Please nobody tell me to get her 36 scented candles.
December 12, 2012 4:06 AM Subscribe
Birthday gift suggestions for 12/12/12?
I have a long time friend who was born on December twelfth. It's 2012, so this year it's 12/12/12! Unless something really nuts happens this will be her only ever 12/12/12.
Her party is on the 15th, though, so I have a couple days to put together something.
She and I were once very close but now we haven't seen each other since her birthday party last year (which, like for many December babies, is a combo holiday birthday party thing.) I am not looking to spend more than $60, and $30ish would be preferable. What could I make or get that riffs on the 12/12/12 thing?
This is not a big gift getting party. This would have to be something I could quietly hand over to her in a brief moment and that she could open later, so no huge boxes within boxes nonsense, please.
I am very crafty and can crochet, papercraft, hand sew, paint, glue, etc. But I don't know what I could make 12 of, really, as handmade stuff always seems best when it comes in small doses and a dozen is not small at all. (Also I only have about a day free between now and then so I'm not sure I'd completely have the time.) I can also cook and put together things like spice mixes or something? I'm not really sure. I am totally happy to buy things and assemble, or some combination of handmade and purchased.
Okay so the recipient is:
-Late 20s
-Female, fairly feminine, a style I might describe as quirky professional?
-A pretty new grade school teacher
-Busy busy always busy!
-Quite worldly and well-traveled
-Lives in a smallish apartment with Boy and two cats
-Likes to keep things neat, but is very sentimental, likes to decorate and "nest"
-Likes food of all sorts but doesn't think she can cook (she sort of can but she's more comfortable following directions than making stuff up)
-She used to like holding casual house parties but I don't know if she does anymore
-We've fallen out of touch so I don't know her very well anymore! I normally balk at generic ideas but this might be the situation that calls for them! I know you guys love to suggest experience gifts, but this is not the situation for that at all.
So! What could I possible get and/or make that has something to do with 12/12/12 that would fit my budget and my recipient that I can acquire within the next couple of days in my large metropolitan area? Any ideas? It's a tall order, I know, but if anyone can do it, MeFi can!
I have a long time friend who was born on December twelfth. It's 2012, so this year it's 12/12/12! Unless something really nuts happens this will be her only ever 12/12/12.
Her party is on the 15th, though, so I have a couple days to put together something.
She and I were once very close but now we haven't seen each other since her birthday party last year (which, like for many December babies, is a combo holiday birthday party thing.) I am not looking to spend more than $60, and $30ish would be preferable. What could I make or get that riffs on the 12/12/12 thing?
This is not a big gift getting party. This would have to be something I could quietly hand over to her in a brief moment and that she could open later, so no huge boxes within boxes nonsense, please.
I am very crafty and can crochet, papercraft, hand sew, paint, glue, etc. But I don't know what I could make 12 of, really, as handmade stuff always seems best when it comes in small doses and a dozen is not small at all. (Also I only have about a day free between now and then so I'm not sure I'd completely have the time.) I can also cook and put together things like spice mixes or something? I'm not really sure. I am totally happy to buy things and assemble, or some combination of handmade and purchased.
Okay so the recipient is:
-Late 20s
-Female, fairly feminine, a style I might describe as quirky professional?
-A pretty new grade school teacher
-Busy busy always busy!
-Quite worldly and well-traveled
-Lives in a smallish apartment with Boy and two cats
-Likes to keep things neat, but is very sentimental, likes to decorate and "nest"
-Likes food of all sorts but doesn't think she can cook (she sort of can but she's more comfortable following directions than making stuff up)
-She used to like holding casual house parties but I don't know if she does anymore
-We've fallen out of touch so I don't know her very well anymore! I normally balk at generic ideas but this might be the situation that calls for them! I know you guys love to suggest experience gifts, but this is not the situation for that at all.
So! What could I possible get and/or make that has something to do with 12/12/12 that would fit my budget and my recipient that I can acquire within the next couple of days in my large metropolitan area? Any ideas? It's a tall order, I know, but if anyone can do it, MeFi can!
