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Born on a Full Moon: What Does It Mean?

born on full moon

Updated October 2023

People born on a full moon are more likely to turn into werewolves, right? Just kidding, of course, but the full moon does affect some personalities. 

We may feel a heightened sense of energy or vibrancy on the night of a full moon. Police have said there’s a different vibe when the moon peaks. Doctors and nurses say that hospitals fill up faster, and more babies are delivered on a full moon compared to any other time. There must be something to it!

Here’s the truth: if you were born on a full moon, you may find that certain personality traits and tendencies are no coincidence. Just like your zodiac sign, the moon phase can have much to do with your life’s journey. Here’s what you need to know about being born on a full moon and how to channel this unique circumstance to your advantage.

Full Moon Baby? This Means High Energy

A full moon is the peak energy phase of the moon cycle, so it’s no surprise that being born on a full moon also harnesses this energy. This is when full moon rituals are in full swing — crystals are being charged and cleansed, desires are being manifested, and creative breakthroughs abound.

This is all because of the stronger gravitational pull of the earth on the moon. Plans are coming to fruition and are in full abundance. Knowing this, it’s hardly shocking that people born on a full moon share these feelings of being energised and inspired.

40th birthday gift ideas moon

Personality Traits for Those Born on a Full Moon

Full moon children often experience limitless contradictions, especially during the quarter moon phases when the moon is equally light and dark. Life is a delicate balancing act to maintain equilibrium between emotion and logic.

However, this type of personality also comes with several advantages:

Full Moon Babies: All the Good Things

Because of your high energy potential, you have so much power to carry you toward your greatest ambitions. No idea seems too unconventional or off-limits, so allow yourself to give in to your wildest dreams because you have the best shot of making them a reality.

The key is learning how to channel this energy. The constant battle between mind and heart can be burdensome, but it can also be the catalyst to stop spinning your wheels and move forward with a goal.

Many people are drawn to full-moon children because of their vibrance and powerful presence. You bring light to their lives, and they feel energised when they’re around you. You’re confident and active and are often considered the life of the party, all of which make others gravitate toward you.

If you’re more of an introvert, a vibrant exterior is replaced by a subtle inner glow. People are still drawn to you but in a less obtrusive way. How you carry yourself makes people want to be around you, even if it’s not apparent.

Full-moon children are natural leaders and should take care to harness their energy in the right way. During the waning phases, you may find your energy levels also wane. This is a great time to pause, reflect,  and plan your next move. If you are constantly meeting failures during this phase, take it as a sign to pull back and refocus. Take a vacation or put projects on hold until the new moon brings you clarity. During the waxing phase, you’ll feel more alive and alert, which is the ideal time to create a new project.

Full Moon Babies: All the Hard Truths

Energy can be one of our greatest assets but can also be difficult to control. This is especially true for full moon babies: the sun is located directly opposite the moon during a full moon. The two are in conflict, which means that the sun (which controls your mind and logic) and the moon (which influences your heart and emotions) are at war from the moment you’re born.

These struggles often manifest throughout your life’s journey and may make you feel conflicted when choosing between what your heart and mind are telling you. As a result, you may also come off as indecisive because you have so many different thoughts and priorities pulling you in different directions. Decisions are not easy, sometimes to the point where you decide not to decide at all!

How Do I Find Out if I Was Born on a Full Moon?

Were you one of the many to be born on a full moon? Use our birthday moon phase poster creator to input your birthday and see what the moon looked like on the night you were born.

Then, personalise your moon phase print to create a treasured keepsake as special and unique as you are!

Personalised Moon Prints

Ready to celebrate the exact lunar moment when you or a loved one were born? Our personalised moon phase print can do just this. Encapsulating the magic of the celestial world and our place within that, these custom art prints show the moon’s beauty from any viewpoint at any time. 

Our easy-to-use map print creator can help you make beautiful moon phase art prints perfect for decorating your home. It can also help you create fantastic personalised gifts that loved ones are bound to be obsessed with. As well as making the moon art print super personal through the specific moon phase when you were born, you can carry on the customising as there are six designs to choose from — check out our easy-to-use moon phase art print editor here.

You can even get the Mummy, I Love You to the Moon and Back personalised moon print to celebrate the day she became a mom — and what the moon looked like at that precise moment. 

