Badge: Printables – Gifts

I’ve used printable gifts for student stores, teacher gifts and a variety of other occasions. After creating your printable gifts, you have the bulk of the work done and can easily make extras.

For more information on making your own printables, see the Enrichment Project badge program “Create Printables.”

Steps

1. Gift printables.
What kinds of printables can be used as gifts? Let’s start brainstorming together.

Activity boxes
Art
Candy wrappers
Certificates
Craft sheets
Fridgies (refrigerator magnets)
Game binder
Gift bag / box
Gift coupons
Holiday gift tag
Journal jar
Personal planner
Notecards
Recipe book / cards
Scrapbook
Themed minibooks
Toys (paper dolls, pinwheels, etc.)

Of course, this is a very short list to get you started.

2. Plan your gift printable.
Ask yourself questions about the printable you’re creating. Here are a few to get started.

Who is it for?
Who will ultimately use it?
Is it reusable or disposable?
How long should it be?
Should it be black and white or color?
Should it contain detailed graphics / photos?
How many copies will be needed?

Add to these questions so you can start out with a plan.

3. Templates.
If templates are available to help your process, it can cut down on your creation time. Many templates are outlines, margin guides and sometimes even style sheets (fonts, type sizes, etc.) that all help you take the work out of starting a fresh design project.

You may also find template with graphics included. Be aware this will increase your download time and you need to be aware of any restrictions to using the graphics provided.

NOTE: Templates for many of these will be made available shortly through larajla creates / Enrichment Project. The releases will be announced on larajla.com.

4. Inspiration.
Find items online similar to what you’d like to create. Can you use those for your own design or for additional ideas? Save copies of those that inspire you to start creating.

5. Get it out.
Brainstorm a list of items / ideas you want to incorporate in your gift. Add to the list as you work on your printable so you don’t forget anything.

6. Proofread.
When you have finished, proofread your final printable. Be sure to print it out to proofread it. If it requires assembly, do so. This is especially important if you need certain items to fall in a specific area.

Ask at least two other people to proofread your printable. Studies have shown that if you work on a project, you’ll see what you “think” should be on your page, not what is really there. This might be a typographic error, an idea you thought you explained adequately, etc.

Types of gift printables

7. Game sheets.
Game sheets may not seem like a gift. However, when you make a collection in a binder as a “master” set for a teacher to use during inside lunches (too cold to go outside), it becomes a gift. Find or make at least one game sheet you could give as a gift.

8. Activity sheets.
Similar to game sheets, these are quick activities that can be done with kids or adults. Make sure your selections fit the audience. Choose a group and brainstorm a list of activities the group might find fun.

9. Color sheets.
Create your own coloring sheet(s) featuring images specific to your recipient. You might do a fairy book for a little girl or trucks for a little boy.

10. Minibooks.
Minibooks are normally a half-sized sheet or smaller. You might make one of games kids can play, recipes to try or stories to share. Minibooks come in a large variety of sizes. However, many depend on the size of a single sheet of paper to make maximum use of the sheet with minimum waste.

See the Enrichment Project badge program “Minibooks” to explore this type of gift in more detail.

11. Coupon books.
While these might be considered a minibook, coupon books are designed to come apart. From coupons for promised future activities to kisses, you can design these to allow others to personalize them so they can also create their own gift. Check out the supplements for coupon ideas.

12. Recipes.
Whether a book or a set of cards, recipes are a way to share a bit of ourselves with others. Using a standard binder, you can create a cookbook that is updated every year with new family favorites. You might do a cookie set for Christmas or healthy snacks for “Back to School.”

In 2000, we started our own family cookbook. Everyone is invited to share their new recipes each Christmas. I keep a master set so as our kids get older I can print out the recipes and create a binder without redoing the work.

13. Card sets.
You can make blank card sets a gift. This might be greeting cards, thinking of you cards, artistic trading cards, recipe cards or any other type. By giving blank cards that your recipient can personalize, you’re giving a gift that will continue giving.

14. Certificates.
Presenting a certificate is a great way to show your appreciation without spending a lot of money. You can find many online sites where you can design your own. Think of people you’d like to recognize for their accomplishments, help, etc. Will a certificate be a good fit?

15. Rewrapping items.
From candy bars to wine bottles, you can create personalized gifts by covering up the labels and packaging of purchased items. This takes gifts from something you “just purchased” to something you actually put time and care into giving. Explore online printables for wrappers and think of ways you can improve on the designs you find.

16. Ornaments.
Paper ornaments can be merely decorated or personalized. You can include photos, color schemes and more. Find samples of paper ornaments and try making one of your own.

17. Calendars.
Calendars are a great gift that can be personalized to your recipient. You can do the full page per month design with a themed image or a full year with no images. Perhaps you want a desk calendar instead of a wall version. Think of your recipient and how they will use the calendar.

18. Advent calendar.
Advent calendars can be made from tags, match boxes, pre-make drawers and more. Create your own printables to decorate and personalize an advent calendar.

19. Keep brainstorming.
There are too many printable ideas to include in this badge program. Share your ideas so others can benefit from your creativity.