Holiday Design Ideas for Custom Gifts

If you're tired of giving the same gifts year after year, maybe this is the year to spice things up.

Studies have shown that 68% of Americans prefer a personalized gift over a generic, store-bought one. More than half also said they would keep a personalized gift longer.

So how does one go about getting a personalized gift made? If you want to give unique holiday gifts this year, keep reading to find out some great holiday design ideas so you can achieve this.

Why Design Your Own Holiday Products?

As we said before, a study of 2,000 Americans showed they would prefer a personalized gift—spending time on something before you give a gift can show the receiver that you really care about them.

Creating your own design can be a unique way of expressing how you feel about each person. For example, you can create something humorous for someone with a great sense of humor or design something to match the personal style of a friend or colleague.

Holiday Design Ideas

There are so many design ideas out there; it's the perfect time to spread some cheer with the holidays coming up.

Some design ideas to get you started are:

Monograms: design a unique monogram for your best friend and their partner, or just use the first letter of their name to personalize their gift. 

Cash in on the occasion: theme your designs to the event, i.e., snowmen for Christmas, bunnies for Easter, etc.

Use a photo: if you have a special photo of a loved one, print that onto a keepsake for a memorable gift this year.

The sky really is the limit, so take some time, grab some inspiration from the web, and get ready to give the best gifts this season.

Products to Print Your Designs

When it comes to personalized gifts, there are some top options that make excellent choices. We've compiled a list of some of them to get you started. Let's go.

T-shirts

Source: redbubble.com

Gildan Adult Heavy Cotton 5.3 oz T-Shirt

Known as the classic cotton t-shirt, the Gildan G500 is a well-made garment. It's made of 100% preshrunk cotton so that it won't change shape after washing. With a careful selection of more than 60 colors, you will definitely find the right color to match your design. This is also a great choice if you're only just learning to screenprint.

Best for: Direct to Garment (DTG), Heat Press Printing, Vinyl, and Screen Printing
Not recommended for: Sublimation

Gildan Adult Heavy Cotton 5.3 oz. Long-Sleeve T-Shirt

You can't go wrong with custom shirts. With double-needle stitching throughout, you can guarantee you're getting quality when you choose the G540 from Gildan. This long-sleeved t-shirt is made with sustainable and fairly grown USA cotton and would be a great personalized gift for an environmentally conscious recipient.

Best for: Direct to Garment (DTG), Heat Press Printing, Vinyl, and Screen Printing
Not recommended for: Sublimation

Sweatshirts and Hoodies

Gildan Adult Heavy Blend 8 oz 5050 Hood

Classic American comfort is synonymous with hoodies, and you can't go wrong with the Gildan G185. Made from pill-resistant air jet yarn, you can be sure it will always look as great as the day you gave it. Available in 39 colors, you shouldn't have trouble finding the perfect color.

Best for: Vinyl and Screen Printing
Not recommended for: Sublimation and Direct to Garment (DTG)

Tote Bags

Source: Pinterest.com

Aster Non-Woven Core Tote Bag

Made from 80-gram non-woven polypropylene, this Aster non-woven core tote bag is perfect for HTV (heat transfer vinyl), which is a fantastic way to create a personalized gift. In addition, the tote bag has 22" handles and is water-resistant, making it a versatile tote in any weather.

Best for: Vinyl and Screen Printing
Not recommended for: Sublimation

Sublimation Print Ceramic Mug

A fantastic gift for the coffee drinker in your life, or even office gifts over the festive season. This ceramic, polyester-coated mug is the best option for sublimation printing. The ceramic mugs hold 11 oz and are available only in white.

Best for: Sublimation

Beverage Can Coolers

Source: Zazzle.com

Premium Can Cooler

If you're looking for a gift for the party-goer in your group, this is a perfect option. This Kan-Tastic beverage holder is an insulated can cooler made from laminated open cell foam. This handy gift folds flat when you don't need it and transports easily and conveniently. In addition, this premium can cooler is available in a wide range of colors to meet any design requirement.

Best for: Sublimation

How to Design Your Own Gifts?

Now that you know what is out there to throw your personalized design onto, how do you go about getting it done?

Find Your Gift

First, you will want to determine what product you wish to customize. As we've said above, popular options are blank t-shirts, sweatshirts, tote bags, hats, mugs, hoodies, etc.

Once you've found your product, make sure it's completely blank; otherwise, any other design already there will detract from your personalization.

Create Your Design

Once you know what product you're designing for, this should tell you which printing method you need to use. 

However, now you can get started on the actual creative part. There are a few ways to do this, depending on your skill level:

1. Search Online

If you're not particularly creative yourself, you can always search online for an image to use. Just be aware not to break copyright by selling any creation you make from the design.

2. Stencils

You can purchase stencils if you want to achieve particular lettering on your personalized gift.

3. Use Design Software

And finally, if you are familiar with programs like Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator, you can create your design in the program, applying any skills you have to build the image, and print it out ready to use.

Time to Transfer

Once your design is complete and ready for use, it's time to get the image onto your product using the method that is best suited to your item.

We'll list a few standard options; however, some methods may require specialized equipment. If you want further information, you can also read this handy guide on how to design a t-shirt.

• Screen Printing
• Sublimation
• Heat Press Printing
• Vinyl
• Direct-to-Garment

You may need to invest a little into some equipment for some of these methods we've listed. For example, you would want a sublimation heat press machine if you want to transfer your design onto blank mugs.

Customized Gifts at Your Fingertips

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Creating unique and exciting gifts has never been easier with these holiday design ideas. It also makes a great hobby that can make a little extra money on the side if you decide to invest in some printing equipment.

The sky is the limit when it comes to your imagination, so create the design of your dreams and then head on over to our shop to find the perfect gift.