What a delightful establishment this is! I might even go as far as to say delectable!…read more Nook & Cranny stocks a veritable cornucopia of gorgeous gifts, stationery and homewares, all utterly charming. The first thing that caught my eye (and drew me in from my journey up Bold Street) were the beautiful Cable & Cotton fairy lights displayed in the window - these stunning textured, multi coloured, orb fairy lights are just magical and certainly set the scene for the rest of the shop. There is so much to gaze or chuckle at and drool over in Nook & Cranny that I just wouldn't know where to start telling you all about it but other highlights include the bear paw oven mitts, the 'My Cuppa Tea' colour matching guide mug and the Knit Your Own Zoo kit. I was in seventh heaven. Imagine my delight when I discovered that the back of the shop (which used to be storage space) has now been turned into a cosy little cafe called Quills & Coffee. Sadly I couldn't stay to sample any of the beautiful looking cakes but I vowed there and then to visit again as soon as possible. Yet more delight...Nook & Cranny and Quills & Coffee put on occasional film screenings at the back of the store!! The next one is American Beauty on Saturday 28th March at 7pm - tickets are £10 and include free drinks and pizza and available from www.nookandcrannyshop.co.uk. Magic

This is a fantastic independent biz that I ventured into when in Liverpool a couple of weeks back…read more We actually held an event in the back part of the business and I didn't realise it existed until Liverpool CA Gemma A introduced me to it - but the space is really cavernous and it was great to temporarily see Quills coffee set up in the back. Very very cool cards and gifts throughout, I was especially impressed with the awesome range of band music posters in the back - everything from Queens of the stone age to classic hiphop ones - really worth a look if you're nearby and fancy some colourful artwork to brighten up your walls. Very friendly staff, they hopefully will do well in this prime location in Liverpool.

This particular Wizzard Cards & Gifts shop in St. Helen's sells a terrific variety of bits and…read morepieces which are ideal for small presents and special celebratory occasions. In addition to offering a selection of ornaments, scary and cute looking toys as well as holographic artwork, they also have a small fancy dress section towards the rear of the shop and sell a range of cheeky adult toys. So, if you pop into Wizzard, you might be in for more than what you bargained for after a wonderous browse! Expect a contrasting variety of cards and gifts from the innocent and cute to the downwright naughty and scary! Overall, the shop has friendly staff as they kindly helped me look for the card I was searching for and at affordable prices, you can't really go wrong.

This has to be the ultimate gift shop! If you need a present…read morefor someone, special or otherwise, you are most likely to find something here. they have gifts from mugs to t-shirts to jewellery.the list seems to be endless, but probably isn't. They even have the cards, tags and wrapping paper to finish off your present.

If you're looking for somewhere to buy an unusual and beautiful gift for someone then Made-Here is…read morewhere you should head. Offering a huge array of delightful and quirky hand made items from greetings cards to jewellery to toiletries to art, this shop has the added bonus of only stocking goods that are made by local practitioners. Everything in this shop is literally made here in Merseyside. This means that when you browse around this very cool place (and invariably buy something - I challenge you to walk out of there without even a pencil or a keyring) you have the pleasure of looking at truly unique creations that you won't find anywhere on the high street plus an additional slight feeling of smugness knowing that you're supporting local, independent business. One of my favourite things about Made-here is the stunning hand made jewellery and the extremely affordable but often original and limited edition art works. Buy a piece of art from Made-here, pop it on your wall and you'll automatically feel like a art collector. Well, it worked for me. So if you're a fan of the unusual, the individual, the quirky, the cool and the beautiful then get yourself to the Met Quarter and have a look round - you won't be disappointed.

This little shop, otherwise known locally as 13, is situated at the start of Lark Lane. It is an…read moreamazing little shop, with a definite tardis effect apparent as soon as you walk in. The shop is filled with cards, postcards, jewellery, wrapping paper, stationary, lighting, novelties, books, artwork, watches, bags, clothes, toys, ceramics, cosmetics and much much more. The shop is cluttered with hundreds of different items but at the same time it is tidy, clean and well organised. Whenever I have to buy a present or a card this is my first stop. There are gifts suitable for people of all ages and appropriate for all occasions. There is a huge range of cards available for all occasions. From the cute handmade cards to give to your mum, to the hilariously offence cards to give to friends, there is something here for everyone. My favourite part of the shop is the jewellery cabinets by the windows. The stock in here is changed and updated regularly and there is always something in the cabinets that catches my eye when I feel like treating myself to something sparkly.

A fantastic little shop that seems crammed from floor to ceiling with all things kitsch and…read moredesirable. From jokey Jesus statues to gorgeous mirror compacts, beautifully delicate jewellery and quirky cookie jars, this shop has it all. Similar to Utility in town, this has a more homey feel about it, and the staff are very nice. The only problem I found is that because it is so small I was scared to turn around in case I knocked something over and had to pay for it. Prices range from inexpensive to a raised eyebrow, as, for example, the compact mirror I was gushing overturned out to be £8. For a bit of plastic? I gasped. Yes, we all know I'm a miser. However, there are some truly hilarious bits and bobs in here, and it is hard not to buy anything. I especially loved the Carry on Camping plates that were on display in the window - imagine serving dinner on them and seeing Babs pertly staring at you...

