BRAND NEW: Personalised Print Designs

As spring rolls into summer, I'm so happy to share some more fresh new designs that have just landed on the site!

My Square Personalised Print range has been here for a long time - lots of designs that you can choose to have printed either as an art print, or as a canvas print. And now there's lots of lovely brand new designs to choose from - perfect for all sorts of occasions, and all sorts of ages too.

I'd love you to head over to the site and let me know what you think - the new prints have taken weeks and weeks (and weeks!) of work, and I can honestly say I've been pouring my heart into them! 

Personalised prints are a reflection of you, your loved ones, and your most meaningful moments. I wanted to offer designs that you'll love to give as a thoughtful and lasting gift, but also something that you might like to have in your own home too.

The collection offers designs for all sorts of occasions - family and housewarming prints to celebrate your home and loved ones, nursery and new baby art perfect for their room or to give as a gift, designs for older children too, romantic anniversary prints to celebrate those milestones with genuine sentiment, and much more. 

The personalisation process is simple: choose your favourite design, add your personalisation details, and then select which print finish you would like. The square format for the prints give them a contemporary feel, and will add a lovely finishing touch in all sorts of settings and rooms.

As well as brand new designs, I've also been working on a refresh of lots of existing designs - improving and refining, updating colours, offering more colour choices, and introducing a new look to some old favourites.

The new personalised prints are created with love and care, combining thoughtful and heartfelt design with timeless designs. Browse the range now and discover the perfect print for your home or to gift to someone special.

Hope you like them! Which one is your favourite?

Sarah :)

Brand New this month!

I've been working away on some brand new designs to add to my ever-popular 'Meaning of Name' print range - and I'm rather proud of them!

'Little Hare' personalised meaning of name print, nursery art from PhotoFairytales.co.uk

This range has been a best seller since I first introduced them in, what, 2011 was it? 2010? Whichever, it's not important - what IS important is that over the years customers have found them to be the perfect personalised gift to welcome a new baby.

'Heritage' personalised meaning of name print in blue, nursery art from PhotoFairytales.co.uk

They've been bought for christenings and baptisms, as a present for the new mummy and daddy, as a celebration when the newborn arrived, a special birthday gift, or just a lovely piece of personalised wall art for a nursery or child's bedroom.

'Heritage' personalised meaning of name print in pink, nursery art from PhotoFairytales.co.uk

Whatever the occasion really, it's just a real matter of sheer joy to me that so many of these custom name prints have found their way into homes and onto walls across the world!

'Heritage' personalised meaning of name print in soft sage green, nursery art from PhotoFairytales.co.uk

So, I wanted to introduce some of the latest new designs I've just added to the collection - I hope you like them!

'Dandelion' personalised meaning of name print in pink, nursery art from PhotoFairytales.co.uk

'Dandelion' personalised meaning of name print in blue, nursery art from PhotoFairytales.co.uk

You can see the full range (and bigger images!) by clicking on any of the pictures shown, or visiting the website here: https://www.photofairytales.co.uk/meaningofname.html. The prints are just £15.95 including free UK delivery.

Sarah x

BRAND NEW: 'Sweet Dreams' personalised baby board book, handmade especially for your little one...

Looking for an unusual baby or toddler gift this Christmas? Something really special, personalised? Handmade? I think I have the perfect gift solution for you..!

I’m so excited to tell you about my new addition to the personalised board book range - a new design called ‘Sweet Dreams’ that will be perfect for cosy bedtime stories!

'Sweet Dreams' personalised, handmade baby board book

This brings the collection of designs to 10 now, with all the books handmade to order and featuring your own wording and favourite photos on every page. The books have solid board pages, and are now also available in a hard wearing laminated style which gives them added protection and a lovely shiny, glossy finish.

These personalised board books make a perfect gift for a baby or toddler, ideal for birthdays or Christmas. 

'Sweet Dreams' book, outside covers

The Sweet Dreams board book has lovely soft dark blue colours and the pages feature lovely illustrations of twinkly stars and sleepy sheep to count. All designed to hopefully prompt a good night of sleep for your little one!

Your baby or toddler will love looking at their book which has been designed especially for them. A truly unique and personal gift that will be a lovely keepsake.

All personalised board books are gift wrapped in pretty pale blue tissue paper

Visit the PhotoFairytales website now to view the full range of designs available.

Sarah x

Theme of the Week: Nursery Decor & Finishing Touches

Planning your new baby's nursery is a lovely time - shopping for all those essential items, choosing a cot and furniture, creating a fabulous environment for your little one to grow and enjoy. It doesn't seem 5 minutes ago that we were doing exactly that for our daughter - but it was actually (unbelievably) 14 years ago!

