How to Leave a Lasting Impression with Personalized Gifts

Have you ever struggled to write a personal message in a greeting card or come up with the right quote to adorn a custom canvas print? You're not alone. Crafting a heartfelt message for a personalized gift can seem tricky, but you'll nail the right message every time with a few simple strategies.

Writing Your Own Messages for Personalized Gifts

A sentimental message makes any personalized gift more meaningful. One strategy for crafting great personalized messages is to write them yourself. You could be coming up with text for a gratitude calendar or remembrance photo book. No matter the project, start by going through these steps.

1. Think about why you're giving this gift.
2. Decide how you want your recipient to feel when they open it.
3. Jot down ideas for your message — think of it like brainstorming.

Take the ideas you've written down and turn them into a complete message. You might do a lot of crossing out and rewriting. There's nothing wrong with that! It's important not to rush yourself; heartfelt messages take time to write.

Think of anecdotes as personalized messages too. They're perfect when giving a gift like a year-in-review photo book or an adoption photo book. Write three to four sentences that tell the story of each picture. Then, use it either as a caption or as a block of text on its own page.

Another strategy you can try when writing your own messages is to start with a prompt. Here are ten prompts for personalizing messages to get you started. Simply fill in the rest of the thought with your own words.

• You make me feel…
• When I think of you, I think…
• One of my most treasured memories is…
• Together we will…
• Our friendship is like…
• I just want you to know that…
• I treasure you…
• You're my favorite because…
• The world needs more of your…
• My wish for you is…

You can keep your sentiments short or go for a full paragraph. Just make sure that the length matches the unique gift that you're giving. For example, you don't need a full paragraph for an acrylic print but could use a longer sentiment in a romantic photo book.

You can also seek inspiration from the greeting card aisle at your grocery store. Stop for a few minutes and read cards to find your favorite sayings or sentiments. Snap a photo with your camera, write your favorites down, and rewrite them when you get home.

Using Quotes, Poems, and Lyrics for Personalized Gifts

Another approach for creating meaningful messages is to use quotes, poems, or lyrics instead of your own words. This is a useful strategy when you just can't think of anything to say. It can also be helpful when trying to add a message to a gift commemorating something difficult, such as the loss of a loved one or pet.

There aren't any rules for using quotes in your creations. Instead, you'll need to think about the gift that you're giving and what it will accommodate. Keep your sentiments for acrylic blocks and small items like mugs and jewelry to a sentence at maximum. Leaving the author's name off quotes on small gift items is okay.

Feel free to go big with larger gift items. Imagine making a birthday photo book for a music lover in your life. You can use the lyrics to a single song throughout the book. Or, try writing the lyrics for an entire song on the book's first page. It's a great way to introduce your photo book's theme and purpose.

The Mixbook Inspiration blog has quote collections that you can use too. You'll find everything from friendship quotes to graduation sentiments to Fourth of July sayings. Of course, you can also search sites like BrainyQuote and Goodreads. Looking for lyrics or poems? Try AZLyrics or All Poetry.

Inspiration for Your Personalized Gifts

Thoughtful messages aren't just for special occasion gifts. They're perfect for any personalized project. Check out some of these unique ways to customize a gift with messages or quotes.

• A personalized yearbook that celebrates school-day memories
• Decorative wall art to adorn a friend's home
• Motivational posters for your bestie's home office
• Bridesmaid photo books to honor your wedding party
• A trip-centric photo book for your travel buddies

Making Personalized Gifts is Easier than Ever

You can make thoughtful, personalized gifts even if you're short on time. Use the Automagic Creation tool in the Mixbook editor to assemble a photo book in minutes. Many projects, like custom posters and canvas prints, can be created in just a few minutes. Add a photo, type your message in a text box, and play with font settings until you're happy with your design.

You know the value of giving personalized gifts. You're ready to start crafting personalized messages to go with them. Get started on your next Mixbook photo book or home decor project today. Your gift recipient can't wait to see it!