The end result:  a very personalized New Year’s card and gift.  The reason I chose a chalkboard was to symbolize the idea of a New ...read more]]> Remember last Sleuthing Sunday’s post? I had a puzzle of sorts for you to solve with clues (or red herrings!) as to what sort of gift idea I was cooking up.  Well, if you weren’t able to suss out what sort of project I was up to – here’s your answer!

I made New Year’s cards with a special twist. I purchased a few items from Paper Source: pretty cards, labels, adhesive chalkboard and two glittery pens.  I provided: a little creativity, patience, love and time.

The end result:  a very personalized New Year’s card and gift.  The reason I chose a chalkboard was to symbolize the idea of a New Year/Clean Slate. All at once it is something both meaningful and useful.

Here is how I did it:

1. I printed a simple New Year’s greeting on the labels. Why?  Because my handwriting isn’t so pretty and I really wanted my “Happy New Year!” message to be one of the unifying factors of the card since each note was going to be different (a.k.a personal).
2. I took a glitter pen in a color that coordinated with the card, and wrote over the “Happy New Year!” to make it extra pretty.  I used a Gelly Roll pen in Sky Star.  This actually is less difficult and time consuming than you might think because the labels are big enough to use a font that is large enough to trace easily.  I chose Monotype Corsiva because I thought it looked a bit like actual handwriting without being as messy as my own!
3. I centered each label on the top, inside flap of the note card.
4. I cut the adhesive chalkboard into 3×5 inch pieces. The set comes with four 9×12 inch adhesive panels, so I was able to get six 3×5 inch pieces out of each panel.  I chose 3×5 inches because a.) this fit in the card and b.) I figured my recipients could have some fun personalizing their gift further and that this standard size would work well.  More ideas about personalization below.
   
5. I wrote a word that had meaning for each recipient or my relationship with them in some way on the chalkboard stickers.  Words like Gratitude, Hope, Love, Cheer et cetera.
6. I wrote a personalized note to each person, explaining why I chose that particular word. I used a Gelly Roll pen in Red Star to write the notes since I thought it coordinated well with the note cards and labels.
7. I included a typed message explaining why I chose this gift and how they might personalize and use it in their own life as well as care instructions (copied from the package).  See my message and ideas here.

If you have the time and money to personalize these yourself, you can use some of my ideas or come up with your own to make these into very personalized and different gifts for people in your life.

I think the idea of a Clean Slate makes a meaningful gift for anyone going through change; new job, divorce, new marriage, new child; someone who is experiencing a challenge in their life; someone that you want to apologize to.

Courtesy of Paper Source

Click to Purchase! $13.49

A calendar like the one pictured above is great for those who don’t even use calendars generally, because it is part calendar, part zany fact book, as each page is filled with interesting trivia, in top ten list form, for your recipient to enjoy. In fact, this is a very versatile gift because calendars are both useful and “one size fits most” gifts.  This particular calendar, by Marnie Winston-Macauley, will “fit” a wide variety of people because, even if you don’t quite ...read more]]> It’s getting closer and closer to the New Year! If you didn’t manage to get your gift shopping done in time for the holidays, you can easily let someone know you are thinking of them by getting them a calendar!

Click to Purchase! $13.49

A calendar like the one pictured above is great for those who don’t even use calendars generally, because it is part calendar, part zany fact book, as each page is filled with interesting trivia, in top ten list form, for your recipient to enjoy. In fact, this is a very versatile gift because calendars are both useful and “one size fits most” gifts.  This particular calendar, by Marnie Winston-Macauley, will “fit” a wide variety of people because, even if you don’t quite know what your recipient’s tastes are, many people love interesting facts!  (Please note: “One size fits most gifts” are NOT the most appropriate sole gift for a big occasion for someone you are really close to – but they make a nice additional gift to a more personal gift or as a New Year’s gift all wrapped up and sitting in their spot at the breakfast table! Just an example – feel free to get creative!)

Want to add a personal touch to this gift? Read through the calendar until you find a page (or several) that really reminds you about the recipient and leave a sticky note for them to find on that page.  Use the sticky note to tell them why you’ve chosen that page.  In your card, you could mention that you have marked one (or more) of the pages specially for them.  It will give them something to look forward to as they enjoy your gift!

Send this gift out with a “Happy New Year!” card and you won’t seem like someone who failed to get gifts out on time but someone who is not only thoughtful but is on the ball too!

Happy gifting!