PTK's holiday gift guide
for poets, by poets
Hi little elves! Hi Santa! S + L here (Soph and Larissa for the uninitiated). Here’s Poetry Trapper Keeper’s definitive (jk, poets can’t write anything definitive) holiday gift guide.
REMINDER to please double-check that the items you choose from these lists are BDS-friendly and purchased from BDS-approved stores (local, if possible!) We’ve done our best to check these out in advance, but the BDS list is (sadly) often expanding, and we miss things! For example, if you get any books, make sure you boycott Indigo. ALSO: these here are NOT affiliate links! We aren’t making money from your purchases (except for PTK stuff and Sophie’s book!), this list is meant to guide and inspire <3
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No-Buy/Low-Buy and Intangible Gifts
Because consumerism is very last year.
A really juicy piece of gossip.
A ten-minute voice note full of flattery and admiration for the giftee.
A voice note humming or singing their favourite song.
Offer a skill-share: an IOU for mending, editing, massage — share what you’re good at.
Take something off their plate: offer an hour of your time for child care or help with an errand.
Put something on their plate: make them a meal, or buy them their favourite ingredients if they like to cook.
Print out something they’re always Googling: game rules, recipes, etc. Put it on nice paper or scrapbook it into a booklet.
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$10 or less
For the poet on a budget.
Thrift them a cute picnic blanket and/or picnic basket, wash/clean it, and add a bottle of something sparkly if you’re feeling fancy.
A personalized tarot reading (three cards + a handwritten explanation of the meaning… If you gift this to multiple people on your list, it’s pretty cheap for each one!)
Hair tinsel, facial glitter, or another nontraditional beauty item.
A thrifted or homemade ashtray or sun catcher. (More cute thrifted gifts in this video).
Schylling NeeDoh Nice Cube (everyones looooves Larissa’s), or another cute fidget toy.
Put together a little collection of hair accessories for them.
Manifestation candles.
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A little fancier
For winning the White Elephant.
A collection of jams, honeys, meads… Whatever you think they’d enjoy a flight of.
Replacements for something you know they use a lot of (e.x. a favourite scented soap, coffee, tea. Get a few and make it a gift basket!)
A locket with a photo in it (of you? their pet? their ex?).
A framed photo you know they’ll love.
A toiletries bag — maybe with some personalized toiletries inside (lip gloss, tweezers, eyelash curler…)
A custom charm bracelet (many bead stores will let you make these on-site, often for no extra cost). Sophie gave Larissa one for their Bach’gift and it was their something new on their wedding day!
D&D dice or playing cards from a local/independent maker.
A novelty crib board.
Merch from their favourite store (e.g. a trucker hat from the gas station you always stop at on road trips, or a tote bag from their local coffee shop).
A plant in a pot (there are lots of adorable pots at most thrifts, too!) Reminder: make sure it’s safe for any pets/babies they have around the house and any allergies they have.
Herbs or veggies they can easily keep alive in a windowbox garden.
A well-made KBeauty sunscreen, toner, or moisturizer.
A really good pen.
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Fanciest
Okay, Lord Byron.
A SAD lamp (especially if they live somewhere dark and gloomy, like we do).
A cozy robe and/or slippers.
A Polaroid camera or digital camera, secondhand if possible.
Grip trainers, weights, bala bangles, yoga mats — for your friends who are trying to get fit this year.
Matching nail polishes (one for you + one for them!)
An at-home kareoke mic.
A sunset lamp or fairy lights.
A nice mirror they can admire themselves in.
Bet on them: pay for their submission fee to a contest, application fee for a school, etc.
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Activities and Experiences
Comedy show or concert tickets.
A personalized colour reading.
A tintype or photoshoot.
A year’s subscription to a podcast Patreon, a substack, letterboxd, Criterion, or a streaming service.
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Solidarity and Mutual Aid
The gift that keeps on giving.
A donation to an educator or activist they love.
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Art
Yay!!!
Personalized pottery or wall art from local/independent makers.
Small crocheted items like hair bows, plant holders, or leg warmers.
A cross-stitch kit.
An adult colouring book.
A pencil, paint, or marker set.
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Books and Poems
They obviously need their own category.
An IOU for a first-edition copy of Larissa’s in-progress soon-to-be-best-seller novel that, yes, maybe they have yet to write.
On the PTK-theme, brat by Sophie Crocker.
No New Things, a guide to cutting down on consumption.
A bullet journal.
A listography book (an activity and a gift!)
An online chapbook (many are only a few dollars!) — printed out, if you like.
A haiku inspired by the giftee. You can always DM PTK on Instagram to purchase a poem for your loved ones. Get your orders in by December 15 to ensure that your poem is ready in time for x-mas!
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Ok here’s our final piece of advice for gifting:
What makes one a good gift giver is the same thing which makes one a good poet : being able to pay attention and noticing little details about the world around us and the people we love. If you can write a poem about someone you can get them a good gift. And if you can’t write a poem about someone you have a good gift: pay attention to them until you can write them a poem (in a not creepy way pls use discernment)
Drop your gift recs in the comments! We’ll be on break until the new year, so we’ll see you again in 2026. Happy holidays from PTK!
Love and mistletoe kisses,
L + S
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