Unique Gifts for Your Quirkiest Friend

When gift ideas are scarce and inspiration is short, it’s tempting to fall back on those predictable purchases: candles, gift cards, books, the usual suspects. But this holiday season, it’s time to shake things up and give the gifts one would least expect with a quirky, fun-filled edge. If you’re stumped for gift ideas, amp things up this holiday season with these cheeky gifts like temporary sparkle tattoos, color burst playing cards, pest control weapons, and sarcastic statement pillows. You might feel bold in your gifting pursuits, but these gifts trump any cliches that deserve to be delegated to the back burner this year.

_{Prices are accurate as of December 11, 2024. Subject to change.}

Catbird Pigeon Wind-Up Toy

Undoubtedly the unappointed mascot of New York, the pigeon is considered equal parts pest and celebrated icon. Indeed, even if you’ve never paid a visit to the Big Apple, chances are you’ve come across this brazen bird in your lifetime, waiting to take a bite out of your leftovers or flying in flocks dangerously close to slamming into you. If somebody on your list is a trinket and treasure collector with a flair for the fun, you’re sure to win a major favor if you gift them with this fun and affordable conversation sparker. Just a few turns of this petite fowl will have him on his way across tables, desks, and floors, bringing that resilient, radical New York spirit with every step. The wind-up toy serves as a daily reminder to laugh at life’s punches and eccentricities, and never back down from a challenge — just like the pigeon itself.

Fazit Glitter Freckle Patches

If you told us we’d be applying glitter freckles as a beauty trend in 2024, we’d have said you’d gone absolutely bonkers. And yet, here we are buying these star-shaped patches in bulk, giving them as gifts and applying them when we need a little ethereal excitement in our own lives. Star and glitter freckles started gaining traction when Taylor Swift’s fans started sporting these shimmery accessories at her sold-out concerts and went mega-viral when Taylor Swift herself wore Fazit’s temporary freckles at an NFL game. I was worried these glitter freckles might look absurd on an adult, but somehow, they’ve become the perfect addition to an adventurous beauty routine, adding a touch of wonder to any look, whether that’s a music concert or a long overdue girls’ night out on the town.

Moo Deng Bumper Sticker

We honestly hadn’t given hippos much thought until an adorable one named Moo Deng entered the scene, and now we’re downright obsessed. This sassy, sneaky ball of blubber went viral on social media this fall, quickly becoming this year’s icon, and we’ve been watching her unpredictable-but-always-adorable antics ever since. Whether she’s biting zoo staff or lazing about, this pygmy hippo draws record crowds at her home in Thailand, but you don’t have to hop on a plane and travel across the world to capture that sassy spirit that is Moo Deng (her name translates to bouncy pork). Indeed, there’s plenty of Moo Deng-inspired merch out already, including holiday ornaments and tees, but it’s this lighthearted, laugh-inducing bumper sticker that we can’t wait to give as a gift this holiday season. Road rage is gone when Moo Deng’s face is staring back at you, reminding you to chill and channel your inner bouncy pork.

Ban.do Playing Cards

Playing cards aren’t what they used to be. What was once an unassuming deck of kings, queens, spades, jacks, and jokers has transformed into an artistic playground, with brands putting their own design spins on the beloved game. Whatever your recipient’s style, there is sure to be a deck that will suit their playful personality, but if we had to pick a universal favorite, it would be this deck from Ban.do. Perhaps the boldest and brightest cards we’ve ever beheld, this vibrant two-deck collection is not just a game, but a statement piece that will add a pop of color and entertainment to any room. Though we’d want to keep them as pristine as possible, the deck demands to be played at game nights and get-togethers, complete with nail-biting rounds of go fish, poker, or solitaire.

