2007 September

Cassandra Holmes

Generally, I do think that personalized gifts are better gifts, but of course I can’t say that this is true for every single gift.

What about the gift recipient who doesn’t want his or her name on things? A gift is for the recipient so we should always focus on them and try to understand their preferences. A gift can still be a wonderful thing - whether it is personalized or not - as long as the ‘mood’ of the gift is right.

So my question is not so much if personalized gifts are superior, but rather if personalization of a gift makes it a gift better.

Naturally, every gift begins with a choice. What is my gift going to be? This is crucial regardless of whether a gift is personalized or not. A mediocre gift will still be mediocre even if you add a name, logo or photo to it.

Personalization cannot make up for the fact that a particular gift does not focus on the recipient’s preferences, desires or special interests. For example, a monogrammed ring will probably not be the best choice for a guy who doesn’t like to wear jewelry - no matter how much you may like the ring yourself.

If you fail to keep the recipient in focus when you choose a gift, your gift likely will not leave the lasting impression you were hoping for, (and if it does - it will probably be a bad one). Personalization also cannot compensate for a gift of low quality in terms of materials and production. In order to avoid this problem, be sure to stick to reputable retailers.

Once you’ve settled on a gift that reflects your recipient’s personality and interests - and lets assume that you’ve found a gift that they will probably love - don’t you think that personalizing that gift can make it even better?

Let’s use a beautiful rosewood fountain pen as an example. Lets imagine two of these beautiful fountain pens sitting side by side. One plain and one personalized. In almost all cases a recipient will be more attracted to the pen with the personalization. Why is that? Why would a person like the personalized fountain pen more than the plain one?

In our experience, people (and especially Americans) simply like to see their own name, monogram or logo on things. It makes the item uniquely their own and expresses a measure of individuality and personal style. Personalization is popping up everywhere now as more and more people express their desire for unique and one of a kind goods.

So, does that make personalized gifts superior? Not necessarily, but we can say for certain that personalizing is a step that marks your gift as being more thoughtful and unique than the average gift and one that is truly meant for that special person you had in mind when you bought it.

Copyright 2005 ILovePersonalizedGifts.com, all rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.

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Cassandra Holmes is the creator of I Love Personalized Gifts. She offers articles and advice on how to find and create personalized gifts. Visit her website at http://www.i-love-personalized-gifts.com

Terry Edwards

Giving a personalized baby blanket as a gift for a new baby makes for a great gift. Whether it’s a relative or a close friend, a baby blanket that is personalized is a unique and very beneficial gift idea. Not only is it personalized, but it’s also very useful for the baby.

You can find companies that will embroider these blankets on the internet or in your phone book. You’ll have the option of buying the blanket from them and having it embroidered right there or you can give them a blanket you purchased yourself.

Keep in mind that baby blankets get some abuse and have to be washed pretty often. Be sure that you get a good quality blanket and a good embroidery job. The last thing you want is for the blanket to fall apart after a couple of washings.

You can also get creative with this and create a truly unique personalized baby blanket with their name, birth date, birthplace, etc. on the blanket. This makes for a keepsake that will last for life.

Don’t feel that you’re limited to only having a blanket that is pink or blue. You can find baby blankets in all types of colors and patterns.

While these blankets are not overly expensive, you can expect to pay anywhere from $40-$75 for one. It all depends on the quality of material, and the size.

If you’re looking to give the perfect gift for any new baby, consider giving a personalized baby blanket.

All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active and do not edit the article in any way.

By the way, you can learn more about a Personalized Baby Blanket as well as much more information on all types of blankets at http://www.BlanketsA-Z.com/

Deborah Nelson

Giving a personalized baby gift shows you took the time to think ahead about the perfect present for baby. Your gift today could turn into a special keepsake or heirloom down the road.

Baby Blanket in Blue or Pink: Parents often have little idea just how useful those blankets will become. They can be used to swaddle the baby and help her sleep. If you’ve ever had a newborn, then you know how precious (and rare) sleep can be. Swaddling a baby often calms them. Blankets can be tucked around the baby in the car seat when going from place to place, hung to shield the baby from too much sun, and even used them in the house on chillier days.

Baby Quilt: A beautiful baby quilt can be used as a wall hanging in the nursery while the baby is a newborn. Once she or he can use a blanket, this will make a cozy part of their nighttime routine or a place for them to lie in the grass. These come in all kinds of colors if you want to get something beyond the traditional pink or blue.

Silver Photo Album: This unique gift will be a keepsake for when the little baby grows up. Their name and birth date can be engraved on the front to make it special. If you want to add an extra touch to this gift, you can add in a gift certificate to a photo processing store.

Photo Frame: Every parent takes hundreds of photos of the new baby, and they need an attractive place to put the pictures! A personalized photo frame will stand out from the rest.

Baby Hat: You can’t go wrong with the utility of a warm hat. Lots of heat escapes from the head. Placing a hat on the baby can really keep them warm on those cooler days. Little hats are cute, too!

Have fun when you select your baby gift for the mother-to-be. Think about her taste and try to find out the color scheme for the nursery if you can.

