How To Choose Christening Gifts Everyone Will Love
How To Choose Christening Gifts Everyone Will Love
Christening gifts are not meant to sit at the back of a cupboard gathering dust. They are to be admired and treasured. Finding the perfect christening gift can feel like a daunting task. But, if the traditional options of silver jewellery or tableware don't inspire, there is no reason to panic. There are plenty more options for the most discerning of shoppers. But, the most surprising of all options for christening presents is to give an enamel sign. While it may not feel like an obvious choice, there are hundreds of reasons why a custom-designed, handmade enamel sign deserves to make its way into your shopping cart. Get inspired by our ideas to ensure that your gift sticks out from the rest.
Baptism Gifts: Tradition Has It…
Unsurprisingly, the tradition of giving christening gifts is very old. The first recorded christening gifts date back to the fourth century. It was a time of religious conflict. Because of this, Christian leaders made sponsorship mandatory for all new members of the religion. So, when a child was born, the family of the newborn called upon their friends and relatives to sponsor the child. The gifts they bestowed upon the child were meant to symbolise the gifts given to Jesus by the three kings. Subsequently, the tradition has expanded. In Tudor times, silver was considered a good investment as it would help to keep the child from falling on hard times. Giving silver gifts became even more popular during the reign of Queen Victoria and this is where the phrase ‘Born with a silver spoon in his mouth’ originates from.
Why Do Enamel Signs Make Great Christening Gifts?
Parents who value quality craftsmanship and handmade products will love the idea of an enamel sign. Not only do they provide an alternative to shop bought gifts, they are also a piece of history. The personal design will
An enamel sign is a metal plaque that has been coated in layers of glass powder. It is then fired in a kiln. Thanks to the heat, the glass particles melt together and create a sleek, smooth layer of enamel. In addition, craftsmen add a personal touch with a bespoke message or design. The craftsmen then use authentic typefaces and hand stencilled lettering to add the finishing details to the sign. At RAMSIGN, we create keepsakes designed to suit any occasion. You are the designer. Use the authentic Danish design elements to turn our signs into truly personal christening gifts.
Christening Gifts
Ideas for Personalised Christening Gifts
Now that you have chosen your object of desire, it is time to think about customizing it. Unusual christening presents require extra special care and attention. But, their one-of-a-kind quirkiness also scores them extra keepsake points. To help convince you that enamel signs are the gift of choice for christenings, we have compiled a list of our favourite ideas. Discover everything from:
- Nursery signs
- Door signs
- Bookshelf decor
- Love tokens
- Prayer plaques
And more creative ideas.
Unique Christening Presents for a Baby Nursery
No child’s nursery is complete without a personalised nameplate. So, use the christening as an opportunity to add a creative touch to the newborn's living space. There are so many ways to design a nursery sign. However, the design that you will choose will depend on the personality of the baby and the parents. You can either go for a timeless piece that will follow the child through life, or opt for a classic nameplate. This thoughtful christening gift will make a lasting impression and it can be completely personalised to reflect the interior decor of the nursery. Don't forget, you can decorate the signs with icons such as a baby’s rattle, a rubber duck, a heart or, whatever takes your fancy - the design is yours to play with. Here are some of our favourite nursery sign ideas
- May your dreams become your reality
- Sweet dreams (name of child), (your name) loves you!
- Chase your wildest dreams (name of child)
Christening Gifts for Boys - Share Your Best Advice
Knowledge is the best gift anyone can receive. So, set the little one up for a life of success with some welcome words of wisdom. This gift idea is trans-generational and is something that makes a lovely christening gift for the child to pass on to their children when the time comes. Choose an inspirational quote or a heartwarming song lyric and mix your personality with practicality. Timeless gifts like these have endless possibilities for personalisation. Perhaps add in a small annotation with their name and the date of their christening so that their special day will always be remembered with fondness.
For this idea, use the child’s name, a crucifix icon, the date and a simple phrase such as ‘On your Christening day. Next, place your words of wisdom underneath so that they will always be associated with the baptism day.
If you are struggling to put your advice into words, quote the Bible! ‘‘The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want’- Psalm 23’ is a wonderful phrase to add to a sign.
Baby Christening Presents - All Roads Lead to Home
A baby, of course, does not need a custom house sign. However, turn the concept on its head and create something that will always remind them of their roots. Personalise a sign with coordinates so that the newborn will always know where to find love, care and a fully stocked fridge. Simply use a maps system such as Google Maps, enter the special place you would like to commemorate and press search. Up pops the coordinates of the chosen location. Simply copy and paste these into the design notes and voila! You have a unique christening gift!
You could even add a phrase to the sign, such as: “If lost, please return to…” to give the sign a comical twist.
Hang the sign in the nursery over the cot to add a creative and modern touch to the decor. Then, once grown and living in a house of their own, they can place the sign in their home to bring back childhood memories.