Organ Plushies

There’s something about a stuffed animal that brings out the inner child in everyone. While we’ve witnessed some wildly creative stuffed creatures, we can’t resist these endearing plushies from I Heart Guts. Here you’ll find all parts of the human body from the brain, lungs, colon, gallbladder, or ovaries that will delight anatomy enthusiasts and plushie lovers alike. While there’s certainly a lot of humor and hilarity to be found in these surprising stuffies, the genesis behind them is quite humbling. Many of these plush organs find their way to those struggling with illnesses, cancer, and diseases, easing the real-life health struggles many individuals face every day with a soft, soothing squeeze. If your gift recipient appreciates a touch of wacky with a serving of sweet, they’ll find it hard to resist adding a stuffed organ to their collection — even if they’re well beyond those youthful years. 

Bug-A-Salt

Who said pest control can’t be fun? If your giftee is a patio dweller or enjoys outside entertaining, it’s likely they’ve battled their fair share of house flies. These uninvited guests not only bring an ick factor, but can turn a relaxing get-together into a frustrating battle. Turn that battle turn into a playful shootout with the insanely well-reviewed Bug-A-Salt. Just load this bright yellow device up with ordinary table salt and start firing away at those invaders as they approach. The Bug-A-Salt is insanely accurate up to three feet away and all safety precautions must be followed, i.e. no firing at humans or pets, to keep the fun safe. Such joy is in store, your recipient might enjoy a fly’s company a little too much. 

Jellycat Statement Bag

Imagine the scene: you’re at a holiday party and glance over to see a frowning turtle staring right back at you. Believe it or not, stuffed animal purveyor Jellycat has made a grumpy reptile look disarming as a plush crossbody bag that your recipient will carry on the regular. Undoubtedly intended for the young at heart, this whimsical accessory is sure to delight anyone and every one with its endearingly grumpy demeanor and soft texture that’s hard to resist cuddling. The bag itself is surprisingly spacious, with enough cargo room to pack a wallet, keys, and everyday necessities. Jellycat, which has found a certain fanfare among stuffed animal collectors, always has a healthy dose of creativity up its sleeve with stuffed selections like hot chocolate, pizza slices, festive frogs, and even earmuff-dressed eggplant. If you’re hoping to bring a grin and guaranteed satisfaction, you can’t go wrong with this reptilian bag.

Sassy Storage Container

Rarely do we want anyone giving us sass in the kitchen, but for these attitude-packed containers we can make an exception. We don’t usually give much thought to the vessels that hold everyday provisions like coffee, tea, salt, and sugar, but once our eyes caught sight of these whimsical containers we knew we found the perfect present for nearly everyone on our list. These American-made, hand-poured canisters don’t just pay lip service to creative design, they embody it with their fairytale-like inspiration that will remind you of classic tales and movies like Sword in the Stone. And while these ceramic canisters won‘t come to life to serve you sugar or clean up the kitchen (bummer!), they bring a certain levity and ease into the spaces they inhabit, making those mundane culinary tasks all the more approachable. With their vibrant color palette and charming disposition, these containers cast a spell in the kitchen, making them a gift that will be cherished by friends and family alike.

Furbish Studio Needlepoint Pillow

There was a time when needlepoint pillows were considered a quaint, old-fashioned means of decorating, but the craft has undergone a stunning revival, finding favoritism and fondness in all styles of home decor. Gracing chic sofas and expensive lounge chairs, these stuffed works of art bring sass and sophistication to the home, embodying the personalities of those who live there — from the playful and humorous to the elegant and refined. If there is a brand that is crafting needlepoint pillows we want to collect en masse, it’s Furbish Studio. The company’s pillows are endearingly cheeky, with statements and sayings that will send visitors into knee-slapping fits, like “I Want to Be Where the People Aren’t,” “Hold On, Let Me Overthink This,” and “Not My Circus Not My Monkeys.” Within the sprawling collection, you’ll find odes to the likes of Dolly Parton, as well as a dose of holiday festivities and expletives. Whatever their style of humor, you’ll find the perfect nap-companion piece to give that someone special on your list.

Featured image credit: Julia Larson/ Pexels