24 Sept ·
Personalised Christmas gifts for the whole family
How to plan Christmas gifts ahead of time and give each person something only they can have.
What personalised Christmas gifts can I give my family? The simplest answer is to think about each person and the story you share with them. A personalised book can be the gift for a grandparent, a sibling, a couple or a child, because the plot changes according to who receives it. In this article we give you ideas by person, explain how to plan ahead and show what it costs.
Why it pays to plan early
Christmas has a date that can't be moved. A printed book is made to order and shipped, and the holiday season is, for everyone, the busiest time for post offices and carriers. So the earlier you start, the more relaxed you'll be. Draw up the list of people, choose the photos and try the free previews calmly, because each book includes 2 revisions that also take their time.
Ideas by person
| Person | Book idea | Suggested tone |
|---|---|---|
| Grandparents | A book with the grandchildren as main characters, including the grandparents in the adventure | Tender and nostalgic |
| Dad or mum | A story about the relationship with their children, with real muments turned into an adventure | Emotional and funny |
| Partner | The couple's story, from the first meeting to today | Romantic or good-humoured |
| Brother or sister | An invented adventure with the two of you as main characters | Funny, with inside jokes |
| Young child | A story with the child's name and face, in a Christmas setting | Magical and calm |
| Friend | A book about the friendship, with trips and shared memories | Nostalgic |
How to organise the list
- 1Write each person's name and, beside it, a memory, an expression or a place only you share.
- 2Decide who gets the eBook and who gets the printed book.
- 3Gather the photos you need: sharp, with the face clearly visible and good light.
- 4Try the free previews, without creating an account, and choose the themes.
- 5Approve each book with time left for shipping, if it is printed.
eBook or printed book?
The eBook costs €10 and is available to download right after approval, which makes it ideal for people who are far away or for last-minute gifts. The eBook with a 28×21 cm hardcover printed book costs €39.99 and arrives by mail. Shipping takes 6 to 10 business days to mainland Portugal and 6 to 15 business days to the islands; for other countries, the delivery time and cost appear at checkout. In the holiday season, allow some extra time and don't leave the order for the last week.
A discount that helps when you have several books
The 2nd book you buy gets 20% off. If your list has two or more people, this helps spread the cost. It is worth thinking about the combination: for example, a printed book for the grandparents and eBooks for the other relatives.
Gifts you can make together
- A gift from several siblings to their parents: a book with all the children as main characters.
- A gift from the grandchildren to the grandparents: each grandchild can write a sentence for the dedication.
- A gift from the parents to a child: a story about something they lived through during the year.
- A gift from a group of friends: each one contributes a memory.
How to make the book more personal
You can have up to 5 characters, with 1 or 2 main characters, and write a dedication of up to 250 characters. If you prefer, you can write the text yourself, which lets you include details only you know. If you'd rather we create the story, give us the theme, the names and the tone, and use the 2 free revisions to adjust anything that doesn't sound like the person. The book can be generated in 14 languages, which is useful for families spread across several countries.
How to wrap and hand it over
- Add a handwritten card with a Christmas message.
- If it is an eBook, print the first page and wrap it as a gift.
- Agree with the person on a quiet mument to flip through the book, without rushing.
- If the book has a dedication from several people, read it aloud.
What to avoid
- Leaving the orders for the last week.
- Choosing blurry or very old photos.
- Including private information the person doesn't want to share with the whole family.
- Forgetting to confirm the spelling of the names before approving.
Budget: how to split without stress
A personalised gift doesn't have to be expensive. If you have a long list, first set a total budget and divide it among the people. The eBook, at €10, is a good option for people who are far away or who prefer reading on screen. The printed book is better kept for the people you want to give something to keep on the shelf. With the 20% discount on the 2nd book, you can combine the two options without going over budget.
A simple calendar for Christmas
- 1September and October: make the list of people and choose the photos.
- 2Early November: try the free previews and decide the themes.
- 3Mid-November: approve the printed books, so you have a delivery margin.
- 4December: use the eBooks for last-minute gifts and print the first page if you want to wrap it.
These dates are only a suggestion. The important thing is not to leave everything for the last few days, because year-end orders tend to be the busiest.
In short
Personalised Christmas gifts work best when they are planned ahead and thought out person by person. Make the list, choose the photos, try the free preview and decide after you see the result.