Today I’m going to share a few ideas I’ve found for special little gifts–ideas that are thoughtful and thrifty at the same time.

Some of these can be used year round. Wouldn’t the tea bag cozy be a sweet idea for Valentine’s or Mother’s Day? But I’m getting ahead of myself…

Earlier this week I came across a wonderful blog called Prairie Flower Farm. (Thanks for the tip, Nancy!) If you subscribe to Prairie Flower Farm blog you can download a free E-pattern to make the sweetest little tea bag cozy. I loved this for a couple of reasons. I’m a sucker for yo-yo flowers, and this cozy is embellished with one . . . and I’m known to carry teabags in my purse just about everywhere I go. I mean, why buy tea, when you can get hot water for free or a few cents (some places charge for the disposable cup) and brew your own favorites?

Anyway–this would make a lovely little gift. If you’d like to make one for me that would be great! (kidding!!)  Hop on over to Prairie Flower Farm for a browse around Linda’s beautiful blog, and download this easy cozy pattern. It makes a great little gift to mail to friends far away.

I came across another great idea at Little Birdie Secrets. She’s sharing a bunch of low-cost gift ideas for neighbors. One of her ideas that appealed to me was giving a roll of wrapping paper, with a note attached that says “Get yourself all wrapped up in the holidays.” How cute! I’d definitely do some type of paper that could be used year round.

There are lots more frugal gift ideas at Little Birdie Secrets, so hop on over there to check those out. She mentions gifts in a jar–don’t forget the huge free E-Book (over 200 pages) of gift in a jar ideas and recipes that comes with the purchase of a December Digest.

Finally, I loved this unique idea over at Jeanne Winters Inspiring Ideas blog. Jeanne shares a tutorial and template for folding cardstock into a neat tetrahedron shape for tucking a gift card inside. It’s a very sweet look and idea–but don’t take my word for it. Go over to Jeanne’s blog to see for yourself!

Instead of a gift card, how about a homemade coupon? What are some gifts you can give? How about: car detailing, cookie or homemade bread gift certificate, cooking or baking lesson, petsitting, babysitting, an evening of scrapbooking, knitting lessons, an offer to paint a room (recipient provides the paint) or help with the garden . . . what other ideas can you think of? How about some seeds, and an offer to help plant them in the spring?

Presentation makes such a difference, and anyone would love to receive a gift that obviously has some thought and effort  and love behind it! Hope this little blog tour has given you some inspiration!