Notes, on gifts!

Well I have noticed that I grew up with this habit of writing notes, or little phrases on whatever gift I buy! Especially if I am buying a book/novel for someone, I make sure to write a note at the 1st or/and last page...

Writing notes, and receiving ones means so much for me, much more even than the gift itself!

Have you ever written ones for someone ? or received..

if so what's the best note you've every written or received, or read...
And do you think it adds to the preciousness of the item

I always write notes on books I give as gifts....usually on the last page so they don't get it until the book is finished. When I buy a book for myself I usually put the date on the first page and write any words I find interesting on the back page...many of these words I've actually used in my poetry.

The most precious note I received was one that simply said "your a star" then the next day I received a certificate saying I'd had a star named after me...what a beautiful gift and....a very treasured one!

Well, I loved receiving notes with gift but I'm not that good in writing them.

I usually put the date on the first page and write any words I find interesting on the back page...many of these words I've actually used in my poetry.

^^

reallly interesting !!

and wow I love the gift you've received lol.. really beautiful..

I've received books with notes on them, from my uncle and a teacher. Other gifts usually have a card with them, and that's what I do. I've never really given a book as a gift before, so I've never written on the gift. I think writing notes/ cards on/with the gift makes the gift more precious, because it adds the sentimental value to the gift and makes it more personal.

Hellon.. that's a useful method. I do, somehow similar like you.. but only underlining the word and bending the page :p But I'll do like you the next time. Easier..

When I receive a gift, it would rarely has writing on it/its cover..

But when I give some a gift, yes I write... I think like Zahra said. It would be more precious.

When giving gifts I prefer them to have some kind of thoughtfulness or sentimental value behind them. As you've mentioned Nana, I sometimes like to add a little something to the gift that makes it sentimental, like write a personal message and a positive/inspirational quote. For instance, before graduation day I'd gotten gifts for all my classmates and inside every card I wrote a personal message and/or positive/inspirational quote to each person.

Aside from notes, I also like to make the gift itself sentimental. When someone tells me what they want, for a gift, it's nice to know that way I know they're going to like and it's something they're going to use, but I feel that takes away the sentimental value behind the gift. That is why I like to come up with the gift idea myself. Most preferably, as opposed to buying a gift I like to make the gift. For example: This year for Christmas, as a gift to my mother-in-law, I've decided to make her a Christmas decoration. She has a lot of spirit and loves decorating her home. I found a glass candle holder with frosted deer and Christmas tree designs and glued a wreath with pine cones and bright red, sparkle dusted cranberries to the bottom. I bought a bouquet of red and gold Poinsettias, plucked a few heads and arranged them among the empty spaces in the wreath. Then I found a warm, spiced apple candle to put in the holder. The only thing left I need to do is find vanilla scented coffee beans to fill-in around the candle. I'm quite happy how it's turned out, I can't wait to give it to her!

I don't often receive a lot of gifts with personal notes accompanying them, if I do they're either from one of my friends, Daphnee, from my fiance or from my family, like my aunt, my mom or grandma. One of the best notes I've received was from my fiance. It was Christmas and attached to his gift to me was a card. Inside that card he'd written a beautiful poem for me, a huge surprise because unlike myself he is not into poetry nor writes. After I read the poem I opened the gift to find a white gold necklace with a heart-shaped locket. That locket is my most treasured item, I've worn it ever since.

I usually drop the gift on the doormat,
wrapped in a note with cut-out words,
carefully wiped clean of prints and DNA,
ring the doorbell, run for cover, camera ready.

Wait,

do you mean someone you are not stalking?

I knew that parcel was from you, Larry!

Books are common gifts to me and from me. I'm an expert at writing notes, though I have to be careful with my handwriting, which tends to be a bit haphazard.

My father gave my mother a medical dictionary once (she has a fascination for disease), and wrote: "My love, Hoping you use this for interest only- yours, ...".

I used to work at a florist and I had to write card messages all the time for phone orders. Many tragically sad, expertly vindictive or explicitly saucy ones there. But the sweetest was for a bunch of roses on a Valentines Day with the simple message: "old and gray"

Yes, Abby, and thank you for trying it on in front of the bay window!
Priceless.

Books are my most common gift. I usually try to select something that will open a whole area for the recipient, but I find I must be careful not to either go too far astray of their interests yet not to be too obvious and dull. Books about or by Carl Jung, Hermann Hesse and Walker Percy are most likely choices.
Notes are as varied as the recipient.
I list words as well, Hellon, but on a sheet of paper used as a bookmark. I'm phobic about marking in books themselves, other than an inscription.

I tend to give a lot of people books as presents as well. Even if you're not a bit "literary" reader, I figure there are books out there to interest pretty much anyone. I don't write in books (the wannabe book restorer in me shivers) but I generally write long and goofy notes to go with whatever I'm giving.

Eli, you gave me an idea :P thanks, and what you've done for your Mother in law was super sweet!

as for LLAARRYY..

do you mean someone you are not stalking?

^^
HAHAHAHA that was for meant for me...wasn't it :P
if so, I cannot stop laughing...and nope no more stalking trust me :P lol

Isn't that funny, I give books away as gifts too.

Once I've finished a book, I "lend" it to someone else, if it's a worthwhile read. There are 20 or so books I could never part with for sentimental value, but the rest leave my door and rarely find their way back, which is just how I like it.

Oh, I'm too much of a book hoarder for that. I try to loosen up, but I just can't! I will have a personal library, and I will hover over all of my books, my preciousssssssss.....

Are we all book gifters here?

I keep my books, always have, but will buy a new one to give away.

"I don't write in books (the wannabe book restorer in me shivers)"
^^^
You're an awesome gal, Sibs.

I give people books as gifts quite often, yep.

As for giving books away, I like to collect. I have hardcovers and trade paperbacks which I would die before parting with. Sometimes I buy paperback versions of books that I'd like to have in hardcover if I don't have the extra money kicking around. I'll give those away If someone wants to borrow them because I'll just get the hardcover later. Except for Palahniuk, because even his paperback books are pricey and hardcovers are hard to come by.

Ahh, I keep my hardcovers, which are few and far between. I can't usually afford them. Paperbacks are cheap, and I buy them used, so they're not hard to part with. Actually, they are hard to part with, but part of me enjoys little instances of self-sacrifice.

I used to be a horrible hoarder. Age is exacerbating my obsessiveness with organization... hoarding makes organization hard.

By the way, I didn't realize this thread was about notes, haha. Sorry. Yes, I do write notes. I'm a master of heart-felt notes/letters/cards that make my recipients tear up. My dad keeps one on his desk to look at when he misses me.
I love receiving notes. There is one thing I'm guilty of hoarding... gift cards. More than half of them are from my late grandma. She sent me a letter for ever holiday (Valentine's, Christmas, St. Patty's, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Birthday, etc). Such a wonderful grandmother!

Age is exacerbating my obsessiveness with organization

^ hah :P really? is it?