Showing posts with label Personalized Gifts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Personalized Gifts. Show all posts

Most 3G2S posts contain commission-yielding affiliate links. When you make a purchase after clicking a link, our family earns a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our blog.

7 Tips for Gifting the Ultimate Custom Photo Blanket

This post has been sponsored by Collage.com.
Best Grandpa Ever Photo Blanket | 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires
My father just celebrated his 78th birthday.  It feels like we just celebrated his 70th.  I really wanted to show him how special he is to everyone and how much we appreciate him for all the caring things he does daily.  We ended up gifting to him a photo blanket from both my family and my sister's family.  This might be one of the best gifts we've ever given my dad.  That we were able to present it to him collectively, made it that much more special.

I designed this custom sherpa photo blanket using the tools on Collage.com.  I learned some tips and tricks while doing so that really made this one-of-a-kind blanket into a cherished keepsake for my dad.  I'm happy to share what I've learned, so you can create the ultimate custom photo blanket for your loved one.


7 Tips for Gifting the Ultimate Custom Photo Blanket . . .

1.  Keep the best part hidden.  When presenting your sherpa photo blanket, fold the blanket with the image side facing in.  This way, the recipient will see and feel how soft and cuddly the blanket is, while the best part is still out of sight. When your loved one unfolds the blanket, the one-of-a-kind design will be revealed, causing many Oooo's and Aaaaah's to ensue.
Sherpa Photo Blanket Gift Idea | 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires

2. Select photos from both the past and the present.  Before you even think about choosing a layout, carefully select which photos you would like to include on this photo gift.  Consider choosing photos from important past memories, such as a wedding, a graduation, or a favorite photo of someone who is no longer with you.  Also include photos from the present to represent things that make your loved one smile today.
Custom Collage Sherpa Photo Blanket Gift Idea | 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires

3. Choose a blanket that suits the recipient's lifestyle. The sherpa throw was perfect for my dad because we live in New England.  He will be able to cuddle up with the throw while watching football during the chilly fall and winter months.  A queen size blanket would be too large for his needs.
Custom Collage Photo Blanket Options | 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires

4.  Choose a template that accommodates and shows off your selected photos best. There is a large selection of pre-made templates to choose from on Collage.com. If you don't see one that fits your needs exactly, you can always create your own.  Remember that some templates have areas that can be customized.  For example, the template I chose originally said "Best Grandma Ever", but I was able to change it to say "Grandpa" instead.  I was also able to change the the font size and reposition the text.
Custom Collage Photo Blanket Templates | 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires

5. Use the same filter on all your photos. Since you are using photos taken at different times and in different places, they may not look cohesive when displayed together. Running them through the same photo filter will help with that.  For example, I applied the San Carmen filter to all my photos.
Custom Collage Photo Blanket Filters | 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires

6. Use the highest quality photos in the larger photo fields. Likewise, reserve the lower quality photos for the smaller photo fields. If you have a photo that is a little dark or could be crisper, you can use the built-in photo editor on Collage.com to brighten, sharpen, and crop your photos.
Custom Collage Photo Blanket Photo Editing | 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires

7. Select a background that suits your photo collage. Although it may not seem intuitive, you should choose your blanket's background when the rest of the design is complete.  Select a background that shows off your photos best.  Try to avoid backgrounds with colors that clash with your design, and backgrounds that compete with your photos for attention.  You want your photos to be the stars of the show, not the background.
Custom Collage Photo Blanket Background Choices | 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires

I have to say that choosing the photos for my dad's blanket was the most difficult part of this project.  Once I had settled on those, the tools available on Collage.com made the whole process super-easy. There's also a guide that tells you what date you should receive your photo gift by for each shipping method, so you can be sure to receive your gift in time for Grandparent's Day, Christmas, or any other special occasion. Be sure to check for photo blanket deals and free shipping deals on Collage.com before ordering.

Like this photo gift idea? Pin it for later . . . 
Custom Collage Photo Sherpa Blanket | 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires

Who do you know who would love a photo blanket of their very own?
Tell us in a comment here.


