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Thursday, 23 February 2017

Cute, Quirky & Wonderfully Unique Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

It seems like only yesterday we were buying Christmas gifts, doesn’t it? And yet, already it’s nearly Mother’s Day. Where has the time gone this year, it’s just flying by, isn’t it?

With Mother’s Day on the way, whether you’ve got a mum to buy for, an aunt, a step mother, a grandmother, or another special lady, it’s time to start thinking about the perfect gift idea for them.



Photo from Pixabay

Finding that perfect gift can often be a struggle, especially when you don’t want to get them something too similar to what you got them last year.

There’s only so many times a bunch of their favourite flowers, and a box of fancy chocolates will cut it, isn’t there?

As a mother myself, I know how important Mother’s Day is, not just for those of us who are mothers, but also for our children. 

Being able to give your mum a card and a gift to thank her for everything that she does all year is important, as it allows you to ensure that your mum knows how loved she truly is.

The question is, of course, how can you go about finding the special woman in your life - aka your mum, grandmother, aunt, or step mother, that perfect present? The key to gift buying success is getting a little creative and being willing to think outside the box.

With that in mind, below are a few cute, quirky gift ideas that should help to make picking a Mother’s Day gift that little bit easier for you.

Hand painted ceramics



Image credit

For a present that’s wonderfully personal and unique, hand painted ceramics are ideal. Head to your local ceramic painting centre or order a kit off of the internet and spend some time creating some beautiful ceramics for your mum. 

If you’ve got little ones of your own, perhaps you could get them involved too? Whether you opt to paint her a selection of plates, a teapot, a set of two new mugs, or something else, it doesn’t matter; it’s just a case of finding something that she will love and get use out of. 

A great way to make the ceramics that you make a keepsake is to decorate them with yours’ and your children’s hand prints. Hand painted pottery not only makes a great gift but is also a lot of fun to make, and is something that you and your kids can enjoy doing together.

Family Scrabble board art

Since Scrabble has become more and more popular over the past few years, there are now lots of people selling family Scrabble boards as wall art. 

These are Scrabble boards with the names of each family member added to them and entwined, as words are in a normal game of Scrabble - how amazing is that? 

The best thing about this gift, apart from the fact that it’s wonderfully personal, is that you can easily make it yourself, so it doesn’t have to be expensive. All you need is an old Scrabble board (or a print out of one), Scrabble tiles, glue, and a photo frame that is larger than the Scrabble board. Then it’s just a case of fitting everyone’s names together.

Beauty box



Picture link

If your mum is into her beauty products and loves to pamper herself, why not put together a beauty box for her of little treats?

Think about all of her favourite beauty products, from the lipstick she loves to her favourite perfume from thefragranceshop, and pick out a few bits and bobs to go into her beauty box. 

As well as picking beauty products that she already loves, try to find some products that you know she’ll like but has never tried before. Perhaps some lovely luxurious bath bombs, a rich face cream, and a hair mask could be ideal?

Day out

What do you get the woman that’s got everything? If your mum is one of those women who has everything that she needs, then perhaps planning a special day out could work out better than picking her a gift. 

For a day out that she will love, think about the types of things that she likes to do. If she’s a big foodie, why not take her out for a fancy lunch? Does she love being pampered - if so, a spa day could be ideal. Is your mum someone who loves adventure and trying new things? Then how about booking her an experience day, trying something new, such as flying a hot air balloon.

Family photoshoot



Photo source

Is your mum always saying how she wishes you had more family photos? Then how about booking a family photoshoot to celebrate Mother’s Day? 

Perhaps you could get all of your siblings and their children together for a big family photo shoot? 

If your mum is always asking for more family photos, then this could be a perfect way to make her dreams come true. 

Best of all, a family photoshoot need not be expensive, as there are plenty of online deals that you can take advantage of - it’s just a case of taking the time to look around to find the best deal.

Jewellery

If your mum is a woman who loves wearing jewellery, then you can’t go wrong with a new pair of earrings or a new necklace. However, before you pick a piece of jewellery for her that’s similar to all of her other pieces, take the time to look at unique jewellery designs. 

Etsy has some fantastically unique jewellery designs, many of which are handmade, so it’s worth taking the time to have a browse, to see if there’s anything that you think she would like. 

Perhaps a piece of jewellery with your children’s handprints on would be nice? Don’t be afraid to pick a piece that’s unique, as often the unique pieces are the best pieces.

Picking that perfect gift for Mother’s Day isn’t always easy, but hopefully, the ideas and suggestions above have given you some ideas that are a little different to the normal things that you pick out.
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Wednesday, 17 February 2016

Win Mum A Framed Print From The Comic Art Website Worth £70

When I was growing up, the Beano and Dandy comics were immensely popular.  We all knew that Gnasher was not an ideal pet and we had friends who behaved a lot like Dennis The Menace or Minnie The Minx.




Spinach was the super-food Popeye relied on and it presumably kept Olive Oyl skinny. They were fore-runners of the Mediterranean diet in the days when the height of gastronomic pleasure was a rum baba at the Wimpy and one of those strange bendy segmented sausages on a mixed grill the same size as your postcode district.

Today, these iconic characters live on and comic art is enormously popular.  I have recently discovered The Comic Art website which features the wonderful work of artist John Patrick Reynolds.



John Patrick Reynolds' cotton paper screen prints of classic British comics including The Beano, The Dandy and Victor have become collectors' items since their first appearance in the 1990s and received praise from the BBC, the Observer and the Daily Express, among others.

All the images started life in comics but can be appreciated in their own right, independently of the stories they were created for.

There are images from several categories of comic:

British classics from the UK’s top comic publisher DC Thomson, including such icons as Dennis the Menace, Desperate Dan, Minnie the Minx and the Bash St Kids from The Beano and The Dandy.

American stars Popeye and Olive Oyl

Scottish favourites Oor Wullie and The Broons, also from DC Thomson, but this time The Sunday Post

Boys’ own adventure heroes

French creations Asterix, Obelix and the hound Dogmatix.



The paper used is cotton, mould-made paper milled in Somerset and the prints come in three formats – from 19x26cms to 38x48cms and 56x76cms. Commissions are also available.

If, like me, your mum was a fan of characters such as Dennis, Minnie or Betty Boop not only would a print be a unique gift but it may also become a collectors' piece too.

I have a framed print of your choosing to the value of £70 to give away.  Entry is via the Rafflecopter and the giveaway ends at midnight on Tuesday 1st March 2016.  UK entrants only.  Terms and conditions are on my competitions page.

The winner must supply their details by Wednesday 2nd March if the print is to be given as a present on Mothers' Day.

Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


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Tuesday, 3 March 2015

Great Purse-Friendly Home Gifts For Mother's Day From Terrys Fabrics

Terry's Fabrics, the Home Furnishings Specialists who promise to "transform your house for less" have a great range of purse-friendly home gifts for mum this Mother's Day. 

With an interior design centre, a huge stock of products online and stores in Staffordshire and Stockport, there's certainly plenty of choice. 
 

Flutter Printed Duvet Set £9.99 - £17.50 

Lily Luxury Quilted Bedspread £26.90 

Distressed Love Sign - £8.20 
Love Table Lamp Cream - £15.99 
Lovehearts Filled Boudoir Cushion - £9.99
Distressed Home Sign - £8.20 

Emily Throw Eau De Nil - £29.99 

Terrys is not a name I had come across before but their online store is certainly worth a visit.


Further information at www.terrys.co.uk or telephone 01782 566666.
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