Ace the gifting game with my handpicked selection of chic stationery essentials!
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Who doesn’t love buying or receiving new and interesting stationery items? Selecting the right piece is not that simple, however, thanks to the dizzying array of options out there. And that’s why you need me, the self-proclaimed Oprah of Stationery Gift Giving, to make things easier with this handy guide! Affordable, high-quality and guaranteed to spark joy, these top ten stationery gift items will make you the star gifter of the party!
Vibrant Highlighters
Remember when lime green and neon pink were the only available options in highlighters? We now have the next generation of highlighters in every hue and tone possible, from warm to pastel to bright. This Stabilo Highlighter Desk Set is not only a beautiful mix of colors but a complete showstopper and conversation starter. It adds a cheery pop of color to any desk and will spark tons of compliments!
Vintage Paper Clips
Aesthetic and functional, vintage style paper clips are a must have for any artist, reader, journal keeper, student or stationery enthusiast. If you follow me on social media you might be familiar with my collection of these beautiful paper clips. I have lost count of the number of questions and compliments around this Vintage Lady's Hand Shaped Book Clip and highly recommend it as the perfect gift for the holidays.
Multi Surface Markers
Imagine a marker that can write over glass, metal, fabric, paper and more! Lots of research and many unsuccessful purchases later, I finally found the perfect multi surface writing instruments in the form of this Uni Posca Acrylic Paint Marker Set. They are said to have been tested on over 50 types of surfaces and are available in a range of colors and tip sizes. The white marker is my absolute favorite. I recently used it on a black page journal spread and loved the outcome!
Glitzy Disc Planners
The humble planner has had many a glow up and how! Although I have tons of notebooks for freeform creative journaling I always fall back on planners for more structured task and calendar management. The one brand I favor by far has always been the Levenger Circa Notebook system which can be customized with beautiful shiny discs in gold, silver, copper, ultra violet and more! You can get a glimpse of my Circa obsession here!
Awesome Acrylic Paints
Anyone who has used acrylic paints even once knows how robust and bright the end result can be. They can be used on a variety of surfaces and depending on the brand, can be blended together too. My top pick for the sheer number of colors available and other key attributes like non-toxicity and even spreadability is the Arteza Acrylic Paint Set series. This year I have their gorgeous Iridescent Paint Set at the top of my wish list. Looking for a kid-friendly holiday activity? Use this Pouring Paint Set and some canvases to create acrylic pour art and enjoy hours of memorable fun!
Inspiring Art Books
Though not technically a stationery item, a good collection of inspiring art and craft books is like having access to a friendly, encouraging art teacher at all times. I was most excited when Kasia Avery, the founder of my favorite art journaling class Wanderlust wrote this wonderful book - Creative Wanderlust - that echoes a lot of the experiences and teachings from that course. The book encourages artists of all levels to embrace imperfections and make art fearlessly without judgement. There are lots of tips and lessons to get started on the colorful world of art journaling and mixed media. An outstanding gift for anyone on a creative journey - do check it out!
Must-have Sticker Books
The only stationery item I bought not once but twice this year was this Boho Dreams sticker book which has color-coordinated stickers in dreamy, etheareal imagery. Once you go down the sticker book rabbit hole it is impossible to have any self-control given how beautiful they all are! Vintage scrapbooking enthusiasts will love the Antiquarian series with its sticker imaginations of Bilbliophilia, nature and Victorian Era charms. There are also sticker books for planning enthusiasts, vision board makers, lettering afficionados and Harry Potter fans!
Artists’ Color Pencils
I first learned about the Derwent Inktense color pencil range when I took an art journaling course and this set was on every teacher's supply list! Most of us remember those color pencils from elementary school art period that would chip and smudge all over the page. Not any more! These pencils are like a magic wand - use as a regular pencil for vibrant finishes or add to water and create transluscent effects like a real watercolor artist! Use a waterbrush to blend two colors or water down to make a lighter pigment shade; the possibilities are endless!
Festive Washi Tapes
Fact - you can never have enough washi tapes! Versatile and available in endless color and design options, the popularity of washi tapes just keeps growing. They make the best stocking stuffers for artists and creative hobbyists of all ages but it can certainly get confusing to make the right pick. My current favorite and must-have washi tapes come from the Scotch Expressions Glitter line (yes the same Scotch brand that makes regular tapes!) for their glittery, non-messy metallic finishes and wide range of colors. Need more ideas for festive washi tapes? Head to this article for more varieties to explore!
Dual Tip Brush Markers
If there is one stationery item that dominates the Pen and Paper Plans studio, it is the Tombow Dual Brush Pen Art Markers. My collection doesn't show signs of slowing down and is further enabled by regular new bundle releases in coordinating palettes. I even started a journal called Swatch and Collage inspired by these dual tip wonders. Use the brush side for fancy lettering and the tip side for bold titles; the lighter shades make great highlighters too!
I hope this article gave you some great ideas and inspiration on choosing the perfect stationery item for your near and dear ones this holiday season. If you want to keep some or all of these cute supplies for yourself it is totally fine, completely understandable and highly encouraged! Happy holidays, happy gifting and happy journaling!
Top Stationery Gifts - Gallery
Take a closer look at the stationery selections mentioned
in the article in the gallery below.
