When I created the idea of the Tiny Treasure Hunt, I figured that the treasure hunt concept would be pretty self explanatory. Because in my family, we grew up with such games as "Hot or Cold" (where a person hides something, and tells the person looking if they are getting further away "cooler" or closer "warmer" to that thing), scavenger hunts and treasure hunts as a common gift-giving practice.
Especially thanks to my madcap inventor-type father, rarely was a card or gift giving occasion a straightforward endeavor. it was usually backed by some secret plot, and cards were often pop-up, spring loaded and/or booby trapped with confetti. Which probably explains a good deal about how I ended up in the business of making simple greetings into rich and more complex experiences.
But, I digress. I figured, falsely, that the Tiny Treasure Hunt would be a self explanatory concept, but what it is and how it works have become one of my most frequently asked questions. I hope to someday create a video example of one of our treasure hunts, but for now, hopefully a little blog post will suffice.
The concept of the Treasure Hunt, or gift scavenger hunt, is as follows:
The giver of the gift (whether it's a parcel, a promise or a special note) hides a special surprise somewhere in the house, and plants clues to lead the recipient, the treasure hunter, to the gift. For the purposes of our Tiny Treasure Hunt game, make sure to hide it under, behind or very near an item or furnishing depicted on one of the tiny treasure hunt cards. Then, working backwards, the giver will leave a trail of clues, with each pictogram card leading the gift recipient forward to the next clue.
For example, say you have taped a small surprise (like a ring box or a special note) to the bottom of the chair. You might then hide the "chair" card inside the shade of a lamp, then hide the "lamp" card behind the milk carton in the fridge and tape the "milk" card to the seat of the bicycle, and give the gift recipient/treasure hunter the "bicycle" card. You can do so by handing it to them and telling them what you are up to, tucking it into a card or purchase the Tiny Treasure Hunt as a set and tell them via tiny telegram (you also save big by buying them both together).
This gift is fun for all occasions and ages (use as few or as many of the clues in the box to adjust for difficulty and attention span), and great fun for the gift giver, recipient and any other partygoers present.
Great for the following occasions:
birthdays, Hanukkah, Christmas, Valentines Day, Anniversaries, engagements, bachelor/bachelorette gifts, bridal or baby shower gifts and much more
Ideas on what to hide:
an engagement ring
other small jewelry
a love letter
an acceptance letter
other good news
an ultrasound picture
travel or concert tickets
envelope with cash
a new furry family member (in a safe, quiet, well ventilated location)
an unexpected family member, friend or loved one (ie: a parent or fiancé home on leave)
Tips:
- This gift works best if there is a guide to help the treasure hunter if they get stymied or lost looking for a clue.
- Using two similar of cards (ie: and arm chair and a dining chair) or locations too close to each other (ie: if they can see a clue taped to a lamp while they are on the hunt for an earlier clue under a table near the lamp) can short circuit your treasure hunt.
- make sure to give yourself plenty of time to hide the gift and cards.
- You can tuck, pin, tape or set the cards- be creative, but keep in mind that if you want to resuse the cards for future use, you may want to protect them in an envelope if you pin them, or in a ziplock bag if you put them in or near a sink or in the refrigerator.
- Included is a booklet explaining a little bit about the Tiny Treasure hunt. In it, there is a checklist/worksheet to plot out your treasure hunt locations. Don't let the treasure hunter see it!
- Remember the cards are symbolic, so think about your recipient and their relationship to things in the home. The card depicting silverware may mean a silverware drawer, or they may look in the dishwasher or drying rack if they have a tendency to leave flatware out frequently. There may be multiple table lamps in the house, but one in particular may get more frequent use or notice.
If you purchase the Tiny Treasure Hunt with a Tiny Telegram (link here), you get a buy one get one half off deal, and your treasure hunter will receive a little note telling them they have received the first clue and must now go on a treasure hunt to find their gift.
For mystery lovers, geocachers, and expert treasure hunters, why not up the fun and challenge by telling them they have a treasure hunt to embark on via one of our Tiny Cryptograms? Then they will need to crack a code to even find out there's a treasure hunt to be had! Happy gifting!
Is your surprise sexy or romantic in nature? We have a Romantic version of our Tiny Treasure hunt here!
Still have a question about our Tiny Treasure Hunts? Ask away in the comments below!