As per thread title. Post everything here, including asking for suggestions etc. i suggest before asking, use this thread by browsing thru what has already been posted


When asking for some suggestions, give us an idea like, the kinda stuff she likes, the kind of person she is, and of course your budget and any skills that can be used to make your own present. If u cant be bothered to give us these details, we simply wont bother to help out

This post has been edited by Baronic: Sep 14 2009, 09:57 PM

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If there's anything more exciting and fun than giving a present to your loved one and seeing their face glow, its the joy of actually making this present for her. As my girl's birthday, valentines, and anniversary were practically within the same month time period, i decided, instead of buying something, i wanted to make something! Something that would cover nicely all three events as a present. Of course i'll be taking her out for some nice food as well. Anyway, as i impulsively abandoned the vanity mirror she actually asked me to get for her birthday and walked past rows of shops, i was wondering what the heck i was going to make?!

I do do some oil painting back in the old days, but handicraft was generally out of bounds for me, and definitely out of my comfort zone. Unless its painting, unfortunately my imagination and capability of managing and manipulating materials to look pretty is just beyond my average handicraft skills. But still, i was so hyped up about the idea, i wanted to give it a shot anyway. I've never before made something for anyone (poems not included).

So i came across this shop in 1Utama, its sorta like on the bridge linking the old and new wing together, towards the end of the bridge, towards the old wing side. A nice well stocked shop with ample arts and crafts supplies! I spent about half an hour just walking to and fro in this shop thinking of the various combinations i could make before one of the shop attendants offerred some advice. After another 45 minutes, i walked out, and had already blown my budget, by almost 200% lol. But still, i was really hyped up with the idea of doing this. So this is what i did in the end.

The box costs about thirty bucks, and has various shapes and sizes. Of course price would vary based on design and size. There was one i really wanted to get, a nice mini cupboard to put on the table with cute drawers for jewelry. But it costs about 130 bucks. lol. Bad idea for a student like me.

Paint was another 30 odd, plus another 30 for Gloss. I decided to not go for the filler that i was recommended to get, nor this nice paint with glitters in them. I simply didnt have time. It was kinda impulsive and unplanned and i had a 1 week deadline. Filler itself would take almost a week to properly dry.

I recommend painting it in one direction, and buying a smaller sized brush to paint those tight corners. Make the whole surface even, dont keep doing a small part over and over again. When its done, then you may try to apply another coating. I applied three coatings. Make sure the paints truly dry and not just dry to the touch.

WARNING : Should dry fast unless you applied too thick a layer of paint. Avoid it, spread your paint and don't let it pool.

I recommend using a good quality nylon brushes, not those cheap rough brushes u usually find at book stores. Around 4 bucks a brush depending on size.

Use a pallet and make sure u shake the bottle of accrylic paint before pouring. Don't pour out too much first.

WARNING: I highly recommend using a plastic to put on the table. Newspaper would stick to the paint and come out and tear and stick on your box. A nightmare

For me, it took around 4 hours between coatings, with air conditioner on to make the room dry and under the sun.

I then wrote my poem which i composed for her (the first word in every sentence also reads I Love You). XD Pen costs about 20-30 bucks i can't recall. A special all surface pen.
After that. Apply the gloss. Be slow and light across the words, so that they don't run! I then cut out the wood carvings i bought (another 30 odd bucks), and pasted them as imaginatively as i could around the box.

I then pasted the mirror i bought, all with strong UHU glu. Other super glue would work as well. Incidentally, while i was still working on this, my girl and I were out shopping (window shopping) in Sunway Pyramid, Asian Avenue. She spotted this felt like material which she said was "so pwetty!!!". Its actually to be used for handphones and such. So i decided to tell her to choose one which i will incorporate into her surprise present. (i told her i was making her something, but didn't tell her what. Wanted to torture her with the suspense. heh heh.)

So she picked a pattern out, and i used it as the inside of the box. Its soft to the touch, and not very expensive, around 20 bucks, and gives it a posh look and feel.