Sorry Amy, I know you read this blog sometimes but I can't resist adding one of my favourite photos of you!!

Tastes have certainly changed in the last 14 years though, and there are some stunning trends this season for nurseries - ranging from soft neutrals and Scandi-style simplicity, to tropical and nature inspired themes full of pops of bright colour and eye-catching detail. 

If you're looking for a lovely print to compliment the nursery I've got some gorgeous ideas for you - with colours and designs ranging from soft and dreamy to fun and whimsical. My prints and canvases are created to order, and I'm always happy to tweak colours etc for you to create something that suits your decor.

Here's a brief roundup of some of the items I have on offer, but there's lots more on the site so do take a look - especially if you're looking for a lovely christening gift or keepsake to mark the arrival of a new baby in the family.

1: 'Dragon' personalised canvas print, from £18.50 - part of a range of personalised canvas prints

2: Alphabet personalised watercolour print, £23.95 - a stunning A3 sized poster print on quality traditional moulded paper

3: 'Hello You' typographic print, £10 - available in my boutique at wowthankyou.co.uk/photofairytales

4: 'Hush Little Baby' personalised canvas print, from £18.50 - part of a range of canvas print designs

5: Personalised Birth Print, £18.95 - personalised prints available in a range of colours

6: 'Raining Love' personalised 'Smiler' print, £22.95 - A3 sized poster print available in a range of colours, other designs also available

I hope something has caught your eye, but don't forget that there are lots more gifts for babies and nursery finishing touches - including handpainted gift plates, wooden gifts and plaques - over on the PhotoFairytales website!

Sarah x

Personalised Baby Board Books: now available laminated!

It's almost a year now since I introduced my new range of personalised baby board books - and in these last months they've become one of my most popular lines! The books are all handmade, and feature your own photos and wording throughout.

Measuring 10x10cm, the books are ideal for younger readers who love looking through them and recognising the images inside. I even had a customer this week who told me that her little girl kisses every page! 

There are currently 9 designs to choose from, and I'm really pleased to announce that all designs are now available in a more hard wearing laminated version.

Let's face it, younger readers can be dribble chops so I wanted to introduce the laminated version particularly for them! The laminated board books can be wiped clean with a damp cloth so if your book gets a little bit sticky its not the end of the world!

The laminated books also have a brighter, more vibrant feel to them and smooth glossy finish. 

In response to customer demand I've also introduced a faster delivery option too, so those who need their book with them a bit sooner than upgrade to 1st class recorded delivery so that their book reaches them in 1-2 working days.

If you haven't seen the board books yet do head on over to the website and take a look: they're perfect for Christmas, birthdays, and much more - and not just for younger readers either, parents and grandparents love them too!

Sarah x

Personalised baby board books - brand new handmade range

I've been offering handmade personalised board books on the PhotoFairytales site for a while, and they have always been incredibly popular gifts. Unfortunately, the small business that created the books for me has ceased trading which left a bit of a book-shaped hole!

Not one to hang around, I decided to take action and create my very own line of personalised board books - all handmade in-house. After literally working day and night for a few weeks (and when I did sleep, dreaming about books!), I'm now able to reveal my new board books and they're now on sale on the PhotoFairytales website.

There are seven designs to choose from, and each book is fully personalised with your own photos and wording.

The books make wonderful gift ideas for babies and toddlers - ideal for a christening, birthday or Christmas present. They are also a lovely and touching gift for new parents, a truly special keepsake. The books are a lovely present to mark that first Christmas or birthday for mum and dad too, and make brilliant presents for Mother's Day or Father's Day.

Young children will adore seeing themselves in their very own personalised book, and they're a great way of snuggling up together and sharing special moments and memories.

The books are made from chunky thick board, and measure 10x10cm - perfect for little hands to hold. They have rounded corners, and a glossy finish to bring your photos to life.

Visit the site today to see full details - and remember, everything comes with free UK delivery too! Please note: if you want to order in time for Christmas, the deadline for orders is December 11th.

Sarah x

Brand New: personalised Poster Name prints - great baby gift!

Can you believe that it's only 2 months now until Christmas? I'm not sure why it always seems to creep up on me, but it always feels as though it's there ready to pounce as soon as you're settling into autumn and getting used to having the heating on!

So with the festive shopping season just around the corner, I'd love to tell you about my new range of A3 poster sized personalised prints - perfect for children and babies this Christmas

There are 5 designs to choose from, and each one features you're chosen name. They're a lovely finishing touch for a baby's nursery or a child's bedroom. With lovely graphics and a fresh contemporary feel, I'm sure children will love these on the wall of their room.