Or maybe you’re looking for some artwork for your home or a unique gift for a friend, and you’re also mesmerised by stargazing — we have personalised art print options for constellations, too!

40th birthday gift ideas star map

Different Types of Full Moon

The light and energy we get from a full moon is when it’s fully facing the earth and entirely lit up by the sun, right? But there are some lunar moments when a full moon is more than just your normal full moon, which is a bit more unusual — let’s explore these special lunar events.

Blood Moon — this is when the dazzling full moon has a red hue, which happens approximately every three and a half years. This occurs when the moon is in a total lunar eclipse, so when the earth lines up between the moon and the sun. Throughout history, blood moons have been associated with chaos and change.

Harvest Moon — This is the full moon that happens at the closest point in time to the autumn equinox. Here, usually, the moon will start to rise around the same time as the sun is setting – this can give the low-hanging moon a beautiful orange glow, and it may appear bigger in the sky. This makes for a stunning display for moon lovers.

Super Moon — bigger and brighter than normal full moons; super moons are a fantastic spectacle. This is when there’s a full moon on the “shorter” side of the moon’s oval-shaped orbit, known as the “perigee” moon — where it’s closest to the earth. 

Find out what the moon looked like on any day, from anywhere, with our moon phase checker

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10 Fun Facts about the Stars You Might Not Know

star-facts-blog

Updated Septemeber 2023

Twinkling and mysterious, stargazing can be truly out of this world — so it’s little wonder that these bright jewels and their sparkling patterns have fascinated humans since we could first look up. But have you ever wanted to know more about these sparkling entities? This article is packed with stellar facts, so next time you wish upon a star, you can recall a little something about it.

1. Star Light, Star Bright

Did you know that all the stars we can see in the sky with the naked eye are bigger and brighter than our sun? In fact, astronomers have identified at least 12 types of stars, 11 of which are identified by a single letter (for example, O, B, A, F, G, K, M, R, N, T, and Y). These classifications are made to distinguish differences in the qualities of stars, such as their temperature, colour, and brightness. For example, R, N, T, and Y stars are cooler than O and B stars.

Our own sun is a class G star, while the brightest star we can see in the night sky is called Sirius. Also sometimes known as the “Dog Star,” as it is found in the constellation of Canis Major, Sirius is a class-A star that actually shines 25.4 times brighter than the sun. 

2. Co-Stars!

It might sound unlikely or impossibly romantic at first, but it turns out that, rather than hurtling alone through the void, several stars out there have a significant other. They are known as binary stars. As you might have guessed, binary star systems are formed of two stars locked in orbit around each other, bound together in a gravitational two-step.

Waltzing through the nighttime sky, these celestial pairings aren’t even as uncommon as you might think. You won’t be able to separate them with the naked eye, but through a telescope or even binoculars, around 5-10% of visible stars turn out to be binaries. One of the best examples is found in The Big Dipper (the rear end of the constellation Ursa Major, or Great Bear). Here, the second-to-last star along “the handle” isn’t a star at all, but a pair of stars named Mizar and Alcor.

You can celebrate twin events and how the heavens appeared on two special occasions with a uniquely personal Double Star Map.

3. Constellation Prize

Did you know that, all together, there are 88 officially recognised constellations in the night sky? Most are named after animals, mythical beasts, and characters from Greek and Roman mythology. Five constellations can only ever be viewed in the northern hemisphere (the sky above the equator), and three only in the southern hemisphere (the sky below the equator).

The largest constellation by area is sprawling Hydra (the water serpent), which occupies 3.16% of the night sky, while the smallest is Crux (often known as the Southern Cross), which takes up a mere 0.17% of the heavens. Star map gifts are popular any time of year, and you or a loved one can discover just how the stars were set over your head at any time or place with our quality customisable Star Map.

custom star map styles

4. We Are All Made of Stars!

It’s a great lyric and one of the most wonderful facts about stars! Even though there are different types and sizes of stars, they all begin with the same components. Stars form from Interstellar gas, mostly hydrogen molecules. When these clouds are pushed into a spinning motion, a small mass begins to form centrally and continues growing. The more mass it gains, the hotter it becomes. When it reaches a temperature of 100 million degrees, nuclear fusion occurs, and a star is born. 