Most 3G2S posts contain commission-yielding affiliate links. When you make a purchase after clicking a link, our family earns a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our blog.

This Personalized Family Tree Pillow from Amazon Handmade Was the Perfect Grandparent's Gift

Personalized family tree pillow cover from Amazon Handmade . . . a cherished gift for a parent or grandparent.
The Mother's Day and Grandparent's Day gift idea we are sharing about today was purchased with our own funds.

A couple of weeks ago, my mother turned 70 years old.  (I'm still having a little trouble accepting that.)  For this milestone birthday, I wanted to find something she would love for our children to present to her as a gift.  She is a tough person to buy for.  The gift couldn't take up a lot of room due to the size limitations of my parent's apartment.  It also couldn't cost too much money because she would just yell at me for spending so much money on her.

I started searching on Etsy because it's a great source for one-of-a-kind gifts, but I couldn't find anything that I loved that would get to me within a few weeks.  My next stop was Amazon Handmade.  It's still fairly new and I had never taken the time to see what items were available.  I lucked out and found this 20" Family Tree Pillow Cover sold by Crafting Rehab.  I could request the quantity of names, choose from a small assortment of pillow colors, specify the colors in the printing, and change the message located at the base of the tree.  The pillow cover and the cost of shipping were both priced very reasonably.  SOLD!

To complete the gift, I also ordered a 20" square pillow insert on Amazon for $8.50 with free shipping.  The pillow cover was shipped by Crafting Rehab in less than a week and arrived about a week later, earlier than the estimated delivery date.  I must also say that the communication from Crafting Rehab was very timely, friendly, and helpful.

I included the names of my 3 children and my nephew on the family tree to represent all my mother's grandchildren.  The gift was presented to her from all 4 children at the end of her birthday dinner.  My mother just LOVED it!  She told me that night and actually called me the next day to tell me again how much she loved it.

If you have a parent or grandparent who is tough to buy for, I highly recommend checking out Amazon Handmade.  I didn't think I could love shopping on Amazon more than I already did, but this shopping experience made that happen!



Most 3G2S posts contain commission-yielding affiliate links. When you make a purchase after clicking a link, our family earns a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our blog.

Prepping for the Holidays with Personalized Tree Ornaments from Ornaments With Love

Personalized Moose Family Tree Ornament from Ornaments With Love
Thank you to Ornaments With Love for providing a personalized tree ornament sample for us to base this review upon and for providing a second product for our giveaway prize.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Ummm . . . no it's not too early to be thinking about the Holidays!  Even if you don't start your shopping early, there are a few things to think about before the season sneaks up on you . . .

1.  What are my children going to ask Santa for in their letters this year?  Will it sell out if I wait to buy it?  Will I need to put it on layaway to pay for it in time for Christmas?

2.  What should my children wear for the Holiday card photo this year?  When do I need to order them to get them before December so I'll have time to write a note inside and address them all?

3.  Do I need anything major for entertaining this Holiday?  New dining room set?  New television?  Should I have the floors professionally cleaned?

4.  Some retailers take extra time to ship any personalized items I may want to give as gifts.  The shipping time might even get longer as the Holidays grow closer.  Should I shop for these items now before the big rush?

Christmas is a huge deal at our house.  We started some fun traditions when our oldest was just a toddler.  For example, every year I purchase personalized ornaments for the whole family.  I always get one that represents all 5 of us and sometimes the pets too.  Some years, the pets get their own ornaments.  Each child always gets his or her own personalized ornament.  Some years I let them choose their own and others I decide to surprise them.  Whichever course I choose, we always order our ornaments from Ornaments With Love.  I think this might be our 7th year buying ornaments from this family-owned business.  I shopped their site before I even thought about owning a blog.  You should see the cute ornaments I found last year!
Cute Personalized Moose Family Tree Ornament from Ornaments With Love

Another tradition we have is that our children always gift a personalized ornament to their favorite aunt and uncle (my sister and brother-in-law).  This year, we chose this Personalized Moose Family Christmas Ornament.  I just thought they were too adorable when I saw them.  I never thought I would perceive a tree ornament to be huggable, but that's what I think when I look at this smiling moose family.  This ornament is available for family sizes of 1 to 4 children.  Maybe I'll get one for my own family next year!

