In Need of a Housewarming Gift Idea?

Housewarming presents have suddenly gotten easier with the discovery of Dear Friend by the very talented Rebekka Mann Seale(Cool name alert!)She creates custom portraits of homes with her beautiful line and watercolour illustrations.  I think these could just be the perfect house warming present for anyone looking for a personal touch.  She is booked solid until 2013 (bummer!) but you can check out Rebekka's lovely shop here.

3 Last Minute Valentine Gifts You Could Do Right Now

Oh jeepers, its Valentines Day today and so far.... nothing is planned for The Big A!  It's a bit different to my girl scout preparedness of the past few years but luckily I've got a few instant ideas on how to share the Valentines love.  First up, make a mix tape.  In the past I've done love song dedications daggy I know!) but you could just as easily do a mix of his favourite songs.  Next up, make the night special by bathing the house in candle light.  The Big A did this a few years ago when we had just moved to London and had no money.  It didn't matter, a simple gesture of candle light turned the Valentine vibe on!  Last up, how about making a heart shaped collage of the two of you?  Print and cut some photos (I'd be going straight to Facebook and Instagram) and then arrange in a heart.  Do you have any last minute Valentine suggestions?

Source: Design Inspiration,Pinterest, Pinterest

How to wrap a beautiful gift

Loving this tutorial on on wrapping the most beautiful gift from Sugar Paper.

A Sewing Kit as a Bridal or Baby Shower Gift

I love seeing new ideas from other bloggers.  And the eye of Le Partie Sugar is fab fab fab.  She had spotted a darling sewing kit and thought it would make a good gift for a bridal or baby shower.  Only problem was the kit she spotted was from Anthropologie and had a $48 price tag.  Not to worry, she created her own for $8.  Read more here.

Source: Le Partie Sugar

A Sewing Project I Want To Try

Isn't this baby blanket just darling? Lena Corwin (a fab blogger if you get the chance to visit) got this little beauty for mothers day. Its indian inspired with three layers - an indian block print and then a thin white gauze on either side. Dying right?

Source: Lena Corwin

The Best Birthday Present - A Photo Book

Finding something to buy a loved one as a present can be hard. There are only so many civil war books I can buy my dad for example. A Cup of Jo had a brilliant idea for her dad's 60th - a photobook from Pin Hole Press. Looking at the website and Jo's pictures the thing that strikes me is how quality it looks - beautiful cloth cover, 98 pages for glorious images and its only $68USD. Jeepers Creepers. So good!

Source: A Cup of Jo & Pinhole Press

A Perfect Present for Your Hubby

Buying a present for your man can be tough, no less a wedding gift. I struggled with what to buy The Big A but(perhaps luckily) we decided not to buy each other a gift. But if I had my time over, and had discovered this little beauty I would have popped over to Paloma's Nest and gotten a pair of customised cuff links. Check out their Gentlemen Collection for this and other cute ideas.

Source: Paloma's Nest

What I Got The Big A For Valentines

Valentines last year I got the Big A this goodness: 12 things I love about you.... a cute little 'fill it out yourself' book from Etsy goodness seller Cori Kindred

Source: Babble via Frolic

Anniversary Ideas

Yesterday it was my good friend Monnie and Jedgie's 1 year wedding anniversary, they had a great time surprising each other with gift, but it got me thinking. What do you get someone?.Bird and Banner did a post on the Design Sponge Guest Blog looking at special anniversary presents, here's a recap.

Year 1 - Paper. Paper sounds like an easy one to me, Here one clever lady made these heart garlands out of her left over wedding invitations. Or what about a piece of art combining each of your thumbprints

Year 2 - Cotton - So how about a beautiful vintage hankerchief with a personalised message, like these? Or what about a special tag sewn into a favourite piece of clothing.

Year 3 - Leather. What about a hard back leather bound copy of a favourite book? Or splurge and get a piece of leather furniture? The big A would especially like this

Year 4 - Fruit and Flowers. Hmmmm so you could make baked goods with fruit, cherry pie anyone? Or perhaps a bottle of wine with a custom made label.

Year 5 - Wood. There are some cute ideas here, I love the idea of pencils with a special message or what about carving a tree with your initials?

Year 10 - Tin or Aluminium. Cookies baked in a tin case could be a good idea, or perhaps some special balloons.

Source: Design Sponge Guest Blog

A Clever Birthday Present Idea

Whenever someone in my family has a birthday, we have a tradition of going round the table and saying something nice about them. So imagine my surprise when i saw this little birthday tradition idea on the Design Sponge guest blog. Brooke from InchMark has a tradition within her family of picking each letter of the alphabet and saying something nice about the person. B is for Beautiful! C is for caring! ... you get the drift. Now you can download a template to make your own alphabet pack. This would make a really sweet present for someone.

Source: DesignSponge Guest Blog