Just over 90% of the elements that form our human bodies were formed in stars over the course of billions of years and the lifetimes of many different stars. However, it’s possible that hydrogen, which is found in all the body’s fluids, and lithium, which our body contains tiny trace amounts of, originated from the “Big Bang,” the birth of the universe, which scientists estimate occurred 13.8 billion years ago!

5. Staring Back in Time

Did you know that when we gaze at the stars, we’re actually looking back through time? That’s because even though light travels at 186,000 miles per second, because of the vast distances of space between stars, it often still takes many thousands of years to reach us. Scientists measure cosmic distances in “light years” (simply the distance light can travel in one solar year). So, for example, when we look at the star that is our closest neighbour, Alpha Centauri, light from it takes four light years to reach Earth. Therefore, we’re actually seeing how Alpha Centauri appeared more than four years ago.

The farthest-away star we can see with the naked eye is called V672 Cas, found in the constellation Cassiopeia. It lies 16,308 light years from Earth. So the light you see shining from this star originated long before organised human civilisation, during the Earth’s last ice age!

6.  Guiding Star

Humans have used the stars to guide themselves on sometimes vast journeys over both land and sea. The Egyptians created the earliest accurate star chart so far discovered, which is some 3,500 years old and dates from 1534 BC.

However, although it cannot be conclusively confirmed, many experts believe the earliest depiction of the stars may have been discovered in Germany in 1979. A mammoth’s tusk, dating from around 32,500 years ago, was found carved with what seems likely to be a representation of the constellation of Orion. 

7.  Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

We’ve all looked skyward to see a canvas of twinkling stars at some point. But don’t be fooled; those stars aren’t actually twinkling. The effect is an optical illusion caused by the Earth’s atmosphere. Because the stars’ light has to pass through so many layers of the atmosphere, which has varying densities, it can create the impression they’re twinkling.

Stars shining lower in the sky, closer to the horizon, will often appear to twinkle more than those higher in the heavens, and this is simply due to us viewing them at a shallower angle. This means we’re looking at them through a larger slice of the atmosphere. It’s the same effect that makes the moon look larger when it first rises. 

8. Stars in Your Eyes

Look up into the sky on a dark, cloudless night, and you might be inclined to think you’re looking at millions of stars. But in reality, we can only see about 2,000, give or take, at any given time. It’s true that millions of stars exist in our universe, but most can only be seen using telescopes.

The very brightest stars we can see are called 1st magnitude and, in the northern hemisphere, include Sirius (in the constellation of Canis Majoris), Canopus (in Alpha Carinae), Arcturus (in Bootes), and Vega (in the constellation of Lyra). The faintest stars we can see with the naked eye are of 6th magnitude. 

9. Signs in the Stars

Of course, whether we know how to spot them or not, some of the best-known star constellations are the twelve that form what we know in Western astrology as the Zodiac. Heavily influenced by astronomical observations made by the Greeks and Babylonians, the word Zodiac is even derived from the ancient Greek words zōdiakòs kýklos, which translates as “circle of little animals.”

The constellations of the Zodiac occupy a circular band in the sky that follows the path of the sun, known as the ecliptic, which means that from Earth the sun appears to pass through each of the Zodiac constellations (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces) roughly every month.  

In Western astrology, Zodiac signs have been used to define traits in differing personalities, and you can immortalise your own star sign’s uniqueness, or that of a loved one or friend, with fantastic Zodiac Wall Art.

zodiac art colors

10. Gold Star Treatment

We all know that our sun is a star, but did you know it’s actually categorised as a dwarf star? We might think our beloved sun sets the gold standard for what a star should be, yet in the grand scheme of things, the sun is much smaller than most stars in the universe. For example, Betelgeuse (in the constellation of Orion) is one of the largest stars we can see with the naked eye, is classified as a red giant, and is actually 700 times bigger than our sun.

As a dwarf star, our sun is less powerful than an average star, but the good news is that it will have a longer celestial life. The sun is already 4.6 billion years old, but it’s probably only halfway through its 9 to 10-billion-year life span.

FOR MORE STAR-STUDDED INSIGHTS, HEAD BACK TO OUR BLOG OR START CREATING YOUR VERY OWN CUSTOM STAR MAP POSTER!

