Back to School Gift Ideas for Teens

If you are thinking about giving a back to school gift to your child or grandchildren, why not combine it with something that will be really useful for their next academic year.  We've put together a selection of great ideas for gifts to celebrate the start of a new year and encourage your teenage children to plan ahead.  Help them get organised with their home and course work and even making their own pack lunch - a new pencil case, lunch bag or beautiful retro satchel can really inspire a little boost in productivity! (in fact, a new leather satchel this gorgeous may be a great idea for the parents too!)

Things I must never forget Notebook

Goal Cards from fink

Lunch Bag from Alexandra Snowdon

Vintage Pencil case from Poppy Valentine

The Leather Satchel Co

Perpetual Birthday Calendars and Clipboard Organisation

Clipboards on the Wall - Decor8

Get organised with Multiple Clipboards

Having a really well organised home office regardless of the space you have available can really help to keep you stress free! We love the idea of hanging multiple clipboards on the wall and using them to organise your to do list or larger projects.  This picture from Decor8 may be a little uber minimalist but as a bit of a clutterbug it's something to aspire to!

Take away the huge pile of paperwork to be sorted and clip it on the wall ready to be tackled bit by bit - it has a psychological effect, it makes the paperwork instantly seem more manageable.   If it's a letter from school it goes on one board, if it's a bill to be paid asap onto another.  The fact it's hanging up in your office or kitchen means you are more likely to get to it than if it's left to pile up into a disorganised heap.

Free Download of Clipboard Perpetual Birthday Calendar from party blog 'eighteen25'

Perpetual Birthday Calendar 

You could also clip a perpetual birthday calendar up somewhere to remind you to shop for gifts and cards.  If it's right in front of you it's easier to notice and keep it updated than a notebook that may end up in a drawer.  It's also more personal than having your smart phone or facebook bleep at you. 

A top tip for a birthday calendar is to write down what year the person was born so you can always work out their age.

Clipboards on Pinterest

As we were searching for perpetual calendars and clipboards for our Clipboard Pinterest board, we discovered that the Dutch are famous for hanging their birthday calendars on the toilet door! 

Do you have any tips for organising your home office and keeping on top of all your 'to-dos' week to week?

Gift Guide - 1st wedding Anniversary gifts

Traditionally in the United Kingdom first wedding gifts should be made from paper.  The symbolism of wedding anniversary gifts is a wonderful tradition and we think one that should be continued.  The materials from paper through to Diamonds for a 60th anniversary all have a set heirarchy and of course paper is at the bottom, a fragile one year of marriage meriting such a delicate material to honour it.

Paper gifts can in fact be astoundingly beautiful - while many of us would delight in receiving a book or journal, we wanted to see what else we could find.  These three independent designer makers are creating the most wonderful pieces of wall art which will make perfect 1st anniversary gifts.

Photo Fairy Tales - Personalised Canvas Prints

Vintage Map Heart - Bombus

Paper Cut art - Ant Design Gifts

We also love this beautiful paper based jewellery from Ellymental Designs, perfect for a 1st anniversary gift.

Paper jewellery - Ellymental Designs

And don't forget, whatever you decide to buy to celebrate this special first year of marriage, ensure that it is wrapped up beautifully - We love this hand printed paper!

Hand printed tag and paper - The Sussex Soap Company

Gift Wrapping Ideas - Hole Punch Confetti!

Double sided tape + hole punch confetti via 3@12

The joy of receiving a gift can be quadrupled when it's beautifully and thoughtfully wrapped.  Adding details like ribbons and bows can allow you to use simple and inexpensive wrapping paper and yet it can make the gift look stunning!  As you know we love brown paper packaging and this confetti ribbon really caught our eye and inspired us to search out more great hole punch confetti ideas.

Confetti present Wrapping - MondoCherry

You can buy punches in all sorts of shapes, hearts, trees - just take a browse on google for Craft Paper Punches for inspiration - so you needn't stick with the tradition office punch.

Hole punch confetti can be made of paper that's destined for the recycling bin, so it's a jolly ethical decoration too.  If you see some brightly coloured junk mail, why not turn it into confetti for use at a later date - you could even get the kids to do all the hard work!

Confetti Hearts - 'Gave That' Blog

You could use this simple idea to create any shape or design on your wrapped gifts, just be sure to use plenty of glue!

If your mind is now buzzing with creative ideas for wrapping presents, take a look at our recent post with a selection of environmentally friendly gift wrapping ideas - beautiful gift wrap that's also made from sustainable materials.

Win £150 worth of Bespoke Handmade Jewellery!

Would you like to win a piece of Jewellery made just for you up to the value of £150?

 UK Handmade are running a fantastic competition to help raise awareness of their 'Buy handmade' campaign. 6 amazingly talented UK jewellers have offered to create the 2 winners a piece of jewellery worth up to £150.  Just look at the differing styles of craftsmanship you could choose from if you were to win!

We are really proud to be sponsoring this fantastic prize! Entry is easy - you just need an image of yourself or one of your family / friends holding (kissing / hugging / using ) something handmade.  

It could be something you have made, your kids have made or even something bought as long as it's Not Mass Produced!  The competition entries will be shortlisted and you can then vote for a winner!  Every one who votes will also be entered into a draw to win!

Head over to UK Handmade for the entry details :)