Tag: gifts

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Gifts and Discounts for VIPs

Gifts and freebies for VIP subscribers

If you’re not one of my VIPs yet, you’re missing out on some great free gifts and discounts. Here’s everything you get when you sign up to become a VIP subscriber…

Terrific discounts

When you first sign up you’ll get a discount code to get either 15% off in my greeting card shop or 10% off in my Etsy shop. This isn’t just a one off discount, you can use this every time you shop with me!

This means you always pay less, whether you buy a custom cartoon portrait or a ready to ship card, and whether you buy one card or stock up on a whole load.


In addition to this, whenever I release a new collection my VIP subscribers get another special offer on top of this discount – this is only available through the monthly newsletters I send out. It can vary from a further discount to a BOGOF offer or a multi-buy incentive.

become a vip now

Free gifts

As well as the discounts, my subscribers get free gifts! You’ll get at least one free printable when you first subscribe and every now and then I’ll send out a newsletter with an extra freebie included too.

Examples of the  freebies you currently get when you subscribe are these printable gift tags:

Gifts for subscribers - free printable gift tags
Printable gift tags

And this printable cocktail wall art:

Free cocktails printable - gifts for subscribers
Printable cocktails wall art

The freebies may sometimes change, but once you’re a subscriber you’ll always get any new subscriber freebies that I start offering, so you’ll never miss out as long as you continue to get my newsletters.

The latest news and greeting cards

I realise not everyone has time to keep checking for the latest blog posts or my newest greeting cards. The monthly newsletter I send to my VIPs also includes a round up of all the blog posts from the last month as well as pointing you towards any new greeting cards I’ve added to my shop at loulongworth.co.uk. It’s also a great way to remind you to order any cards you might need for the month ahead. No more last minute panics 😁

You’ll also be the first to hear when I release a new greeting card collection (with a special offer as already mentioned…)

I’ll be releasing a new collection for the upcoming holiday season at the beginning of next month. So sign up now – you don’t want to miss out!

Worried about getting too many emails?


When you sign up you’ll get a few introductory emails over a couple of weeks (about 3-4 max) with your discount codes and free gifts, and so we can get to know each other a bit. Besides that I send out a newsletter once a month, so you can stay up to date and get the benefits without feeling like I’m always in your inbox. (Nothing makes me unsubscribe from a list faster than being constantly bombarded with emails!)

Get your free gifts now

So you’ve really got nothing to lose and lots of lovely discounts and free gifts to gain. If you decide it’s not for you, you can unsubscribe at any time, but I don’t think you’ll want to miss out once you’re in 😁


You can sign up right now right here. See you in your inbox next month 🙂

become a vip now

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Gift Ideas for Book Lovers

Gift Ideas for Book Lovers

I love reading and I know I’m not alone, so this week I’ve compiled some gift ideas for book lovers. Whether you’re looking for a book related gift or just something to give alongside an actual book I’ve got you covered 😆

Just to let you know, some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means that if you click on them and buy I’ll get a small commission. It won’t cost you anything though, just make a book lover happy 🙂

Giving an actual book

If you’re sure they’re not going to read it ahead of time and you know they want it, a real physical book is an obvious choice. Here are some ideas for making a book gift extra special.
This gift box includes a book from your chosen genre…

Ultimate book lover eco-friendly gift box
Ultimate book lover eco-friendly gift box from GiftsByAsheville on Etsy

Or you could include a bookmark with the book – they come in a huge range of prices to suit your budget.

