Milestone keepsake gifts: framed prints and memory books for a 60th, 80th or 90th

By the time someone turns 60, 80 or 90 they have enough things. What they don't have is the song, the line or the messages from everyone who came, in one place they can keep. That's what a keepsake gift does.

There are two that work every time: a print, framed and hung, and a memory book filled with handwritten messages from the people at the party. One goes on the wall, one goes on the shelf, and both get looked at years later.

Straight answer on what we sell: our prints come unframed in A5 to A3 so you can pick a frame that suits their house, and we don't stock ready-framed prints or blank memory books. Below is how to frame a print properly and how to put a memory book together, plus the cards and gifts we do post from the UK.

Framing a print so it looks like a proper gift

• A4 and A3 both fit standard high street frames, so you don't need anything custom made. Shop this card
• A5 suits a desk or shelf frame rather than a wall - it gets lost on a big wall. Shop this card
• White or oak frames suit lyric and quote prints; black suits bold, funny designs. Shop this card
• A mount adds a couple of centimetres of white border and makes a cheap frame look expensive. Shop this card
• Frame it before you wrap it - handing over an unframed print quietly passes them a job. Shop this card
• If you don't know their decor, oak is the safest frame colour in almost any room. Shop this card

How to build a memory book

• Buy a plain hardback guest book or scrapbook - unlined pages give people room to write. Shop this card
• Write the first entry yourself so nobody has to work out the tone. Shop this card
• Leave it on a table at the party with three good pens, not one biro that runs out. Shop this card
• Ask a couple of confident people early - once there are entries, everyone joins in. Shop this card
• Give a prompt on the first page: 'a memory of them' beats 'happy birthday' every time. Shop this card
• Post or email absent family a page each in advance and stick them in before the day. Shop this card
• Add photos afterwards next to the messages while you still remember who wrote what. Shop this card
• Slip the birthday card in at the back so it stays with everything else. Shop this card

What to write in a memory book

• The first time you met them, and what you thought. Shop this card
• A thing they say constantly that everyone in the family can quote. Shop this card
• Something they taught you that you still do. Shop this card
• A day out you'd go back to if you could pick one. Shop this card
• What they were like at your age, if you're young enough to ask. Shop this card
• Why the family works better because they're in it. Shop this card

Other keepsakes that get kept

• A coaster set, which is the useful version of a keepsake and gets daily use. Shop this card
• A desktop picture frame with a photo of them from decades ago already in it. Shop this card
• A candle for someone who genuinely wants nothing but likes a treat. Shop this card
• The card itself, if you write a proper message rather than signing your name. Shop this card

Keepsake prints to frame

A5 to A3, posted flat and unframed so you can choose the frame.

Frames and shelf keepsakes

Desktop frames and coaster sets for the shelf rather than the wall.

Milestone birthday cards

The card to write the first memory book entry into.

Where to shop next

• Milestone keepsake prints
• Buy milestone keepsake prints
• 60th birthday wishes
• 80th birthday card messages
• 90th birthday card messages
• Milestone birthday cards
• Wall art and prints
• Buy a birthday card
• Birthday party ideas
• Buy party supplies
• Birthday badges & party pins
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Party bag ideas for adults
• How much helium do you need for balloons?
• Gifts to make someone smile
• Thinking of you gifts

Frequently asked questions

What is a good keepsake gift for a 90th birthday?

A memory book of handwritten messages from everyone at the party, and a framed print of a lyric or line that means something to them. Both cost very little and both still get looked at years later, which is more than most 90th birthday gifts manage.

Do you sell framed prints?

No - our prints are posted flat and unframed in A5 to A3. A4 and A3 fit standard off-the-shelf frames without a mount, so framing costs a few pounds and lets you match the frame to their house.

Do you sell memory books?

Not at the moment. Any plain hardback guest book or unlined scrapbook works, and the part that matters is the messages inside it - the prompts and wording on this page are what make it worth keeping.

What size print should I buy for a milestone birthday?

A4 for most rooms, A3 if it's going somewhere with a big empty wall like a hallway or landing, A5 if it's for a desk or shelf frame.

How do I get messages from family who can't come to the party?

Send them a sheet of paper or ask for a few lines by email a fortnight ahead, then write or stick them into the book before the day. Absent family entries are usually the ones that get read most.

Can I order prints, cards and coasters together?

Yes. Everything ships together in one UK delivery, usually posted the same working day, so the card and the keepsake arrive at the same time.