When she finally openned the matching pink wrapping paper i used and finally saw her present, she was absolutely bursting with happiness! The smile and wide eyed happiness she displayed as she hugged and kissed me will be a memory i will cherish till the end of days. Despite blowing my budget, i'm absolutely glad i did what i did for her. The adventure of doing it and the anticipation of seeing her reaction was extremely exciting. And after so long of not doing any art work, it was a sweet and delicious reminder of why i used to do oil painting. Once classes start though i'll never have time unfortunately, sigh.

If there's anything i regret, is i wished i had more time to really soup up my present for my baby. She may love it, but i always feel like i could have done something more.

For references for people who may wish to try this and get a feel of expenses.

Box: RM 30 (vary on size and quality)
Brushes: RM 10
Accrylic Paint: RM 30 per colour
Gloss: RM 30
Wood Carvings: RM 30
Pallet: cheap, u can use anything, negligible
Thick Felt for the Bottom: RM 10 (cut to fit, u'll have left overs)
Velvet Material from Sunway Pyramid: RM 20
Mirrors: RM 20
Pen RM 20

Total: RM 200

Memory and joy of giving the present, and the love she showed me: Priceless

This post has been edited by Baronic: Sep 14 2009, 10:10 PM


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good idea. it doesnt even have to be a book, but like wooden cards strung together. PS: feel free to use the search function for other present threads for more suggestions, but if u bump em, i'll lock em.

not u la, referring to the other non sticky threads. i cant merge them here too messy thats why.

@greenstar, nice idea. suggest using thick cardboard for 3 d effects

i'm not sure of the name of the shop but i think its teddy tales, they sorta like, provide teddy bears which u can personalise the clothings and stuff maybe put in those "press me i speak" stuff

some times its not just the present but the way the present is presented. lol, unintentional pun. hmmm, u can get her a nice teddy, but dont just "nah, a teddy for u baby"

U're gonna meet up, who's meeting who? if u picking her up, try like, on the phone before meeting up, maybe say u're bringing a "friend" u'd like to introduce her too? and then put your teddy in the front seat where she would seat and put safety belt and flowers. then when u reach she comes to see u, u step out of car, and she'll say where's your friend? then u show her the teddy, take the bouquet of flowers and present it to her. its still a teddy. but 10/10 for presentation. lol

it would depend on your guy's taste? what kinda person he is, more info would be good. but for me no, it doesnt have to be sexual. my gf used to make cards for her ex. i didnt get any. so when i got a really pretty handmade card from her for my birthday finally, i was pretty ecstatic. the thrill of sexual presents tend to end when its over (unless you're the abstinence kind). i prefer sweet romantic experiences to it.

lol wats a habib necklace?

why not put in tissue box. she'll think its a joke but under the tissue paper, a ring?

i think art shops ought to have that pen for glass writing?

big teddy bears are pretty easy to find what? try places like hallmark? or those gift shops. does it have to be big, sunway pyramid got a nice teddy shop. cant remember the name

it depends how much thought u put in the teddy la. like if u simply grab anything off the shelf any present wud be insincere

salutes!!! some damn good ideas there dude haha.

stars and notes are nice, but she'd have to undo like 100 stars? lol. 2 days is a very short time but u still can do something if u spend all day. maybe u can expand on this but do something about the times u missed her when she was away? instead of reasons u love her.

i wrote with a pen. lololol

all from the shop dude. accrylic

art shops?

in 1U got a place called ART ATTACK next to MPH i think got paint for shirts

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Added on December 27, 2009, 8:23 amthis is a lil late but maybe u cud during the date, keep saying how u dun give presents for christmas, ever, and then at the end of the date only give it to her?

This post has been edited by Baronic: Dec 27 2009, 08:23 AM

the thing and boy's toys is that its for functionality purposes, not aesthetic or really for sentimental value. so you would actually need to know what he NEEDS/WANTS before getting anything. maybe either ask him or his colleagues if he's been pining for something.

IMHO if its gadgets, i'd prefer my girl ask me what i want. rather than get me something i dont need or cant use