In the last 3-5 years, it’s become a kind of Finding Wonderland tradition to curate a simple little “gift guide.” It’s a term I use loosely since it’s in no way inclusive of all of the things or ideas there are out there. Still, it’s just fun to create these with, hopefully, some possible options. Some of which go to the book camp (because, let’s be real, we like books). Let’s take a look this year’s (still simple) Christmas 2021 gift guide.
LIST | A List of Fun DIY Christmas Gift Ideas
I cannot promise this won’t repeat last year’s options (in part), but I will strive to add some new and different things. The format should be about the same, and then we’ll work out from there. So, for 2021, I’m sharing books (pretty much this is a “rule” for us here), and there they’ll be some of the usual Amazon tech things plus some other random things I like. Or if you’re more of a DIY person, in 2020, I did share a few ideas in that area.
Since this will get long (or at least longer than need be), we’ll just jump in, and take a look at what we’ll feature for this gift guide!
CHRISTMAS 2021 GIFT GUIDE
BOOKS & SEASONAL FICTION
If you have a book lover on your list, perhaps the best thing you can do in gifting them something is a gift card to your favorite bookish retailer. There are places like Barnes & Noble, Baker Book House and others that you can purchase gift cards from. This I say from the experience of being a giftee of books. It’s tough to try and tell someone your favorite genre, and even worse, they have no way of knowing what you own. If however a gift card isn’t your thing (WHY!?), then here’s some book ideas.
Please Note: we did remove the store links from the books. Simple type in the title of any book retail store, and you should find these.
Adult Fiction | As Dawn Breaks, Kate Breslin;Whose Waves These Are, Amanda Dykes (an impressive WWII novel); The Crushing Depths, Dani Pettrey (a great read for those who enjoy a suspenseful – but not too scary, adventure story!); A Midnight Dance, Joanna Davidson Politano; The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay; After She Falls, Carmen Shober; Tacos for Two, Betsey St. Amant; Autumn By the Sea, Melissa Tagg; Let It Be Me, Becky Wade (not my most favorite from Wade, but still another good one!); Is It Any Wonder (an emotional contemporary read that ends well), Courtney Walsh; and many other possibilities.
Seasonal | From YA lit to adult, and historical fiction, if you have someone on your list who enjoys Christmas romances and Hallmark Channel films, they might like any of the following. *Please note: several of these titles are secular fiction, and contain adult language or other content.
So, this is Christmas by Tracy Andreen; The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham Christmas at Whitefriars by Elizabeth Camden; We Met in December by Rosie Curtis; 10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston; While It was Snowing by Tari Faris; Kiss the Girl by Melanie Jacobson; The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox; The Holiday Switch by Tif Marcelo; A Picture of Christmas by Bell Renshaw; Kiss Me in New York by Catherine Rider (a contemporary YA with rom-com elements); You and Me by Becky Wade; A Match Made at Christmas by Courtney Walsh; and so many more! Looking for more seasonal fiction? Take a look at this year’s Christmas fiction list!
YA Fiction | The Betrayed, Kiera Cass (book two in Cass’ two book duo); Jo & Laurie (the YA historical I didn’t know I needed), Melissa de la Cruz and Margaret Stohl; Enamored, Jody Hedlund; As if On Cue, Marissa Kanter; The Upside of Falling, Alex Light (this one is all kinds of cute!); Sunkissed, Kasie West; A Taste for Love, Jennifer Yen; and SO many other options!
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CUTE BOOKMARK FUN
Speaking of bookmarks, these super cute cat bookmarks are darling! My sis used to love cats, and we had a host of farm cats, so I’d have gotten these for her back when she was a kid and still a reader. Also, they just make me smile. They also make them in a dog bookmark, too.
FOR THE TECHNOLOGY LOVING BOOK WORM (OR JUST TECH LOVER!)
Consider putting one of the popular Amazon devices under the tree this year! You can choose from the Kindle Fires (which are more like iPads and act as more of a tablet + reader in one; my mother loves hers) or the Kindle Paperwhite. These will very likely run on sale in the new week or so, so keep an eye on that!
FASHION
A shop (Etsy) I’ve talked about before is Conviction Co. I love their pro-America messaging (such as this ‘USA 1776’ Sweatshirt or this simple ‘USA’ sweatshirt) and their biblical shirts as well, like this Romans 12:2 ‘Non-Conformist’ sweatshirt, or if it’s more your thing, it’s on this T-Shirt.