Personalised Special Occasion Metal Photo Bookmark
Personalised Special Occasion Metal Photo Bookmark from NOTHS
Personalised Initial Italian Leather Bookmark
Personalised Initial Italian Leather Bookmark from NOTHS
Bookshelf illustrated bookmark
Bookshelf illustrated bookmark from Etsy

Alternative book gifts

One issue with giving an actual book is that even if you know exactly the type of books the recipient likes, and you know they haven’t read the one you have in mind yet, there’s no guarantee they won’t still read it before the big day. One particular member of my family has been notorious in the past for buying himself the exact thing you’ve got him a few days before his birthday…
So buying a paper book isn’t always practical for every book lover.
A large majority of people also now read on an ebook reader. I love my Kindle as it makes it easy to carry around hundreds of books at a time and I have a habit of reading more than one book at a time (never more than one fiction book at a time though – that would just be weird).

guy reading lots of books at once
This would be me without my Kindle

Of course if they don’t already have one and your budget stretches to it, then buying them a Kindle would be an amazing gift. But otherwise you could choose a specific Amazon Kindle Book and gift it to them or get them an Amazon gift card bookmark to choose their own ebook (or anything else from Amazon).

Other gift ideas for book lovers

These are some original ideas for when you don’t want to risk giving any kind of book but still want to give a book themed present.
How about one of these T-shirts?

Thinks I do T-shirt
Thinks I do T-shirt from JamrockDesignApparel on Etsy
Book Hangover T-shirt
Book Hangover T-shirt from Etsy

Or these personalised map bookends are terrific too!

Personalised Map Location Letter Bookend
Personalised Map Location Letter Bookend from NOTHS

This rather cool book shaped smart light opens and closes for different effects.

GINGKO MINI LED SMART BOOK LIGHT
Gingko Mini LED Smart Book Light from I Want One Of Those

Stocking filler gift ideas for book lovers

And finally, here are some small stocking filler gift ideas for book lovers…
You could also give one of the bookmarks suggested earlier as a stocking filler.

Or who doesn’t love a badge?

Book Lovers Pinback Button Badge
Book Lovers Pinback Button Badge from ColourMeFun on Etsy

And of course this year face masks have appeared in all different styles!

Book Lover Face Mask
Book Lover Face Mask on Etsy

And mugs are always a hit too.

I hope these ideas are helpful when shopping for the book lover in your life… or even if you just fancy treating yourself!

Baby reading book
Just one more chapter!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider sharing it on social media so others can read it too.

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Is Regifting OK?

Regifting

This is a bit of a touchy topic… Is regifting OK or does it make you a horrible person? I’m not completely against the idea, but if you’re going to do it, it needs to be done right or there could be tears!

Regifting
In a situation where you get identical gifts from different people, I definitely think it’s ok to regift one of them to someone who would appreciate it. There’s really no point you having two of the same thing (unless it’s bottles of wine!) And as you still have one of them, both recipients can still see you appreciating the gift they chose for you.
I have occasionally regifted in other situations, but I must admit I do feel a bit guilty about it. It was kind of the person to give me a gift and it feels slightly ungrateful to regift it. But if it’s something I really don’t want or need, then is it really so bad to give it to someone else who would like to have it? And presumably that person doesn’t know you very well (or doesn’t care) if they got you something you don’t like…

I guess it’s a matter of weighing up the pros and cons in each situation…

Pros of regifting

  • The gift will (hopefully) end up with someone who actually appreciates it.
  • You don’t need to find somewhere to store something you’ll never use.
  • It can help you declutter if you have a stash of unopened and unwanted gifts lying around.
  • It’s better than throwing it away (though perhaps you could donate it to a charity shop instead?)
  • It can save you some time and money (but this isn’t really a good enough reason on its own!)

Cons of regifting

  • It is a little bit deceitful as you’re unlikely to be honest with the original gift giver (and maybe not even with the new recipient).
  • It’s not going to be as personal as something you’ve chosen for that person yourself.
  • If the person who first gave it to you finds out, it’s going to be embarrassing at best, the end of a friendship at worst!
via Giphy

What’s OK to regift?

Are some things more acceptable to regift than others? I definitely think so.

I personally think it’s OK to regift books, booze and bath and beauty products. There are certain smells I really can’t stomach in a bath product but that another friend might love, so it makes sense to give it to that friend. I also think things for the home, like candles or glassware, are usually fine.