Twelve origami creatures. Twelve cookies. Twelve mini muffins. Gift card to buy 12 coffees or 12 bakery treats. Twelve ounces (3/4 lb.) of chocolate. Twelve photos of her, or her & you together. If she travels, a world map with 12 of her favorite cities called out, like with a photo of each.
Any one of these, or maybe 12 coupons saying you'll give her one little thing each month on the 12th (or as close as possible) all year. Or 12 cards, one a month, each with a happy memory or moment from your friendship.
Or make it a baker's dozen - 13! One to grow on.
posted by dywypi at 4:32 AM on December 12, 2012 [2 favorites]
Any one of these, or maybe 12 coupons saying you'll give her one little thing each month on the 12th (or as close as possible) all year. Or 12 cards, one a month, each with a happy memory or moment from your friendship.
Or make it a baker's dozen - 13! One to grow on.
posted by dywypi at 4:32 AM on December 12, 2012 [2 favorites]
I like to decorate with plants...maybe 12 tiny succulents?
posted by three_red_balloons at 4:33 AM on December 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by three_red_balloons at 4:33 AM on December 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
I was at a craft fair this weekend, and overheard a woman say "my brother was born on 12/12 so this year I'm filling an egg carton with twelve tiny presents." She was specifically buying small items (in this case cufflinks), but I think her thought was more theme than content.
posted by librarianamy at 5:09 AM on December 12, 2012
posted by librarianamy at 5:09 AM on December 12, 2012
This is such a sweet idea! I like the idea of making it a baker's dozen and having one to "grow on" as dywypi suggested. Twelve small things is cute - spices (or. Spice mix with 12/13 spices) chocolates, mini sized pampering beauty products, but if you have time to make something, maybe a little book with twelve quotes or poems that remind you of her or are significant to her - or a booklet/ collage / craftwork that represents "twelve + 1 things I like about you" or "twelve +1 best things about you." This is something that could be handmade/crafted and would be a really lovely keepsake, especially if you it's go back a way. Let us know what you decide - I'm sure it will be awesome!
posted by rockpaperdynamite at 6:05 AM on December 12, 2012
posted by rockpaperdynamite at 6:05 AM on December 12, 2012
They have awesome and adorable 12 pack nail polishes. It's the hot thing this year. I agree with 12 of anything cute! I love Chocolates, but that gets more expensive than $60 for the good stuff.
How about putting 12 cute things in an egg carton? Cute ped socks, lip balm, hand sanitizer, lotion, cute things you find at the drug store!
posted by Yellow at 6:16 AM on December 12, 2012
How about putting 12 cute things in an egg carton? Cute ped socks, lip balm, hand sanitizer, lotion, cute things you find at the drug store!
posted by Yellow at 6:16 AM on December 12, 2012
Mix CD with 12 songs from your shared history, or that remind you of her, or some other appropriate theme.
posted by SweetTeaAndABiscuit at 6:18 AM on December 12, 2012
posted by SweetTeaAndABiscuit at 6:18 AM on December 12, 2012
If she likes beer, Stone Brewing has been doing a series of beers since 2/2/02 called Vertical Epic, and 12/12/12 just came out.
posted by jessypie at 12:00 PM on December 12, 2012
posted by jessypie at 12:00 PM on December 12, 2012
Second dywypi's idea about a map with cities she might travel to in the future, with a quirky restaurant for each. Suggest tiny Sticky notes she could remove easily before the trip with the name, address, and price in dollar signs so she'll know what to wear. If you can discern where she might stay in each city you could choose restaurants nearby. No doubt she'd appreciate the care that goes into such a gift.
Alternatively, you could make a CD of twelve "Travel songs," or "Roadtrip Songs, "Teaching Songs," "Kid Songs," or "Cooking Songs." The case would be fun to decorate.
posted by R2WeTwo at 2:59 PM on December 12, 2012
Alternatively, you could make a CD of twelve "Travel songs," or "Roadtrip Songs, "Teaching Songs," "Kid Songs," or "Cooking Songs." The case would be fun to decorate.
posted by R2WeTwo at 2:59 PM on December 12, 2012
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posted by mannequito at 4:12 AM on December 12, 2012 [1 favorite]