I used to think that personalised cards and gifts were a bit… tacky.
Well, I did!
Towels with names on?
Named Golf Balls?
Wine Glasses with an oh-so-funny personalised joke on?
*sigh*
But… in recent times there’s been a bit of a revolution in the ‘personalised cards & gifts’ sector.
For sure the cheesy stuff is still there if you’re looking.
But times have moved on, and personalisation is no longer about cramming someone’s name onto something not-very-good. Personalisation now is all about thoughtful gestures and quality gifts, simply made that little bit more personal. And that can only be a good thing. The personalisation bringing an already-great gift up to a whole new level of thoughtfulness.
The Personalised Cards
First, for any special occasion you need a personalised card. And instead of picking one out of the nice box you selected, why not create your own unique personalised card? There are lots of places that offer the service online, but if you prefer to keep things old school and go in store to do it personally with a professional print of your photograph on high quality card stock, then look for your nearest Snappy Snaps store.
Once you have the card sorted you need to think about a present of course. But broaden your thinking. Glamour magazine recently ran a selection of their favourite personalised gifts – and instead of odd, no-one’s-heard-of-them low-end catalogue shopping, it features delicious gift suggestions from names such as Anthropologie and Net-a-porter.
But whilst you may be keen to look through the big brand names (a personal fave are the Kate Spade initial notebooks, £20 in John Lewis. HUGE hit in this house. Or maybe try personalised Veuve Clicquot champagne? £60 Selfridges), I always feel like the very best personalised gifts are from the small local independents. Ansd that doesn’t mean you have to go and trawl your local shops (though it’s a brilliant idea to do so in normal non-pandemic times). NO – this is exactly what places like Not on the High Street and Etsy are made for. Just look at some of these gorgeous things:
Personalised Solid Copper Photo Print
LOVE this – everyone loves a polaroid, but this way it won’t face, get bent, creased or fall off the wall whent he blue tack dries up. And not only is it a beautiful way to display a cherished photo, but you complete it with your own text and personal message.
£24 Oakdene Designs on NOTHS.
Personalised Gardening Apron
Honeslty want one of these aprons myself. SO practical, with a touch of perosnalised text. Pretty.
You can personalise your apron with a name like Mummy or Victoria in othe gorgeous font inside a botanical leaf design. The apron is made from a lovely strong denim and has four handy pockets at the front for all the gardening bits and bobs (so much less effort than following our make your own DIY gardening tool belt instructions). It’s available in two colours, black or indigo denim and a wide choice of print colours (our personal fave is the indigo denim with gold print)
£30 from Sparks & Daughters on NOTHS.
Personalised Embroidered Velvet Hot Water Bottle Cover
Oh me oh my. *swoons happily*. Snuggle up in style and lounge with a touch of luxury with the personalised embroidered velvet hot water bottle cover.
Embroidered with your choice of initial, the personalised hot water bottle cover is handmade using softest velvet and is available in a sophisticated selection of colours, from a marvellous mustard to a fabulous forest green and a gorgeous grey, all terrifically tied up with beautiful bows.
£29, also from Sparks & Daughters on NOTHS
Personalised Enamel Snack Pot
These are brilliant. For family film nights we often have a ‘pound bag snack night’ – I go to the local shop, and purchase a selection of sweets and chocolate in bags, usually the ones on offer for £1. Then back home I split them up between bowls so everyone gets something of everything (and yes, I count out the choclate buttons and maltesers individually to be sure it’s all fair). I’ve been using small wooden salad bowls for it – I need these enamel snack post in my life!
£20, Sophia Victoria Joy on NOTHS
Personalised Family Names Necklace
So pretty, deeply pwersonal, and what parent or sibling wouldn’t love it? The Personalised Family Names Necklace is a beautiful and timeless design to treasure for years to come. Watch your necklace grow along with your family, choose names or a message to personalise each ring (up to four ring versions available).
£75 from Posh Totty Designs on NOTHS
Of course, one of the very best ways of finding the really special personalised gifts is to actually get up off the computer (*gasp*) and hit the streets – Christmas Fairs and Markets are amazingly good ways of not only finding inspired gift ideas, but also talking to the artists and craftsmen who make them. Most schools and towns have Christmas Fairs and Markets over the next month or so.
