My 11-y/o nephew’s gift list had one item that caught our attention - $50. He also wants a cell phone, but that ain’t gonna happen. But my husband and I decided we’ll give him the cash, but with a twist. In fact, with 10 twists.
We went to a dollar store today and picked up 10 assorted items, from hair curlers to an ugly bank to a toilet brush. We’re going to include cash with each gift in all coin values and bill denominations up to $20, as well as a few foreign coins we happen to have lying about. This is gonna be a fun holiday!!
You ever come out with a cool, offbeat, fun gift idea? Or have you received something cool and offbeat?
I’m drawing some presents this year. Not completely unlike these ones, but about fifteen years later in style.
I originally started doing this because it was cheaper than buying things, but then I found out about framing costs… no matter, I’ll give the drawings and offer to get them framed later after I ask what kind of frames would go well in the recipients’ homes.
Unusual things I’ve gotten? One year I got a present and opened it to reveal the box for a sixpack of beer. I was puzzled and offended–surely everyone knew I didn’t drink alcohol–but then the box mewed. Inside was a kitten.
This one’s not too weird, because technically, he did ask for it… but we’re getting my FIL an animal leg for Christmas.
Last Christmas someone made a joke, and FIL piped up, “that’s a fox paw!” Everyone just stared at him -
Huh??? “Do you mean faux pas?”
“Yeah, that’s what I meant!”
Now it’s a running joke, and he wrote Fox Paw on his Christmas list, so we got him this.
When Pepper Mill was in the hospital for some minor surgery, and feeling not that great, I decided to cheer her up. Knowing that she loathes those apalling “Precious Moments” figurines (the ones with the teardrop-shaped miniature eyes and simpering smiles (http://www.pmcdolls.com/ ), I went out and made a couple of purchases.
When I got to the hospital, I gave her an ornately-wrapped box. She eagerly opened it to find… a vintage Precious moments statue, in all its tasteless glory! She picked it up, puzzled, and examined it from all angles. Yup – it was just a plain Precious Moments statue. And she knew that I knew she hated them. She looked at me with a curious expression.
That’s when I handed her the other wrapped box. She opened it to find…
…A Hammer.
As soon as she was well, she took that statue out to the parking lot and reduced it to powder. I knew it’s be cathartic.
Don’t think could afford to do this today. The damned things have appreciated in value so much that wanton destruction, though satisfying, is too expensive. A couple of years later I contented myself with giving her a Precious Moments greeting card…
My oldest sister loves puzzles. Each Christmas I would give her one, but she knew ahead of time because of the shape of the box (these were Springbox-sp?) and the sound that puzzle pieces make when shaken.
So, one year, I opened the box (which was a large, round, flat box) and wrapped all the pieces in tissue paper. She couldn’t figure it out–on the outside it looked like a puzzle, but it didn’t sound like a puzzle…it fooled her (that year).
When my nephews were 10 & 12 my sister bought them music instruments - a trombone for one, a trumpet for the other. Rather than just wrapping them we decided to have the mother of all treasure hunts.
It started Xmas Eve with a card telling them they were receiving coal, IF they were lucky (this was the year of the Lego stove fire, the breakapart couch, the river in the bathroom that extended three floors down, the year of the every damn window broke because baseballs and glass do not mix problem, the year of joyriding, and numerous other hijinks). So they were suitably bummed to come over to our house and watch us open presents.
After we opened presents my dad gave them each a tiny folded piece of wrapping paper. Didn’t say anything, just handed it to them. They opened them to read a clue in itty bitty (need a magnifying glass) writing. Over the next three hours they not only had to search the inside and the outside of the house, but they had to call family members for parts of clues, they had to watch a video of my dad lecturing them on how not to be idiots, they had to walk to the local mini-mart and get a clue from the deli person (a friend of mine) written in catsup on a napkin and they had to go carolling at neighnors houses until they found the house with a clue. Talk about frustration. They were PISSED. But they knew there would presents at the end. Maybe.
FINALLY they got a clue telling them to look under the tree again. Heh. In all their tearing around and wigging out, they failed to see their presents had been placed under tree at some point. Not only were the instruments under the tree but also presents from the rest of the family.
I was telling a coworker today about our inspired gift, and he told me what he’s doing this year.
As background, he’s Uncle Dave, Science Guy. He’s an electrical engineer and for the past howevermany years, he’s given the kids educational toys and stuff. The kids do like the stuff, but they’ve come to expect a certain kind of gift from Uncle Dave as a result.
This year, the family will be away from their house for the holidays until February or so (long, convoluted story that really isn’t important here) and he didn’t want to give them something they’d have to cram into the car when it was time to go home. He received a catalog of gag gifts, and he knew that was the answer. He said the whole family will receive a box with Groucho glasses, whoopee cushions, plastic dog doo, and whatever other silly things he picks out. The kids are pre-teens, so he’s pretty much guaranteed to be a hit with them.
I’d love to be a fly on the wall that Christmas morning when Uncle Dave’s gifts are opened!
Oh, and I love the precious moments figurine and hammer! Sheer genius!
We’re going to include cash with each gift in all coin values and bill denominations up to $20, as well as a few foreign coins we happen to have lying about. This is gonna be a fun holiday!!
Not completely unlike 
“Do you mean faux pas?”