This year, I think I'll be surprising my children with ornaments I choose.  The great thing about Ornaments With Love is that there are new ornaments added to the already vast selection every year.  That way, I can always find something cool and new, rather than choosing from the same ornaments year after year.  Also, shipping is free when your order totals $50 or more.  And, did I mention that their turnaround time is as little as 2 business days and they ship by U.S. Priority Mail?  Still, I always order early because it's one thing I can just check off my Holiday prepping list!

Time to get started on your Holiday prepping!  Visit www.OrnamentsWithLove.com to view their enormous selection of personalized tree ornaments.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck in the drawing!

This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.


Most 3G2S posts contain commission-yielding affiliate links. When you make a purchase after clicking a link, our family earns a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our blog.

Design Your Own Notebooks, Placemats, and Other Personalized Gifts at Ink Garden

Personalized custom placemat | www.3Garnets2Sapphires.com
Thank you to Ink Garden for providing personalized gift samples for us to base this review upon.  All opinions expressed are my own.

I love getting personalized items for our home, so when I learned about Ink Garden, I was excited to see their custom printed products for myself. They have hundreds to choose from - anything from office products like mouse pads and business card holders to blankets and pillowcases. If you have a need, there’s a good chance that Ink Garden can supply it.

One of the first things I noticed about Ink Garden was their prices. They have very reasonable prices for such high-quality, personalized products with many items under $20. With such a wide variety to choose from, there is something for everyone. I decided to make personalized placemats for my family and a little personalized journal for myself.
Personalized gifts at Ink Garden | www.3Garnets2Sapphires.com

Ink Garden is simple to navigate, so finding my chosen category was very easy to do. Once I chose my items, making them was simple too. You can use their pre-made templates or completely customize your item, including adding your own photos. I chose to use text and Ink Garden’s stock clip art for our placemats and just went with a basic template for both items. I had everything made to my desire within 30 minutes. Checkout was a breeze as well.
Personalized gifts at Ink Garden | www.3Garnets2Sapphires.com

Our items came within a week and were very well packaged and obviously very high quality. I was truly impressed with how great these were! The placemats are thick and laminated with sturdy plastic so they will not tear up even with daily use and washing. The journal’s cover is made with thick plastic and the spiral binding is very high quality as well. The colors are vibrant on all the products. These are truly great quality items.
Personalized journal notebook | www.3Garnets2Sapphires.com

If you have a need for personalized products, check out Ink Garden for yourself at www.inkgarden.com.

Most 3G2S posts contain commission-yielding affiliate links. When you make a purchase after clicking a link, our family earns a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our blog.

Our Thoughtful & Easy-to-Organize Teacher's Gift Idea from the Whole Class . . . a Wall Calendar Filled with Students' Quotes!

Teacher's Gift Idea - A wall calendar filled with quotes from the students about their favorite things!
This is my second year organizing classroom gifts for one of our children's teachers.  Somehow it always seems that there is one room that does not have a Room Parent, who usually takes on this and other important tasks.  Last year, another parent and I teamed up and we were floored at how difficult it was to arrange the Holiday gift.  More than half the parents did not provide contact information for the student directory, so we had to send home letters to the families without drawing attention from the teacher.  The participation was staggeringly low, even though we only asked for $5 per family to go towards both the gifts for the primary teacher and the assistant teacher.  I was shocked and a bit dismayed.  The experience was so difficult that the other parent and I agreed not to attempt organizing an end-of-the-year gift.  Instead, we came up with thoughtful gifts on our own for our children to present to their teachers.

