My cousin is turning 16 and she is having a family party. When asked what she wanted for her birthday, she plainly stated she only wants gift cards. Her mom is going along with it and passing on a list of stores she likes. She is also celebrating her Confirmation at this party as well.
We don't have the money to give her a "good enough" gift card. I'd feel embarrassed to give her a $10 card, plus that doesn't seem to cover a sweet 16 AND a Confirmation.
In the past I have made gifts for things I have been invited to (weddings, birthdays, baby showers) and my gifts have been well-received and appreciated. I'm able to spend a little and make a nice gift which also carries the sentiment that I've made the gift just for them. Recently I made a baby gift for a friend's baby shower and even though I spent less than $10 on the materials, it was the most-loved and most talked-about gift at the shower. Not that that has to be my goal, but I do enjoy giving things that the person will like.
All of this will be lost on my 16-year old cousin. In some ways I understand, remembering what it was like to be an opinionated 16-year old with my own tastes. I don't think she'd pitch a fit in front of everyone, but I know she would probably not really appreciate a hand-made gift.
I could beg off attending, but I haven't seen many of my family members that are going to be there in years. One of my cousins is flying in that I haven't seen in 2 years so I really WANT to go to see my family and also celebrate with the birthday girl, whom I used to baby sit for.
Anyone have any ideas for gifts? A handmade gift that a 16-year old might appreciate? I can sew, embroider, glue, etc. I started with the idea of a photo album of pictures from her growing up that she wouldn't have, but I went through all my pictures and I have very few of her. My other idea was a photo album of pictures of the family members, one page per member. I could manage that...but would that sentiment be lost on a 16-year old?
If she gets 10 $10 gift cards for the same store, that's $100 she can spend. I really like the photo album idea too. She might not appreciate it now, but she will when she gets older. I know I would.
How about the album, put the baby photos you have of her and tell her that you got it 'started' for her. She can continue to add photos to it as she wishes. I would have loved that then and I would love it now!! :) Good Luck!
You mentioned a photo album, how about a photo album that she can put the pictures from her sweet sixteen birthday party? you can use her favorite colors or prints and designs, gifts from the heart are always more valuable than gits from the wallet. Have fun seeing everyone. J.
I think something handmade would be wonderful, even if you let her open it, and give it to her mother to put away for the future. I know I have many things that my grandmother made, that at the time I thought were "stupid", but now as I am older, I find so much more in those items, and I am so glad someone put them away for me until I was responsible and mature enough to realize their importance.
With the economy in the dumper like this, I can't see how anyone at this point doesnt understand low budget gifts. I think you should do what you are capable of, and enjoy the company of your family on that day... chances are you being there will be what is remembered in the long run, not what gift you brought.
I love home made gifts! Can you embroider car seat covers for her car (if she has one)? Maybe make up a monogram for her, and put it on a piece of fabric and use it has a background for a shadow box? If she wears bikini's you can get a plain one pretty cheap and embroider something cute on it (just thinking of something girlie). If your worried about what her reaction will be you can always give her your gift in private. She'll probably hang onto whatever you give her and cherish it as she gets older. Good Luck =)
Julie's idea is great, and instead of a gift card to a store, why not a $16 gas card?
I know for my friends 16th birthday me and my friends made her a birthday shirt it was pritty cheap and she still wears it to this day. and if shes kinda a girly girl you could use a "im the princess theme". also go to like claires or other young girls store and but her a plastic tiara. my cousin loved hers and she is the type to only wear or want expensive name brand stuff. And if she cannot appreciate the fact that you tryed your hardest with her in mind then i think her parents are spoiling her and it wont be good for her later on in life.
good luck its the love and thoughtfullness that really matters.
I love the idea of making her a photo album/scrap book that SHE can use to put memories of her 16th birthday, and sweet 16 year in... Personally, I always LOVED handmade gifts, even at that age. I don't know your cousin, but I would not automatically assume that the sentimentality of a handmade gift would be lost on a 16 year old.
Go and see your family, they want to see you! And celebrate the real reason you're there... to celebrate your cousin's 2 events... the gift is just a side note, and a handmade gift is a lovely reminder of her day.
