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birthday

8 year old boy showing his birthday gift of a Nintendo Switch with happy smile on his face
Patchwork Kids

A special boy’s 8th birthday gift

by Rosie Hurwitz
written by Rosie Hurwitz

Children’s birthdays can become fraught with worries about gifts. What to buy? How much to spend? What if they already have it? What if they don’t like it? We chat to a family who solved all these problems by using Patchwork to set up a birthday fund so that a special 8 year old could buy the one thing he was dreaming of. A new Nintendo Switch of course! We chat to mum Caroline who explains why it worked so well for them.

Tell us a bit about the birthday boy.

Caroline: Jonty has just turned 8 and loves football and Minecraft and annoying his little sister Verity who is 5. We are a family of four living in North Hampshire. The family also includes an incredibly stupid Golden Retriever called Alan and a menace of a cat called Treacle.

Why did you want to set up a birthday Patchwork page for Jonty?

Jonty has been desperate for a Nintendo Switch for over a year and has been saving up his pocket money but was nowhere near! So we suggested he use Patchwork to help him get there. We were also conscious that he has so many things already – we literally can’t fit another piece of lego in this house. So we set up a Patchwork gift page for a Nintendo Switch and some games to get him started.

How easy was it to set up the Patchwork page?

So easy, we broke up the cost of all the bits and games he wanted into smaller chunks so it worked for friends and family on different budgets as well.

What did you like most about using Patchwork for a birthday gift?

We didn’t have to try and squeeze any more lego in the house! Plus it was really good for Jonty to start to understand how much things cost and the concept of working towards something and how the people who loved him wanted to contribute to it.

What was the response from friends and family to gifting online?

They were amazing. It was especially welcomed from family in the US and his godfather in Australia – who can’t wait to come over and play Mario Kart with him. The grandparents were a bit discombobulated at first and we had to talk my Mother in Law through it but she got there in the end.

When did Jonty first see his Patchwork gift and what was his reaction?

He spent the week before his birthday wondering whether he had been given enough money, and when we would be able to go and buy it. Not knowing that the total had already exceeded what he needed and we had already bought it plus 2 new games and a carry case for it. So when he opened his present on his birthday he nearly popped!

Thanks so much Jonty and Caroline for sharing your very happy birthday story with us. We’re so happy to see that Patchwork helped make your dream come true Jonty. We hope you have lots of fun being 8!

If you’d like to set up a Patchwork gift page for a birthday or Christmas gift that’s really wanted we’d love to help. Check out some of our brilliant birthday gift ideas and cool Christmas ideas and have a play around!

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Father holding young daughter above his head, both laughing
Patchwork Kids

Top 5 Kids’ Birthday Gifts 2021

by Rosie Hurwitz
written by Rosie Hurwitz

We’ve been having a peek at what kids birthday gifts are being planned for this year on Patchwork and it looks like good things are coming your way kids! Every child has that one big gift they’d love to have. But, sometimes these more expensive children’s presents or experiences are a bit of a stretch for parents or carers alone.

With Patchwork however, dreams really CAN come true with a little help from wider family and friends! Set up a Patchwork page and invite people to chip in towards one really wanted kids birthday gift. So much better than ending up with lots of smaller presents that aren’t wanted and will end up in a cupboard gathering dust. So let’s take a look at the best kid’s birthday gift ideas in 2021.

Traditional style camera

1. A proper camera

Not a phone camera, but a proper camera. For lots of children and teens, living in lockdown for the best part of a year has meant they’ve had more time to look around them. Whether it’s the changing seasons in the park, or day to day family life, capturing experiences on camera and keeping a kind of ‘photo diary’ has become popular. It’s sparked a broader interest in photography. Hopefully as the year goes on and restrictions lift there will be more and more ‘material’ available to photograph. Parties, holidays and adventures await and so now is a great time to invest in a good camera as a kids birthday gift so they can record all the fun times ahead. Something waterproof and shockproof sounds perfect!