Daisys' is just as good as the big city card shops, if not better as there's no pushing and shoving…read moreand queues out the door come holiday seasons. Of course, that's not to say it isn't popular as there are always people coming in and out, it's just a nicer atmosphere: friendlier and more personal. Daisy's stocks cards for all occassions from birthdays, aninversarys and 'congratulations' to 'get well soon', 'with sympathy', and 'thankyou'.There is also a really nice range of gifts such as photoframes, ornaments and trinkets, and a large 'Me to You' range as well as gift bags and wrapping paper. The prices vary and there is a range to suit all budgets.

What a gorgeous little place! I popped in here to buy a birthday card and could have stayed for…read moreHOURS and bought EVERYTHING!!! The downstairs of this fabulous establishment is full of the most adorable trinkets, gifts, jewellery, stationery, homewares and toiletries - almost too much to take in and very dangerous if one is feeling in a spending mood. I actually ended up buying *myself* a gift instead of the person I was buying the card for! Upstairs there is an interesting collection of vintage furniture and bric-a-brac but it is the cornucopia of delectable gifts and bibelots downstairs that has captured my heart. The gorgeous broaches, scarves and handbags, knitted baby clothing, mugs, keyrings, dinner mats and coasters (I bought myself a rather fabulous 'Liverpool's Most Iconic Sights' coaster set - photo below!), fridge magnets and ornaments. I was extremely tempted by the 'retro bunny with a baby's face' lamp but managed to restrain myself. The best thing about Larks is that you don't actually NEED stuff from there...you just WANT it. Because having a cubic zirconia broach shaped like the Eiffel Tower makes you feel happy doesn't it? And that's near enough to needing for me.

Definitely not a shop which was set up to appeal to boys, with a cute selection of all things…read moregirlie, this is a little dolls house style affair with lots of little knick-knacks on sale, from kitsch household items, to some really dainty, bright jewellery and a lot of Alice in Wonderland-esque tea party set porcelain cups and saucers. It's very pink in here and slightly overwhelming but you can't help but have a bit of a root around the little dressing-tables which are crammed with goodies. The kind of stuff you wouldn't buy for yourself but might appreciate as a gift, even if it is slightly tacky. They also have vintage stuff available upstairs and fun cards, it's slightly overpriced for what it is really but worth a look if you have a bit of time on your hands.

This branch of Clintons Cards has a fancy dress and party shop amalgamated into it which can only…read morebe a good thing as the actual selection of cards here is pretty awful. With row upon row of 'funny' cards filled with nob gag after nob gag there is almost nothing to please your friends or the joker in your family. The traditional cards are so sentimental they border on plain maudlin (I was going to get my Grandma a card from here but I couldn't seem to find one for a grandmother that didn't seem to imply they were about to leave this world for good). The best bet are the plain awful 'value range' with animals stuck with googly eyes, wearing stupid hats at least these are actually a bit so-bad-they're-good funny. The party shop, Pure Party, is full of all the sort of absolutely useless stuff that you had no idea you needed to throw a party until you came here and found it. It's expensive (as you might expect for party supplies which have the lowest value-for-money standing of almost anything you could want to buy) but the staff are cheerful and helpful and the inflatable palm trees did turn a standard BBQ into...well, a BBQ with some inflatable palm trees.

Clinton's Cards in Liverpool One is a place that leaves you with a smile on your face as it is a…read morecelebration of special occasions. I often find these kinds of places to be tacky and annoying as they push needless tat in your face and although there is evidence of that here this place seems to handle itself with a touch more class than some establishments. The prices here are still too high and it is a little annoying to see that establishments can play on special occasions in order to make people part with extortionate amounts of their hard earned money. On the whole this is a well run store which does a better job than many I have seen and this is in no small part due to their plush surroundings in the wonderful Liverpool One.

They closed down the printing system for no reason and no prior notice on their website. So now…read morecustomers have to wait to get anything printed. The front desk staff is not helpful at all.

Ryman is a top stationer that sells top of the range office products and accessories therefore it…read moreis an extremely attractive place for students to buy their stationery there. They also sell office equipment such as computer chairs and printers to name but a few. It is ideal if you are looking to make photocopies too as they have a photocopy machine service which you can operate yourself charged at a small fee. If you cannot find what you are looking for at Ryman, then chances are you will not find it elsewhere at the same quality or choice. Your best bet would probably be Staples which is similar in style. Ryman prices are moderate (sometimes you can find the odd bargain) and if you can present a valid student card, you are enabled a 10% discount on all purchases.

Though only a small sectioned off area at the rear of the FACT building this shop is one of the…read morebest places in Liverpool to get hold of movie related books and gifts. Their selection of postcards featuring abstract versions of the city centre (the perfect small keepsake for the homesick art student) and old posters of B-Movies and James Bond films (the perfect present label for the cinema obsessive) are fantastic, as is their collection of classic book cover posters (the one for "Slaughterhouse 5" currently adorns my wall and I plan on picking up several more). The shop also carries a great selection of BFI guides to genre and directors (the "100 Best American Independent Films", which I picked up here, has been a book that I go back to again and again when I need something a little different to watch). The staff here (it's usually just the one guy) is happy to recommend suitable gifts or purchases and is happy to just have a bit of a movie fanboy jawing session.

The Shop at Fact is a little glass walled area at the back of the ground floor. It doesn't look up…read moreto much until you step inside. The items on sale here are wonderful, from the cuddly lambanana's to the arty books, there is so much on offer here you wont find anywhere else. The items are cheap, but they are of a very high quality and being so rare, you don't mind paying a little extra. The staff are very friendly throughout FACT and they are happy to suggest a gift and they will wrap your item for you if you wish.