This year, I’m planning to treat my family and friends to some meaningful gifts. Sure, I could head out onto the high street and get sucked into all the hustle and bustle of buying presents on a grand scale. But often this results in me not quite finding the ideal gifts for the people I love. I want to do something more for them this year and I want each give to be well-thought out. Here’s my little gift guide to finding meaningful gifts for the important people in your life.
A special place
Think back to those wonderful days out you’ve had during the year. Where did you go? What special places did you visit? Was it a fun family day at the seaside? Or a trip to a theme park? My husband and I went for a Valentine’s Day ramble around Framlingham Castle this year and had a simply magical day out together. What better way to keep this memory alive than with a piece of artwork such as this hand-printed lino cut of the ‘castle on the hill’ (below)? The Unruly Print Etsy shop can be commissioned to make artworks of places or things that mean something to you, so why not get a totally unique piece of art to hang on your wall?
Holiday memories
Similarly, a reminder of that holiday you took together as a family this year would make a lovely gift for grandparents. You could choose an artfully designed map of the destination, such as this Cambridge map above (from just £5.99 for a small print) and put it into a lovely frame that’ll match their home decor. Alternatively, a personalised gift like this travel map journal by ClaireWheatDesigns is ideal. She turns old maps into triple section notebooks, so why not choose the destination that you visited on your holiday this year? Perhaps it could be filled with photos and anecdotes from your trip?
Back in time
If you’re buying for a friend, consider going back to their childhood for gift inspiration. A handmade present inspired by their favourite childhood toy, such as this Care Bear make-up bag above? If your friend is a similar age to you, it’s likely that they will remember the same knick-knacks from childhood that you do, so have a think back to your own youth. If you’re buying for a teen, count back the years to their childhood and do an internet search to find out what kind of toys they would have played with as a kid. Classic comic books are always a winner, but don’t just buy a copy – get it turned into something useful like a wallet or passport holder by SweetlyWrapped.
Food and drink
As someone who tries to keep their home clutter-free, I find that my favourite gifts to receive are those that I can eat or drink. With a consumable gift, your recipient can enjoy something delicious that they wouldn’t usually treat themselves to in everyday life, such as an luxurious artisan chocolate hamper. This is a great gift if you’re not sure about someone’s personal taste when it comes to homewares or clothing. If you’ve ever had dinner with your friend, you’ll have a clear idea of their likes and dislikes. If they ordered something spicy, why not treat them to a ‘make your own chilli sauce’ kit from TheChilliExperience shop on Etsy?
Something personal
And finally, how about just something special that you’ve had personalised for them? A personalised door sign for the kids in the family lets everyone know to ‘keep out’ of the little one’s room! And for the grown-ups, a piece of personalised jewellery (such as a beautiful engraved bracelet) with their name or initial will be happily received. It won’t take up too much space in their home and will let them know that you’ve gone that extra mile to commission a special gift for them.I hope this blog post has given you some gift ideas for your festive shopping (and for birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions, for that matter!) and that you’ll choose something homemade and hand-crafted by an Etsy seller this year. Let me know what kind of personal, meaningful gifts you’ve given to your family and friends in the past – all ideas welcome and will provide inspiration for choosing more gifts that mean something to our loved ones. 🙂
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