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How to Organise the Perfect Baby Shower

perfect baby shower

Simply can’t wait for that imminent new arrival? Already imagine you can hear the patter of tiny feet? Are you so excited that you feel you need to celebrate right now? Whether it’s a dear friend, a much-loved relative, or even your own baby that’s due, now’s the time to enjoy the great American tradition of “the baby shower.”

The modern-day baby shower first became popularised in the US after the war, in the ‘baby boom’ decade of the 1950s, and it’s a custom that’s been embraced ever since. The purpose of the baby shower was (and remains) to literally “shower a mother-to-be with gifts.” However, these were originally practical, given the myriad of items and accessories needed before embarking on a new life caring for an infant.

These days, baby showers are becoming increasingly lavish events, and baby shower gifts are certainly no longer limited to diapers and mobiles for the crib. From Gucci baby changing bags to sterling silver baby rattles fashioned by iconic New York jewellers Tiffany & Co., there seems to be no upper limit when it comes to extravagant baby shower gifts.

However, as the lucky person tasked with organising a baby shower (a job customarily allotted to a best friend, auntie, or cousin), you might want to consider sourcing more thoughtful and personalised baby shower gifts — not to mention something that comes in well under the thousand-dollar mark!

Get the Gifting Wrapped up Early

baby heartbeat gift

Begin organising a baby shower the right way by finding the ideal baby shower gift. After all, aside from the food, fun, and games, that’s what lies at the heart of the baby shower tradition. And no mom-in-waiting will appreciate any gift more than one that so obviously comes straight from the heart.

A piece of personalised artwork specially designed to celebrate your little one is a heartwarming present bound to please and will most likely find pride of place on the wall of a new nursery.

How about a unique and delightful piece of Baby’s Heartbeat Soundwave Art, forever capturing the incredible sound of an unborn child growing in the womb? It is a beautiful way of illustrating a moment in time and making a memory that will be treasured forever.

Alternatively, if you’ve got a good idea of the new arrival’s due date, how about a handsome Zodiac Wall Art Poster depicting the baby’s astrological star sign and describing the new personality the parents can expect to welcome?

It’s always a sound strategy to avoid distraction by knowing you’ve got great gifts wrapped up early. Now it’s time to start planning and preparing an equally perfect baby shower celebration.

zodiac sign art

Start with the Logistics

There are a few things to consider when planning a baby shower. The first step is to decide who will host it and where. Sometimes, the mother-to-be will host the shower, but a friend or family member can also host it. 

Once the host is chosen, they need to decide on a date, time, and location for the shower. If you’re on a budget, hosting the shower at someone’s home is perfectly acceptable. It adds a layer of personalisation and cosiness to the occasion. Or, if you have more money to spend, consider renting a small event centre or restaurant party room.

Design and Send Invitations

The next step is to send out invitations. It’s best to send them out about four weeks before the shower so guests have enough time to RSVP. 

When choosing an invitation, consider the theme of the baby shower. You can buy pre-made baby shower-themed invitations and fill them out by hand. Or you can custom print invitations to match a specific theme. 

Popular themes for baby showers in recent years have included “nautical baby showers” with sailor stripes and sailing boats, “animal baby showers” featuring tropical jungle foliage and safari fun, and “book-themed baby showers” showcasing favourite picture books and characters from children’s classics.

Prep the Food

Talk to the mama-to-be to discover her favourite foods and what the baby has been craving. Light foods like fruits, finger sandwiches, crackers, and cakes are standard options. 

Also, you’ll need to bring all the accessories to go with your spread. Plates, cups, spoons, serving utensils, napkins — having everything you need on hand makes your shower flow seamlessly. 

Decorate!

There are endless possibilities when it comes to styling a shower, but we’ve gathered a few of our favourite ideas to get you started.

One popular trend is using soft and pastel colours to create a dreamy atmosphere. Pale pink, powder blue, and light yellow can all be used in various combinations to achieve this look. Add pops of colour with accessories, such as flowers, balloons, or streamers, or by incorporating cheerful patterns into your decorations.

Another option is to go with a more modern vibe by using bright colours and bold prints. This can be a great choice if the mom-to-be doesn’t plan for their baby to fit into traditional gender stereotypes.

Add decor to the shower entryway, the food and gift tables, and the common areas where attendees will gather.

Plan Some Games

There are an endless number of baby shower games to play. Spread the laughter and make memories with a few of these tried-and-true games:

Dough Baby: This game is best for a more casual baby shower. Guests compete to see who can create the cutest (or funniest, most realistic, etc.) baby out of coloured play dough. It’s a great chance to get creative and engage the senses.

