People are no longer interested in giving or receiving gifts that have no meaning. For a while, we’d gotten into the habit of giving gifts because it was expected, rather than the joy of watching someone receive a thoughtful present.
It’s time to leave that behavior in the past.
Here are some unique gift ideas that create lasting memories long after the fanfare of the holidays has passed.
A Flower Subscription
The only thing better than receiving a stunning bouquet of flowers is receiving them on a regular basis. A monthly or seasonal flower subscription is a fantastic way to brighten someone’s day – time and time again. This is the perfect, thoughtful gift idea for the friend or loved one in your life who appreciates flowers.
You can choose flowers that suit the time of year, so the arrangement suits their seasonal decor. For example, you can get warm flowers from Bouqs for the summer months and holiday-themed flowers for Christmas. You can work with a flower subscription service that chooses the arrangements each month with an expert, designer eye.
The Adventure Challenge
The Adventure Challenge has become increasingly popular over the past year. This experience-based gift can be catered to any recipient, from families to couples to individuals. The Adventure Challenge is a scratch-off keepsake book that categorizes activities based on your budget and time availability.
You can also add a polaroid camera to your order so that the recipient can easily capture those memories to look back on for years to come.
An Heirloom Recipe Book
Imagine capturing your late Grandmother’s best recipes in a format that everyone can enjoy. Now, imagine pairing it with your favorite photo memories and sharing this gift with your siblings.
An heirloom recipe book is a nostalgic, sentimental gift that’s sure to bring on the tears and hugging when it is received. You can create an heirloom recipe book by scanning family recipes into a photo book with images that capture your favorite moments. This is a great gift to share with family members and to hand down through the generations.
Custom Artwork
Generic artwork from department stores just doesn’t cut it anymore. Give your friend or loved one the gift of a custom piece of art that will make their house a home.
The options for custom artwork are endless. You can have a portrait of their beloved pet painted in oils on canvas. You can capture a favorite place or memory in acrylics by working with an artist. For a more modern, fun take on custom art, have a comic book commissioned outlining the recipient’s adventures and featuring key characters from your lives.
With the gig industry and online access to artists around the world, there are a million things you can do to create something entirely unique.
Letters for the Future
One of the most personal, sentimental gifts you can give somebody is a collection of letters for the future. This option is a fantastic gift for parents to give their children or for one spouse to give another. You can present these letters in a box with sealed envelopes, outlining when they should be opened.
Some content ideas include:
- A future birthday
- Graduation
- A future Christmas
- Wedding day
- Birth of your first child
- A bad day
- When you feel lonely
- When you feel happy
- Specific dates
Take your time with this gift, and consider your words carefully.
A Custom Reel Viewer
For a fun throwback to the past, create a custom reel viewer with your favorite photo memories. This gift idea is great for older generations who remember using a View-Master as children, as well as kids who will find the old technology delightful and perplexing.
Family Birthstone Jewelry
For a gift of a higher calibre, have a family birthstone made into a custom piece of jewelry. This gift is a lovely idea for parents and grandparents, as well as kids who want a reminder that their parents are always by their side.
These gifts showcase the birthstones of various family members. For a grandmother, it might be a necklace with all the gems of her grandchildren. For a daughter, it might be a ring featuring her birthstone with her parents’ birthstones on either side. There are various options for different price points and styles.
An Engraved Wallet Note
Imagine writing a love note that will last forever. An engraved wallet note does just that. Have your words etched in a metal credit card-sized panel that fits in the recipient’s wallet or purse. This sentimental gift is a great way for kids to tell their dad how much they love him or a spouse to remind their love how much they care.
You can also get double-sided panels that allow for photo printing and word etchings for an even more impactful gift.
A Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts are a time-honored tradition. Thanks to modern technology, this activity has evolved into something new and exciting. Using a service like Let’s Roam, you can give the gift of a unique scavenger hunt in the city your loved one calls home. Furthermore, there are at-home scavenger hunt options for those in lockdown or quarantine.
Like the Adventure Challenge, you can cater this gift to families, individuals, or couples who need a date night. This is a fantastic experience-based gift that will create lasting memories for everyone involved.
A Modern Mixtape
Music is a powerful trigger for memories and emotions. The practice of presenting someone with a mixtape is a thing of the past, but the sentiment doesn’t have to be obsolete.
Give the gift of a modern mixtape by creating a custom playlist for the person on your list. Include their favorite songs, songs that make you think of them, and songs that remind you both of the memories you share. For an extra special gift, you can have this playlist printed on vinyl. As record players are becoming popular again, this is a beautifully nostalgic gift.
When giving a gift to someone you care about, it should invoke memories or help create new memories. Consider what the recipient loves and how you can use your knowledge of their passions to create a unique, memorable gift.