21 Last-Minute Gifts That Are Actually Thoughtful
Being gracious doesn't have to require $$$. The products in this post were updated in May 2018.
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1. Personalize their favorite drinks.
For example, you could totally print their favorite recipe.
Or, if you want to be a little fancier, you can get it done at CarolinaHighCotton on Etsy (where it's engraved with fire).
3. Create a typographical art piece with their favorite quotes.
Using puff paint, wax paper, and glue. See how to do this here.
4. Plan a road trip with them.
If you're an adult, your parents or grandparents would probably love a short trip. Plus, it's a great way for you to hear epic stories from their pasts.
5. Or if you've already taken one, hand-stitch that road trip and frame it.
For that craaazzy road trip you took with your BFF during the prime of your youth. Instructions here.
6. Bake them an overwhelmingly large mountain of their favorite foods.
Or take them to their favorite sweets/meats/cheese shop and let them splurge.
7. Transfer your favorite photo onto a canvas using a few easy steps.
All you need is a gel medium, a paint brush, and a spray bottle. See detailed steps here. Or you can check out this handy video.
8. You can do this with lamps as well using a similar technique.
Learn more here.
9. Make some coasters out of tiles.
You can pick up tiles from most home appliance stores, and other than that, you need nail polish remover, a spoon or knife, and a brush. For the photos, make sure they're printed with toner ink and not laser ink. See instructions here.
10. Agree to embark upon a new life-changing habit or project together.
If exercising was a goal of theirs, then perhaps make a pact to run with them every week or sign up for that hip-hop class they were interested in. Learn to knit together. Get better at photography together. Make better arguments by testing them out on each other. Anything!
11. Transform a deck of cards into thankful thoughts or memories.
Easy, and impressively endearing. See more here.
12. Add some Scrabble tiles to a picture frame to make it super special.
Get Scrabble tiles from Amazon for $10.99.
13. Or make some Scrabble coasters that preserve your best inside jokes.
You'll need Scrabble tiles, glue, spray, and a thin cork board (although you could probably do without it as well). Instructions here.
14. Carve out a personalized wax seal.
To make just the seal, you'll need a rubber carving block, and some carving tools. If you want, you can make the pretty handle using a few more materials. See details here.
15. Store some memories in a jar using OLIVE OIL.
OK, well olive oil can be pretty expensive so use whatever liquid you want (but probably experiment first to see what erodes the picture and what doesn't). See more here.
16. Also, it never hurts to make giant jars of light for friends who really love twinkle lights.
You can actually drill a hole through jars, safely! You should pour cool water over the jar as you drill. Instructions here.
17. And while this may seem like a way to skimp on gift giving, write them a well-thought-out letter.
However you want to do this (either write one letter or write multiple letters for them to open throughout the year), it will absolutely mean a lot to them in the long run.
20. Sew a pillow for them out of their favorite (or your fave) T-shirt.
Everyone needs a good cuddle buddy. More instructions here.
21. Cleverly disguise messages in some fortune cookies.
You can put quotes, affectionate thoughts, or types of activities you plan on doing with them in the future. See how to make these here.
Check out even more of our favorite last-minute gifts.
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