Send a personalized gift to show your appreciation.
Sending thank you cards is standard etiquette after weddings, baby showers and other formal gift-giving occasions. Any time a gift is received, however, it is proper to send a note expressing gratitude. Thank you cards are often made of simple but formal stationery, and a brief acknowledgment is all that is required. Just the same, there is no reason not to personalize your words of thanks, and sending thank-you cards even for unconventional gifts or good deeds is always welcome. Recipients will be delighted to receive a thank you card or gift for friendly contributions such as helping you move to a new home or lending emotional support at a difficult time.
Paper Cards
You can create a simple yet personalized thank you card out of colorful stationery. Fold a piece of regular sized paper horizontally and tie piece of grosgrain ribbon into a bow on the front. Secure the ribbon with a dot of hot glue. For a fun-loving friend who appreciates silliness, make a kid-style card. Simply fold a piece of white printer paper in half and write "Thank You" in large, childish font on the front with crayon. If you're feeling extra frisky, decorate the inside with stickers and glitter.
Thank-You Scrapbook
For more artistically talented folks, a small scrapbook makes a remarkable thank-you gift and card in one. This idea works best if you took pictures during the activity for which you are thanking your friend. If a friend funded a weekend getaway or let you borrow a vacation house, for instance, include pictures of your trip, movie stubs and any other small souvenirs you collected.
Crafty Gifts
Plant a single flower in a small, cute flowerpot and tie a ribbon in a bow around the pot. Bake a batch of cookies and arrange them in a Chinese takeout style container, available in most craft stores, that you decorate yourself. Or, purchase a plain wine or martini glass and decorate it using paint markers designed for glassware. Paint polka dots, spell out the recipient's name, or write a quote about friends in creative font. Present these gifts with a brief note expressing your gratitude.
