Fewer Gifts that Matter More
Three ideas for meaningful gifting
One of my favorite things to do for those closest to me is to create meaningful gifts—personalized especially for them, and of course, packaged by hand as beautifully as possible. It’s one of my superpowers and I absolutely love doing it.
Someone recently asked me, “What inspires your gifts? How do you come up with them?” For me it’s about giving fewer gifts that matter more. They don’t have to be expensive or timed for a birthday or special occasion (I’m a notoriously late gift-giver). What matters most is that it becomes a special memory for that person—a memory of feeling cared for, thought of or encouraged. When I think of creating gifts that matter, three things come to mind: memories to hold on to, something to look forward to and moments that inspire.
Many of the gifts I create for those closest to me capture special memories for that person, often incorporating photographs. It could be as simple as a beautifully framed photograph of somewhere or someone special to them.
Or, one of my favorite ways to gift memories is with this personalized photo calendar from Artifact Uprising. I love that they can be enjoyed all year long. And, in case you’re a late-gifter like moi, the calendars start the month you purchase them, so they make a great gift at any time of year. I’ve linked below a past blog post sharing how I gifted this photo calendar to my mom and brother last year (including links on wrapping tips).
P.S. If you haven’t fallen in love with Artifact Uprising yet, I definitely recommend checking them out. They make beautiful personalized gifts and books.
GIFT IDEA
Personalized Photo Calendar from Artifact Uprising
Many times I prepare gifts for loved ones who are going through a tough time. Once, a dear friend had undergone surgery and was told to take it easy for seven days. To encourage them to rest and help them get through the post-op, I created a basket with seven small gifts. The idea was that they could open a gift on each of the seven days and have something to look forward to but also help them heal. Gifts included affirmation cards with messages of healing and strength, homemade bone broth, essential oils…anything relaxing and therapeutic that might ease their recovery. Each little gift was placed in a cloth bag with a little tag that had a number on it, for the day that they could open it. And while it took a bit of time to curate and package, it was fairly inexpensive to put together.
Lastly, I love gifting people something that encourages them toward their hopes, goals or dreams. No matter the age, everyone has something they dream about or wish for. One of my most popular gifts is a handmade “Bucket List” pocketbook. While this gift does take a bit of time, it is again pretty inexpensive to put together and something that can be used long after the gift is given. Linked below is a post with all the details on how you can create one and of course, some tips for wrapping as a gift.
GIFT IDEA
With the gift-giving season upon us, it can be fun to create something with a bit more intention and meaning. And gifts don’t have to be expensive to be thoughtful. I’d love to hear or see your ideas for meaningful gifting in the comments below or tag #inkspiredbyinkandash on Instagram!
Happy gifting!
Aloha,