Personalised presents for children

[3birthdaybunnies]

Looking for inspiration for personalised gifts and maybe recommendations for suppliers. I have 3 dc, ds's name is as popular as they come, dd1 less so but still some tat gifts available, dd2 (6) has an unusual (though not MN out there) name. Having been dragged into almost every tourist tat shop on holiday I think that she would love some personalised stuff for Christmas. Would probably need some for the other two as well - as usually refuse on the basis that I don't want a glow in the dark snow globe with my dc name stamped on it's not fair on dd2.

Also open to ideas for easy homemade gift ideas which can be personalised. So far my ideas have been engraved pencils, towels for swimming, maybe homemade drawstring bag for swimming. Any more suggestions?

How about personalised table mats ? Milly Green do some beautiful ones

www.millygreen.com/category/231-individual-placemats.aspx

Have a look on not on the high street for inspiration. I got dnephew personalised football boots bag as he has am unusual name (ish) and can't get personalised stuff in the usual shops

My DSs absolutely love their personalised Thomas story books www.egmont.co.uk/product.asp?prodid=1679- I think you can get a lot of other similar products, e.g. www.asda-gifts.co.uk/Unique-Gifts-Personalised-books-BN-123Zyl.aspx?No=0&Npp=24&cm_sp=Top_PageNo--1--Product_List&cm_re=Product_List--1--Top_PageNo

Thank you, some lovely ideas. The Millygreen mats are probably a bit much to get three of and not sure dd1 will like them (unless I don't buy one for her in which case she will love them), but will make a great first christmas present for dn. Will look into books and will look at not on high street- was thinking of doing drawstring bag myself, but maybe could make hoodied towels and buy bag.

I've ordered from Getting Personal and found them good for a wide range of ages and interests.

Oh some of their stuff looks great - especially like the look of the notepads, would go well with some pens, useful for birthday presents for friends too.

Yes, I ordered the notepads, my dc will love them. Great if they've got unusual names that aren't covered by the generic named stuff in shops.

I make personalised pictures (very reasonably priced and totally original artwork)here

I use Getting personal all the time and they're fab. Not on the high street has lots of personalised stuff too and writing on the wall stickers that would send the naff home decor thread into a frenzy.

Celia did you get the soft cover or hard ones? I'm wondering if the soft ones seem strong enough. If the soft cover ones are like an exercise book I would think about getting a hard back, but if it is thin card on outside I would probably save the pennies.

Pictures are a nice idea but they tend to like to fill their walls with their own artwork!

I have an unusual name and always trawled the shops looking for random tat with my name on. I still do it now and I'm 28 !

However my Aunt and Uncle struck gold as they used to get personalised books, which had my name all the way through. A truly lovely present.

Vista print. You can get loads of pens, notepads etc. order in advance and get cheapest delivery though or it really mounts up

I bought a Christmas book online from whsmith for ds with him in it as the main character, his grandad and two of his cousins are characters in the book too. We also altered the pictures to look like them. You can add a personal message on the first page which we did.
He loves it and it comes out every Christmas with all his other Christmas books but it's still his favourite 5 years on.
It wasn't very expensive either.

I ordered the hard cover, but re-reading the notes, it seems like it's only the back cover which is hard. Probably better off just getting the soft cover. It hasn't arrived yet, I'll tell you what it's like when it comes if you want to hang on.

I bought my son a lovely personalised lunch box from the website Becky and lolo, it really is nice and has attracted comments from everyone who has seen it. It cost loads though as I had to pay extra for the personalising and then for p&p too, so that doubled the advertised price.

I sell Framed Personalised Stories they are written to order for individual children, definitely a unique keepsake if you're after something different.

Thanks Celia would appreciate that. Not sure that I need any more books looks a teetering bookcases unless by Lemony Snicket as they are obsessed by him at the moment.

Think I will go with some named pencils - can't decide whether to put initials on for ds - only really relevant if he takes them to school as there are other boys with his name. Trouble is our surname is long so can't all fit on. A notebook to go with them. I've seen some ideas for bead keyrings which they could put on their bookbags. Then make a personalised hooded towel each and make/ buy a personalised swimming bag each. Still open to more ideas for another year.

Flick, yes that's it! It was a penwizard one we got for ds on whsmith website

3birthdaybunnies They've arrived! Front and back covers are hard backed and glossy, like an annual. I'm really pleased with them.

Sign up for Artscow.

Really nice designs and you got load of offers which make the items dirtcheap.

Thanks for the update Celia think will order some once I am paid in October.

Have just got packs of personalised 24 pencils (18 coloured, 6 plain - up to 24 letters) for 2.99 and personalised swimming bags for £3.99 plus 10% off and free delivery using code 021 as new customer at Studio24. Will put the pencils with the notebooks when I order those and the bags with the hooded towels when I make those!