18th birthday present for DS

[carolinecupcake]

DS will be 18 next month. I was thinking of making him a photo collage of his 18 years. He'll probably think it's silly and maybe I'm doing it more for my benefit. Anyway I'd like to give him something that celebrates his life so far. Any ideas?

I went through all my old photos and found one from each year. I bought a frame from eBay that had 18 little frames within it (like one of those sliding puzzles he used to pay with when he was about 6!) and put the photos in order. I thought he'd think it was silly as well, but he loved it. Moving on 4 years, he left home last week and I was touched to see it has a prominent position in his new dining room.

I don't have any ideas, but this thread has just reminded me of DC1's baby book that I thought (at the time) I would give him on his 18th. That's next year so I'd better write something. I only got to page 3!

Mynxie do you remember what it was called cos I had a quick look and didn't find anything?

Sounds lovely. Using an idea I got from MN I bought Ds a Larson and Jennings watch with two straps. It's regular blue and yellow stripe and the plain black that he is wearing tonight for the first time (prom). But the best thing ever again from mumsnet was a book, rules to live by. I asked our family and friends, favourite teachers, his friends, scout leader, swim coach, blah blah, to write something in a very nice small book. It's great fun to read. One very good friend just wrote his phone number and the line never suffer call me anytime. His philosophy teacher wrote about how important shoes are to women and men. So much awesome random stuff. It makes me cry thoughtful every time I read it.

I can't remember which one it was but if you search eBay under 'multiple picture frame' there are several similar ones. I guess if you got one with 24 frames you'd have enough spaces to put photos of other family members/pets/houses etc in as well to pad it out a bit.

Does this help?

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Large-Multi-Image-6-x-4-Aperture-3D-Collage-Photo-Frame-Holds-18-x-Pictures-/231145941199

Isthiscorrect thanks - I was actually looking at this one earlier on! This would be perfect. I'm just waiting to hear if they ship outside the UK and if so I'll get it! Now I'd better get sorting out all those photos!

isthiscorrect that book idea is BRILLIANT!

I got mine a sword for his 18th. Proper handcrafted longsword (he's a very loveable geek and into stuff like that). His little bearded face lit up with genuine surprise and joy and I got the word 'awesome' and I may have cried. He called it 'Fluffy' .