Guess the Gender: This game is perfect for guests who ask lots of questions — they’ll get all their answers, and then some! Guests take turns guessing the baby’s gender and other questions (such as nursery colours and themes, food cravings, etc.) and earn points for each correct guess. The person with the most points at the end of the game wins a prize!

Diaper Derby: This race is always a hit with guests of all ages. Have guests race to put a nappy on a baby doll as quickly as possible — bonus points if they can do it using one hand only!

its a girl poster

Hand Out Shower Favours

When throwing a baby shower, one of the details often overlooked is what kind of favours to give guests. Though it may seem like a small gesture, party favours are a nice way to thank guests for coming and to send them off with a little memento from the day. If you’re stuck on ideas for what kinds of favours to give out, here are a few suggestions:

  • Personalised candles or soap — A simple and elegant favour, personalised candles or soap can be customised with the name and date of the baby shower.
  • Magnets or keychains — These are perfect for guests who want something small and practical that they can use every day.
  • Customised cookies or sweets — These make sweet and tasty party favours that guests will love. Use attractive gift boxes or bags for candy and other small items for a more elegant look and feel. 

Start Planning the Perfect Baby Shower!

Planning a baby shower can be such a rewarding experience — for mum, baby, and all of their loved ones. Use this time to capture all the sweet gestures of love leading up to baby’s big arrival!

For ideas of what to buy the proud parents once the baby arrives, check out our gorgeous gifts for new parents that will be as unique as their new little one.

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How Much Is Appropriate to Spend on a Wedding Gift?

how much to spend on wedding gift cover

Throughout the world, the age-old tradition of expressing support and affection for a newlywed couple by selecting the perfect wedding gift remains deeply ingrained.

Whether it’s giving gold coins in India and fragrances in Sudan or more unique presents like cuckoo clocks in Germany and intricately carved wooden ducks in South Korea, the custom of gifting something to the bride and groom to wish them good fortune and abundance in their new journey together has been observed for centuries across different cultures.

However, even in today’s world, in countries like the US, deciding how much to spend on wedding gifts can still be a headache. Without clear guidelines on budgets and no specific traditional items to offer at the ceremony, many guests at Western weddings find themselves stressed about finding considerate and fitting gifts for couples that also fall within the right price range.

It’s no wonder, then, that when it comes to understanding wedding gift etiquette, many of us are searching for clear guidance and a healthy dose of inspiration. 

Double Star Map

 1. A Gift That’s Right for Everyone

When determining the appropriate expenditure on wedding presents, the budget is distinctly “relative”. Close family members and dear friends of the bride and groom are likely to allocate more for a wedding gift than distant cousins or colleagues from work.

So far, this seems clear-cut, but there are additional aspects to factor in. For instance, where exactly is the couple tying the knot? If you’ve received an invitation to an elaborate destination wedding set on a remote tropical island or within the historic grounds of a European mansion, or if you’ve had to travel a considerable distance to return to the couple’s hometown, you might already be incurring substantial expenses simply by arranging travel and lodging.

Similarly, suppose you’re part of the wedding party and have already spent money on a bridal shower gift or participated in an extravagant bachelor party. In that case, it’s entirely reasonable to modify your wedding gift budget to account for these expenses.

A strategy frequently favoured by close friends and relatives who have already been part of pre-wedding celebrations is collaborating and purchasing a joint gift for the newlyweds. This approach intelligently allows for acquiring a high-value item that the couple may genuinely desire, all while ensuring that each contributor can make a meaningful contribution without straining their finances.

Remember that if circumstances prevent you from getting the ideal present for the couple before their big day, it’s valuable to know that wedding etiquette permits you to send them a wedding gift up to a year after their wedding day.

Today, many couples empathise with and understand the potential expenses of attending their special day. Often, invitations convey the sentiment that “your presence is the only gift they seek”. However, this often spurs the desire to present them with something more substantial.

where we met map

2. “Rules” to Ignore

Adding to the complexity of understanding wedding gift etiquette, there are outdated customs that modern guests would be wise to disregard. One prime example, as affirmed by numerous seasoned wedding planners, is the “cover your plate rule”. This archaic notion suggests that the value of a wedding gift should correspond to the cost per person for the wedding meal. This notion conjures the somewhat uncomfortable idea that the newlyweds are attempting to recover their expenses for the event while expecting guests to somehow predict the costs of wedding catering in advance.

