life know how your love for her has grown and changed. You could use this gift as a very unique way to propose! What better way to embody the idea of love that has grown and the changes we experience from an initial spark to the desire to make a lifetime commitment? There are so many way to make this work – you could put an engagement ring in the container as the caterpillars make their cocoons, you could put it in the butterfly pavilion prior to looking at it together or you could even plan to intercept the package of caterpillars (you have to send away for them) and replace it with a ring… there are, of course, more ways to do this but I’m sure you get the idea. At whatever stage you choose to propose, synchronize it to how you want to explain your feelings for her and the changes that you went through as an individual and/or as a couple that lead you to the desire to change your life forever.


Happy gifting or proposing!

]]> http://www.thegiftdetective.com/blog/archives/1630/feed 1 Mother’s Day and more: Mass Art Spring Sale http://www.thegiftdetective.com/blog/archives/1593 http://www.thegiftdetective.com/blog/archives/1593#comments Thu, 30 Apr 2009 07:22:43 +0000 The Gift Detective http://thegiftdetective.com/blog/?p=1593 On Saturday I am going to be previewing the MassArt Spring Sale!  If you live in the Boston area – please be sure to come back for details and even check it out for yourself. The sale is open to the public May 4-May 9, from 10:00am-7:00pm.  There will be original works pf jewelry, glass, sculpture, photography, ceramics, fibers, painting and more, all created by MassArt students and alumni.  Profits from sales benefit the artists and help support student scholarships.  So, come find a unique gift that gives back!

The sale is held in Tower Building lobby, 621 Huntington Avenue, Boston MA – accessible via the Green line “E” train (Longwood stop) or the 39 bus.  Visa, Mastercard, cash and checks are accepted.

For more information about this event, please click here or contact Elizabeth DiCicco at (617)879-7710.

I’m looking forward to reporting about great gift ideas for Mother’s ...read more]]> On Saturday I am going to be previewing the MassArt Spring Sale!  If you live in the Boston area – please be sure to come back for details and even check it out for yourself. The sale is open to the public May 4-May 9, from 10:00am-7:00pm.  There will be original works pf jewelry, glass, sculpture, photography, ceramics, fibers, painting and more, all created by MassArt students and alumni.  Profits from sales benefit the artists and help support student scholarships.  So, come find a unique gift that gives back!

The sale is held in Tower Building lobby, 621 Huntington Avenue, Boston MA – accessible via the Green line “E” train (Longwood stop) or the 39 bus.  Visa, Mastercard, cash and checks are accepted.

For more information about this event, please click here or contact Elizabeth DiCicco at (617)879-7710.

I’m looking forward to reporting about great gift ideas for Mother’s Day, graduation, birthday, Father’s Day and more!

Stay tuned…

]]> http://www.thegiftdetective.com/blog/archives/1593/feed 0 Frugal Friday: “52 Reasons…” Book http://www.thegiftdetective.com/blog/archives/1121 http://www.thegiftdetective.com/blog/archives/1121#comments Fri, 10 Apr 2009 10:47:51 +0000 The Gift Detective http://thegiftdetective.com/blog/?p=1121 This is such an easy idea and you can personalize it in so many ways. Really. Your imagination is the limit here. All you really need is a deck of cards, a magic marker (unless you decide to use your printer), a hole punch and a way to hold the cards together (like pretty ribbon or one or more binder rings). You can add embellishments with magazine pictures, adhesive gems, stickers, construction paper, things you print from your computer, etc. If you add paper embellishments you may need to add a glue stick to your list. You can get these supplies at many retailers (Target, CVS, Walgreens, etc.) but they may be less expensive to purchase at a craft store. Here ...read more]]> This is such an easy idea and you can personalize it in so many ways. Really. Your imagination is the limit here. All you really need is a deck of cards, a magic marker (unless you decide to use your printer), a hole punch and a way to hold the cards together (like pretty ribbon or one or more binder rings). You can add embellishments with magazine pictures, adhesive gems, stickers, construction paper, things you print from your computer, etc. If you add paper embellishments you may need to add a glue stick to your list. You can get these supplies at many retailers (Target, CVS, Walgreens, etc.) but they may be less expensive to purchase at a craft store.

Here is what you do – you think of 52 reasons that you love, like or appreciate the person you want to give this to. Write them down on a blank sheet of paper (or to make it even easier type up your list on the computer so that you can edit and reorder them easily) and organize them into the order that you want to present them in. Then write them on the cards. Sooooo easy! Or, like I mentioned above, you could print them out or write them on construction paper and glue them on. You can of course get much fancier than that, still quite inexpensively and I will include a lot of links at the end of the post that will show you examples of finished products that people have made to provide you with some inspiration and more guidance. These can turn into mini works of art if you want to put some time and effort into this project.


Who can you give this to?

  • Your Love – The obvious person is the love in your life, and that is a really great option. It doesn’t have to be Valentine’s Day to express your love. You could give them to this anytime (and what a surprise that would be!) but it would be especially nice on a birthday or anniversary as well.
  • A parent – You could also give this to your mother for Mother’s Day or your father for Father’s Day. All you need to do is change the reasons to reflect all the things you love and appreciate about them.
  • Your best friend – How often do you let your best friend know how much they mean to you? This would be a great way to commemorate your years of friendship.
  • A teacher – This would be a fantastic gift from the class! Just have the students write out the reasons that they appreciate him or her and, if they are young, help them put it together.
  • A graduate – This could be 52 reasons you are proud of them, 52 pieces of advice for the future or 52 tips for college, etc.
  • A grandparent, godparent, close relative – This would be similar to the one for a parent, just personalized slightly differently.
  • A child – Yes, children are supposed to show appreciation for their parents but as a parent, guardian or influential person for someone young, it is nice to share how they have had a positive influence on your life and all the reasons you care for them, beyond just being their mother (or father, grandparent, etc). It is a great way to inject them with some self-esteem and to show them that you love them for (52!) very specific reasons.
  • A sibling – Sure, you fought as kids, maybe you still do. But you love your brother or sister and would do anything for them. Well, give them 52 reasons that, despite all the times they broke your toys or got more attention, you wouldn’t want anyone else to take their place.
  • An employee – You have an executive assistant that manages your life instead of just your calendar? You have a small business and a loyal employee that has been with you since before you could afford to pay them a decent salary and seen you through thick and thin? Show them exactly how much you appreciate them! Yes, this is a very personalized gift and would only be appropriate for the best of the best but you are a smart boss and you did hire the best, didn’t you? This would be a powerful present to show your administrative professional how much you appreciate them on Administrative Professionals’ Day.



So, you get the idea – who is special in your life? There are lots more examples I could give – great for a baby shower, get well sentiments, a wedding gift, etc. You could just as easily make a “52 Reasons I Love You” book as you could a “52 Reasons to Love Getting Older.” You can be funny, sweet, sentimental, sarcastic…this is anything you desire it to be!


Just because a gift is inexpensive doesn’t mean that it can’t be powerful, touching and meaningful. All for approximately $8.00! And you can’t get more personalized than something you made yourself…


Here are the links with pictures for inspiration: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=227507.0, http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=292316.0, http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=291797.0, http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=294214.0, http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=292561.0, http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=292332.0 There are plenty more examples on the Craftster website, just keep looking if you need more ideas.


Happy gifting!

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