Perfect for Christmas or birthday, a christening or naming day gift, or a present to welcome a new baby

The prints are just £21.50, including UK delivery. You can view the new personalised print designs on the PhotoFairytales website here. I really hope you like them!

Ooh, and don't forget, there's a discount code on the PhotoFairytales Facebook page this month - but be quick, it ends on 31st October! Just head to the page and click on the 'Secret Fans Only' tab on the left of the page (you might need to view the non-mobile version of the page to see that tabs as Facebook doesn't show them on their mobile site unfortunately).

Sarah x

Christmas Gift Guide: Top 10 Personalised Gifts for Baby

That first Christmas for a baby is a magical time for parents and grandparents alike - mark the occasion with a unique and truly memorable gift...

1: 'Angel Wings' Fantasy Portrait, from £15
2: Personalised Handpainted Star, choice of colours available, £17.50
3: 'Alphabet' Personalised Name Print, wide choice of colours and styles available, £14.50
4: Personalised Birth Prints, range of colours available, £16.50
5: 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' Personalised Embroidery Hoop Print, £18.50
6: 'Once Upon a Time' Personalised Embroidery Hoop Print, £18.50
7: 'Personality' Canvas Print, from £25
8: 'Floral' Personalised Handmade Photo Album, range of designs available, £25
9: 'Mouse Family' Personalised Canvas Print, from £16.95
10: 'Elephant' Personalised Handpainted Gift Plate, wide range of designs and colours available, £21.50

Delivery within the UK is free of charge, so you can order as much or as little as you would like, and you can order as often as you like without getting hit with P&P costs!

Come back again same time tomorrow for some great gift ideas for those hard-to-buy-for grandparents...

Sarah x

New Gift Range: New Baby Birth Prints

One of the latest additions to the PhotoFairytales range of gifts are my new personalised Birth Prints...

Available in a choice of different colours, they're a lovely contemporary style print that I think will look gorgeous in the new nursery.

The perfect gift when a new baby arrives, and a really unique present for a christening or naming ceremony too.

Each print features the child's name and date of birth, along with lots of other information such as time, weight, etc. There's even a space for you to add your own lovely message for the recipient that they'll be able to read and treasure when they're older.

Priced at £16.50, including free 1st class delivery. Find them on the website as part of the 'Gifts for Baby' range here.

Hope you like!
Sarah x

In the Pink!

There’s no doubt that spring is a tad late this year - where there would normally be a riot of pink blossom on the fruit trees there’s just a few hesitant leaf buds instead. Don’t worry, that gorgeous blossom will be here soon - and in the meantime, here’s a little pink riot to keep you going!

1: ‘Twilight Fairy’ - Fantasy Photo Portrait, from £15
2: ‘Cosy Cottage’ - Personalised Canvas Print, from £16.95
3: Handpainted Fairy Gift Plate, £21.50
4: ‘Princess Sleeping’ - personalised wooden plaque, £15.95
5: ‘Elephant’ - Meaning of Name Print, £14.50
6: ‘Great British Game Shows’ - Canvas Print, £29.95
7: ‘Nature’ - personalised Love Poem print, £14.50
8: ‘Hush Little Baby’ - Personalised Canvas Print, from £16.95
9: ‘My Message to You’ - Personalised Print, £14.50

All prices shown include UK postage and packing

A question for all Mums - old and young!

It’s Mother’s Day - a day that celebrates all the fabulous mums that look after, love and care for their families. So I’m feeling a bit reminiscent of the time 10 years ago when I became a mum...

The first few years of your child’s life are amazing: they grow and transform at such a fast pace. One moment you’re marvelling at their first words and steps, the next it’s their first day at school and then they’re taking driving lessons! I don’t know about you, but we have a large (and ever growing) ‘Memory Box’ - packed full of keepsakes from Amy’s life so far. From first curls and a favourite tiny sleepsuit, to her first pair of proper walking shoes and an adorable tiny denim jacket she used to wear. These mementoes will probably never stop being added to - and are definitely the first thing I’d reach for to save in a house fire!

As far as Amy is concerned, I think her main childhood memento will be her beloved bear: PB. He has been with her since her 3rd birthday, and they have never spent a night apart. He protects her from bad dreams, looks after her when she’s poorly (even at the risk of catching it himself), he hogs her bed at night, and has had lots of outings and holidays. I can see PB sitting somewhere in a corner of Amy’s life forever - it may not always be on her bed, he may be consigned to a cupboard or even a box in years to come, but she’ll always have him in her life.

So what are the mementos you kept from your child’s early years - and what are the things that you still have from your own childhood that are still treasured possessions? (Mine is a small, flat and slightly grubby white bear called ‘Snowy’ - and a little elephant brooch that I’ve had since about the age of 6 which I still occasionally wear!)