Conversely, while gifting money was once seen as lazy and tactless (according to a 2018 survey by Nerdwallet, slightly more than half of respondents still viewed cash gifts unfavourably), it has become an increasingly embraced choice. This shift is largely due to many couples marrying later in life, often already possessing fully furnished homes and all necessary household items. In such cases, a monetary gift intended for a honeymoon or an extraordinary journey is swiftly gaining popularity.

Need some cosmic inspiration? Check out our 10 ideas for a celestial wedding. 

3. Getting Your Gift from the Registry

For a helpful guide through the wedding gift selection process (not to mention ensuring that the newlyweds receive items they genuinely need for their upcoming life together), most couples about to tie the knot establish a gift registry. This registry allows them to share their list of preferred gifts with their guests before the wedding day.

A gift registry isn’t just a rundown of desired items; it typically encompasses various price ranges to cater to all budgets. This approach alleviates any pressure on guests before the significant event. It’s interesting to note that renowned Chicago department store Marshall Field & Co. first introduced the idea in 1924. With almost a century behind it, you could consider the gift registry itself an established American wedding tradition!

A gift registry typically presents a collection of items the couple would find valuable or enjoyable and a list of preferred retailers and brands. This means that if you’re unable to locate a particular item or if it doesn’t fit within your budget, contributing by purchasing a gift card from a specified store is always a viable and acceptable choice.

However, it’s essential to remember that relying solely on the gift registry list might result in duplicate gifts from other guests. We’ve probably all encountered a couple somewhere who embarked on their journey with an excess of bottle openers and way more toasters than needed.

wedding letter photo collage

4. There’s Nothing More Precious than a Thoughtful Gift 

After considering all the factors mentioned above, it’s unsurprising that when the question of how much to spend on wedding gifts arises, many of us contemplate presents that go beyond the ordinary. We ponder over gifts that showcase the depth of our care by putting in that extra effort — finding and crafting a profoundly personal keepsake for the couple — rather than simply increasing the monetary value.

There’s a noticeable trend in the wedding industry toward individuals moving away from the conventional gift registry. They’re disregarding the convenient choices of store vouchers or cash contributions and instead aiming for gifts that resonate from the heart. These are the kind of gifts that tell the unique love story of the couple in an exceptional manner.

As it happens, we have some gorgeous gifts that can do just that. For instance, the Where We Met Map is a visually captivating cartographic creation that portrays the exact spot in the town, city, or even state where the couple had their initial encounter. Alternatively, if their first date holds deeper sentimental value, how about a First Date Map? This map would highlight the venue or commemorate the places where the couple truly began their journey of getting to know one another. For incurable romantics, either option is bound to become a centrepiece on the wall of their shared home. It will spark conversations among visiting friends and also stand as a beautiful, enduring token of their affection.

If you believe a couple’s love really is written in the stars, then why not go all out and present them with a One-of-a-Kind Star Map depicting how the stars were aligned when they first met, when they got engaged and when they married? Or maybe a We Met, We Married, We Live Print displaying the locations where a couple got together, tied the knot, and built a home? For those who cherish both sentimentality and style, the beauty of gifts such as these is that they are visually pleasing artworks that hold so much meaning for just a special few.

For guests keen to add personal touches through a little of their creative input, a bespoke-made Wedding Day Photo Collage is another wonderful way to give something special to those you care about on their wedding day. Designing an exclusive, customisable wall print with a personalised message doesn’t cost a fortune, but it’s likely to become one of a happily married couple’s most treasured possessions. 

we met we married we live

5. The Gift of Inspiration

Regardless of how a couple opts to commemorate their wedding day, whether it’s an opulent and extravagant affair or a simple and private gathering, the essence of marriage remains rooted in the celebration of love and steadfast commitment.

Rather than allowing concerns about the appropriate amount to spend on wedding gifts to overwhelm you, it might be best to reflect on the fact that, beyond extravagant crystal decanters or luxurious bed linens, what most individuals truly desire from their loved ones is a gesture that genuinely conveys their deep affection. A gift that overflows with consideration and warmth, an item to hold dear as the years pass, and one that springs forth authentically and earnestly, directly from the heart.

