I recently wrote an article featuring 20 ways to say congratulations to someone who is celebrating a special occasion. There are lots of things that you can do to congratule someone ranging from simply saying that you’re proud of them to buying a pricey gift for them.

What I discovered when writing that article is that the methods of saying congrats that interest me most are the ones that have a personal touch. Here’s the Top 5 homemade personal congratulations gifts that I’d like to receive if I was celebrating an accomplishment:

1. Scrapbooks. I love making scrapbooks and I’d really love to receive one from someone as well. A scrapbook of the events leading up to the celebrating would be ideal for me!
2. Home video or photo slideshow. Even better than a scrapbook is an active visual presentation put together to celebrate the event!
3. A letter. There are some accomplishments that are best celebrated with a letter. The letter might describe why someone is proud of you or offer you advice for the new stage of life that you’re entering. I’d love to get this one from my parents or other older people in my life.
4. A song. Even better than a letter would be a song or poem!
5. Cookies! Someone who didn’t know me very well but who wanted to congratulate me would not go wrong with a home-baked gift!

What would you want someone to make for you to say congratulations?

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Anyone who has spent much time as my friend probably has a photo scrapbook that I made for a birthday or holiday celebration. It’s a running joke among those who knew me that I photograph everything and create scrapbooks all of the time. I laugh and say that I’d forget what I did if I didn’t have photo books to remind me but the truth is that I just really like being able to look back at all of those captured memories now and again. And even though they love to poke fun at me, I know that all of my friends treasure those little photo scrapbooks that I wrap up and give them periodically to remember our times together.

The reason that gifts like these are great aren’t because they’re truly wonderful gifts. It’s not like I make stunning scrapbooks worthy of Martha Stewart or Bree Van de Kamp. Often my scrapbook gifts turn out messy. But they are great nonetheless because they are personalized and in the end, personal thought-through heartfelt gifts are always better than storebought gifts even when they are a little bit messy.

There are many different types of personalized gifts other than just scrapbooks. There are photo blankets and handmade Christmas ornaments and even love letters. Anything that you make yourself and which includes references to something you’ve done with someone or just to your love for them is a personal gift. And that is always a gift worth giving.

Tags: celebration, ehow, gifts, kathryn vercillo, personalized gifts, presents, promo gifts, scrapbook