gift ideas that will fit in a match box

A_Phoenix_of_Tangerine

If you have any ethnic/alternative/fairtradey-type shops near you, this may be an idea. Look for semi-precious gemstones, a cm or two in diameter: they should only cost between 80p to £2. There exists a vast array of different types of gemstone, in many different, or mixed, colours. Traditionally each type of stone is supposed to have certain special qualities (for instance, some are supposed to be beneficial to health if worn closely, whilst others may promote courage, or have a calming effect, etc). Often in these shops there is a gemstone/crystal chart which matches the type of gemstone (with a photo of it, so that you can easily match it to the ones in front of you) to its purported traits.

Maybe you could specially pick one for each of your family, in relation to the individual qualities that they have? You could also print a little pictured gemstone chart detailing the benefits of that stone, and place that in the box too: you could line the boxes with a dark red or purple silky kind of fabric, and glue the crystal guide to the inside of the lid. Because each stone has been chosen by you for individual reasons relating to each persons character, this gift would show that you appreaciate them personally, and know where they are coming from. (plus, if nothing else, you can buy some really beautiful looking gemstones, that also have an interesting history to them: most stones are millions of years old!!!)

These shops sometime sell necklaces that are specicifically meant for holding these gemstones: a black thong-type leather (string?!) that has a small spiral cage made of flexible silver-coloured metal on it, where a pendant would normally be. You can stretch any part of this metal in order to fit the small gemstone inside. These should probably be a couple of pounds or less, too..

Happy gifting, and good luck!

glidergirluk

Wow what an amazing idea, sorry but i am going to pinch it too to make an advent calendar this year. Matchboxes can be easily turned into little drawers. I am going to stack them all up like a miniture giant chest of drawers!

Luna69

I made a chest of drawers with matchboxes I think when I was at school and I used them to keep beads and things in, not sure what happened to it now... probably thrown out.

moneysavingyvonne

If you are thinking of doing an Advent Calander, instead of making it into a chest of drawers, why not postion them as a Xmas Tree.

I know what i mean, i hope you do too, its hard to explain.

Say four boxes on the bottom then three on next row and back out to four to kind of make the branches on an xmas tree.

Hope you understand what i mean, i'm rubbish at explaining myself.

debjk

years ago we wrapped up in a match box a key and a clue this was for my 2 kids and the key was to a padlocked door on our spare room inside we had set up a brand new computer (you can tell how long ago by the fact it cost £1000 and it was only 10g hd and 256 ram ) They had not got an idea what was behind the door cannot even remember what story we told them as to why the door was locked.
Now you obviously are not wanting to spend that much but it could house a key to a box hidden somewhere else in the house maybe a huge box with everyones presents inside and get them all searching for it.

Krystaltips

I once got the garage key wrapped up in a match box for christmas... My shiney new bike was in there!

Love the matchbox idea... Don't think my family would go for it though, they'd moan... Especially if I filled it with pound shop goodies!

Lillibet_2

Had a bit of a google for "tiny" & "small" gifts & came up with these :

Jewellery : Ear-rings, pendants, bracelets, cuff links ankle chains woudl all fit & needent cost more than £10. Look on eaby if in doubt! Or develop a new hobby & make your own.
Key-rings : You can get semi-precious gemstone keyrings for £5-10 each.
Make up : mini lipsticks & eye shadows woudl fit.
Perfume atomiser : Mine fits (I have just tested it!) You would probably have to take them out of their packaging. If you are brave you could probably blag a few tiny perfume samples from a department store. ( I always use the line I need to test it at home to see if it makes my husband sneeze:o)
Handbag/mobile phone/wine glass charms : cheap on the internet, more expensive but lovely from places like The Pier & Cargo Homes.
Memory stick/blue tooth head sets/dongles
Fishing acessories : No idea what they are called but the bits they put on he end of the lines which bob about in the water!
Golf tees.
Samll childrens figures : pokemon etc. Also retro figures for adults, I know my hubby would love some smurfs!
Knickers! : Obviously thongs, not Bridget Jones pants!
Fabric shopping bag : Yes, you'd have to fold it very very small! and maybe leave the handles hanging out.


Personally I think your best bet is jewellery for women & teenage girls, if they are the type of people who only wear "real" jewellery instead of costume jewellery then I found lots of great Swarovski crystal ear-rings & pendants on ebay fopr well under £10 & Swarvoski is usually aceptable IME. Men I think either cuff-links, bracelets (if they are men who will wear bracelets!), retro figures a la my husband & the Smurfs, or memory sticks.
For children I'm afraid I would just fold up £10 notes in the boxes which I know is a cop out but I just cannot think of anything else!

Good luck;)

shelly

jane130 wrote: »

My family always seem to try and out do each other on the size of the boxes the christmas gifts come in so I have the idea of totally going against the trend and decorating matchboxes and giving gifts that will fit in them - I don't have a huge budget so jewellery is a no no.

any ideas?

A spider :eek:

Thats the first and only thing that came to mind :rotfl:

mioliere

Things to put in a matchbox? How about matches?!

I've just come across this thread and it reminded me of a Christmas present I was given in a matchbox years ago. My DH and the boys spent ages writing Christmas greetings down the sides of the actual matches ; they must have had lots of patience but the result was amazing. I have treasured it ever since as one of the best presents ever. Little cost but absolutely priceless!

she_grinch

For parents/adults - If one or other partner snore .....earplugs! I know I would love them. Cinema ticket, book token, voucher/money for bottle of wine with small sachet of spices and instructions for mulled wine, Spray an old key with gold paint aput in box labelled the key to my heart!

For teens - Cinema ticket, or bowling voucher, gift token, spare earphones for ipods (mine always want these)

For children - cinema ticket, or promise vouchers eg a trip to the park/ zoo/ swimming, or pound coins, or a trasure map leading to chocolate coins (you could make eyepatches for them to wear whilst they hunt for it, or a voucher for a DVD