This past Holiday, I was presented with the same problem.  There was no official room parent, so I stepped up to organize the classroom gift.  This time, things looked more promising.  Nearly all the parents had provided their email for the student directory, which was a good sign.  I had learned from past experience to make participating as easy on the parents as possible.  I even offered to take contributions with cash sent to school or via PayPal.  So, I came up with a teacher's gift idea that would make it easy on the parents and would be unique and super-thoughtful . . . a personalized wall calendar filled with quotes from the students about their favorite things.  This was easier to do than it sounds.  All you need is to know how to use Google Forms and Spreadsheets, have a basic graphics program where you can turn text into an image, and have a place that prints custom photo calendars, like Walgreens.


Tips for making a 'Favorite Things' Quotes Wall Calendar for a Teacher's Gift from the class . . . 

1.  Create a Google Form with clear instructions for the parents on how to interview their children and how to submit their children's responses in the blank fields.  I found it easier to use a fill-in-the-blank format for the questions.  Be sure to include a mandatory question asking for the child's name.  I offered a wide variety of interview questions, with some pertaining to certain times of the year, but, to make this low-stress on the parents and students, I only made two of them mandatory . . . what the child's favorite thing about their teacher is and what their favorite thing about 1st grade is.
Google Forms example for interviewing students about their favorite things.

2.  All the interview responses will automatically be collected in a Google Spreadsheet.  At this point, you should figure out how many quotes you would like to include per calendar page and decide if you would like to make a 12-month or an 18-month calendar.  Based on the responses I received and my wanting to include 4 quotes per page for a 12-month calendar, I figured out that each student should have 3 or 4 quotes included in the calendar.
Google Spreadsheet with students' quotes about their favorite things.

3.  When making your images of the quotes, be sure to change the color of the quotes you've used in order to keep track of how many quotes you've used from each child and to avoid duplicates.  Be sure to make your image in a high resolution format (300 dpi).  If you don't have a graphics program, you can download Gimp for free.  You can make the quotes as simple as you'd like or use different fonts, colors, etc . . . I tried to be sure to include any seasonal quotes on the images to be used on the relevant months in the calendar.  I also made sure to include all the students' quotes about their favorite thing about their teacher and about their grade.  For any families who did not submit their children's quotes, the students' names were still printed on the front cover of the calendar with the rest of the class.

4.  Ordering your photo calendar should be pretty easy.  I used Walgreens Photo, which is extremely user-friendly.  All you need to do is choose the size and format for your calendar to get started.  Then you can choose a theme and customize each page of the calendar with your image, text, and different backgrounds.

Walgreens Photo Gifts 234x60

For the classroom's Holiday gift, we included this calendar along with other goodies and a gift card in a gift basket.  The teacher was so touched while reading all the quotes that it brought tears to her eyes.

For the end-of-the-year gift this year, I will be making a design with all the student's names on it to print on a canvas tote bag for the teacher.  I think I will be using Walgreens Photo again.  I was pleased with the results last time, plus they always have coupons available on photo gifts and I was able to pick the finished product up at our local store.  Of course we'll be filling the tote with a gift card and other fun things for summer vacation.  Do you have any suggestions about what kinds of things we should include?






Most 3G2S posts contain commission-yielding affiliate links. When you make a purchase after clicking a link, our family earns a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our blog.

Ornaments With Love Offers a Vast Selection of Fun and Unique Personalized Tree Ornaments


Thank you to Ornaments With Love for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon and for providing an additional product for our contest prize.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Since before my husband and I were married, we began a tradition of buying personalized dated ornaments each year to hang on our Christmas tree.  Before we had children, we would get a couples ornament for just the two of us plus an ornament for each of our cats and dogs.  After our family began to grow, we would buy a personalized ornament to represent the whole family, my husband and I as a couple, an ornament for each of our 3 children, and one for all the pets together.  Needless to say, we have a large collection of ornaments, but each and every one of them are special to us.

I have been a customer of this small business before I even started blogging.  I kept coming back every year because there is such an enormous selection of ornaments to choose from plus new styles added each year.  I usually buy all bread dough or resin ornaments, but this year I chose a glass ball ornament for our family ornament from Ornaments With Love.  I realized last year that, over time, several of our glass ball ornaments had been lost due to breakage.  I really would like to add more to our ornament collection over the next few years.

