Gift card wrapping idea by So Shelli

I love choosing gifts for loved ones. But it can be tricky if your recipient:

• struggles with clutter
• has expressed desire to unclutter
• lives far away from you
• lives in a small space
• is in a temporary living situation (eg dorm)
• is moving soon or moves frequently
• says they don’t need/want presents
• is a person who ‘has everything’

I’ve had to buy for people in all of these situations (and am in a couple of them myself) so I thought I’d do a roundup of some no-clutter gift ideas to follow up from yesterday’s worst clutter gifts post.

Tickets

Who wouldn’t want to be gifted a special night out?

• Concerts
• Movies
• Theatre
• Art exhibitions

Experiences

Experiences make wonderful and memorable gifts. Great for kids who have more than enough toys!

• Zoo trip
• Golf session
• Travel voucher
• Wine tasting

Classes

A great option but you’ll have to be sure it’s something the recipient is interested in and that they have time for it.

• Art
• Music
• Craft/sewing
• Cooking
• Cake decorating
• Photography
• Writing
• Woodworking
• Surfing

Services

Services can be some of the best uncluttered gifts. Choose from me-time treats or time-saving practical options, depending on what your recipient would appreciate most.

• Hairdressing
• Manicure / pedicure
• Massage
• House cleaning
• Car washing

IOUs

A homemade voucher is an especially good gift for new parents or if you are on a tight budget. I provided some meals to my friend after the birth of her first baby last year and she’s still talking about it as one of the most appreciated gifts.

• Homemade meal
• Babysitting
• House cleaning
• Car washing
• Preparing taxes
• House painting
• Gardening

Consumables

An oldie but a goodie. Make sure they’re nicer than your normal plonk or biccies they would buy for themselves.

• Wine
• Spirits
• Chocolates / sweets
• Chutneys / jams / sauces

Digital media

Books, music and movies used to be some of the worst clutter offenders. Not anymore!

• iTunes voucher
• Spotify / Pandora subscription
• Amazon e-books
• Software

Charitable donation

A particularly good option if your recipient is known for their social conscience, is a bit older and ‘has everything’ or is experiencing a bereavement (as an alternative to flowers). The ones where you can sign up for a particular thing are good – a pair of slippers wouldn’t have meant much to my auntie but she was chuffed knowing that someone had been given the gift of sight in her name. Select a charity that resonates with the interests of your loved one. Here are a few:

• Fred Hollows
• Oxfam
• St Vincent De Paul
• Salvo’s
• RSPCA
• Cancer Council

Gift cards / cash

Obviously they could end up buying something ‘cluttery’ with it but the choice is theirs.

Tangible gifts

If you’re like me and prefer giving tangible gifts, there are still ways to keep it uncluttered.

• To replace something else if you think they would appreciate it (eg a new lamp to replace a broken one, bonus points if it’s a versatile item that can replace more than one thing)
• Something they need and would buy anyway, such as clothes (consider making it better quality than they would buy for themselves so it still feels special)
• Something that will help get them organised (eg labels, scanner, calendar)
• Chip in with others to purchase one more substantial or better quality item (give the newlyweds one kick-arse coffee machine instead of 20 platters)
• Flowers!

So, what do you think? Anything you’d add to the list?

What are your favourite uncluttered gifts to give and receive?

P.S. Happy birthday to The Man!! The last year of our twenties and I’m sure it’ll be a good one. xxoo

So it’s Birthday Month here on Atypical Type A so there’s a lot of talk about beautiful gifts. But what about bad gifts? Specifically, gifts that are merely clutter disguised with a pretty bow.

Some might be perfectly fine gifts but are completely impractical for the recipient due to size or lifestyle. The Man and I actually received a bain marie as a wedding present from a well-meaning relative, the box touting that it was suitable for conference catering. CONFERENCES! There are two of us. In a unit. With limited kitchen storage. And no dishwasher. Any more than six guests and we are ordering pizza.

Others are ridiculously specific unitaskers that simply take up cupboard space to be used once or twice (if that). Take this Cake Pop Dipper (dual, no less!) I spotted on Unclutter for example: I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t just use a microwave, double-boiler even just a bowl over a simmering saucepan, which is how I melt chocolate. Of course, you will also need the Cake Pop Maker itself (regular or deluxe flip-over version, your choice), and possibly a Cake Pop MultiFunction (!!) Decorating Station, just in case you can’t work out how to turn on your oven or put sprinkles in a bowl.

(Sorry, rant over.)

So, generally clutteriffic gifts will fall under one of these categories:

• Something big (does your apartment-dwelling brother have room for a four-burner barbecue?)
• Something they won’t use frequently (sure a paint sprayer might be handy but I would simply borrow my parents’ if we needed it)
• Something that’s not to their taste (how often have you kept something out of guilt?)
• Something they don’t have anywhere to store (cupcake towers might be cute but I literally would not have anywhere to store one)
• Something that doesn’t suit their lifestyle (don’t give your friend with a full-time job and three little kids a slow-food cookbook with four-hour recipes)
• Something that has only one use (unitaskers such as popcorn/muffin/hotdog makers where existing kitchen basics would suffice)

Of course, your sister might really want that ice-cream maker/leaf blower/vase which is great, go ahead! But always keep in mind the home, needs and lifestyle of your loved one before buying a gift.

