AA Gifts & Baskets Idea Blog

Posts Tagged ‘congratulations’

Many people have never heard of the candy bar card idea, but it’s a cute one you might want to try for your next occasion. Say you have a friend with a special birthday coming up. You can create a giant sized card that includes real wrapped candy bars. People really enjoy receiving these unique candy gifts! The big idea is to write a message that includes the names of the candy bar. It’s a challenge. Are you up for it?

Start off with some poster board. The kind that has the foam on the back will work best as candy tends to get heavy once you glue it on. It will be easier and sturdier to transport this way. Use a festive color that will match with your theme.

Next, pick out a bunch of candies with fun names. You might choose Mounds, Nerds, Mars, etc. Get a whole bunch so you have lots to choose from. The idea is to create a message that will include the candy bar name in it. So, for instance, you might write, “I discovered I loved you Mounds more than the other boys on the playground when we first met.” It’s corny, but the whole idea comes out looking really festive and fun. The wackier the better. Try using Baby Ruth or Almond Joy in a sentence!

Once you have your candies in mind, begin composing a message. It can be a poem, a limerick, or just a paragraph. You can either type it out in large font on a computer or hand-write it onto your poster board. It’s easier to use a computer if you want to enlarge the words. But if you like your handwriting, that works well, too.

Start spacing out the words on the board. Make sure you leave a big space for where you’ll glue on the candy bar. So, for instance, in the example above, you’d write or type out, “I discovered I loved you (and then leave a big space to glue in the Mounds bar) more than the other boys on the playground.” Insert the candy in the space by gluing it. You might try glue dots, which you can find in a craft store. The beauty of these dots is that they don’t rip the paper off the back of the candy and they won’t seep through to ruin the chocolate.

When you’ve got your whole poem written or typed out and stuck on the board, make sure all your candy is secure in place. See if you like the design. It’s always a good idea to do a test placement first to see if it all will fit. You might write the message in pencil on the board or cut out strips of printed paper from your computer.

Decorate or embellish as you like. Use glitter around the edges or photos or just doodle to liven it up. You can present your card at the party and it will be the highlight of the night. People will love coming over and reading the funny message and seeing what the card is all about. Many will marvel that they’ve never seen a candy bar card before. You may start a new trend among family and friends! No one would expect to get one of these cards for their birthday gift!

Have you ever wondered why some parties just seem better than others? Maybe it has something to do with the décor. The decorations can really set the mood for a party. Whether it’s something you have brought in or you make it by hand, the possibilities are endless for what you can use to liven up a party and set the tone.

Consider that your centerpieces are what most people are going to be staring at while they sit at their tables to eat, talk, and relax. If you have fantastic centerpieces, you’ll really get everyone’s attention. If they’re fun, whimsical, and people are allowed to take them home, so much the better.

One way you can create centerpieces that really catch your guests’ eyes is to make candy bouquets. These fun little creations are easy to create, have a low cost, and people love them.

There are several ways to create these darling little candy treasures. One way is to gather them into a bunch and everyone can take home their own little bouquet at the end of the party. Another is to make them into free-standing bouquets that are placed in a mug, vase, votive holder, or other container. Either way, they’re festive and will serve their purpose well as a much admired centerpiece.

To make a candy bouquet that your guests can hold in their hands is easy. You’re going to need lots of candies. Hard candies, mini chocolates, lifesavers, and other small edibles in wrappers are the things that will work best. You need to leave them in the wrapper, so choose a candy that looks good while wrapped and also is recognizable and easy to work with. Nothing too gummy or gooshy, unless you want to use individually wrapped larger gummy bears.

Wrap some wooden skewers or lollipop sticks with floral tape. You can find this green tape in craft stores. You’ll also need some green felt to make leaves with. For each stem that you wrap, you’re going to need two leaves. You’ll want to adhere those leaves to the stem with a hot glue gun. Next, take one piece of candy for each stem and using hot glue, glue just the bottom of the candy to the stem. When you are done, it will look like a flower on a stem. The idea is to bunch up several of these to create a bouquet that guests can take home.

The other step you can do is to create each flower and then stick it into a piece of Styrofoam or floral oasis. The piece of Styrofoam should be anchored in a cup, mug, or votive holder. This is intended to be a takeaway for your guests exactly as they are (as opposed to taking a free standing bouquet).

Candy bouquets are ideal as they are easy to make. You can form a little assembly line and get them all done easily. If you have a friend or two to help you, set up stations. One person can do the leaves and stems, another the adhering of the candy, and the other can do the assembling of the bouquets.

Set them out on tables at your next party and just watch the smiles on your guests’ faces. Then watch those smiles get even bigger when they find out they can take home their own little thank you candy bouquet. It’s worth the effort to create these darling centerpieces.

When it comes time for someone special to you to retire, what do you say in the card? Chances are you’ll be at a loss for words to tell your friend just how you feel. Here are some ideas you can use to help you get started.

First, choose a card that’s appropriate. If he’s the office jokester, you may want to select a funny card. If he’s the quiet type who’s always been there for you, you might want to go more serious. It’s up to you. Judge by the situation and the person.

Next, use your best handwriting and a dark pen. Often people can’t read gel pen ink that’s in funky colors. Also, never computerize your message. Hand writing is best here. Finally, don't forget to get them a thank you basket showing your appreciation for all their years of hard work.

So what can you say?

• You’ve worked hard for this day. You deserve all the best in your retirement and for years to come.

• I’m so jealous! You get to go enjoy those grandkids and I’ll still be here in the office. But I am so happy for you! Enjoy every day and think of all of us here. It won’t be the same without you.

• All the very best for a person who showed a true work ethic that is rarely found these days. You will be missed around here.