This is a great group gift to set up a Patchwork for and invite everyone to contribute towards. After receiving their gift, the birthday girl or birthday boy can show everyone how their hobby is coming along with regular photography updates. You can add patches to your Patchwork gift page from as little as £1 up to £500 so everyone can chip in what they can afford. Plus they can leave a gift message for the birthday boy or girl too.

2. A trampoline

With too much time cooped up at home in front of screens and after a very long winter, we are all feeling like the kids need to get outside more. Uncertainty remains over when sports and activities can return to normal. So it seems like a good plan to cover all eventualities and get the biggest trampoline for whatever outside space you have! A trampoline is a great kids birthday gift to get everyone to chip in to. And (according to our sources) is the most used piece of equipment they have ever bought! Apparently if you get one large enough, the big kids of the house REALLY enjoy themselves with this gift once the small people have gone to bed.

3. A bedroom makeover

This is a really great one and something we’ve seen more and more of in recent months for obvious reasons! Giving their bedroom a refresh is a great way for kids to express their style and personality in their own space. It’s also the perfect group gift. You can ask for cash contributions towards things like a desk, new bedlinen, or a roll of wallpaper. Even better, you can also invite people to contribute their time and skills too. Maybe you have a relative who might be able to build a shelf unit? Or ask a friend to sew a cushion cover, knit a blanket or design some artwork for the walls? Perhaps you’ve got someone who can help with the planning and design or come over for an hour or two to help decorate.

This group gift idea is Patchwork at its best. It brings everyone together. Using their resources and skills in the ways that suit them best and brings a dream bedroom project to life!

4. A set of wheels

Again, with the changes that childrens’ lives have undergone in the last year this one is no surprise. They may not be old enough to get behind the wheel yet. But giving them their own bike, scooter or even a set of roller skates or a push along toy gets them outside. It gives them independence and confidence and of course – most importantly – gets them off their screens!

Some sets of wheels can have pretty big price tags, so it makes sense to invite friends and family to chip in via a Patchwork gift page and let everyone contribute a little bit. In this way an expensive children’s gift becomes affordable. For example you can add patches to your page so that someone can purchase the bike bell for £5, someone else can buy the saddle for £40 and another a wheel for £20. Friends and family will be thrilled to know they are buying something really wanted. And, even better, buying the dream gift doesn’t involve a trip to the shops!

5. A big lego set

Lego is the classic child’s birthday gift and a toy that never wears out or goes out of fashion. There’s simple duplo for the little ones, to 7,000+ piece masterpieces for budding architects and creator experts. Lego has something for everyone of every age. Our very own Manu was one of the first Patchwork kids to ask for a big lego set. Manu put a Palpatine’s Arrest set on his Patchwork birthday wish list. Star Wars lego has been popular on Patchwork from the beginning. But with Lego covering every interest from Harry Potter to Bonsai trees there’s something for everyone.

You can use our readymade template to get started or set up your own Patchwork gift page from scratch. Then family and friends can choose to contribute towards the best kids gift that’s really wanted and appreciated, which is good for all involved and for the planet too!

Ready to set up your birthday Patchwork page?

It’s super quick and simple to set up your Patchwork child’s birthday gift page. You can start a page from scratch or use one of our easy to customise templates. Simply edit the images and text with your child’s gift or birthday experience ideas, add your personal details and link a payment method. That’s it – you’re done and it’s ready to share. When people arrive at your birthday Patchwork they can see the things your child is dreaming of. Then choose which elements of the present they’d like to contribute towards.

Payments are made directly to you into your Paypal or your bank account via Stripe. So you and your child can choose when, where and how to spend the birthday gift money you receive. You can also send thanks and a photo of your child enjoying their birthday present to everyone who chipped in via your Patchwork dashboard!