My daughter will turn 16 in Dec. There is nothing she "needs" or "wants" and the gift cards are preferred because she LOVES to shop and she buys most of her clothes. She would not think twice about $10.
Example: We have a LOT of occasions when the cheerleaders get a little gift for the little sister/big sister and they put a $10 limit on the gifts. This is done in Orchestra as well so by the time the end of the year rolls around, I am shelling out about 6 $10 gifts for some reason or another and that does not include any birthdays for friends, ,etc.
Sephora has a great compact mirror (girls love these) and when you buy a gft card of any denomination, they put it in the mirror. For the big/little sis gifts in May, I think there were 9 of 19 girls who got and LOVED the Sephora card w/ mirror. These girls are 14-16yrs old.
As for sentimental, my daughter does appreciate something handmade. My SIL and Brother are not as well financially as we are and they struggle with what to give her. SIL does tatting and makes doiles, crocheting, and she made purses from Capri Sun packages one year. My daughter appreciated the effort put into these handmade gifts. She put them in her special collector area to save them for her children some day.
Not all 16 yr olds (even only children with everything they need/want) would look down on something sentimental/handmade.
$16 might be way out of your budget, but we have often given a gift card in the amount of the age of the birthday child. I usually add (16-their age) pieces of their favorite candy (bite size pieces) in a cute little bag. I think some of your craft ideas are a nice way to recognize her birthday. Some sixteen year old would love it, others would not. How sentimental is she?
I see nothing wrong with giving a $10 gift card since gift cards is what she wants. She can combine cards and get something that she actually wants. No one there need know the amount of the card if you're unlucky enough to have a uncaring family. Does your family compare and try to out do each other gift wise?
I understand you wanting to give her something special because this is a milestone in her life in two different ways. However, I don't know your cousin and so have no idea what you could make to give to her. So much depends on their personalities at this age. I would've appreciated a photo album at that age and I think my daughter would have too. In fact, my 10 yo granddaughter would like that now and I expect that she still would at 16. I suggest that you think of her personality and go thru some craft books at the library to come up with an idea.
Some general possibilities would be a decorative pillow for her bed, a scrap book with her name, the dates, and pictures of her interests on the front cover and title page with plenty of blank pages for her to fill. You could include the few pictures you have of her. If you know her friends you could add pages designed by them. They could put photos on the pages too. You could also give each family member an attractive piece of paper on which to write their own memories of her thru the years and/or advice for a 16 yo girl.
Above all do attend the party so that you can see those relatives. And do not allow yourself to feel any less because you can only afford $10. Your family loves you and wants you there.
I loooooove Julie's suggestion!!! I was 16 once and would love have even loved it at the time! Maybe throw in a $10 I-tunes card in there too?
could you get some old baby pictures of her, and of her growing up, from her mother and scan them in to a computer? They have fabric you can put in your printer, I used it to make a memory quilt for my sister and she loves it, it still hangs on her wall today 10 years later.
I don't know about the handmade gift for a 16 yr old...
it sounds like you know her and that she may not appreciate your efforts. I asked both my teens and they said that if it could only be a $10 gift, they would love to have a $10 Starbucks card. They both love coffee drinks & Frappuccinos and that is the gift they like to give most of their friends. It doesn't say the amount on the cards so she won't know how much it's for til she gets there which will save you the "embarrassment" at the party if that's what you are worried about :) Save your talents and efforts for when she is older and will appreciate it more!
What about getting a collection of photos from her mom and creating a digital slideshow. You could use photos from the time she was born until now...include friends, family, activities, sports. You can add music to it too. Its extremely inexpensive (only cost is the price of the CD to put it on), but a little time consuming if you've never done it before. I just made my first one for my softball team and it took me a total of about 5 hours to arange everything and make it the final product. As an adult, I think it would be really cool if I had something I could pop into the computer or DVD player and "remember when."
How about making the scrap book/photo album...use what ever pictures you can and leave some pages blank for her to fill with pictures from the party. Include a $10.00 gift card for ITunes.
