Gift Giving Made Easy With C.R.E.W.
Gift giving and the holidays go hand-in-hand. They often bring excitement and sometimes, a touch of overwhelm. With endless options it is hard to find a place to start. If you are like me and like to keep things simple, organized, and meaningful then C.R.E.W. is for you. This approach is perfect for any occasion and just in time for the holiday season.
C.R.E.W. – Create. Read. Eat. Wear. I devised this acronym to help elevate the stress of coming up with gift ideas for an ever growing circle of family and friends.
In this post I will get those gift giving ideas flowing with suggestions for your friends, family and loved ones by introducing you to a framework that can be used year after year.
Gift Giving Brain Dump
To start the process of curating the perfect C.R.E.W. of gifts I like to brainstorm. This generally looks like a simple list of things that my gift recipient likes, hobbies and even dislikes. This doesn’t have to take long just take a few minutes to gather your thoughts around that person and your well on your way to putting together the perfect items to gift your friend or loved one.
C – Creative
Creative gifts are one of my favorite types of gifts to give. They can spark imagination and be a gift that is lasting for the recipient. The idea is to give something that the recipient can create with.
Examples of creative gifts would be a set of new paints for the artist in your life. Or perhaps some yarn for the avid crocheter. The possibilities are literally endless. The idea is to keep your recipient and their lifestyle in mind.
Some of my favorite creative gifts to receive are kitchen items. This is where I spend a good deal of time creating, so anything that can help me get the job done more efficiently or in a fun way, I am all for it!
Creative Gift Ideas
- Kitchen items
- Crafting supplies
- Art supplies
- Gardening tools
- Subscription based art/craft
R – Reading
The R in C.R.E.W. is near and dear to my heart. Reading is such an enriching experience whether young or old, so you can’t go wrong by gifting a book. Finding a book to add to anyone’s library can be fun and easy.
The book you choose is not limited to just reading, so think about your recipient and let this guide you. It could be a cookbook, a craft book, perhaps even a magazine subscription.
Something that can be read is a gift that can be enjoyed for many years to come and can be new or used. With that in mind the R in C.R.E.W is both thoughtful and budget friendly.
Reading Gift Ideas
- Single book in a series (that way you can gift more books for other occasions)
- Magazine subscription
- Vintage book
- Cookbook
- How-to book
- Subscription based reading club
E – Eat
This is probably my kids’ favorite letter of their C.R.E.W. of gifts to open. Usually a rarified and coveted item, the E in C.R.E.W. doesn’t last long, because it is consumed with much excitement and usually only a few crumbs are left as evidence that it ever existed.
These treats can be something small and purchased or something bigger and homemade. I often purchase something for my children and make something at home for friends and extended family.
I like to think of E as an extra special treat. Something that may be a bit indulgent, but you be the judge of how E should be put to use. Maybe it is a single serving of something rarely enjoyed or an ongoing subscription to a meal service. You decide what best fits your recipient.
One way to really give a thoughtful gift for the letter E is to create a voucher for a homemade meal that you cook. This allows for a future interaction and a new memory to be made with your loved one.
Eating Gift Ideas
- Homemade goodies
- Subscription based box of goodies
- Gift basket
- Gift card to a favorite restaurant
- Personalized gift voucher for a meal in your home
W – Wear
Gifting something to wear can be tricky, depending on who you are buying for. Even a close loved one can be challenging to buy an item that is worn. Think a little deeper and consider items that are more than clothing.
Consider items like jewelry, perfume or cologne, make-up, sunglasses and lotions. Let’s not forget little ones, so you might search out costumes, swim goggles and fins or even hats with matching gloves.
To make a more memorable gift giving experience try creating the wearable item yourself. I plan on crocheting my crew of boys (pun intended) matching hats for the colder months. I am really looking forward to putting in the time for this gift and seeing them don their new apparel.
Wearable Gift Ideas
- Perfume or cologne
- Jewelry
- Accessories
- Costumes (for the little ones)
- Lotions
- Handmade items
- Subscription of wearable items
Gift Giving Recap
The beauty of using the C.R.E.W. acronym for gift giving is that it keeps you organized and on track with all of your gift giving, whether it is a holiday season, or you tend to get overwhelmed with too many gifting options. Not only is it great for all gifting occasions, but it is applicable to all ages. So if you have a list that are aged from 1-92 then you should feel confident and prepared with this framework of gift giving.
You can take things a step further with your C.R.E.W. of gifts and incorporate a theme. Examples of themes could be a movie night theme, or roadtrip themed. The key is to focus on the person receiving the C.R.E.W. and tailor it to their likes, needs, hobbies and style.
This sounds so elementary, but in today’s world where gift giving can sometimes be impersonal, the C.R.E.W. acronym can keep you on track and make you a super-hero gift-er for any gift giving occasion.
Gift Giving Category Ideas
- Subscription boxes
- Handmade items
- Vintage or gently used items
- Themed C.R.E.W. items
Do you have trouble coming up with gift ideas? What are your favorite C.R.E.W. ideas? Let me know in the comments below and share your experience with gift giving or receiving.