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'open' shop sign on door
Patchwork PerspectiveSchools and community

Support small businesses with a Local Gift List

by Rosie Hurwitz
written by Rosie Hurwitz

The Covid restrictions have hit our high streets hard in recent months. The best thing you can do to support small businesses is spend your birthday gift money locally. Use Patchwork to create your local ‘wish list’. Then invite your family and friends so they can choose what they’d like to treat you to. It’s a safe, secure and fun way to receive cash direct that you can spend in your local community.

What is a Patchwork local gift list?

With a Patchwork local gift list you can let your family and friends send you birthday money securely. At the same time, support your high street or nearby small businesses by committing to spending it locally.

By creating a Pinterest board style “wish list” with Patchwork, you can share your ideas for things you’d like to treat yourself. Then your friends and family can choose which items or experiences on your ‘wish list’ they’d like to contribute towards. Your Patchwork will have a URL which you can share with your family and friends. Then you simply collect gift money direct in to your PayPal or bank account via Stripe. Simple!

Who is a local gift list good for?

Patchwork makes birthday gifting simple for you. It’s convenient for your friends and family, supports local and independent business AND is good for the environment too. Avoiding unwanted gifts solves the problem of things ending up unused at the back of a cupboard, and eventually in landfill.

It also makes people happy knowing you’re getting the things you want. Everyone is a tiny bit nosey and likes to see where their money is going! Plus it’s super convenient and secure and can involve those who are nearby or far away so it’s a real win-win all round.

How do I set my Patchwork page up?

It couldn’t be easier to set up your own personal local gift list. You can start a page from scratch or use our easy to customise template. Simply edit the images and text with your own gift and experience wishes. Then add your personal details and link a payment method. That’s it – you’re done and it’s ready to share.

When people arrive at your birthday wish list they can see the things you’d like to treat yourself to and choose which suits them and their budget. You can also add non-financial gifts too. For example, inviting friends to come over to meet you for a walk in the park and catch up over coffee.

What can I add to my local gift list?

With a Patchwork local gift list all money is sent to you direct to spend where, when and how you like, so there are absolutely no limits on what you can add to yours.

Perhaps there’s a brilliant deli near you. You can add a patch for some cheese and deli meats so you can enjoy an alfresco no-cook weekend lunch! Maybe you have a local bookshop. You can add a patch for £10 called ‘buy me a book’ and you can enjoy a good browse in your own time and decide exactly how to spend your gift. You can add patches from as little as £3 for a takeaway coffee, £25 to spend in your favourite gift shop, right up to £100 to treat yourself to a brand new hairstyle at your local salon. The only limit is your own imagination.

Can people part fund a patch?

If you are adding larger, more expensive items you can break the cost down and allowing people to ‘chip in’ Say for example you have your eye on a piece of art in a local gallery at £200. By pricing the patch at say £20, you can allow 10 people to chip in and you’ll have collected the amount you need. Patches can be funded multiple times (eg cups of coffee or books) or you can limit them to only be available once (that dress in the vintage shop for example). Offering a wide choice of items and experiences at different prices keeps everyone happy.

Ready to set up your local gift list?

You can start your page using our easy to customise template and have fun adding your own ideas. Need help? You probably won’t as it’s super simple! But if you do we always have time for a chat, so drop us a line at [email protected] or call us on 07547 439 805 between 9.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday. Have fun making yours and let us know how it goes by tagging us on Instagram using @patchwork_it!

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Rainbow chalked on ground
Gift Ideas

Sunny Day Gifting: Digital Giving During Lockdown

by Rosie Hurwitz
written by Rosie Hurwitz

We’ve certainly had a lot of grey and stormy days lately; but even on the bleakest days we can always look out for rainbows, and remind ourselves that storms don’t last forever. In the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, babies are being born, birthdays are being celebrated, and important milestones and anniversaries will be marked. Whilst social distancing measures make it impossible to physically be together to celebrate, we can still show our love from a distance. In fact, now more than ever, it’s important to remind friends and loved ones that their special days are not forgotten! Digital giving, distance gifting, or ‘sunny day gifting’ are all on the rise, and Patchwork is perfect for them all!

