Brigitt Hauck, a writer for Real Simple Magazine, writes many lists for Mother’s Day ideas, including, “8 Custom Gifts That Show Off Mom’s Favorite Photos: Personalized photo gifts-from edibles to organizational tools-showcase mom’s finest snapshots,” and “7 Gourmet Gifts for Mom.”
This Grandma reviewed the articles, and found that the author does have some jewels of ideas. Out of fifteen custom gifts, this Grandma discarded those that would just add clutter, add weight due to sugar content, or not be used or are useless to find four gems in Brigitt Hauck’s fifteen:
Everyone loves chocolate, especially grandchildren. A great Mother’s Day gift for grandma can also be a gift grandma gives to grandchildren when they visit!
“Instagram Bars. With mom’s best photos printed in food coloring on frosting paper, these chocolate bars are almost too pretty to eat. Choose from five varieties of chocolate and four delicious mix-ins. To buy: $14, cocoagraph.com.”
This Grandma loves to wrap the grandchildren’s visit presents and what better Mother’s Day gift for grandma than to get gift wrap with family photos. Brigitt Hauck hits a winner with this gift. Shutterfly always has promotional discounts. Sign up on the website for email offers or check www.retailmenot.com
“Pictogram Gift Wrap. Whether this personalized giftwrap is the present itself or extra-special packaging for something else, a collage of up to 13 family photos means it’ll be one-of-a-kind either way. To buy: $20 for a 6-foot roll, shutterfly.com.”
Grandchildren are always putting their cups anywhere. Why not have coasters with their pictures on them! These are a great grandma gift:
“Photo Coasters. This personalized gift gives mom two things to smile about-an unblemished tabletop and a sweet reminder of her favorite people or places. Package the gift with a bottle of pinot, so she’ll have a reason to use her new coasters right away. To buy: $20 for four, shutterfly.com.”
We grandmas infrequently send “snail mail” anymore, except to grandchildren at home or at camp. These personalized postage stamps make a great grandma gift:
“Personalized Postage Stamps. Personalized postage gives Mom a reason to send a handwritten note. Add a photo and a name or monogram to 49- or 70-cent stamps that are valid wherever United States postage is accepted. To buy: $28 for 20, tinyprints.com.”
Finding only four gems among fifteen choices shows just how hard it is to buy anything for a grandma. We do not want the grandchildren or the parents of the grandchildren to spend much money on us. We want memories, experiences, not “things” at this point in our lives. If we cannot have “time’ with our grandchildren, which is the best gift, the four choices above are such that they give us reminders of our precious grandchildren.
And, they also make great gifts from the grandchildren for their mothers too!
Joy,
Mema