Make Personalized Name Gifts

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There is nothing more personal to us than our name. What could be more personalizing than to include the recipients name or monogram on a handmade gift?

Author: Elizabeth Barboza

When you give someone a handmade gift, you are essentially giving them an outward expression of your thoughts and how you care for them.  If that gift were to be personalized in some way, the recipient would feel an even heightened level of warmth.  What could be even more personalizing than to include the recipient’s name or monogram in or on the gift?  There is nothing more personal to us than our names.  We all hold our name as a unique signature of who we are.  Here are some ideas of ways to make personalized name gifts and monograms.

Full Names

Research the person’s name to find its meaning and origin.  Craft a wall hanging that eloquently illustrates the name and meaning.  A graphics program and some digital brushes would be great tools to use for this project.

Decorate a notebook or memo board that announces a surname. This gift will also help keep the recipient organized in an adorable way. 

The friend who travels would enjoy new luggage tags personalized with pertinent data and done in papers and embellishments that suit their style.

Another tag idea is to make a handful of gift tags that read “With love, So-and-So” and wrap them in a small bow-tied bag.  How wonderful to have these on hand when rushing out the door to a birthday party.

“From the Kitchen of So-and-So” recipe cards gathered together in a decorated holder makes a perfect addition to any cook’s countertop.

Monograms

Go big with an oversized Paper Mache letter. Use paint and decoupage patterned paper to cover and embellish with ribbons, chipboard, flowers and buttons.

Frame a monogram made from tied buttons or glittered chipboard.  Both of these ideas are a quick and simple, only-have-a-minute-to-complete project. 

A pretty box filled with monogrammed note cards would be a welcomed present. Make the hand or die-cut letters stand out by adhering them with foam adhesive and embellish with glitter, ribbons or brads.

Apply a tri-letter monogram to a glass candle holder using rub-ons.  Tape rub-on sheets to glass to prevent slippage when transferring them.

Another clear option is to create a set of tri-letter monogram plates.  A friend who hosts many parties through the year would appreciate a gift of this nature.  Apply stickers to the plate bottom and cover entirely with etching crème.  Once the chemical process is complete, remove the stickers and the plates will showcase a beautiful negative monogram image.