What is sunny day gifting?

Sunny day gifting is simply sending someone a gift now, to be enjoyed when the clouds clear. So, you might want to treat your friend or loved one to a luxury spa day, a night at the theatre or a birthday sky dive. With Patchwork you can set up a group gift page in minutes, share the link with friends and collect cash contributions towards the big gift. Then on their (lockdown) birthday you can gift them their beautiful patchwork page, with all the messages from their friends and the money towards their ‘sunny day gift’ to be spent when they are ready. It’s a way of connecting with friends, and bringing some joy and excitement to their special day. When life returns to normal and this is a distant memory they can enjoy their gift and send thanks to all those who made it happen!

Patchwork Rainbow Fund in an iPad

Patchwork rainbow fund

If you’re not sure what your friend might need or want – we’ve thought of that too. Have a look at our brand new Rainbow Fund template. It’s kind of like a rainy day fund but much more fun. It’s money towards whatever it is that will help keep them excited about the future. Allowing them to dream of freedom to come; something to plan for, when the clouds have finally lifted.

Ideas for new baby gifts while social distancing

A new arrival is always a sign of hope and new beginnings, and one of the happiest (and cutest) occasions to celebrate. Social distancing measures are especially important for pregnant women and no-one wants to spread germs to a brand new baby, so distance gifting is extra important. Whether you want to treat the new parents to a food delivery service, or contribute towards a big item like a new cot, Patchwork makes it easy with readymade templates that can be customised in minutes.

Say happy birthday with love, from a distance

There are going to be a lot of birthdays celebrated during lockdown, and whilst the parties might have to be put off, the birthday gifts don’t! You can use Patchwork to get together with friends and family and let loved ones know you are thinking of them on their special day. Collect birthday messages on the page to share with your birthday buddy and they can treat themselves to their gift whenever they like. Whether it’s a subscription of beers for a year, money towards a vegetable patch, or contributions towards a new sofa (for all that staying at home!) they’ll feel loved from a distance.

So if you know someone with a birthday or special occasion coming up (or if you have one coming up yourself!) check out our 100s of stylish templates and get some distance gift inspiration to bring some joy to someone you love!

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Patchwork Story

Patchwork Story: Lucy’s 40th Birthday Trip to Sweden

by Ismay Ozga
written by Ismay Ozga

Lucy was about to celebrate her 40th birthday and wanted to mark the occasion by doing something super special. Her husband asked her about the one gift she would appreciate the most, and she decided it would be a trip to Sweden. So Simon set up a patchwork and asked her friends to crowdfund her adventure. We asked Lucy all about it.

So why did you decide on a trip to Sweden?

Last year one of my best friends recently moved back home to Sweden to be nearer her family. We only met four years ago through work but we instantly got on and she became like a sister to me! We got really used to seeing each other regularly so it was weird and sad when she moved away. It was nice to have such a great pen pal (she sends the best parcels in the world) and I was glad she was nearer her family but I missed seeing her terribly. I don’t have a very big income and don’t often travel abroad so when my husband asked me what I really wanted, I dropped a very big hint that I’d love to go to Stockholm to have some proper time with her!

Did you peek at your patchwork before the trip?

I mentioned a few of the places Lina was planning to take me but my husband kept it all a surprise. Every so often in the lead up to my birthday I saw Simon check his emails and make the sort of noise that can only mean ‘wow your friends are being really generous!’ – but I was very disciplined and didn’t let him show me!

How did Simon show you your birthday patchwork?

On the morning of my actual birthday in cold rainy January we went for a bracing walk along my favourite pier. Afterwards we stopped in a cosy cafe for a hot chocolate and he presented the finished patchwork to me as we sat getting warm. I was absolutely overwhelmed with everyone’s generosity and lovely messages, plus the sweet activities and day trips my friends had chosen to treat me to. I just burst into tears, I was so touched! There’s no way I would be able to afford such a fun trip with proper spending money. I was so excited.

