Giving a gift and watching your loved one’s reaction can often be as much fun as receiving one (well, almost!). It’s always a nice touch to add a little pizzazz to your presents by putting some extra thought into how you hand them over. Rocking up with an unwrapped gift in a plastic bag from the store screams “I bought this gift because I had to” or “I picked up this present on the way.” On the other hand, a clever or unique gift reveal shows someone you really made an effort. For example, when the tooth fairy visits your kids, she might leave behind a trail of pixie dust (gold glitter), as well as a gold coin. Try coming up with creative ways to present your gift to further add to the element of surprise. Here are a few memorable ideas to get your creative juices flowing… Happy gift giving!

THE HUNT

Instead of handing over a gift-wrapped box, give your friend or partner a clue that leads them to where the gift is. Feeling particularly clever? Make it a full-scale scavenger hunt, where one clue leads to another. Make the clues riddles or inside jokes that only you two would know.

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THE FAKE-OUT

It can be boring to be handed a wine-bottle-shaped gift that turns out to be just that. A bit of creative packaging can make your gift look like something completely different. The key here is to make the pressie look less appealing than it actually is – not the other way round!

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THE DISCOVERY

This is where you hide your gift somewhere the recipient will stumble upon it, getting a pleasant surprise. It needs to be somewhere they go regularly, like a sock drawer (but probably not if the gift is socks!), the bathroom cabinet or even a bicycle helmet for regular cyclists. Be mindful of potential damage and never, under any circumstances, use the oven – many a chocolate Easter bunny has been murdered that way.

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THE TROJAN HORSE

Let the Sack of Troy be your guide, but with a pleasant surprise instead of a war-losing one. Give a book you know he wants, but with gig tickets hidden inside. Or secrete a pair of earrings inside the pocket of her beautiful new dress.

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THE SURPRISE

If it’s a birthday or anniversary, your target will be on high alert. The secret here is to surprise them with your gift at an unusual time. Send it to work, wait until the end of the day when they think you’ve forgotten or catch them out first thing in the morning.

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THE STRANGER

Your friend or partner will expect the gift to come from you, so mix things up a bit. Go out to dinner and arrange to have one of the waitstaff to hand over the present. Does the recipient have a dog? Try attaching the gift to the pet’s collar, though remember the less human a delivery person, the greater the risk!

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