Ideas for your Weekend: Give a Gift

So, this week I received the sweetest package from a friend... for no reason at all. I had so much fun opening it and exploring all the little goodies she had packed inside. There were gifts for the entire family... each so thoughtful!

My weekend idea? Send a gift to a friend or family member. It doesn't have to cost a lot of money... you could even make something that you know they would love.

My package included so many goodies:

• a couple issues of her favorite magazine
• the cutest binder from liberty of london
• inside the binder: a planner that she printed out and filled in for me... I am thinking I will start using this to organize my blog ideas/craft projects
• a jotter journal with changeable cover (tutorial to make your own here)
• mini custom file folders
• large fabric covered file folder
• LOVELY paper scrap packs and journal making kits
• and of course, a pack of buttons (I love buttons.)
• Gifts for my son: see picture below
• Gift for my husband: a cd of one of the earliest church services of the original Aletheia Church... we had so much fun listening to that cd... (See my sweet friend who sent me the package, her husband was one of the first people my husband met when he moved from California to Virginia to start a collegiate church... Rob & Ashley were instrumental in helping to start the first Aletheia.) What amazing memories were brought back by that cd.

Needless to say this gift was so very thoughtful and so very appreciated. I cannot wait to start making little things from all the craft goodies she sent my way. (You can check out Ashley's work here... so talented. I strive to be like her ;) )

A few ideas of things you could send to someone you love (even if you aren't crafty):

• A couple fun magazines that you know they would love (not expensive to give as a gift, but a splurge they probably don't ever buy for themselves)
• A mini photo album for a family member filled with fun pictures (especially if you live far away... it's such a great way to keep your family up to date)
• Recipes of your favorite meals: you could just fill out some index cards with your favorite new recipes. For a special touch, add a photo of the recipe or fun paper to the back of the card.
• Books: go through your collection and find a couple favorites that you know the receiver would love.
• From a child to a child: have your child pick a couple toys from their toy box to send to their friend. What a special way to teach your child what it means to be a giver!

Just a couple ideas of a way to bless someone you love for little to no money.

Gifts for my sons:

The Foot Book, by Dr. Seuss for Asher
& a sweet little matchbox car for Andrew (his most favorite thing!)

Even the packaging was cute and thought out... she used sewing pattern tissue paper.

Thank you so much Ashley, Rob and Jimmy for the sweetest surprise!
We loved opening up all the treasures. You are such a blessing to our family!

. . .

Do you have any fun and creative gift ideas?