So how was the trip?

It was AMAZING! Five whole days with my lovely Lina in a beautiful city, loads of delicious food, museums, galleries and lovely sunny days out. It was such a treat to have money to spend without worrying if I could afford it. I really can’t think of a better 40th birthday present. The trouble is, now I am desperate to go back again!

Patchwork holiday fund Stockholm
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Patchwork recommends Bloom & Wild
Gift Ideas

A Q&A with Bloom & Wild – Our Favourite Flower Delivery Service

by Ismay Ozga
written by Ismay Ozga

We think Bloom & Wild’s flower deliveries make the best gifts, for any occasion. So we teamed up with them to create a Bloom & Wild patchwork that makes it super simple to share the cost of one of their subscriptions as a present for a loved one. It’s group gifting made easy. We wanted to know more from them about how they’re changing the flower delivery service and why they think flowers make such a wonderful gift, so we had a chat with Bloom & Wild’s Brand Director, Sara Gordon.

How has Bloom & Wild redefined the flower delivery service?

Bloom & Wild exists to make sending and receiving flowers the joy that it should be. We’ve all had bad flower delivery experiences in the past and our mission is to change that for good. We enable people to turn emotions into action from their phone or computer simply, and recipients to experience quality, fresh, creative flowers from bud to bloom.

What do you think makes receiving flowers so special?

Patchwork recommends Bloom & Wild

Whether they’re sent as a thank you, an apology or simply just because, receiving flowers is a beautiful symbol that someone is thinking of you. Because our bouquets are sent in bud, the recipient sees their gift go from bud to bloom and enjoys the full life of the flower. We also make the process a true experience, so that our recipients get to become the florist themselves.

Who picks the flowers that go into the bouquets each month?

Our in-house flower team, including our Lead Floral Designers Rowan and Caroline, are the ones behind the designs. We’re always inspired by trends we see around us, whether it’s in the world of fashion, interiors or our own travels and we interpret these with in-season blooms to ensure that the recipient only gets the freshest flowers.

What’s your favourite ever Bloom & Wild bouquet and which flowers did it have in it?

I’ve had quite a few favourites, but currently it’s The Daisy. The blue delphinium flowers also add height and visual interest and are one of my favourite flowers at the moment.

What makes a Bloom & Wild flower delivery such a great group gift?

We often see families coming together to give their mums or grandmothers a year of blooms or friends coming together to gift a three month bundle for new homeowners or newlyweds. It’s great to be able to give someone something they might not necessarily treat themselves to, like a year of flower delivery, and coming together with a group makes it easy for everyone to pitch in on a gift that gives joy all year long.

Thank you Sara and Bloom & Wild! If you want to organise a flower delivery for someone you love, just customise our Bloom & Wild patchwork and send it to friends to fund, then your loved one can enjoy the gift of beautiful flowers through their door every month.

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Flower delivery gift with Patchwork and Bloom & Wild
Gift Ideas

Bloom & Wild Flower Delivery – The Perfect Gift for Far Away Friends.

by Ismay Ozga
written by Ismay Ozga

Since Tammy left London for the countryside her friends miss her. Badly.

No more spontaneous sunny days in the park, afternoon visits to cuddle babies, or late nights out on the town.

There are upsides – weekends in the country for long walks, roaring fires, red wine evenings and late mornings drinking tea on the sofa. But these trips need organising in advance and don’t happen as often as everyone would like.

And then there’s birthdays. Even worse, weekday-birthdays.

With no chance of popping around with cake and bubbles the girls wanted to make sure Tammy still felt loved from far away.

So they used Patchwork to chip in towards a flower delivery and chose a lovely big bouquet to be delivered to her door.

Tammy says: “What a beautiful, gorgeous treat to receive from my lovely friends. I was gutted not to be able to see them on my birthday so it was such a special way to feel loved and an amazing surprise. The flowers were so beautiful.”

