• Open the book up at a random page or simply skim through the pages, letting your creativity guide you. If a description or photo grabs your attention, stop and read more. Use your Post-it Notes here, too, to mark any gift ideas that seem fun to you.
Something important to keep in mind:
As you are reading the ideas in this book, you’ll want to use your imagination to think about how these ideas could be converted or tweaked for different ages or types of people. These ideas are great as is, but they are even better when you add your own special flavor of love and thoughtfulness.
Ask yourself these questions as you go:
• Could I make this gift work for someone who is elderly or for a small child? What would I need to change in order for that to happen?
• Could I make this gift even more personal or special? How?
• What could I incorporate into this gift that would show the recipient that I really see, know, and love who she is?
• Is there some humorous twist I could include to make him laugh?
• Is there a way to present this gift to make it the most fun, comfortable, and/or enjoyable?
How to Use the QR Codes in This Book
You’ll notice a bunch of squares with squiggly lines in them throughout the book. These are called Quick Response or QR codes. Many of you are familiar with these QR codes. Some of you may not be. That’s okay!
QR codes are just barcodes that you can scan easily using an app on your smartphone. (If your eyes are glazing over right now, just skip the QR codes altogether and know that you can simply type in the URL that is also included. Easy-peasy!)
If, like me, you find QR codes to be kind of fun, like treasure hunts, you can try it here! See the squiggly square on the next page? I created this special code just for you to test this whole thing out.
How to scan the QR code if you have a smartphone older than 2018:
Step 1: Download a free QR code reader onto your smartphone by searching the App Store. (I use QR Reader, but, honestly, I don’t remember how or why I chose that one.)
Step 2: Tap the app once it has downloaded to your phone in order to open the QR Reader. Tap again, and your camera will appear to be on. Hover over the code on this page, and the camera will automatically take a picture of the QR code. You’ll be directed to the web page with my video message for you.
It’s a fun way for me to get to share way more resources with you than I could squeeze in this book. It also allows me to show you videos and share audio recordings.
Note: Many newer smartphones have included QR code scanning that works by simply using the camera, without the necessity for the QR code reader app. If your smartphone has this feature, simply frame the QR code with your camera and it will launch into action.
But again, if you are shrugging your shoulders and rolling your eyes at the thought of this technology elbowing its way into your book, you can skip the extra resources altogether or simply type in any URL beneath the QR code.
QR Code
I created a surprise for you so you could test out how to use this QR code, or if you prefer, you can see it by simply typing in the URL.
Why Bother Making a Special, Personal Gift?
Why Not Just Buy Something at the Store?
If you wanted to create a sweet moment for someone you love, you could send an electronic gift card. You could send a text filled with cute emojis. You could send a gift that you purchased on Amazon.
There’s nothing wrong with any of those options, of course. Texts can be great. Amazon is definitely very efficient. However, if you want to make an extra-special impact in your recipient’s day, I’d encourage you to send a gift that feels…different, something that’s creative, personalized, and made with love; in other words, the type of gift you’ll see inside this book!
Why bother giving this kind of gift? There are so many reasons:
• To have a deeper impact. A creative gift—like the ones in this book—can make your recipient feel seen, loved, understood, and appreciated.
• It’s just more enjoyable. These kinds of gifts are so much fun to make. You’ll love the creative process! Creating is much more enjoyable than schlepping around a shopping mall or exhausting yourself visiting online stores!
• Generate creative sparks. These kinds of gifts help you practice having fun and using your imagination in new ways.
• Create and nourish a real sense of connection. In our hyper-digital age, these kinds of gifts help people feel more human and less disconnected.
• Improve relationships. When you give these kinds of gifts, you’ll be seen as someone who is creative, generous, and thoughtful—someone who goes the extra mile.
• Produce less waste and clutter. These kinds of gifts often cause less clutter. (Marie Kondo will be proud!)
• Spend less money. In this book, you’ll find many creative gift ideas that cost very little, or practically nothing at all.
• Become a role model. If you give these kinds of gifts, you will inspire other people to give unconventional and fun gifts, too. You’re modeling joy!
“But I’m Just Not Very Creative or Artistic… And Besides, I Don’t Have Much Free Time.”
We’re just a few pages into this book, and you might already be having some doubts about all of this. Maybe you’re thinking, “All of this sounds great—in theory—but I’m not an artistic or crafty person. I probably can’t make any of the gifts in this book.” Or maybe you’re thinking, “I don’t have time for this sort of thing.” Or maybe there’s some other type of hesitation creeping into your mind.
This is completely normal. I often feel this way, too. Whenever I step outside of my typical routine and try something new, there’s always pushback from my Monkey Mind—or what my son calls “Squawky Polly.” Squawky Polly is the part of my brain that gets all ruffled up when I start to experiment, take risks, or step more fully into the life I want to lead.
Scientists call Squawky Polly the “Reptilian Brain.” It’s the portion of our brain that exists to protect us from all the dangers of the world. As human beings, since we no longer face daily threats from bears or saber-toothed tigers, our brain finds other things to warn us about: Don’t stand out or no one will like you. Don’t expose yourself by being too open. Don’t draw attention to yourself. Don’t risk it. Don’t be too loving, or people will think you are weird.
Making creative, loving gifts for people may not seem like something to be afraid of, but trust me…. your brain may try to stop you! Your job is to simply nod pleasantly in its direction, give a little wave, and continue on your path.
Here are three of ol’ Squawky Polly’s favorite excuses to stop you from actually putting this book into action:
“I don’t have time for this.”
Some of the gift ideas in this book will literally take you less than ten minutes to do. No kidding. I’ve intentionally included ideas that take little time but have a big impact. And even if you do choose a gift that takes an hour or two to create, you need to remember that the process of creating the gift is a gift