Off-the-wall ideas for Christmas presents?

[tomos]

I dont know will these even make it for Christmas, and I think they're too hipster for me (and I never wear shades anyway) but
they did inspire me to start this thread - I mean what a great idea 

TIMBER sunglasses



any other off-the-wall ideas?

[Renegade]

any other off-the-wall ideas?

-tomos (November 22, 2012, 03:53 PM)

Buck the trend and make something as a gift. Used to work years ago. Might be worth recycling the idea.

[cranioscopical]

TIMBER sunglasses

-tomos (November 22, 2012, 03:53 PM)

Is that some kind of joak?

[Renegade]

TIMBER sunglasses

-tomos (November 22, 2012, 03:53 PM)

Is that some kind of joak?

-cranioscopical (November 22, 2012, 05:51 PM)

I think it's serious. If someone gave them to me, I'd think they were a real ash.

[f0dder]

I've bought a ZenMagnets mini package for my ex, if it arrives in time I'm going to do something cute with it. Also, I've bought their 'Zen Gift' set for myself, that's going to be a nice present.

And I've told my family not to give me any presents, since I kinda think it's a stupid thing to do(*) - stop giving superfluous gifts to people who have most of the stuff they need - you can't afford giving me the things I'd want to buy for myself (and I'd be dumbstruck and embarrased if you did), I don't want token gifts, and I'd rather have you buy something nice for yourself or some people who actually need it.

However, I'm still thinking about stuff to give to my brothers. (10, 15, 20, 21) - they don't need the gifts, but they don't necessarily subscribe to my views, either... and I do love the kiddos.

There's a funny thing in .dk called "Giv end ged" ("give a goat"), but that's a bit too philanthropic for me. I'd like to give something that I'm sure isn't gobbled up by a bureaucracy in a perhaps-helpful-wannabe-Christian organization or ends up as a penny in a million-short well.

OK, sorry if this got all too serious

[app103]

During the power failure of Hurricane Sandy, I started a crochet project...slippers for my husband. He was complaining that his feet were cold while we were all playing board games.

They are of my own design and are a little sneaker-like, navy blue with white tongues and orange laces. They are made from the leftover yarn from a project my stepmother was working on a long time ago and never finished. I acquired the less than finished afghan, along with the remaining yarn, when my father was cleaning the junk out of his house.

I plan on giving him both, as the afghan is big enough to keep him warm while watching TV, except for his feet, which will be covered in the matching slippers.

As far as odd gifts, I gave my daughter an enormous 5 lb jar of peanut butter last year. This was after they had announced a peanut shortage and some brands began increasing their prices. I immediately went and bought it for her, knowing how much she loves peanut butter and how she was worried that one of her staple foods might become unaffordable. Not knowing that I had got one for her, my husband got her one, too, so she ended up with 10 lbs of peanut butter! She loved it...one of the advantages of raising an incredibly practical daughter with a love of food. It also brought up memories of the giant gallon jar of pickle slices I bought for her one Giftmas, when she was about 11. You should have seen the look on her face when she unwrapped that one. She had an expression as if she had just unwrapped a live pony. 

[tomos]

oups, I forgot about this thread

And I've told my family not to give me any presents, since I kinda think it's a stupid thing to do(*) - stop giving superfluous gifts to people who have most of the stuff they need - you can't afford giving me the things I'd want to buy for myself (and I'd be dumbstruck and embarrased if you did), I don't want token gifts, and I'd rather have you buy something nice for yourself or some people who actually need it.

-f0dder (November 22, 2012, 06:41 PM)

that reminds me of getting a spray canister for vinegar one year - looked expensive too, but I was like WTF?!
I actually like cooking but have no idea -nor do I really want to know- what to use it for. Actually ended up finding a practical use for it - vinegar keeps martens (Steinmarder) from biting cables in the car engine. Eventually got a protective cover for the ones the martens favoured - the vinegar sprayer is probably still in the boot.

I'm getting very practical about presents - I mean I make requests. Generally for consumable things I either wouldnt normally buy (or not at all). There's a toothpaste I really like that's 4 euros - damned if I'm going to buy that for everyday, but if I get it as a present I'm happy as larry. Or something like pumpkin-seed oil.

During the power failure of Hurricane Sandy, I started a crochet project...slippers for my husband. He was complaining that his feet were cold while we were all playing board games.

They are of my own design and are a little sneaker-like, navy blue with white tongues and orange laces.

-app103 (November 22, 2012, 10:25 PM)

sound nice and colourful - 'groovy' came to mind ;-)

I accidentally came across this 2006 post in your (app's) blog today, makes for a nice read:
The perfect gift

[cthorpe]

Having a toddler makes giving gifts to family so easy.

We just buy 9"x12" canvas board in bulk from an art supply warehouse and a bunch of tube of non-toxic, washable finger paint.  Then we sit him in his booster seat with old clothes on, newspaper covering the table, and a plastic drop cloth under him.

My wife handles squirting the colors he asks for on the board and wiping his hands as necessary. I wisk away finished paintings to our drying area and drop new boards in front of him as needed.

We can easily produce 15-20 beautiful paintings in an afternoon.

C

[tomos]

We can easily produce 15-20 beautiful paintings in an afternoon.

-cthorpe (November 24, 2012, 01:49 PM)

which you could then use as presents if you wanted  
until he/she gets older and refuses to part with any of them (maybe not all kids are like that though...)

[app103]

I accidentally came across this 2006 post in your (app's) blog today, makes for a nice read:
[url=http://cranialsoup.blogspot.de/2006/12/perfect-gift.html]The perfect gift

-tomos (November 24, 2012, 10:45 AM)

I have a confession to make...

The giver of that gift wasn't mentioned by name in that post because I didn't think that most people that would read it would really care, because they don't know him.

But you all know him. It was mouser. 

[tomos]

^ I'm not suprised

he'll get all embarrassed now

[Mark0]

How about a hand sharpened pencil? 

http://www.artisanal...encilsharpening.com/

[app103]

How about a hand sharpened pencil? 

http://www.artisanal...encilsharpening.com/

-Mark0 (November 25, 2012, 08:14 PM)

Maybe I need to rethink this whole how to earn a living thing. Between the guy that charges $2 for a hug and the guy charging $20 for a hand sharpened pencil, I am beginning to think I have been going about it all wrong. 

[mwb1100]

Generally for consumable things I either wouldnt normally buy (or not at all). There's a toothpaste I really like that's 4 euros - damned if I'm going to buy that for everyday, but if I get it as a present I'm happy as larry. Or something like pumpkin-seed oil.

-tomos (November 24, 2012, 10:45 AM)

I agree with this 100%.  But it's actually been hard to convince people that things like that make good gifts.  It seems that many people have an idea that if something doesn't have batteries or plug into an outlet, it can't be a good gift.