First footprints? Baby blankets? Favourite cuddlies? Hospital bracelet? Tiny clothes? A special painting?  Or just an enormous box (or boxes) crammed with mementoes from each and every year?! Let me know, I’d love to hear!

Sarah :)

Barking Mad Baby Names

When our lovely daughter Amy was still “the Bump” we became obsessed with names - right down to scouring the credits at the end of every programme and film (“Audrey Thexton - that’s a bit different, would that work? Maybe not…”). 

It was such a responsibility to plump for the right one: we couldn’t choose something too cutesy because she might became Prime Minister one day (Angel Thexton, Prime Minister). It couldn’t be anything that would date (think ‘Ethel’, or ‘Mavis’). We weren’t the kind of people to do a Beckham or a Bowie (ie, calling her something utterly mad like ‘Trixie-Biscuit’). It couldn’t start with a “th” or a “ph” because with a surname like Thexton that would make everyone sound like they had a lisp (try saying Thelma Thexton and you’ll see what I mean!).

And then there was the other problem, the one that nobody likes to mention… the really, really popular names. The ones that are so popular that if you shout them out loud in the park the chances are 5 toddlers, a cat and 4 dogs will all look up at you. You know the ones I mean I’m sure… So what if we got a bit ironic and went in the opposite direction, and called her “Scamp”? Or “Patch” (bit too eczema-y?) Or what about “Lassie”?? No, perhaps not.

The problem is, everyone is giving their pets human names - even we’ve named our dog Freddy. And there’s a cute Jack Russell dog right here in Belton called Alan. The other day we walking Freddy when we met Pete, the greyhound. A friend of mine once had a Labrador called Dave…

Don’t get me wrong, when it comes to Freddy we are all completely guilty of giving him human characteristics to match his human name. It isn’t just the Paris Hiltons of this world that are guilty of turning pets into baby substitutes (even when you actually do have a real, human baby!). I guess it’s just the inevitable side effect of the human need to nurture - especially anything that has big innocent eyes!

So how did we end up with the name “Amy”? A nice lady working in Boots struck up a conversation over my bump, and mentioned it was one of her favourites. Amy…. Amy Thexton…. I like it... I like it a lot…. middle name Rose…. and Amy means ‘beloved’ which is lovely… yes, perfect!

So how did you come up with a name for your child? Did you research the meaning of the name? Did you find it all as tricky as we did?! Leave a comment and let me know, I’d love to hear about your experience too!

Sarah x

1st Christmas Gift Ideas...

A baby's first Christmas is an important event - and needs a meaningful and thoughtful keepsake to mark it. There's a whole range of lovely gift ideas available at PhotoFairytales this Christmas, here's some suggestions for you:

1: Ticket to Parenthood, £17.50 - perfect for new parents this Christmas, fully personalised and in a choice of frames (last orders for Christmas: December 13th)

2: Handpainted Personalised Plates, £21.50 - 12 beautiful designs to choose from, including 4 gorgeous Christmas themes (last orders for Christmas: December 13th)

3: Fantasy Portraits, around £10 - beautiful bespoke images created from your ordinary photo, over 100 designs to choose from (last orders for Christmas: artwork only December 17th, artwork with prints December 15th)

4: Personalised Baby Board Books, from £10.95 - stunning books created to order featuring your own photos and words, 6 designs to choose from (last orders for Christmas: December 10th)

5: Personalised Canvas Prints, from £15 - big range of designs available, perfect for the new nursery! (last orders for Christmas: December 13th)

6: Meaning of Name Prints, £17.50 - bespoke prints available in a range of designs and choice of frame finishes, ideal Christening gift too (last orders for Christmas: December 13th)

7: Handmade Personalised Albums & Keepsake Books, £23.99 - a range of lovely designs available, including "Baby's 1st Christmas", perfect for storing Christmas memories (last orders for Christmas: December 9th)

8: Family Tree Prints, £22 - perfect for new parents and grandparents, featuring up to 3 generations and 25 names, available in a choice of frames (last orders for Christmas: December 13th)

Click here to have a browse around the PhotoFairytales site and discover even more gorgeous Christmas gifts!

Sarah x

Brand New: 2 new "Meaning of Name" designs!

What's this? Blogging twice in one day? Well, I just wanted to squeeze in an extra post before I finish up for the evening because I've just added two new designs to my "Meaning of Name" framed print range.

"Sugar and Spice" in pink for the girls, "Slugs and Snails" in blue for the boys - both available in a choice of frame finishes and only £17.50 including UK delivery. I've got more designs in the pipeline which will be coming in the next few days too (the creative juices were flowing today!).

Hope you like them - you can see the whole range here: http://photofairytales.co.uk/meaningofname.html

Sarah x