You can pick up capital letters real cheap these day. They look real spiffy at the beginning of sentences.
Well, talking as a 15 year old aspiring writer, I want book certifacates. Chapters, indigo, barnes&noble… or you could buy her a book on writing. Or money. Money is always good…
Or get her a necklace with a nice little pendant with her name or initials engraved on it… Thats what I would have liked. Maybe buy a book or quill shaped pendant.
And you know, money is ALWAYS welcome.
Apologies if I’m late off the mark, I only just got online, but I’m in agreement with Jonathan Chance.
Zabali, yes baby cat is honest. Believe me when I say I respect that. But I dislike her generalisations. She is not speaking for all teenagers, merely herself. Doubtless there’s many who would agree with her - I know for a fact there are. But I don’t like the overall impression her post gives - of all teenagers being unappreciative of gifts that are not money. I like it when people give me gifts that they’ve obviously thought about. I thought the OP was doing a nice thing in starting this thread and trying to make the gift personal rather than just giving money. Money is useful. But utility isn’t the only thing we’re going for in a gift, is it?
As always, YMMV.
I second this. I gave my niece a nice necklace with her name on it when she turned 17, she loved it.
i never said they are unappreciated, i said i appreciated my crappy gifts if you actually read the post 
They must be out of all the common capital letters these days. beagledave… The bin must only have Q’s, Z’s and X’s!
Here’s a link to a site that sells really neat cameos and pendants too. She might like one from here. Click “Galleries” then look into “Special Items” for the jewelry. Amy Brown Art
Those are very cool, Zabali, thanks for the link.
Thanks all of you! I appreciate your help with this so much. Y’all had pretty well talked me into getting a nice journal-and-pen combo, but now I’m starting to think about jewelry too.
Hey there twicks. kiddoaddi is 16 and also an artist, so I ran your dilemma past her. Her suggestions run along the lines of what everyone else has said. Here they are:
Gift certificate to Bath & Bodyworks, Blockbuster, Amazon or Soundstation (not sure if this is a regional store - a music, posters & T-Shirt place)
Bound sketch book (she likes those big black ones)
Art supplies: drawing pencils, pens, charcoal, pastels
Lined journal (nothing cutesy)
koee
She hates Old Navy too.
Also check out Jules Enchanting Gifts. No jewelry there but plenty of other nice things.
I’m going to agree that cash is always good. Frankly, that’s what I’m hoping for come my birthday. If you’re afraid it will feel impersonal, write a nice note to go with it (more than just ‘happy birthday’ or something, of course!) One of the nicest gifts I ever got was a 16th birthday gift from my grandmother: a long, personal letter (gramma-to-granddaughter type stuffs), and a hundred bucks cash (largest bill was a 20, btw - which was really nice). In above-mentioned note, she said how she knows that when you’re sixteen, it’s the little things, like being able to go out with friends and have money, and that she hoped I’d think of her when I spent any of the money. Very nice, and clearly heartfelt.
I, being a 15 year old myself, would perfer a gift certificate to a bookstore or something. Maybe a couple of notebooks to write in.
Ajay out
NinjaChick you got a pretty grandma I’d say when it comes to gifts and wisdom.
Forgot the COOL mistakes mistakes…tisk tisk
sorry but what 15 year old, i mean or what family does not have basic, plain notebooks lying around that would wish for them for their birthday??
But I suggested cash because hey the logical thing would have been to buy stationary for a writer but i didn’t know you wouldnt have thought of that already…
I’m 16 here.
This year I set up an Amazon.com wishlist for myself, not just for birthdays and Christmases but also as a reference (“what was that book I saw last month? I know I added it to my wishlist…oh, yeah…”). Now that my birthday’s coming up–I’ll be 17 on June 10–I just printed it out for those without Internet access and gave those with Internet access the address.
It’s specific in regards to books. Books are my favorite gift, but I rarely get any simply because everyone is terrified of getting me something I’ve read before, so that’s out. Music’s difficult, too.
Personally, what I love getting is a gift certificate or cash, which I’ll almost always spend on books or clothes or something. I’m saving up for living expenses in college, so more than likely I’d put the cash in my savings account anyway. And if the relative really just has to get something that reflects his or her “personal touch” in a gift, something little and extra is appreciated, too. You know, a bookmark, a stuffed animal, a T-shirt, a nice pen, something like that.
I’m not one for journals (only online) so I probably wouldn’t use the journal, but that’s not to say I wouldn’t like it and appreciate it anyways if it’s a really nice, fancy one. I do love Old Navy though. I wouldn’t go with clothes unless you’re sure of her size in that particular brand, because getting it too small or too large could be insulting (not saying she’d actually make a fuss, just that she might feel a little miffed).
Babycat… none of us suggested plain basic notebooks. There is a huge difference between the 75 cent notebook you take chemistry notes in never to be read again and a writer’s journal with heavy paper and strong bindings that are to be saved and reread over a lifetime and maybe even passed on to one’s children.
And the OP has admitted to not knowing her well so I would rather err on the side of caution and suggest the “obvious” stationary than to give the generic suggestion of “money” that he was clearly trying to avoid by asking for gift suggestions in lieu of his normal gift of gift cards (plastic money)
I have a 15-year-old daughter, and what she could really use for her birthday is an attitude adjustment!
Best of luck finding your niece something she’ll love! IMHO, an Amazon gift certificate is good, cuz she can shop for her gift online instead of waiting for a time when a grownup can drive her to a store.
Dremel® rotary tool or a Spyder paintball gun.
It’s the gift that keeps on giving and it’ll blow lame “writing” gifts away. You’ll always be remembered as the non-sexist uncle who encouraged her to embrace the entire range of her mad skillz.