Posts Tagged: "birthday"

Welcome Home! | Yard Decorations

When my co-worker’s husband, Mark, returned home from deployment in the Middle East, she breathed such a sigh of relief. Sandra and her son, Kyle, had been praying for his safe return every night. As an Air Force pilot, Mark encountered some intense moments.

welcome-back-home-yard-lawn-sign-decorations

Say “Welcome Home!” in a visual way with yard decorations.

To express their overwhelming joy to see him home, Sandra and Kyle welcomed back Mark in patriotic style!

They surprised him by decorating their front yard with red, white and blue balloons and a custom yard sign that said, “Welcome Home Mark.”

Several of their neighbors also joined in by displaying their American flag in honor of his return.

Sometimes words aren’t enough to express how we feel. Sandra and Kyle used yard decorations to say “Welcome Home!” in a very VISUAL way that made a big impression on Mark and the entire neighborhood.

Continue Reading

Picture Frame, Chocolate & Diamonds | Birthday Gift

My girlfriends and I used to play tennis but no longer. Age and injuries got the best of us, but we still like to keep in touch by having brunch together on Saturdays.

girlfriends-go-together-like-chocolate-diamonds-thoughtful-gift-idea

The perfect gift to celebrate a friend’s birthday!

Carol is the glue for this girls’ group. She contacts us to set up when and where we will meet. I love her for keeping us close and connected.

Years ago, Carol gave all of us a “team picture” that I still have on my desk at the office. I cherish that picture and the memories of fun times together. It always makes me smile!

When I saw a picture frame with the word Friends on it, I thought this would be perfect for Carol’s birthday the next time we got together. Continue Reading

Humourous Birthday T-Shirt for Gramps

- - $20 or Less, Birthday

I couldn’t have asked for a better father-in-law, a quiet, kind man with a fierce love for his family. Including his in-laws.

80-yr-old-one-owner-needs-parts-make-offier-t-shirt-thoughtful-gift-idea

This t-shirt is guaranteed to get laughs!

Gramps was never big on celebrating for himself but that didn’t keep us from always looking for that perfect gift. In later years, it was either about comfort or something humorous.

It’s difficult to find a birthday gift for an 80 year old grandfather that would make him chuckle!

Well… I did! I created a birthday t-shirt that looked like a “For Sale” sign with these words.

        80 YR. OLD  

       ONE OWNER

Needs Parts, Make Offer

Continue Reading

Money Robe | A Silver Lining

In our family, we always give money of the age of the birthday gal or guy.

money-robe-dollar-bills-silver-lining-thoughtful-gift-idea

No one will ever guess that their new house robe comes lined with cash!

When my brother turned 59, I was stumped to come up with a creative way to surprise him with his birthday money of $59.

I recently visited him and noticed his house robe needed to be replaced. So I purchased a green (and blue) robe to go with the money theme.

At first, I thought I would place the money in a pocket. Boring! Then it came to me, why not line the inside of the robe with 59 one dollar bills? Now that’s fun!

I laid out the open robe, spread out the dollar bills in even rows, and taped them in place. (Even though the tape worked, I would suggest using safety pins to make sure the bills stay put.)

I folded up the robe and tied the belt. A money robe! You could not see any of the bills since I had placed them below the waistline. Continue Reading

Coin Purse Filled With Coins and Cash

A coin purse is the best thing ever! Not only does it hold your change for easy access but it keeps all of the coins from settling at the bottom of your purse.

coin-purse-girls-just-wanna-have-funds-thoughtful-gift-ideaSo why don’t people think of giving a coin purse for a gift? Maybe it seems too blah. But it’s not if the coin purse comes already filled with coins and cash!

Coin purses come in every shape, size and color. Some styles are classy while others inspire fun. The selections are endless as you can choose leather, cloth or silicone.

I try to find the perfect coin purse to match the personality of the gift recipient. Continue Reading

Money Tie – Creative Gift for Him

Normally, I would say to stay away from giving neck ties as gifts. Nine times out of 10, it shows lack of effort and creativity on your part. Unless… it’s a money tie!

creative-money-tie-cash-giftA money tie makes a memorable and creative gift for him on birthdays, graduation, Christmas and Father’s Day. You can give it by itself or pair it with a button down shirt.

Don’t worry. They’re easy peasy to make. If you can fold and tape, you can make a DIY money tie gift in just minutes!

HOW TO MAKE A MONEY TIE

Items you will need:

  • cash (new bills looks the best; iron older bills to make them crisp)
  • printed tie template (download letter size or download legal size; print on cardstock)
  • tape

Continue Reading

Easy Peasy Money Tree Topiary

I like DIY crafts only if the’re easy peasy. So if you’re like me, you’ll love this easy and creative way to give cash as a gift – the money tree topiary!

money-tree-topiary-cash-giftIt’s beautiful, decorative and memorable. Also, unlike a lot of other money gifts, the money tree topiary doesn’t require you to fold or roll any bills. If you can pinch and pin, you can create this DIY money gift in no time!

ITEMS YOU WILL NEED:

  • dowel rod (I cut the one I bought down to 14 inches)
  • small pot
  • foam ball (I used a 5 inch ball)
  • foam that fits snugly inside pot (I used floral foam)
  • greening pins also called floral pins (They are U-shaped)
  • burlap ribbon for the base (You can also use moss, decorative stones or decorative rocks)
  • colored ribbon for the dowel rod

Continue Reading

40 Birthday Balloons

When my boss, Holley, turned 40 years old, my co-workers and I chipped in to buy her 40 birthday balloons.

40 birthday balloonsWe hid them in her office so when she opened her door that morning, she walked right into them!

It was a HUGE bouquet of birthday balloons, and it made a big statement. She couldn’t believe how many balloons there were!

Every morning after that when Holley walked into her office, the balloons continued to brighten her whole day. It also ended up being the gift that kept on giving because the balloons lasted almost two weeks!

Continue Reading

Regifting | How I Gave a Repurposed Gift in a Meaningful Way

Have you ever repurposed a gift? Yep, I have! Ever told the recipient that it was a repurposed gift? I recently did!

book-repurposed-birthday-thoughtful-gift-idea

click to enlarge

It was a book titled “Cationary Meaningful Portraits of Cats” by Sharon Montrose and purrrfect for my friend.

My husband and I have started talking about downsizing. Retirement is on the horizon, and we want to have more with less! More time to travel, less time working in the yard. More time for hobbies, less time cleaning the house.

More time for everything we want to do and less time doing the things we don’t want to do. You see a pattern? Continue Reading

In Case of Emergency Break Glass Money Gift

Do you need a memorable way to give money? I thought so!

in-case-of-emergency-break-glass-debit-card-thoughtful-gift-ideaSometimes money is the only gift to give to teenagers, graduates from high school or college, or newlyweds who need help paying for a honeymoon.

For some reason, writing a check even when it’s what is wanted, doesn’t seem much of a thoughtful gift. This gift idea combines money (or a Visa gift card) with something they’ll have fun unwrapping.

It’s called the In Case of Emergency Break Glass gift idea, and it works well for birthdays, Christmas, graduations, weddings or anniversaries. Continue Reading