Things that I believe shouldn’t be regifted are handmade or personalised gifts, heirlooms or sentimental items. But you might think differently and I won’t judge you! 😁

Some tips

If you decide that it’s OK to regift, then here are some tips to help you avoid any embarrassment. They’re not really rules (you can obviously decide for yourself what’s OK and what’s not), just some guidelines to consider…

  • Never regift within the same circle of friends or family unless you’re going to be honest with both the original gift giver and the new recipient.
  • Only regift brand new items that are still in perfect condition – giving something that you’ve used is probably a step too far…
  • It’s probably also not very good form to give away handmade or personalised gifts.
  • Don’t regift something that was given to someone else in your household without permission.
  • Check the original box and packaging for any clues that it was originally gifted to you, e.g. any notes or cards inside the box, anything written inside the cover of a book, some of the original wrapping paper still attached with tape…
  • Perhaps put some extra effort into the gift wrapping and get an extra special greeting card to make up for the fact that you didn’t spend any money on the gift.
  • Make sure it is something that the new recipient really wants. Is it something you would have bought for that person if you didn’t have one available? Put some thought into it and don’t just give things away to any old person for the sake of it.
via Giphy

Alternatives

If regifting just doesn’t sit well with you, there are alternatives…

  • Keep it and use it only when the person who gave it to you is around.
  • Keep it and store it away somewhere.
  • Be particularly careless with it and hope it breaks!
  • If it’s something edible or drinkable that you don’t like, open it when other people are around so they can finish most of it.
  • Donate it to charity, homeless shelter or food bank.
  • Sell it. Though the only advantage of this over regifting is that the recipient won’t mind that you were originally given it as a gift.
  • Give it away but tell them it was originally a gift to you rather than packaging it up as though you bought it as a gift for them.
  • Give it back to the person who gave it to you. They’ll know you didn’t like it and won’t make the same mistake again. This alternative is only for the bravest!

Think about this: how would you feel if you were in the other person’s position? Would you be hurt or offended if someone regifted a gift you gave them? Or if you were the recipient of a regifted item, would you mind? If not then it’s probably OK for you to do it. But otherwise you might need to decide whether the guilt is worth it 😆

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Furoshiki Techniques for Eco Friendly Gift Wrapping

Furoshiki Techniques

Are you looking for more eco-friendly ways to wrap gifts? If so, using a furoshiki cloth is about as green as you can get. There are several different furoshiki techniques to suit a variety of gifts shapes and sizes, so it’s as versatile as it is environmentally friendly. And it looks beautiful!

Furoshiki techniques

What is Furoshiki?

Furoshiki refers to a type of traditional Japanese wrapping cloth. Although we’re talking about Furoshiki as a gift wrapping technique here, it’s original purpose was quite different. Fabric was used centuries ago to wrap imperial treasures to keep them safe while being stored. It was later used to describe the fabric used at communal bathing houses, where the fabric was used to bundle up belongings and as a mat. The literal translation of Furoshiki is ‘Bath-spread’ (Furo means Bathing and Shiki means Spread).

Later on Furoshiki cloths were used to protect wares during transportation by merchants and to protect and decorate gifts, and it has now become a popular way to wrap gifts not only in Japan but also around the world. It is also still sometimes used as a bag for carrying things around.

But you didn’t come here for a history lesson, did you? 😁

Furoshiki wrapping techniques

There are plenty of different ways to wrap gifts with a furoshiki cloth. The square piece of cloth can be plain or patterned, and can be made from silk, cotton, nylon or any other fabric which is not too stiff. Furoshiki cloths come in all sizes so can be used to wrap big or small gifts.

Basic Furoshiki technique

The basic Furoshiki technique is for wrapping a square or rectangular gift. Here’s a step by step guide to show you how to go about it:

Basic Furoshiki Technique
Basic Furoshiki Technique

  1. Place the gift diagonally in the centre of the cloth.
  2. Fold the cloth along the one side of the gift.
  3. Wrap the corner over the top of the gift.
  4. Tuck excess corner under the gift.
  5. Repeat on the other side.
  6. Fold one of the loose ends neatly over the top of the gift.
  7. Repeat on the other side.
  8. take the two corners of these loose ends and tie in a double knot, then arrange the knot nicely to look like a bow.

