The hands-down favorite gifts that we have ever given to grandmas, grandpas, aunts and uncles have been those types of platters and bowls that we have handpainted and then fire glazed. When the kids were little they made handprints or fish or snails, etc with their fingers and hands, with their names under it and something like "We love our Grandma" or "Best Grandpa ever".

Now the kids do much more intricate designs but they still have each name, etc., on it. Sometimes we've done individual coffee mugs or plates. We've used two different places where you go, buy the thing and sit there and paint. After you're done, it is glazed.

You need to build in some time if you do this because it can be a week or two at least during this busy season to get your item back after you have finished painting.

I love some of the other ideas I've read on this thread, too. We have a friend who had big canvas bags (the kind from Lands End or LL Bean) monogrammed with "Grandma" and "Grandpa" and then her little kids made handprints on them. I think she painted the kids names underneath She says her parents and inlaws still use those bags and she gave those bags as gifts years and years ago.

Mine is a very generous MIL in terms of time and gifts and just general thoughtfulness. I try to buy something more personal. But she has so much I find things are sometimes hard. Despite my DH being one of 4 kids our 2 kids are her only grandkids and she is besotted with them.

for gifts I tend to do something that she can share with them as its her favorite thing to do; one of the most successful was afternoon team for 2 for her and my DD. I felt weird as it was like here is the gift of you babysitting my kid...but she loved that excuse for 1 on 1 time without Mommy rules on treats in a special place. They went shopping, had afternoon tea etc.. am sure it came out as more of a gift for my DD than was intended, but MIL still talks how much fun she had and would like to do again.

For herself she really loves dance and I have in the past when events match with a birthday/Christmas bought her tickets to a show, art gallery, always for 2 and sometimes dinner attached. She goes with a friend. She has a;ways liked these as its something she likes to do and is interested in.

Anonymous wrote:We got beach towels from Lands End with their grandparent nicknames on them (for both MIL and FIL). They LOVE them and trot them out proudly all summer at the pool.

They sound cute.

A friend's daughter paid for a professional award-winning news photographer to do candid shots of grandchildren and grandmother playing. The results are spectacular.

Canvas totes from LL Bean with Nana monogrammed, in nesting sizes. She LOVES them.

Anonymous wrote:We got beach towels from Lands End with their grandparent nicknames on them (for both MIL and FIL). They LOVE them and trot them out proudly all summer at the pool.

This is cute.