GIVING INSPIRATION

Every Day is a Special Occasion

Too often, we wait for a special occasion to come around before we ever think about giving someone a gift. Birthdays, Christmas, Anniversaries... are all great opportunities to show our loved ones how much they mean to us but, what about all the space in between? What about the countless opportunities we’re given each day to say “Thank you”, “I love you”, “I appreciate you”, or “You’ve got this!”. Every day we’re alive is a special occasion BURSTING with opportunities to give! Gifts come in all shapes and sizes but they all have one thing in common: they make the receiver feel good! Whatever you choose to give someone, let it be from the heart and remember that the best time to give is always NOW. One small act can turn someones entire world around. Look for the opportunities... • to say “Thank you” • to say “I love you” • to say "I appreciate you and all you do" • to encourage someone • to compliment someone • to support someone • to bless someone • to brighten someones day Whether it's a spouse, family member, friend, work colleague or a complete stranger... it will always be worth it! And trust me when I say, the opportunities are endless if you look for them!

The Greatest Gifts are Simple

More times than not, we tend to over complicate things. When people think of gift giving, monetary value is usually one of the first things considered (and dreaded) and often becomes the backbone to choosing a gift. But there is SO MUCH more value in a gift than its monetary value! Although not a particularly pleasant thought, think just for a moment what you would find important and invaluable after losing a loved one? What items would you regard most highly and what memories would you want to keep and relive the most? I know for certain that I would personally treasure a card, letter, photo or anything else sentimental that I’d personally received from my loved one more than any other materialistic thing, no matter how much it cost. Something that reminded me of how much I meant to them and how much they meant to me. These are the gifts that are truly the most meaningful. Whenever you want to give someone a gift, try to consider these things. There is NOTHING at all wrong with buying expensive or extravagant gifts (they can be an amazing blessing!) but just remember that it’s the sentimental things that show your heart that will ultimately make the biggest impact and be a gift that is truly worth treasuring. And these things are always simple!

Making Gifts More Personal

Gifts become extra special when we put in the effort to make them personal. Take a giftcard for example. How would you feel receiving a giftcard as it is versus receiving a giftcard in a nice card or box with a personal message attached? No question about it - the small extra efforts can definitely make a huge difference to the receiver! If you’re not able to purchase a personalised product there are still many ways that you can add your own touch to a gift that you’ve got ready to give. Here are just some examples... • add the recipients name and/or the givers name to the gift • write or attach your own personal message • if you know the recipients favourite colour, you can include this when choosing the gift, wrapping paper, gift bags, cards etc. • think about the recipients personality, likes and dislikes, their favourite things, hobbies and interests... then incorporate these things into your gift and the way that you give it OR... if you purchase one of our Art Verses in a Black-Linen Photo Folder, you could turn the Photo Folder into a card by adding a personal note to the inside or decorating the folder especially for the recipient. It doesn’t take much on the givers part to turn an ordinary gift into something truly special and the person on the receiving end will certainly appreciate the extra effort you’ve put in!

Anonymous Gifting

There's something very special and powerful about giving anonymously. When recipients are unaware who the giver is (not being able to personally "thank" or "acknowledge" someone) it removes our egos from the equation allowing the gift to be given selflessly. We might not like to admit it but, we all like being acknowledged. Whether it's for a good job done or a good deed, it feels nice to receive recognition where we think it's due. Gifting anonymously means no recognition but instead, we're left with an inner peace and indescribable joy because we've done something good for someone else - and that's what is most fulfilling! So how can we gift anonymously? Here are just a few ideas... • slip a gift into someones letterbox • post something in the mail to someone with no senders name attached • leave a surprise on a colleagues desk, in their locker, or in another common area like the lunch room • leave a gift in a public area for someone to find (make sure you attach a note so people know that the gift is there on purpose and able to be taken) • donate a gift to someone in need or donate to a certain cause or Charity When ordering a personalised product (from us or from elsewhere) consider replacing your name (as the giver) with something that goes with the theme of the gift, such as “your Secret Santa” or "God's Helper" to add a personal touch while still staying secretive. The only limit really is your imagination and guaranteed the joy, love or encouragement you bring to someone else will always be it's own reward!
Looking for the perfect gift? Get something original, personal, colourful, and meaningful right here in our Gift Shop!