Celebrate : A Thoughtful Gift

We gave Kristina an awesome going away gift!  It is easy and a great memory.  According to Kristina, “It was one of the best gifts she has ever gotten.” We did the same thing for Scott’s Grandma’s 90th birthday. She was delighted. If you want a meaningful lovely gift here is an idea that will knock it out of the park.  It is a gift fromall their friends not just one friend and, this makes the gift heart-warming and a true treasure.

Here are the supplies you need:

A 3 ring photo album for 8.5×11 pages
1 ream of 8.5×11 White Card Stock
9×12 envelopes
10x 13 envelopes
The addresses from your friend who is moving of their friends that they would have coffee or a meal with.  Their friends whom they hang out with.
Stamps (for both the inner and outer envelopes)
8.5×11 page protectors
Directions:
1. Ask your friend who is moving for the addresses of her friends who she would have coffee or a meal with.
2. The number of addresses she gives you plus 10 is the number of envelopes you need to buy.  You need that number of 9×12 envelopes and the same number of 10x 13 envelopes.
3. Take the that number of addresses multiplied by 4 and that is the number of sheets of white card stock you will need. (I guessed 1 ream)
4. On the smaller envelope, the 9×12 address it to yourself.  This is the envelope her friend will return the sheets to you in.  I went to the post office and stuffed the envelope with four sheets of card stock plus some pictures and asked them to estimate the cost of shipping.  I then bought enough stamps for each of the return envelopes.  I addressed and stamped the return envelopes.  I think this is to ensure the best results for return.  This makes it easy for her friends to get it back to you in a timely manner.
5. Next I addressed all the outer envelopes.  One to each of her friends.
6. I put an X on the back of each piece of card stock so her friends are sure to only use one side. (Not front and back.  In the end this will make the book look better.)
7. I wrote a letter to her friends explaining what this package was all about.  Here is my letter:

Hello friends of Kristina and her Family!

My name is Jen and I am a good friend of Kristina.  As you know they will soon be moving to NYC/NJ.  I wanted to put together a going away present for them from all of their friends.  That’s where you come in!  I am hoping to put together a book for them with pictures, memories, best wishes from their friends here in Colorado.  I also wanted to include their children’s friends too.  You are getting this letter because you are a friend of the their family.  Here is what I would LOVE from you.  I have included 4 8.5×11 pieces of white cardstock. I added a few extra just in case.

Would you please:

1. Put a picture of your family on a page and then add a note, a quote, a letter, decorations, whatever suits you.  Please, Please include a picture of your family!
2. If you have a child who is friends with any of their kids you can use another page for them if you like.  You can let your child decorate that one.  If you happen to have any pictures of your kids with their kids that would be really special for the kids as they look through the book when they have moved.
3. Please only use one side of the paper (not front and back, just the front).  You can use just one sheet of paper or more if you would like.  Please use it in portrait position, not landscape.
4. Pictures of you with any of their family would be great too.
5. I would like to have the book together by June 15^th.   It may take me a few days to get it put together so could you try to post mark it by June 8^th? But better late than never.  The sooner the better for me of course to get it all together!
6. I have included an envelope addressed and stamped for you to return it in.
7. I was trying to keep it a secret! So SHHHHH! I think it will be a fun surprise.  Kristina gave me her addresses so she knows I am asking all of you to do something but she doesn’t know the details.  (I told her it wasn’t a party).  We may have a party, but I am just planning one thing at a time!

Thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU!!! We can only do this together; I know it will be a sweet memory for them.

Please feel free to call or email me if you have any questions!

Jen

8. I stuffed the 10×13 addressed and stamped envelope with: 1 stamped and addressed 9×12 return envelope, 4 sheets of white card stock with x’s on the back and, a letter explaining the project.
9.  I bought letters and flowers and hot glued them on the 3 ring photo album.  I put the word ‘Friends’ across the top.  I inserted a picture of them in the album center.
10. I inserted 8.5×11 page protectors into the album and waited to fill them with memories from her friends.
11.  We gave it to her at her going away party.  It was a present from all her friends.  She said, “This may be one of the best gifts I have received, EVER!”

Here is an example of what their friends sent back.  Each friend sent something a little different.  A few of her kids friends colored pictures or wrote memories too.  It is a wonderful keepsake for them.  Scott’s Grandma’s was wonderful to. In hers many of her friends wrote beautiful letters, decorated the pages with things they love to do together like play Bridge, and she had pictures and notes from all her Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren, as well as life long friends.