It might take a bit of practice to get steps 6. to 8. to look neat but you’ll soon get the hang of it. If you’re struggling to get the corners to tie a double knot then your Furoshiki cloth might be too small for the gift. The knot also creates a handy carrying handle!

If you’d rather watch a video of how to do this, here’s a good one:

You can also use this basic technique to experiment with a variety of different knots and tucking techniques for your own creative take on it.

Furoshiki techniques for bottles

Furoshiki is also great for wrapping bottles. Here’s a step by step guide to this technique:

Furoshiki Bottle Wrapping
Furoshiki Bottle Wrapping Technique

  1. Place the bottle in the middle of the cloth and left two diagonally opposite corners.
  2. Tie the corners in a double knot on the top of the bottle.
  3. Take the other two corners and wrap them in opposite directions around the middle of the bottle.
  4. Tie these corners in a double knot in the middle of the bottle.

It’s actually pretty easy but still looks very impressive!

You can also take a look at this video for three fancy ways to wrap two bottles at once using a Furoshiki cloth.
Give these Furoshiki techniques a go to wrap both boxes and bottles. You can adapt them and experiment to create your own beautiful gift packaging.

You can get Furoshiki cloths on Etsy, Amazon and plenty of other online places – here’s a gorgeous reversible one from Etsy:

48cm Isa Monyo Reversible Furoshiki | Japanese Apricot Blue/Beige
48cm Isa Monyo Reversible Furoshiki

(Just so you know, this is an affiliate link so if you click &buy I’ll get a small commission, but it won’t cost you anything.)
In traditional Japanese culture the Furoshiki cloth is always returned to the gift giver so it can be reused so it’s the ultimate eco-friendly gift wrapping. Feel a bit cheeky asking for it back? They’re unlike to throw the cloth away and they can reuse it for all sorts of things. You might even inspire the recipient to wrap their next gift to someone in it! Let’s make it a thing 😃

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Gifts for Music Lovers

Gifts for music lovers

It’s no secret that I’m a huge music fan – I’m really missing being able to go to gigs during this pandemic (thought I do realise this is such a small thing compared to what a lot of people are going through). I also have quite a few friends who are just as music obsessed as I am, so this week I thought I’d write a blog post with ideas for gifts for music lovers.

Gifts for music lovers
Just so you know, this post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and buy I may get a small commission, but it won’t cost you anything.

Gifts for drummers

This wooden clock can be personalised if you fancy

Drummer wooden clock
Drummer wooden clock

Or how about one of these water bottles?

Best drummer ever water bottle
Best drummer ever water bottle

In my head water bottle for drummer
In my head water bottle for drummer

Gifts for guitarists

This pick wallet would make a great gift for a guitarist.
Or for something a bit more substantial, how about this personalised wooden guitar holder?

Romantic music gifts

Of course if this is an anniversary gift or something for your other half, you might need a gift that is a little more romantic. Here are some ideas for turning ‘your song’ into a personalised gift.

Or create a modern version of the old school mix tape… it doesn’t get much more romantic than that – you can even include photos or scans of other special memories.

Personalised USB mix tape

Other gifts for music lovers

And for gifts that are less specific, here’s a selection of all sorts of great gifts for music lovers.
Here’s another mix tape idea. This one comes with a personalised message and a code for a Spotify playlist featuring songs from their birth year – such an original idea!

Or how about this for that person who ‘knows’ their taste in music is better than anyone else’s 😆

My neighbours listen to good music whether they like it or not print
Good music print

This game could be a real hit (sorry 😁) too!

I hope you found some inspiration in these ideas. In the end I found more ideas than I could reasonably fit into one blog post as there’s so much out there for music lovers! 😃

You can also follow my Gifts for Music Lovers Pinterest board for more ideas.

And if you’re looking for a card to accompany your gift, then why not take a look at my music themed greeting card collection. They’re perfect for music fans. See some examples below…

Engagement card
Get well soon card
I love you card