With Bloom & Wild delivering flowers across the UK by post you only need to order 24 hours in advance to ensure your seasonal blooms are delivered through the letter box without a hitch. Just customise this flower delivery Patchwork so friends can chip in towards a beautiful bunch. Then gift the patchwork to your friend on the same day as the flower delivery, so they can see everyone’s messages and send their love and thanks.

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back to the future themed patchwork party
Patchwork KidsPatchwork Story

A Kids’ Party with a Back to the Future Theme

by Ismay Ozga
written by Ismay Ozga

Patchwork founder Olivia’s son turned ten this month. To celebrate she wanted to throw him a really special party with all his family and friends. Although Manu knew about the party, what he didn’t know was that it was going to be a Back to the Future themed party – an obsession that he’s inherited from his 1980s parents.

So when did Manu’s love of Back to the Future start?

Early. Manu chose his first red ‘life preserver’ at age four, started guitar lessons on a mini red electric at the age of five, owned a skateboard by six, went to the Secret Cinema screening of Back to the Future at eight and still watches the film at least once a month, reciting every line by heart. So, a Back to the Future themed party seemed like the perfect way to celebrate Manu’s past and future.

How did you go about organising the party?

Once I’d fixed the date and booked the local Scouts hall the real challenge was searching the country to track down an original Back to the Future DeLorean to drive Manu to the venue in style.

From that point on it was simple.

The Scout hall, a 1950s prefab, was the perfect Hill Valley School hall and although I knew it was going to take a lot of work to recreate the Enchantment Under the Sea dance, with P

atchwork it was easy to share the plan and ask everyone to help.

What response did you get from your party patchwork?

Within days of sending out the patchwork invite I had 50 people coming, a local ‘Marvin Berry’ band booked, badges being made, a projector screen and speakers promised, 100 balloons ordered, eight cakes being baked, a banner, two signs and a Flux Capacitor being made.

How did you keep it all a secret?

It was easy to keep the Back to the Future theme a secret from Manu until the day of the party. Getting dressed in his skinny jeans, checked shirt, denim jacket and red gilet was normal for Manu. But he did start to get a bit suspicious when his dad produced an 1980s Walkman and a brand new pair of white Nikes with a red tick.

With everyone waiting at the venue it was up to Manu’s dad to get him there. As they left home Manu said ‘I feel like Marty’, and at that exact moment the DeLorean pulled up and opened its doors, blaring out the Back to the Future theme tune!

Back to the Future themed patchwork party

How did Manu feel riding a time machine through Brockley?

This was the only Universal Studios DeLorean time machine in the UK and the one used for the 25 anniversary promotional tour, complete with Flux Capacitor. So Manu was speechless. As were the people who saw it driving (at 5 miles an hour over the speed bumps) through the streets of Brockley.

Back to the Future themed patchwork party

How did you transform the party venue into the Enchantment Under the Sea dance?

I spent Friday night with girlfriends painting the giant banner and two wooden signs. And we arrived at the venue on Sunday morning with a handful of helpers to decorate the hall, blow up balloons, set the tables, fill party bags and get the band set up. So when Manu arrived the scene was set and everyone was outside the hall dressed in 1985 or 1955 outfits to welcome him.

Back to the Future themed patchwork party

What did Manu think when he arrived at the Back to the Future themed party?

Manu McFly tried his best to play it cool as he stepped out of his time machine to whoops and cheers from the crowd, but he couldn’t hide his surprise and delight. His joy reached new heights when he stepped inside the hall and the band started playing ‘Power of Love’.

He said “The best bit of the party was riding in the DeLorean, seeing all my friends, eating all the cakes and the Flux Capacitor that Eric made me. The funniest thing was seeing Grandad dressed as Doc and the most embarrassing bit was when the band played Earth Angel and mum tried to make me dance.”

Back to the Future themed patchwork party
Back to the Future themed patchwork party

We know that you’re the biggest Back to the Future fan really. So what was your favourite bit?