This particular Personalized Penguin Family with 3 Children Glass Ball Ornament features 5 penguins in a snowy scene.  Like most Ornaments With Love tree ornaments, I was able to specify the year, the names, and a short caption.  This ball ornament comes with a ready-to-wrap box that also will store the ornament safely when it's time to take your tree down.  When shipping your bread dough and resin ornaments, this company also includes Holiday-themed cellophane bags with twist ties and gift labels for you to easily gift the ornaments you purchased.

I also wanted to share the other ornaments I purchased this year from Ornaments With Love.  I was thrilled to find tech-themed ornaments to fit our extremely techie family.  Although our daughter is also tech-oriented, I chose an arts and crafts-themed ornament for her because I think art is her first love.  I also chose some cute mittens hanging from a mantel for our 3 cats.  (Our poor hermit crabs and fish don't get their own ornaments or stockings.)

You can also checkout our personalized ornaments by Ornaments With Love from 2012, 2011, and 2010.  Our ornaments shipped within 2 business day by Priority Mail, so they arrived quickly.  You can also get Free U.S. Priority Mail Shipping on orders over $50.  These ornaments make cherished and affordable gifts, especially when you can find just the right one for the recipient's personality!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck in the drawing!

This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

Most 3G2S posts contain commission-yielding affiliate links. When you make a purchase after clicking a link, our family earns a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our blog.

New Personalized Lunch Boxes from ISeeMe.com!


Thank you to ISeeMe.com for providing a personalized lunch box for our back-to-school giveaway prize. All opinions expressed are my own.

Back-to-school is an exciting, but hectic, time of the year.  No matter the age of your child, you really must label everything.  To add a little fun to going back to school, ISeeMe.com, an online retailer known for its creative personalized books and gifts, has introduced their new personalized lunch boxes in 8 colorful designs for both boys and girls.

The lunch boxes from I See Me are made of safe lead-free tin.  Personalized on multiple sides, your child will be able to easily discern his or her lunch box from all others.  Aside from the personalization, my favorite feature of these lunch boxes is the chalkboard surface built into the inside of the lid.  You can write reminders, encouraging notes, or even draw silly pictures for your child to find at lunchtime.

Of course, these personalized lunch boxes can be used for purposes other than bringing lunch to school.  See my post on alternative uses for lunch boxes for some fun ideas.

Each I See Me lunch box retails for $29.95 and are hand wash only.  It takes approximately 2 weeks to receive your lunch box via standard delivery, so it is best not to wait until the last minute to place your order.  Visit ISeeMe.com to view all 8 new lunch box designs, as well as other personalized items for your child.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck in the drawing!

This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random number drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Most 3G2S posts contain commission-yielding affiliate links. When you make a purchase after clicking a link, our family earns a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our blog.

Turn Your Child's Name into Wall Art, a Personalized Placemat, and Much More

Name Art - Letter Art - Personalized Gifts for Children
Thank you to NameArt.com for providing complimentary product samples for us to base this review upon and for providing an additional product for our contest prize.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Whether you are decorating a newborn's nursery or looking for a unique gift for an older child, the personalized name art gifts at PersonalizedGifts.net will surely give you inspiration.  This site offers gifts, such as posters, prints, name bars, placemats, bookmarks, and more that are personalized with the name art that you design.

I very much liked the look of the wooden Personalized Name Plaques.  We do not have much empty wall space left in our children's room, but these name bars do not take up much space.  They can also sit on a desk or a shelf.  Someday, when we move to a larger house and each child has their own room, I can see these name bars hanging on each of their doors.
Name Art - Letter Art - Personalized Gifts for Children

Our children are 6, 6, and 9, so I was able to let them customize their own name bars.  There were just a few easy steps to follow . . .

