They say that a picture paints a thousand words, and few would disagree that a gift can write almost as many about the receiver. After all, good gifts do tend to be those that match the interests or characteristics of the person it is given to. The best, however, will also offer something different. They do not have to be particularly unusual gifts, but can have less orthodox use, thereby making the true worth of the gift so much more.

For a discerning shopper, sealing wax with a wax stamp could seem insufficient, but there are clear advantages to the idea, particularly if the receiver loves the less obvious. For those sketchers or chroniclers amongst us, a leather journal can be a perfect option, but there are others that will appreciate such a present too. These two items are perfect examples of how the ordinary gift can be seen as special, or even unusual.

There are probably few items less dramatic looking than a stamp. Its application is accomplished in the simplest manner, but the effect can be impressive. Stamps come in every shape and size, but when used with wax, use is generally focused on sealing envelopes. This is particularly attractive to the artist or the crafts junkie, in whom creativity can be so abundant.

The fact that the stamps can range from simple stars and Christmas trees to more intricate figures such as snowflakes and elegantly designed initials, means there is a near limitless amount of stamp designs to collect. The receiver of the gift can, therefore, use a more unusual design to add to their growing collection, and use it to create even more intriguing cards and other craft items. Journals are understood to be the ledgers of life, with major accounts of events typically noted in their pages. However, it is not just the chronicle of our lives that can be entered into a journal, with sketch artists also making use of the book. The size of the journal is significant, with smaller books allowing little in the way of writing, but their blank pages do allow artists to sketch their interpretation of anything they may see. As a travelling companion too, the journal is also recognised universally as the ideal item to have.

Of course, this crosses over into the areas of life chronicles and sketches but increasingly the journal has been adopted for other, less specific, roles. When it comes to something as straight forward as shopping, for example, a list of items can easily penned into the book, while housekeeping accounts and some small bookkeeping notes can also be kept in their pages.

Exactly why such a high quality book might be used for such mundane purposes might be up to the owner to explain. Cheaper notebooks are just as practical but it may very well come down to the sense of earthy purpose that journals of leather with good quality paper between the covers can provide. It lends permanence to the words that are being written, perhaps even making them seem more official, as a quality book is not set for the rubbish bin when filled.

The cover may also be personalised with depictions of places or things that are of significance to the owner. Perhaps, a picture of the Eiffel Tower will spark memories for someone who visited Paris, or the pyramids of Egypt may inspire an intention to visit the north African country. Whatever image may be on the cover, it serves to make that journal more than just a book to write notes or calculations into. In the end, that is the purpose of a gift, making the item itself something more than it would normally be. One can, after all, buy a leather journal at any time but to receive one that is different makes it more valuable. Even if a wax stamp is not at the top of a gift list for the particular person, it can be an unusual and, therefore, greatly desired stamp that enhances a collection.

A gift can be deeply meaningful, evoking memories of good times past and inspiring dreams of future travels. But it is not only unusual gifts that cause a smile to stretch across the face of a receiver.