Need more inspiration? Check out our list of Unique and Thoughtful Mr and Mrs Gift Ideas they will adore.

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A Guide to Buying Really Good Birthday Presents

guide to buying birthday presents

Being able to buy good birthday presents is a valuable and important skill. If you’re one of those lucky people who find it easy to buy gifts, then good for you! You’ll already know how the right gift can brighten someone’s day.

If, like the rest of us, you find it challenging to pick out a great birthday gift, then fear not. Our guide will help you pick out something perfect every time. Gift buying is a skill, and just as with any other skill, you’ll do better when you have the right technique at your fingertips. 

Sitting comfortably? Then let’s get started. 

 Understanding the Importance of Choosing Good Birthday Presents

The first step to buying great birthday gifts is to understand that committing and putting some effort into the process is essential. 

Birthday gifts are a chance to show someone you value them and are prepared to put time and effort into cultivating your relationship with that person. Birthdays will always require a special gift, especially those for romantic partners, family members, and important friends. 

But gifts aren’t totally selfless either! According to the American Psychological Association, giving gifts activates the part of the brain associated with pleasure, social connection, and trust, which creates a “warm glow” effect. 

As with many things, the more you put into the process, the more you get in return. This means that the time spent thinking about and organising a gift for a special person is well spent. 

 Considerations for Selecting Good Birthday Presents

A few broad areas to consider when buying the perfect gift are interests and hobbies, age and relationship, quality, and budget. You can go through these in your head quickly, or you might find it helpful to jot some ideas down on paper. 

 Interests and Hobbies 

The first thing to consider when getting a birthday gift is the person you are buying the gift for. It’s essential to consider the giftee’s interests, hobbies, and preferences. 

This does two important things:
1) They will likely enjoy the gift, and
2) It shows the giftee you’ve thought about them when putting the gift together. 

The best way to learn about a person’s interests is to actively listen to them. What do they speak about in conversation? What topics do they talk passionately about? You can also observe them. What do they spend their time doing? What topics are they drawn to when watching TV, reading, or browsing the internet? 

A couple of warnings here. First, remember that people’s interests change over time. Children, in particular, go through phases — what interests them at age nine might differ significantly from their interests at age 12. Ensure you’re buying for their current interests, not those they used to have.

Second, try to vary the gifts you buy. Even someone who loves dinosaurs probably doesn’t want all their birthday gifts to be dinosaur-themed, especially not year after year. 

If you’re buying a gift for a dog lover or a gift for a sports fan, you’re in luck! We have prints for sale they’re sure to love. 

 Age and Relationship

custom name letter photo collage

Next, consider the person’s age and your relationship with them. Some birthdays are “bigger” than others and deserve extra thought and consideration. Turning 18, for example, is more of a milestone moment (for most people) than turning 17. It can be a great time to buy a birthday gift that is more sentimental rather than practical. 

Also, consider your relationship to the giftee. As a general rule, the closer you are to the person, the more thought you should put into the gift. If you are a parent, grandparent, or partner to the giftee, you must put in more effort than you would if you were cousins! 

Budget and Quality 

It’s essential to get the budget right when buying a birthday present for someone. Spending too much, or more than you can afford, is best avoided as you might make the giftee feel guilty.

There’s no “right amount” to spend, and many people would appreciate something free, like a poem, more than a piece of jewellery. 

If you buy an object for someone, it should be good quality, though. It’s better to get a smaller gift of higher quality than a bigger gift of poorer quality. For example, a guitar player would prefer an excellent guitar strap to a rubbish guitar! 

Unique and Personalised Gift Ideas

the day you were born star map gift

If you’re still struggling to buy a good birthday gift for that special someone, here’s another piece of advice — unique and personalised gifts are more meaningful than generic ones.

Take one of our best-selling products, the Custom Star Map. Our Custom Star Maps show the night’s sky precisely as it looked from a specific location at one particular moment. Many people are fascinated by the stars and would love to know what the night sky looked like the day they were born. 

It’s not the most expensive gift in the world, but as it’s fully personalised, it’s totally unique to the giftee, and no one else will have one like it. Adding a custom message to the print can create a much more thoughtful gift than the average trinket. That’s why we have over 450 five-star reviews for this gift idea! 