1.  Enter the child's name as you would like it to appear on the product.

2.  Choose a theme for the letters.  You can try out one or all the themes to see which one you like the best.
Name Art - Letter Art - Personalized Gifts for Children

3.  Once you've chosen a theme, you can choose between two different letter styles within that them.
Name Art - Letter Art - Personalized Gifts for Children

4.  Next, you can customize each letter one at a time by choosing between two versions of that letter and then by going on to customize the colors for that letter.
Name Art - Letter Art - Personalized Gifts for Children

That's how easy it was!  All 3 of my children created something different.  Our youngest son, Luke, tried the Teddy Bears theme first, but ultimately ended up with the dragon theme.  He decided to make the first two letters in his name red and the last two blue.  Our daughter was sure she wanted her name done in the Fairies theme, but ended up liking the Mermaid theme the best.  She changed the hair and tail color of each mermaid, being very careful to make each mermaid look different from the ones on either side of her.  Our oldest son, Jake, tried the robots first, but then opted for the dragons as well.  The default color for the dragons theme is red and he decided to keep the color as is.  He did change the letter styles so that they all included dragons with baby dragon eggs.  I have to agree that the red is just stunning in the dragon theme.
Name Art - Letter Art - Personalized Gifts for Children

The Name Art name bars each come with a black wooden easel so they can be prominently displayed.  If you choose to hang the name bar up, you will need to nail a hanger to the back, which is not included.  Each name bar retails for $26.75 regardless of the length of the name.  Visit www.PersonalizedGifts.net to view their full selection of personalized name art gifts.

The winner for this contest will receive their choice of one of the following . . . 
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Good luck in the drawing!

Most 3G2S posts contain commission-yielding affiliate links. When you make a purchase after clicking a link, our family earns a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our blog.

Customize a Visa Gift Card with a Photo plus a Personalized Message on GiftCard.com


Thank you to GiftCard.com for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon and for providing an additional product for our contest prize.  All opinions expressed are my own.

I make no secret of it that I am just a fool for personalized gifts.  It used to be that personalized gifts cost quite a bit more due to extra fees, but thanks to technology, that is no longer the case.  These days you can add a personal message or a photo to almost anything for just a few dollars extra.

On GiftCard.com you can add your own image to a Visa gift card for just $5.95 (plus the denomination of the gift card) with Free Standard Shipping!  My husband received this unique little photo gift for Father's Day a week early.  I chose to put his new favorite photo of our children on the gift card.  If you do not have a personal photo you would like to upload, you can always choose from thousands of pre-made designs from the Visa gift card gallery, which cover almost every occasion, including but not limited to Father's Day, graduations, weddings, teacher's gifts, housewarming, and much more.  There is also the option to print a personalized message on the gift card at no additional charge.  You can choose any denomination for your special gift card between $10 and $250.  As an added bonus, your gift card is mailed to you or the recipient in a personalized greeting card of your choosing.

These Visa gift cards are currently not reloadable, meaning you cannot add additional funds to it after the gift card has been created.  Despite this,  I know my husband will still be keeping this card after the balance has reached zero.  It does make a very unique keepsake and is an easy way to carrying around a photo of our children in his wallet without the worry of bending a fragile photograph.

To learn more about these custom Visa gift cards, visit GiftCard.com's faq page.  In addition to Visa gift cards, you can also find retail store gift cards and e-gift cards on this site.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck in the drawing!

Most 3G2S posts contain commission-yielding affiliate links. When you make a purchase after clicking a link, our family earns a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our blog.

An Original and Affordable End-of-the-Year Teacher's Gift Idea from the Whole Class!


I have several friends who are teachers and have heard it from the source about what teachers love (and what they don't love) to receive for Holiday and end-of-the-year gifts.  How many mugs, magnets, and bottles of scented body products can one person use, right?  Gift cards are always a great way to go, but if you feel they are just too impersonal, here is an idea for a teacher's gift from the whole class that will truly be a cherished keepsake.  In fact, the same teacher could receive this gift every year and would still love it because no two will ever be alike!

I'm talking about a School Photo Book from Blurb.com.  Each student in this year's class could have one or two pages devoted to him or her.  All you need is for each parent to contribute one or more photos of their child and a few dollars to go towards the cost of the book.  Blurb books start at just $12.99 plus the cost of shipping, so one classroom of 20+ students could make a beautiful book for just $2 or $3 from each student's family.  To make it even more special, you can have each child contribute a quote about their favorite school memory from this year.