I am. I loved feeling everyone’s excitement as we saw the DeLorean drive up and seeing Manu’s face as he got out of the Time Machine! It was so fun stepping into 1955 as we entered the hall, seeing all our efforts come together and hearing the AMAZING band. We’d made mini clock tower fairy cakes but seeing the incredible sea-themed creations, the Jail Bird Joey cake and the huge red guitar cake that everyone else had made was amazing. And of course Patchwork made it all so easy. I could keep track of all the things people were helping to fund, make and do and contact everyone about the things they’d pledged to do and send updates to everyone along the way.

After an evening of dancing I could also show Manu the patchwork so he could see how everyone helped to make it happen and read everyone’s messages so he could send his own thank yous.

It was a massive success, made super easy with Patchwork. Now I’m just looking for another excuse to plan a big party!

Back to the Future themed patchwork party

YAY. Best party ever. If this has inspired you to plan a party with patchwork, check out our party patchworks for inspiration, or create your own from scratch.

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40th birthday gift ideas patchwork
Gift Ideas

8 Unique Group Gift Ideas for a 40th Birthday

by Ismay Ozga
written by Ismay Ozga

Let’s face it, 40 can be a difficult age to buy for. Your loved one is hopefully pretty satisfied with their lot, and if they want something small they’ll tend to buy it for themselves. Chances are there is something they really want, but it’s so far out of your price range you hadn’t given it much thought. That’s where we come in – set up a patchwork on their behalf and ask friends and family to chip in towards that one special gift or experience. Then you can surprise your unsuspecting partner/sister/best mate with the one thing they really want, but never thought they’d get.
Of course, you can use Patchwork to organise and fund anything, so if you’re reading this and you already know what that one thing is, what are you waiting for? Get started. Create a patchwork to show everyone what it is you’re asking them to contribute towards. Collect cash gifts direct to your PayPal. Then buy the gift when and where you like.
But if you do need some gift ideas we’ve collected some of our favourite presents below for people turning the big 4-0.

Buy a bike

Does the excitement of getting a shiny new bike ever wear off? No. It doesn’t. If you know this is the one present that will put a big birthday smile on your loved one’s face, all you need to do is customise this patchwork. Then friends can choose whether to spend a fiver on the bell, or shell out £50 for a wheel. Soon enough you’ll have enough to buy a beautiful new (or vintage) bike from your chosen shop ready to tie up in a giant comedy bow. You can write everyone’s names on tag so the birthday boy/girl will know it’s from all the people who love them. Then they can cycle off into the sunset. Or around the block.

Send them on a sky-dive

Is your loved one an adrenaline junkie? Do they have all the trinkets, tablets and household things they could ever want? Forget stuff and give them an experience they’ll never forget. Just have a think about whether it’s going to be the best day of their life, or the very worst. Now’s not the time to force your partner into conquering their fear of heights. If you know they’ll love this, just customise our sky-diving patchwork and send it out for everyone to contribute towards. Then invite them all to come and watch.

A week on a wellness retreat

From one extreme to the other. Maybe your mate could do with total relaxation in a blissfully calm environment. Get friends and family to club together and whisk them away for a few days on a wellness retreat, where they won’t have to think about anything except when their next massage is booked in and whether to have mint or green tea.

Sign them up to a photography course

Now’s the time to pursue those creative endeavours that may have been pushed aside in favour of careers and kids and food shopping and all that other grown-up stuff. Send your loved one off on a photography course where they can pick up all the skills they need to get going with their hobby. Then they can bring out their camera with confidence at every special occasion. Or just walks in the park and drinks in the pub. Everyone who chips in will get to see the lovely photos and know they helped bring them to life.

Chip in for a tattoo

What do you give the person who has everything? A permanent drawing on their skin. Of course. What better way to mark this momentous occasion than with a needle full of ink? Show friends and family this patchwork and get them to each buy a piece – whether it’s £100 for ‘an hour of pain’ or a fiver for the ink. Obviously, you’ll need to leave the actual design up to your loved one – all you need to do is present them with the cash or voucher for their favourite tattoo artist and get them booked in. Then throw a party so everyone can see the new tat they helped paid for.