There’s also a TON of cute Christmas Sweatshirts on Etsy. There’s a fun Christmas tree one; a vintage Santa design; and this simple, Merry & Bright, but fun, brightly colored design. If you want something more on the bookish end of things, there’s The Bookish Goods. Plus, to any of these things, you can add a fun headband (which are trending again!) or a cute scrunchie set, and yes, 90s kids, they are “cool” again.
Also, for the young fashionista, or for the girl who is perhaps just starting to look at makeup, consider curating a colorful set of scrunchies or a cute headband with maybe a mascara and eyeshadow palette or a Burt’s Bees or W3ll People lip gloss. *All depending on the person.
GIFT CARDS
Ok, here’s the deal. Pretty everyone but me is not into gift cards. To me, it says nothing more than, “Merry Christmas, find a new [insert item here] that you like, and enjoy!” I appreciate them and love the chance to go into Barnes & Noble or wherever the card may be from, and shop! But I know to others (like my family), it says you don’t care enough to pick something out. However, since I own way too many books for anyone to know what I have (and you may be in this situation, too), I’m one happy girl with a B&N (or Amazon!) gift card so I can pick out that book I’m excited to read.
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KIDS
If you’re shopping for kids, I feel like anything I’d suggest is way “out” of the cool game. When I was a kid, I was happy playing with next to nothing, meaning I didn’t have the “latest and greatest” but I also didn’t care. Now days it feels like kids get one thing and before it wears out, they want something else. But I did see a couple of cute things, mainly for young kids.
This cute “puzzle” would make a fun gift for the littlelest littles on your list, and more fun, it’s personalized. This bow and arrow archery set is also all kinds of cute! If they love art, this Crayola master art kit looks colorful (naturally!) and fun, too. Speaking of creative, there’s also these play dough, sensory kits from Etsy! There’s a cat one; this army set; and this construction kit. They look cute.
From Little Texan Design, how cute is this little crewneck for the young kids on your list?
LITERARY LOVER
If the person on your list likes literary things, Etsy is full of all kinds of literary homages; among other options. A few of which includes a cute Louisa May Alcott mug that pays homage to her classic Little Women; there’s this simple, but sweet Jane Austen inspired calendar; and illustration print of Amy March and Laurie; or this Louisa May Alcott ‘Jo’ quote.
If you love Austen things, this coaster set is fun or this gorgeous ‘touch’ print. This Jane Eyre inspired t-shirt is also cute.
Finally, same as year’s prior, I have to shout-out these gorgeous Thomas Nelson, limited edition ‘season’ classics. They would be perfect to gift to those who love literary things! Their last drop were “fall editions” which include Anne of Green Gables + Sense and Sensibility, Dracula and Shakespeare in Autumn.
SPA DAY
I’ve been seeing some cute almost “gift basket” things in advertisements and the like. This got me thinking it may be fun to put together one for anyone you know who might enjoy that sort of thing.
Curate a customized gift basket with things like cute slippers, loungewear, bubble bath, or fun gift sets from clean skin care brands like Ilia or Credo Beauty.
That wraps up this Christmas 2021 gift guide; what is on your list this year? Do you have any amazing places to shop or things to add to a list? Leave all of your best ideas or thoughts below – we always love MORE ideas! What’s your favorite kind of gift to receive, and most importantly to give? Whatever you’re giving this year, remember, have fun with it.
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What a great guide! I agree, it can be hard to buy specific books for book lovers, so gift cards are definitely the way to go (unless they can give you a list). My sister gave me a Kindle almost two years ago, and it has turned out to be the best gift. I was so resistant to getting one, but I got so much use out of it when my library was closed and I’ve just gotten really used to it! Bookmarks or other cute bookish items are always welcome, too!
Thanks for reading, Angela. I appreciate this. :) My mother LOVES her Kindle and we’ve replaced it a few times because it stops working right. I got her the last one probably two years ago for Mother’s Day and she always loves it. I never did get “into” mine and so my broken one is still sitting around. ;) I’m someone who loves gift cards and you can ALWAYS find fun bookish stuff on places like Etsy. :)
Fun list! I also love gift cards. :)
SO MUCH SAME!