Through 5/31/13, you can receive 15% off a School Photo Book when you checkout using Promo Code: MYSCHOOLBOOK on Blurb.com.


Most 3G2S posts contain commission-yielding affiliate links. When you make a purchase after clicking a link, our family earns a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our blog.

Custom Printed Girls Taekwondo Tee . . . a "Pick Your Own Design" T-Shirt by Amy Adele


Best known for their personalized stationary for children, the online retailer Amy Adele also features their whimsical artwork on t-shirts for infants, toddlers, boys, and girls.  When I was invited to select a product to review, I considered choosing some personalized waterproof labels since I have depleted my supply labeling everything for our twin kindergartners.  I ended up wandering over to the clothing tab and was floored to find 112 different t-shirt designs for girls alone.  I had just about made up my mind to choose this cute duck t-shirt (our daughter is just crazy about ducks) when I saw another appealing option . . . the Pick Your Own Design T-shirt.

I had seen some karate-themed stationary for boys and for girls, but I did not see this design available within the girls' t-shirt assortment.  The "Pick Your Own Design" option seemed like the perfect thing!  It is rare to find cute taekwondo-themed shirts for girls, so I thought I would create one using the karate girl graphic.

The Pick Your Own Design shirts for girls are available in toddler and youth sizes.  There was a note stating that the shirts may shrink a whole size if put in the dryer, so I opted for a Youth Size 8.  Our daughter usually wears a size 6 and, as you can see, the 8 is not too large on her after being washed and dried, but she also has room to grow.

When personalizing the shirt, I was able to specify text for 2 lines.  I was also able to choose the font, text size, font color, and how I wanted the text aligned.  Although the graphic was not shown, I was able to preview the text, so I could adjust it until I was sure I was happy with how it looked.  During checkout, I just needed to include the name of which design I wanted to appear on the shirt.  This custom t-shirt costs just $19.95, which is only $4 more than the girls t-shirts with existing designs.

Overall, I am very pleased with our custom shirt.  It was very soft and did not shrink more than expected.  Most importantly, our little black belt-in-training was very proud to wear it.

To view the entire selection of Amy Adele t-shirts, stationary, thank you notes, invitations, labels, calling cards, and more, visit AmyAdele.com.  Sign up to receive their newsletter by email to receive a 20% discount.  Also, remember to check for Amy Adele promo codes before you shop!


Thank you to Amy Adele for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.  All opinions expressed are my own.



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Personalized Beer Glasses . . . a Perfect Gift for the Home Brewer


Last year for a Father's Day gift, my children and I gave my husband a home beer brewing kit.  It was something he had mentioned previously as possibly being an interesting hobby.  I knew it would appeal to his scientific side and I was right.  This gift also opened the door to future no-brainer gifts, such as additional ingredients, supplies, and equipment.  A gift idea that did not occur to me until I saw it on RedEnvelope.com was a set of Personalized Pub Glasses.  There were actually two styles to choose from . . . these Bulldog Pub Glasses and a set of Barley Pub Glasses.  Both styles were dishwasher-safe.  Since we are a dog-loving family, I went with the Bulldog design.

Of all the gift ideas for men I have seen, this one was uniquely perfect for my husband.  These personalized beer glasses sort of make his hobby "official" even though he is still a novice.  I was able to personalize these glasses with our family name, town and state, as well as the year in which my husband started being a home brewer.


On the back of the glasses are printed the words "Sit.  Stay.  Drink." . . . a very hospitable message for anyone who will be sampling my husband's brew.


Although the product description states that the glasses have a 16oz capacity, I think they could comfortably hold 12oz of beer (as shown below), especially if the beer has a thick head.


My husband was extremely thrilled to received this surprise.  It was not his birthday, nor was it a holiday, so it was very unexpected.  Just because gifts are sometimes the best ones!



Thank you to Red Envelope for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.  All opinions expressed are my own.