Creative Ways to Say Thank You: 10 Unique Ideas

Sometimes a simple “Thanks!” just won’t cut it.

When someone has truly done you a solid and you want to make absolutely sure they understand just how grateful you are, you want to go a little above and beyond what’s typically expected.

These 10 creative ways to say thank you will show you how to do just that.

Whether you’re looking to do something just a little special and out of the norm or something completely and utterly EPIC, read on to learn the perfect way to say thank you to the person you’re appreciating so much.

Bake something unusual.

Let’s get something straight: there’s nothing wrong with cookies. If you want to bake a batch of chocolate chip to say thank you, no one is ever going to complain! But if you want to go a little outside the box, you could also bake them something unusual, such as your Grandma’s lasagna recipe! Nothing says thank you like frozen re-heatable dinners for a whole week.

Make a homemade gift.

There is an infinite number of gifts you can make yourself: a cross-stitch, hanging mobile, candle, earrings, soup mix in a jar, or something else! For inspiration, check out this list of 100 great ideas. When you make a gift yourself, it means that much more.

Throw a themed party.

When you want to say thank you in an epic way, there’s almost no better way than to throw them a party (unless, of course, they’re a diehard introvert who hates parties). To go a step further, make it a themed party around something they love, whether it’s Harry Potter, bird watching, or something else.

Assemble a “box of fun.”

Sort of like a Christmas stocking but good any time of the year, a box of fun is a collection of small things that you think your recipient would enjoy. In the past, I’ve assembled boxes of fun that includes things like soap, candles, candy bars, lip balm, beef jerky, magazines or books, hand/foot warmers, and lots more. These are a hit every time. Go to a shop or grocery store you love and just go wild!

Order a personalized gift.

Did you know that ETSY has countless artisans who create personalized gifts of all kinds? Whether it’s a beer koozie with their name on it, a journal with their favorite quote on the front, or something else, the artists at ETSY make it easy to personalize your gift exactly right. Check out their Personalized Gift Guide to get started.

Make a card.

Often when people don’t identify as being “creative,” they think they could never make a homemade card. But the truth is, homemade cards are incredibly charming, and if you’re less than artistically savvy, they’re even MORE so! Whatever you have lying around – your kid’s crayons or markers, or just a magazine to clip from – sit down and give yourself an hour to make your recipient a card from scratch. I promise they’ll never forget it.

Give the gift of time.

If the person you want to thank is a busy parent, there’s no greater gift than offering to watch their kids for an afternoon or an evening. How can you ease their level of busyness, if only for a day? Most likely to them, there is no greater gift than this.

Custom marquee message.

Do you live in a town with a movie theater marquee? Often these theaters will put up a custom thank you message for a fee. Arrange to take your thank you recipient out for lunch and make sure to drive by. It will make their day guaranteed!

Create a gratitude jar.

We did this for one of our friend’s birthdays once, and she never forgot it. For the person who you want to thank, have several people in their inner circle write down thank you messages on little pieces of paper. Ask them to write down anything they appreciate about the person or even just describe a happy memory they shared. Fold up all these pieces of paper and stuff them into a jar. Your recipient can open up one each morning or just anytime they’re having a rough day. It will be a gift that keeps on giving for some time.

Make a music video.

Want to do something bold? Record yourself singing a thank you song and send it to your recipient! If you’re looking for songs that say thank you, here are a few ideas: Thank You by Alanis Morissette, Thank You by Dido, or Thank You For Being a Friend (Golden Girls). For more ideas, check out this full list!

Looking for more?

Truthbetold, I love writing about gratitude. If you liked these creative ways to say thank you, you might also enjoy my other posts The Thank You List: Become a Master of Expressing Gratitude or Cultivating Gratitude: Two Magic Words.