Top Gift Ideas for Inside an Envelope

When you send off a note, whether it is a thank you note or just a card, it can be a pleasant surprise for the recipient if there is a small, postable gift inside. Now, it does not need to be anything extravagant.

Several small gifts fit in envelopes. Small items can convey your appreciation for the recipient and will probably bring a smile to their faces. Shoot for postable gifts that work in a card and are reasonably flat. The slimmer the gift, the better it will fit in the envelope.

It is important to remember that it is risky to send high dollar items through the mail. In that regard, try to stick with simple tokens of appreciation. If you choose to send a more valuable gift, ensure it is sent with proper tracking and consider your insurance options.  We have put together a list of creative ideas for small gifts to put in cards.

Gifts if You Have a Small Budget

If you are operating on a tight budget, you may be concerned about the price of adding a gift to your card. However, many small, postable gifts fit in an envelope that you can source relatively economically or even for free!

• A poem. Pick one of your favorites or write your own. Handwrite it on cardstock, or if you’re writing is suspect, use a robot-generated handwritten look.
• Origami. This Japanese papercraft is sure to make a festive gift and fits perfectly inside a card. Try folding a crane, heart, or butterfly in different colors.
• Recipe. Stick in a recipe card with a treasured meal or a tasty treat.
• Article. Find a newspaper story or magazine article you know your recipient would love? Clip it out and send it over.
• Flowers. Grab some leaves and flowers from your plants and press them.
• Jokes: Send over a comic strip or write down a funny joke.
• Something Crafty. Send over a new pattern for knitting or crochet to your crafty recipients.

Gifts to Bring a Smile to Their Face

Many cute things to put in an envelope can brighten someone’s day. There are many ideas for small trinkets especially designed with cheer in mind like a funny Christmas card, for example. Check out the following list for some quick ideas.

• Cheer Pin. Cute little pins with inspirational messages are sure to bring a smile to your recipient’s face.
• Face Mask. Send a little relaxing me time through the mail.
• Personal Tea. Pick out a tea bag with a special message to send to the tea drinkers on your list.
• Music List. Put together a custom playlist on Spotify and send an access link.
• Landscape Photos. Have a photo of a personal place you know they will love? Print out the shot and send it off.
• Seed Packet. Give seeds to those with a green thumb. Pick from flowers, vegetables, or even fruit.
• Custom Message. Get creative and use scrabble tiles, letters from a magazine, or paints to write an uplifting note.

For the Avid Shopper

Sending a note to someone who loves to shop? Maybe your recipient is a major foodie. While gift cards and vouchers are not the most creative envelope gifts, they are perfect for people who you know will love them. Here is a grouping of popular options and a few more imaginative choices.

• For the foodie. A gift card to a restaurant, coffee shop, or corner cafe.
• For the musician. Send over a gift card to iTunes or their favorite music shop.
• The clothes horse. A gift card to their favorite online or brick and mortar shop.
• Movie lover. Send a gift card or tickets to their local movie theater.
• Theme Park. Nothing more thrilling than opening a card with tickets to a theme park for a daredevil.
• Gift card. Those whose taste you don’t know, use a gift card that works like a debit card from Visa, MasterCard, or Amex, or pop one into one of our handwritten notes.

Something for the Kiddos

Notes are often lost on children. However, if something bright, colorful, or fun is inside, you will instantly get their attention. You will earn bonus points for having an item that also doubles as an activity. Tiny gifts that fit in an envelope hit the sweet spot when you send a card to the kids in your life. Here are a few gifts they won’t be able to stop talking about.

• Custom stickers.
• Temporary tattoos.
• Puzzles.
• Mazes.
• Candy.
• Balloons.
• Hair accessories.
• Short stories.

Unusual Gifts To Put in a Card 

Traditional gifts sometimes do not work for everyone on your list. Since you are shooting for gifts that fit in an envelope, you may feel your non-traditional gift selection may be limited. However, there is a wide variety of out-of-the-box gifts to put in cards. Here are some items that will suit the most eclectic tastes.

• Charms for bracelets, keys, or necklaces.
• Gadgets that are credit card sized.
• Collectible or unique postage stamps.
• Scrapbooking supplies.
• Magnets for their fridge.
• DIY bookmarks or jewelry.
• Seasonal decorations made from crochet or felt.

Why It’s Important to Keep Your Gifts Small

Mailing gifts in cards gets very tricky. It is essential to keep items in envelopes small because they can get trapped in the mail sorters at the post office. Sorters will chew up anything that is raised or sticky. Often times, raised items have the potential to jam up the machine. There are many unexpected items that can survive the journey through the mail sorters. Imagine the joy on their faces when your unexpected and unique item is delivered by their friendly neighborhood postal employee.

Even though the postable objects need to be small and relatively flat, it does not mean you cannot have a lot of fun selecting an array of gifts. Let your creativity run wild. As you think of what brings joy to those you love, your imagination will provide some delightful and creative ideas. Hopefully, these ideas will inspire some unique additions of your own and a new love of sending snail mail.