Tomorrow we’ll be talking about the best uncluttered gifts. Til then, give yourself a laugh by browsing the archives of Unclutterer’s Unitasker Wednesday.

Share in the comments your stories about gifts-turned-clutter.

I’m off galivanting around the world for a few weeks so I have lined up some some talented ladies to hold the fort while I’m gone. Hope you enjoy!

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Since I discovered the work of Penelope and Pip last year, I’ve been blown away time after time with everything that they produce. Artist Rachael Smith creates the most adorable illustrations on everything from cards to cushions (although the art prints are my faves), not to mention she is totally killing it on the DIY blog scene. Rachael was kind enough to design an exclusive new free printable wrapping paper just for Atypical Type A readers! What do you think guys, totally gorge, right?  – Alicia

One of the best parts of Christmas for us over at Penelope and Pip is the chance to create some cute wrapping paper.

When Alicia asked us to join in the fun over here at Atypical Type A while she was away, we knew just what we wanted to share!

Gift wrap can be so expensive and it’s lovely to have something different to the usual Santas and reindeer.

We’ve made a cute little wrapping paper just for you here at Atypical Type A that is full of birds and trees and some geometric shapes too.

You can download the paper here.

Pop over to our blog for lots more ideas on how to make your Christmas a Happy and Handmade.

We hope you enjoy wrapping all your goodies for Christmas!

(And we hope you’re having a fab holiday Alicia!).

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About the guest poster:

Rachael is an illustrator from Brisbane and the creator of the whimsical world of Penelope and Pip. She makes art prints and pretty paper goods and blogs daily about her art, craft and design inspirations at Penelope and Pip Handmade.

I’m off galivanting around the world for a few weeks so I have lined up some some talented ladies to hold the fort while I’m gone. Hope you enjoy!

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Over my way, kids are more likely to be having a game of backyard cricket after Christmas lunch than building a snowman. So while I can’t speak from experience, I can say that this budget-friendly gift idea by Grace at Sense and Simplicity looks like a whole lot of fun. In fact, it’s rather getting me excited about seeing snow in Europe next week!

Anyone else struggle with thinking of what to give preteens and teenagers for Christmas? I have a slew of nieces and nephews ranging in age from 9 to 15 years and I wanted to give them each a Christmas gift. I needed to think of something that would interest a variety of ages, was gender neutral… and didn’t cost a fortune.

I decided to make them each a snowman lab in a box. I thought it might appeal to their sweet tooth/teeth and their funny bones.

Let’s see all the snowman parts:

I boxed all the snowman parts up, tied the box with some wool (my favourite thing to tie around packages), and added a tag.

Doesn’t that seem like something teens and pre-teens would like? What are you giving to children that age on your Christmas list?

- Grace

P.S. Thanks Alicia for posting my snowman parts on your very stylish and creative blog (and allowing me to say ‘poop’).  It was a complete honour to be included in your guest post line-up.

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About the guest poster:

I know the Christmas posts have been very light-on here this year but I couldn’t leave you without a little festive something.

My Oi Christmas cards have been so popular that I thought I’d whip up some matching free gift tags for you.

I’ve shared them exclusively over on one of my fave blogs Emerald + Ella.

Head over there to get yours now!

Holey Tree by Lilly & Lolly

Since we’ll be away for Christmas, there will be no decorating here this year, which is a bit sad really. Instead, I’ve gone window-shopping and found the coolest Christmas trees for you!

Head over to the full round-up over on Houzz.

I was most pleased to hear from Shivani of My Owl Barn who let me know that the Owl Lover calendar was back for another year!

Now in its third year, the 2013 calendar features illustrations from 43 artists fom all over the world. You can customise it to your favourite 12, which has the added bonus for us antipodeans that we don’t have to put up with looking at wintery forest scenes when it’s 40°C outside!

I’m thinking it would make a sweet little gift for your children’s teachers (trust me, they get enough chocolate) or as a stocking stuffer for family members.

You can cutomise and download your free Owl Lover 2013 calendar here.

BHG

There are so many beautiful and creative wreaths out there these days, either made by a crafty pro for you to buy or tutorials for you to make yourself. But as much as I love them, after a while it becomes a sea of twigs, wool and felt. Which is why I stopped in my tracks when I came across this truly unique idea (albeit featuring an ugly ribbon).

To be honest I’ve never given a second thought to Christmas stockings, but these unique stockings made from sewing patterns are enough to make me wish I had a mantlepiece.

On the other hand (foot?) if Santa has long since forgotten about you and you don’t actually need stockings anymore, how about getting a bit more abstract awesome and opt for vintage wooden sock lasts?

Both from Country Living.

http://www.countryliving.com/homes/holiday-decorating-1208#fbIndex18

All the Luck in the World

If you have limited space at home – or are just after a really unique Christmas tree – have you thought about a flat tree?

I Need Nice Things | Jennyshus