As any social butterfly will tell you, sometimes the most memorable evenings come out of accepting a last minute invitation. But, attending a spontaneous dinner party or cocktail soiree will leave you little time to wrap a hostess gift, let alone find an appropriate card.

Don’t fret. The Lazy Hostess has a few shortcuts up her sleeve that will not only save time and money but will leave a very pretty impression.

A recent discovery (and instant favorite), Sesame Letterpress has recently launched a new collection of gift tags that feature designs appropriate for every possible occasion and recipient. More versatile than a big folded card, these little tags (2 ¾ x 1 3/16”) are printed with Victorian era imagery of silhouette profiles representing each member of the family including, a man in a hat, a fancy lady, a young girl, a young boy, a cat, a dog, a rabbit and a bear (who could be your Uncle Toby?).

Each tag is printed one at a time by hand on a 19th century letterpress. A set of the silhouette tags, which includes one of each of the profiles, is available for the very affordable price of $10 at the John Derian store in New York or via the Sesame letterpress web site.

Custom silhouettes of your most cherished loved one - either human or animal - can be commissioned by sending in a digital photo of the subject in profile and in front of a light colored background. The price for 100 gift tags with a custom silhouette is $150.

When it comes to dressing the actual gift, using traditional wrapping paper can be a daunting experience unless creating perfect hospital corners is in your nature. Chewing the Cud has a gorgeously printed collection of organic cotton gift wraps that feature meaningful phrases such as, “Give Luck or Give Love,” which are intended for the recipient. The reusable clothes take just a moment to wrap and tie – no trimming or folding paper, messy tape or waste!

And, another insider tip for those with a packed social calendar….Keep a stash of some classic gifts ready at all times. Votivo candles in your favorite scent, bottles of gourmet olive oil or pairs of Riedel champagne glasses make inexpensive yet sophisticated gifts that will no doubt be appreciated by any host. While it might seem unoriginal to give the same things over and over, we like to think that being known for a stylish signature gift isn’t the worse thing in the world.

In fact, we’re guessing it might be the easiest way to secure a return invitation.

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of Sesame Letterpress, Chewing the Cud, Votivo and Riedel

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A seasoned event planner, Celia Chen is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Notes on a Party, an online magazine about entertaining that celebrates Events from the Inside Out™. For a behind-the-scenes look at VIP events and more tips on party planning, visit http://www.notesonaparty.com