• Dear Mom, You’ve been a real inspiration to us all with the way you worked and raised us all. We are so thrilled you’ll be able to spend more time doing the things you love now.

• Congratulations on your retirement. It couldn’t have happened to a better guy!

• Thank you for all the years we spent together working side by side. You’ve made it fun to come to work each day. I’ll miss you very much.

• The old office won’t be the same without you. But we are so happy that you’ll be able to start enjoying some of the many hobbies you have.

• As you’re running after the grandchildren, take a moment to remember all of us here at the office. We’ll miss you.

• You gave your all in everything you did. Here’s to the best retirement a guy could have.

• Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Get out there and enjoy every minute of it.

• May you and Margie enjoy many happy years of retirement together.

• As you retire, look forward to all the good things yet to come. Like sleeping late, throwing your alarm clock out, and eating dinner at 4:30 in the afternoon!

• Many happy thoughts go with you as you leave this place. And you’ll always remain here in our hearts.

• Today you retire. We’re so stinkin’ jealous.

• Retirement starts a brand new chapter of your life. Here’s to writing a great one!

• Now you’ll have time to do the things you always wanted to do. Make the most of every single day.

• We may not see you every day anymore, but we’ll be thinking of you out there sunning yourself during business hours.

Retirement cards are not hard to write. Get everyone in the office to go in together on a card and a retirement gift so you can all express your well-wishes together. If it’s a family member, consider gifting them with a day out with you or a special trip rather than just a present.

There are many reasons you would want to congratulate someone. When the time comes, will you have the right words? Here are some ideas on the type of sentiments you can write in a congratulations card:

Graduation

Way to go, graduate!

Set sail for the rest of your life.

Welcome to your new life!

We knew you’d excel. You always do.

Today is reserved for the brightest stars. And you certainly shine!

No one else could have done it as well as you did.

You did it!

Nice going! We knew you’d succeed.

We’re so proud of you.

Here’s to a future as bright as you are.

There’s no stopping someone as bright as you.

You’re a rising star!

May all your dreams come true as you head for your future.

All roads lead to success when you’re involved.

New Baby

Babies are such a wonderful gift from God.

Enjoy your little bundle of joy.

Congratulations on the newest member of your family.

What babies take away in sleep, they make up for in loveliness.

To the new mom and dad—may every day be as delightful as this one.

Cherish each day of this precious little one’s new life.

Engagement

All the best to you as you embark on your new life.

Love brought you together. And we’re so glad.

It couldn’t happen to two more wonderful people.

Here’s to a life of joy and laughter.

May you find joy, happiness, and a good wedding planner.

The road to happiness starts with this exciting beginning.

Wedding

As you head for your new future, may you take our love with you.

To Mr. and Mrs. Wonderful…We wish you all the best.

Life starts anew today. Happy new life.

Drink a toast to the happiness that lies ahead.

Today is the first day of the rest of your lives.

The best marriages are between best friends.

Two became one today.

Always search for a reason to celebrate each other.

New Home

Here’s hoping your new home is filled with joy and peace.

We’ll miss you in the neighborhood, but we’re so happy you’ve found a new one you love.

Enjoy many happy days in your new place.

Home is where the heart is.

May you enjoy years of good times in your new home.

Big Anniversary

40 years of marriage is a reason to celebrate!

You made it! 60 years and many, many more!

Marriages like yours are examples to all of us.

You are both shining lights in our lives. We love you.

Congratulations on 50 years of wedded bliss.

You stuck it out! Happy 60^th Anniversary.

May you have 40 more wonderful years ahead of you.

To the couple that we all admire.

If you find yourself stumped for exactly the right words, just go with your honest feelings. No one expects you to be a published poet. Just write a sentiment that sounds the way you might talk if you were face to face with the person. Make your card lovely and personal. If you’re making your congratulations card yourself, include a photo of the person when they were younger for a walk down memory lane. If it’s a new graduate, tuck a few dollars inside the envelope to send them on their way.

Congratulate and Wish Your Loved Ones Well with a Housewarming Gift Basket

Moving to a new home can be both exciting and challenging. To extend your congratulations and wish loved ones well as they start a new life in a new environment, it is a great idea to send a housewarming gift basket.

The contents do not have to be expensive at all. All that is needed to make the gift special is for you to find items that they will find useful for de-stressing after unpacking their load and arranging their furniture, or for throwing parties with the new neighbors.

Easy to prepare snack goods like cookies, popcorn and chocolates, or even meal items like pasta, bread, cheese and sausages, a collection of DVDs and a bottle of wine are perfect for the celebration, as are tea bags or gourmet coffee packs that may come with a large mug.

To find a selection of  housewarming gift baskets, visit AAGiftsandBaskets.com. The site offers dozens of gift packages to choose from.

Congratulate a New Homeowner with a Housewarming Gift Basket

A great way to extend your congratulations on a friend or family member's new acquisition of a house or apartment is to give a housewarming gift basket.

If your friend and loves to watch movies, you can bet that one of the first things they are going to do is stuff their new living room with a collection of DVDs. And once they've set up their TV, you can suggest a movie marathon with your movie buff gift basket in hand. You'll have saved your friend some of the extra expenses of buying popcorn and drinks by sending a basket of movie munchies or having it delivered to the house and bringing it over yourself.

For more mature recipients, a celebratory basket with wine and wine food can be sent over so that you can have a picnic on their empty floor even before the furniture is properly unpacked.

At AAGiftsAndBaskets.com you can choose from a variety of themed housewarming gift baskets. Aside from movie buff goodies, there are also gift baskets for foodies and basic necessity packages for people who have just moved into a new dwelling place.