Read more of Deborah Nelson’s articles at http://www.totville.com/articles/index.html. She manages the web site, Totville, where you can find information on personalized baby gifts, popular baby names, baby clothing, and FREE tips and articles.

Barbara Ryan

A personalized gift makes a terrific unique Christmas gift. They show the recipient that some thought was put into selecting the gift making them feel special. Personal photographs make personalizing gifts simple, here are some ideas for using photographs to create personalized Christmas gifts this season.

1. Caricature Portrait. Perfect for any fun loving couple on your gift-giving list. Add a frame, a red ribbon, and a bow and it makes a wonderful, personalized gift.

2. Photo Canvas. A favorite cherished photograph can be turned into a beautiful canvas print suitable for hanging. Turns any photograph into a piece of art.

3. Photo Blanket. Give the gift of warmth this winter. A stunning blanket with a cherished photograph to cuddle up under on a cold night.

4. Pencil Sketch. Turn a favorite photograph into a piece of artwork to be framed. Any photo can be transformed into a pencil sketch.

5. Photo Rubik Cube. Perfect for anyone who grew up in the 80’s during the Rubik’s Cube craze!

6. Photo Clutch or Cosmetic Case. Perfect for a busy mom, perhaps who travels. She can always have her children’s faces close by.

7. Photo Tote Bag. A personal photo on a tote bag makes a great personal gift, some are full color, and the entire bag is covered with the picture! Perfect for a teacher who often carries many items back and forth from home to school.

8. Mousepad. A great gift for anyone with a computer. A favorite photograph or even photo collage printed on a mousepad. If you have to be at the computer all day, why not have something nice to glance down at.

9. Tumbled Marble Photo Coasters. Photos are printed onto tumbled marble coasters, a great gift for new homeowners.

10. Watercolor Painting. A photo effect can turn a favorite photo into a watercolor painting.

A search for “Unique Christmas gift” in any search engine can bring you to some of the best sites for finding personalized gifts. This is just the tip of the iceberg; there are so many possibilities. Get creative, think of the people on your list, the things they enjoy doing, people they enjoy spending time with and you’ll come up with lots of ideas to make this a unique Christmas gift season!

Put a smile on someone face this Christmas with a unique Christmas gift!

Barbara Ryan operates, Cherish Collages section for more information on personalized gifts.
a business dedicated to creating unique personal keepsakes and gifts from digital or scanned photos. Visit the Links section for more information on personalized gifts.

Dave Poon

So you are getting hitched huh? Congratulations! No doubt that you are ready for the big day to be over with, meaning no more wedding decisions to dwell on. Well, you do have one important decision to take care of and that is making your mind up on some groomsmen gift ideas. Remember, these guys are your best buds. They have been with you in good times and bad. They deserve a little thank-you for standing by your side at the altar in a stifling monkey suit. Do you have any groomsmen gift ideas? If not, read on!

Groomsmen Gift Ideas Take One - A “one size fits all” kind of gift could be appropriate in the right circumstances. Perhaps your budget for the groomsmen gift ideas are limited and by buying several of the same things will get you a discount. Think of something that would appeal to all of the guys.

Do all of you enjoy fishing, camping or other great outdoor adventures? Some great groomsmen gift ideas about fishing include a special tackle box with a few choice lures in it. How about some customized coolers to keep drinks and food cold on that next trip? More groomsmen gift ideas include an engraved compass for those trips into the woods while camping or personalized folding camp chairs. Your buddies will think of you every time they rest their weary rumps in those chairs!

If your buddies enjoy beer, great groomsmen gift ideas include pilsner glasses or beer mugs. You can have them engraved with the wedding date or a short special message. Other groomsmen gift ideas along the same lines include shot glasses, beer steins, flasks or personalized engraved beer bottle openers.

Groomsmen Gift Ideas Take Two - Consider a gift that is personal, suited to their individual personalities. Is one of your buddies a sports lover? Think about some groomsmen gift ideas like a personalized engraved baseball bat or a special edition football. How about a guy’s day out with your buddies at the batting cages? Take a few pictures then present them in a personalized engraved sports picture frame.

Take into account any of your buddies’ interests or hobbies. If any of them like to travel, there are a few groomsmen gift ideas to consider. How about a personalized traveling grooming kit? Maybe a traveling bag with engraved identification tags is an option. Are there any game lovers? Some groomsmen gift ideas for the game player include a poker set with a leather carrying case or a special edition of his favorite board game like Monopoly or Risk.

Groomsmen Gift Ideas Take Three - Go with tradition. Consider some groomsmen gift ideas like cuff links or pocket watches that can be worn for the wedding ceremony and other special occasions. These can be personalized with your groomsmen’s initials. Maybe engraved key chains, lighters or koozies are better groomsmen gift ideas.

Just remember that your buddies are going to like any of the groomsmen gift ideas that you come up with. After all, you all have shared a lot of life together! By choosing something personal however, would mean the world to them and they would remember your special day for many years to come.

Dave Poon is the owner of Engraved Gift Creations. We take the headache out of selecting gifts for your wedding party, whether they are Groomsmen or Bridesmaids. Come and see our selection of groomsmen gifts at www.EngravedGiftCreations.com.