Give them *that* handbag

We all know how it feels to fall in love with a special pair of shoes, a certain coat, or a beautiful handbag. And how it feels to turn the tag over and see the price. If you know someone who’s fallen deeply in lust with a bag that’s way out of their price range, surprise them by getting all of their friends and family to chip in and then present them with it on their birthday. The bond between a woman and her bag will last a lifetime. And she’ll be pretty happy with you lot too. Customise our handbag patchwork here.

Plan a party

If your loved one has insisted on no fuss this year, just go behind their back and organise a party. Simple. They don’t really mean no fuss. Maybe they mean no socks, toiletries or flannel shirts, which is fair enough. But they don’t mean no getting everyone they love together in one room. What kind of party you throw is up to you, but we’ve created a Karaoke Party patchwork that could be perfect. Get everyone to chip in for the karaoke machine, then just ask people to bring a bottle, make a dish, help decorate. And before you know it you’ll have a great party on your hands. Just make sure you have all the birthday girl/boy’s favourite songs lined up and champagne at the ready.

Send them flowers, every week

What could be more special than receiving a bunch of beautiful flowers every week for a whole year? If you have someone in your life who’s deserving of an incredible treat, this is it. Just customise this patchwork, send it out to friends and family to chip in, then let the flowers roll in. Your loved one will be reminded of the people who love them every single week, and their house will smell blooming lovely.

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crowdfund birthday handbag patchwork gift ideas
Gift Ideas

Sophie’s Handbag – Funded by Friends

by Ismay Ozga
written by Ismay Ozga

Sophie-Rose is a musician and songwriter in the band Paradisia, and has just turned 27. In the months leading up to her birthday she fell in love. With a bag. So she decided to patchwork it, asking her friends to chip in and make her handbag dreams a reality. Sophie tells us all about the new love of her life and why Patchwork worked for her.

Tell us about this dream handbag…

I decided to fund a Céline trio zip bag, the most practical, beautifully constructed handbag a girl could ask for! I’m not into labels in a big way. I like to mix high street pieces with vintage finds but when it comes to coats, bags and shoes I like to invest. These are the things you wear everyday. So it’s important they are made of quality materials, well crafted and made to last. The Céline bag is all of these things. It’s not too blingy, it’s not an obvious statement or too fashion-y. It’s a classic. So it’ll last me through the seasons and as trends come and go.

Why did you decide to fund one big gift rather than ask for lots of little ones?

I’ve got all the little things I need. If I want a new book, t-shirt or mascara I can go and buy myself one. But on an artist’s income it’s not so easy to afford those investment pieces that I daydream about. I’d been saving up, but my birthday meant I could use Patchwork to ask family and friends to help me reach my target. I think as you get older you fixate on those long lasting, timeless possessions you can keep forever and then eventually hand over to your children. This is very much the case with my Céline!

What did your family and friends think of your request?

They loved the idea! My sister actually made the Patchwork and collected the cash so I didn’t know until my birthday who had contributed and whether I’d really be able to get the bag. It was the best thing when she turned up on my doorstep on the morning of my birthday. She’d been to Céline to buy the bag and had wrapped it up with a card and everyone’s messages. And I was (and still am) just so happy with it. Every time I look down at my bag I am reminded of my lovely friends and family and their generous offering, I made sure the patchwork ranged from £10 – £200 so all my friends could afford to give something. Then I sent everyone photos of me and my bag to say thanks for the BEST GIFT EVER. And a few of my friends are now making their own patchworks for Christmas!

Thank you for chatting to us about your beautiful bag Sophie! And a big belated happy birthday from Team Patchwork.

If this has inspired you to fund a bag for a loved one, you can customise our template handbag patchwork here, or browse our birthday gift ideas. Or create a patchwork from scratch now.

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