Christening Gifts
Christening Present Ideas - A Keepsake Box Like No Other
A child is sure to receive a wonderful selection of good christening gifts from their loved ones. However, to keep these gifts looking as good as new, it's important to store them in a safe place, away from little grubby hands. To give the parents a helping hand, design a keepsakes box and fasten a custom made porcelain enamel sign to the top, hand stencilled with the child’s name on it. However large or small the box may be, this idea is two gifts in one. Use the box to store christening gifts and cards. Then, later on, you can turn it into a memento box for life’s achievements.
- Add the phrase '(name of child's) treasure box' for a playful touch
- 'My life in photos and memories' is a timeless option that suits both adults and children. If left nameless, pass the box on for generations so that others can also enjoy it.
Christening Presents for a Girl - A New Addition
If you are looking for a Goddaughter gift that celebrates the newborn’s family, a commemorative sign is a thoughtful idea. Give thanks to the parents for choosing you to form part of the extended family and present the newborn with a keepsake that tells their birth story. With the family expanding and the home environment changing, it is time to honour this new event in the family’s life. This is a sign that is so versatile that it can be placed anywhere in the house. In the baby’s bedroom, in the entranceway or displayed pride of place in the living room. Not only is it a beautiful sign idea that incorporates each member of the family, but it is also a great conversation starter for when guests come to visit. Here are some top tips for creating a commemorative enamel sign:
- Choose a clear, light background such as our Highlander white.
- Make your text stand out with an eye-catching shade of your choice.
- Finish off the design with a sleek and sophisticated trim.
Christening Presents UK: Baby Door Sign
Now that there is a new addition to the family, one more bedroom is needed in the home. Nesting is all part of the maternal process of welcoming the baby into the new home. And custom door signs make wonderful Godchild christening gifts. Unlike a regular nursery sign, a door nameplate displays just the child’s first name . This creates a special place for the newborn and welcomes them into the home. Use the child’s name and create a truly personal sign using the colour scheme of the decor and a carefully selected icon such as a toy car or a ballet slipper. This classic design idea will be something that can be used throughout the ages as the child grows into a teenager.
Photos and Memories
Children grow up at a tremendous speed and it is so easy to forget the special moments that life brings. One way to ensure that these milestones are captured for posterity is by taking photos. If you are looking for christening gift ideas, try your hand at a simple DIY project. A handmade photo holder is sure to put a smile on the faces of the child’s parents. It is the perfect gift for the nursery, the living room or anywhere in the home where the parents want to proudly display their newborn baby. If the couple has more than one child the sign could be used to display photos of all the children to celebrate a united family.
Simply follow these quick instructions to make this handmade christening gift.
- Use a rectangular piece of wood, either left plain or painted in a colour that suits the interior decor or the baby’s home.
- Place a personalised enamel sign on the piece of wood, then drill three holes underneath and attach cute doorknobs to the wood.
- Take three picture frames and attach some ribbon to the top of the frames and hang them on the doorknobs.
- Fill the frames with photos and give a gift that no one else will have thought of.
Christening Signs
Peace Be With You… Religious Christening Gifts
Baptism is the welcoming of a person into the Christian faith. It is the first big commitment that a person makes to God and the church. At the baptism, the parents and Godparents make a promise. This promise ensures that the child is brought up in the Christian faith until he or she is ready to confirm their faith. Celebrate this momentous occasion in the child’s faith and give a sign showing your favourite psalm or prayer on a sign. Long or short, these Biblical references will remind the child of the positive influence their faith has on their life. Bible quotes don’t have to be super religious, many parts of the bible teach strong life lessons that apply to anyone in life, regardless of their religion. Enamel signs showing a favourite Bible quote are the best christening presents for religious families.
Godchild Christening Presents - Give Thanks!
Godparents play a crucial role in christening the child. To say thanks, there is nothing more personal than a custom made sign. It is a nice keepsake to always remind the chosen person of the bond shared with their Godchild. Perhaps something humorous such as ‘Not all friends get to be Godparents’ could put a smile on their face. Or, make it personal and include a love note from the child to the Godparents. Use their names and a custom icon such as a cross or a love heart. Giving a Godparent christening gift is a truly meaningful and personal token of thanks. It will remind them of their importance in the life of the child. Another option could include the date of the christening and the phrase ‘I became (name of child's) Godparent on….’. When it comes to customising an enamel sign, the possibilities are endless.
Ask Nick:
How to Customise an Enamel Sign?
If you are ready to get creative head straight to the 'Customise a Sign' section via the nav bar. You will reach a page with many design options to choose from. Simply add in your text and adjust the appearance. If you require further customisation, select the advance customisation option and fill in the form.
Break From Tradition…
Silver christening gifts remain a popular choice, but it doesn’t allow for your creativity to shine through. Break from tradition and allow for the newborn to feel a true connection with you that will last for years. At RAMSIGN, we make each one of our signs with care and attention to detail making them true works of art. Adapt our authentic Danish designs to suit any occasion or dwelling. Our master craftsmen lovingly transform your chosen design from a flat 2D printed proof into a delicately enamelled sign. They even hand stencil your wording to create a raised relief detailing. The strong durable qualities of porcelain enamel mean that it is extremely durable and will survive extreme temperature changes. They are also graffiti resistant. This makes them perfect nursery signs for when the little one discovers the fun of marker pens.
