|
You
use it to type letters, surf the web, send e-mail messages,
balance your checkbook and manage
your mail and phone lists. But have you ever thought about making
gifts from your computer?
That’s
right—your computer is a tool for creating one-of-a-kind gifts
that will be truly cherished by the recipient.
Simply think about a hobby the recipient enjoys then create
a theme around that pastime.
Look for clipart to match your theme, or –better yet—get
a photo of the recipient enjoying his hobby, and scan it in your
computer.
Then
you’re ready to start making a wide variety of wonderful gifts,
from a gift as simple as custom created mug with a packet of cocoa
that has a personalized label, to something more elaborate like a
t-shirt or other wearable. Your computer is filled with great gift
possibilities!
To
get you thinking, we’ve listed some themes, and possible gifts
within those themes, below.
As you can see in these examples, we've used coordinated colors
and artwork to pull the many components of the gift together into
a unified concept.
Editor’s
note: all projects
require a computer, a desktop publishing software program like
Sierra’s Print Artist or Microsoft Publisher, clip art and an
inkjet or other color printer.
If you would like to scan in photos, you will also need a
scanner and scanner software.
Some
of the projects require special supplies—such as acrylic glasses
with removable paper liners, keychain fobs and window cling
papers. See the “Supplies”
link on the right for vendors which sell these specialty products.
A
“Mom’s Time Out” Gift Set
Mom's
Time Out Gift Bag
To
create this gift set, you will need a mug, paint and paint markers
in the recipient’s favorite colors, card stock, laminating
plastic, a plain gift bag, a packet of gourmet coffee, clear
labels in various sizes and a plastic container (we used an empty
Nestles’ chocolate container.)
Search
your clipart for an image that you think your recipient would like—we
used a simple line-art flower design.
Use the design to create a bookmark, label for the coffee
container, a door hanger, label for the gift bag and label for the
mug.
Use
the paint pens to trace designs on the mug, candle and gift bag
and then color it in. Tuck
gourmet coffee in the plastic container, fill the gift bag with
matching shred and load up the gifts!
World’s
best handyman
World's
Best Handyman Toolbox
Here’s
something for the man who likes to tinker around the house—a
tool box filled with appropriately- themed items!
We
found cute handyman clipart and used it on all the items in the
toolbox, along with the “world’s best handyman” tagline.
The toolbox was embellished with a “world’s best
handyman” label. We also made a plaque for display in his garage
with this motto.
And
because dad gets hungry handling all those chores, we added
personal matching labels to a can of beef jerky, Pringles barbecue
chips, a candy bar and a can of nuts.
We also made a heat transfer of the image with our printer
and transferred the image onto a t-shirt.
More
ideas
|