Shop our full range of birthday gifts, and you’ll surely find something unique and meaningful for your special person. All of our posters are printed on museum-quality art paper for a high-quality look. FREE delivery on all orders worldwide!

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Custom City Map Prints: Create Unique Wall Art

Craving unique wall art for your home, office, or as a gift? You are in the right place at Positive Prints! Feel inspired by designing a custom city map print of a city that holds a special place in your memories.

Use this guide to create your custom city map print, step by step. Once you’re done, you can expect a high-quality poster designed by you that’s perfect for yourself or as a gift to someone.

Step 1: Select Your Design

With positiveprints.com, you can customise your design to make it significant. Start by selecting the desired design, as shown below:

Unique wall art poster can be personalizes

#A: There are three map shapes to choose from for your custom city map print – circle, heart, or square. Depending on the purpose of personalised poster, you can choose the perfect style for the occasion. The most frequently selected style is square, which is fitting for any occasion. You can only make one choice per poster.

#B: This is the colour design for your poster. You can select one of the pre-designed colours that are created by us or you can also customise the colour of the land, water, and roads and railways.

#C: This is the map customisation feature. You can click and drag the poster in different directions to find just the right spot. You can also tap on the image and then use the + and – feature to zoom in and out.

Choosing color of your wall art

#D: This is the variety of the choices to use when you choose to customise your colours. You can select one colour each for roads, water, and land.

#E: Here is the feature you can use to set your unique colour scheme if the above colours do not meet your specifications or taste. Drag the cursor in the coloured box to find your perfect shade.

Once you have made all the adjustments on the style and colour scheme of your poster, click the Find your Location button to go to the next step.

Step 2: Enter Details

Selecting a custom city map print can be difficult. Clients have different locations in which they wish to have posted. It would be best if you made a choice in which you have memorable moments at the place.

Finding a specific location for your wall art poster starts by filling in your unique details to make your map with positive prints. Use the image below to find your special place:

more details of personalized wall art poster

#A is the location of your custom map print. Search engine optimisation is used to help you choose the best fit of the location you want the print to have.

#B is all about your unique message. If you wish to include a specific message, enable the button to write out your custom text.

#C refers to the top line of text printed at the bottom of the poster. It automatically populates based on what you type on this line.

#D gives you the option to choose a Script font. Upon enabling the button, the text on your print will automatically turn into a scripted Italic headline.

#E enables the Add Map Marker feature. You can pinpoint a specific location on your map by adding an address. The mapping tool will automatically find that point and drop a location pin.

#F allows you to choose what your Map Marker looks like. Choose from a house, heart, graduation cap, or a pin

All details are filled in and accurate. Click the Choose Format button to go to the next step.

Step 3: Choose Format of your Custom City Map Prints Wall Art

You’re almost done creating your custom map print wall art! On Step 3, you will choose the physical appearance of your poster. Each design has different specifications, so play around with the tools to find the best fit for you.

Choosing format of custom wall art

#A: You can either choose a hardcopy printed poster, or, you can opt to download the poster as an instant digital download. The third option is to turn your custom map into a pillow design.

#B: Select the best orientation (portrait or landscape) for your custom city map print. This will determine how your poster is displayed once you receive your print or print your own. If you have selected a digital download, you will also see an option for a square orientation.

#C: Different individuals choose different paper size dimensions, depending on the type of print they wish to have.

After you’ve made your selections, click the Add to Cart button to finish the checkout process.

Step 4: Preview, Edit, and Finish your Wall Art

Once you have added the custom city map print to the cart, there are just a few small details standing between you and submitting your order.

Postitive Prints cart page

#A: Preview all of your order details. In case you need a modification, click the Edit button to make the changes and submit the updated version of your product.

#B: If you have more than one print you wish to include in your order, click the Add Another button to create an additional print. Clicking this button will take you back through the process.

#C: You have the option of removing any extra prints you might have accidentally added to the cart.

Last step! Once your cart is complete, click the Proceed to Payment button to complete your checkout.

We hope you found our guide and the images to be helpful when designing your custom city map print and turn you into a delighted Positive Print client!

Stunning wall art made of two personalized city map posters

Much regards and appreciation!

The Positive Prints Team

PS – Ready to get started? Click the DESIGN YOURS NOW button and start designing your custom city map print!