Jan 03 2009
5 Creative Ways to Say Thank You
January is National Thank You Month, which makes perfect sense after all the great holiday gifts we received. It’s time to express your appreciation. But wouldn’t it be nice to do something other than just send a thank you card, thank you e’mail or phone call? If you took some time and effort towards this endeavor, the recipient would truly know how you felt.
1. Thank You Heart - if you have just a little sewing experience you can do this. Cut a heart pattern from a piece of paper or newspaper. It’s pretty easy, just fold it in half and cut out half a heart shape, when you open it up you will have a perfect heart. It should just be a smaller size (5 or 6 inches tall). Choose fabric and cut out the heart. Remember you will have a seam allowance of 5/8” so cut your heart accordingly. Leaving a 2 inch opening on the heart’s side (to turn it right side) sew around the heart. Turn it inside out and press. Fill the heart with poly stuffing and hand sew the opening shut.
Now, decorate your heart anyway you like with buttons, beads, embroidery, ribbon, charms and trims. Now, print on a piece of nice paper or cardstock, you sentiments. It could just be “Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.” Or, “From my heart to your heart.” using a small gold safety pin to attach or sew it directly onto the heart. Place it in tissue paper in a nice box - wrap it and present. The shape does not have to be a heart, but anything appropriate.
2. Small Token - Choose something that would especially be appreciated by the recipient. The token should, however, be small enough that the person does not feel obligated to return another thank you gift for the thank you. A single flower, a candy bar, a pastry, a latte, fruit or home baked cookies. Make sure you say “thank you for ….” when you present it.
3. Photo - Okay you can send a thank you card, but before you send it off have someone take a photo of you with your new gift or better yet, using it. Pop it in with the card - great thank you. Better yet, if you are creative make a card and use the picture on the front.
4. Magazine Subscription - Send a card with a note that they will soon be receiving a magazine subscription from …. (make sure it is a special interest of theirs). Tell them how much you appreciated the gift and wanted to do something nice in return.
5. Tickets - Purchase tickets to a local event you think the person would enjoy and present it with a thank you.
Great and easy tips. It’s always so much more appreciated when there is a little thought put into it’s creation.
I particularly love the photo idea! (A picture of us using the gift.) I received a really fun thank you card once in which the mom took pictures of her kids sitting next to the fridge, and they had my gift (”the books”) spelled out in fridge magnet letters! I loved getting a photo of the kids. The next part is what to write inside, though — I found a great article about what to write inside thank you notes. It practically gives you a formula in four quick (but gracious) sentences. Thanks for the tips!