This Paperchase is an outlet within House Of Fraser. It's small but they seem to squeeze in a lot…read moreof products in to a small space. This store sells gifts, stationery and cards. It's kind of a girly Store with loads of photo books and bits and bobs you don't actually need. We went in to try and find a gift box and there was a whole world of possibilities. I couldn't believe there were so many options. The lady working behind the counter was really helpful and she even made a few recommendations. I'd recommend having a look if you're in Victoria Square.

So, I might has a slight obsession with stationery. So this place is right up my street, full of…read morebright shiny things. Which attracts a magpie like myself. The do a lot of quirky pieces as well a large range of cards and wrapping paper, art supplies and handmade paper. The handmade papers look great when used it a frame. A review and a tip in one. Who's that for multitasking.

It's happened to all of us- you realise it is Auntie Joan's birthday, or a mate has a baby or the…read morekids announce there is an unexpected party to go to and the thought of trailing into town fills you with dread. Well fear no more, problems always solved here. They have a great selection of cards and gifts for all occasions and little nic naks like picture frames and mugs, bags and books to cover most emergency gift situations. You can park outside and it won't break the bank, bingo! They also have additional space upstairs with seasonal stuff and party requirements, as you probably think you have birthday candles somewhere, but you don't. ;-)

Just For You has been on the Belmont Road for absolute donkeys (since 1985 apparently), and is…read morestill going strong. It's wide variety of cards, gifts and stationery make it an invaluable outlet for birthdays / Christmas / other occasions. I have fond memories of coming in when I was a kid, and my mum searching through the masses of cards 'til she found the perfect one. Now I've started doing the same thing (yikes), and find Just For You a wonderfully tranquil setting for doing so. The staff are friendly and laid-back, and you can really take your time gazing at the vast array of beautiful gifts. Among my favourites are the cute mini novel clocks which come in the form of pianos, golf bags, animals and the like, as well as the Bridgewater Candles which smell simply delicious. The best bit, however, is the hidden section upstairs, containing Fiorelli handbags, Disney figurines, gorgeous furniture, tapestries and luxurious scarves. At Christmas time, this area is buzzing with Christmas gifts, ornaments and decorations...it really is like Santa's grotto, exuding such a lovely cosy atmosphere. In fact, the whole shop really is very comfortable and intimate all year round, making for a truly lovely shopping experience. Just For You of course...

Forget Me Not is a smallish stationary shop down Pottinger's Lane in Belfast city centre. I called…read morein recently to buy a 'Made By The Bride' stamp for my wedding invitations. I had been to another stationary shop and they had none left and I have to say my first impressions of Forget Me Not weren't great. I was a little lost browsing around for ideas and cards when I spotted an area where homemade cards were being displayed. I asked the owner if she had any tips for my wedding cards and she was quite hostile. I was only a little lost bride trying to make conversation and trying to get some ideas. I had just bought a stamper from another stationary shop and I asked her to recommend the best way to use it and was told I should go back to where I bought it and ask them! I later found out that she designs and makes wedding stationary and I guess she didn't want to give anything away for free. Anyway, I had to order in the stamp as she had none left and I had to pay full price up front. I don't want to rate the entire business on that one experience, as I'm sure it was just a flippant remark on her part. I just hope that maybe other brides who want to save a few pounds and are a bit stuck (as they, like me, will probably have never done that kind of thing before) experience a warmer reception.

A lovely shop tucked away, but still in the heart of the city centre, Plenty to spend your money on…read morewith my fav Tim Holtz products and some g45 paper worth checking out I found the staff very helpful

Aww, I quite like the idea of paper wishes. They're almost reminiscent of fortune cookies, or…read morewishing upon stars, or indeed blowing the candles out on your birthday...in paper form maybe? Well, these paper wishes are of the greetings card variety...a wish on card instead of paper, but I was never really one to be pernickety. Lots and lots of 'em too. Superb variety, although I wasn't actually interested in this aspect of the shop. Nope, I was after the gift bags. There was a decent enough choice, and I cam across a really pretty one with the handles incorporated (rather than the dangly cord ones), and it was only £1.49, which I felt was an absolute bargain. Had I been in one of the more renowned card shops, I would have been paying at least twice that, so I was pretty chuffed. The staff were very pleasant and welcoming, although as the only customer in the shop at that stage, it could well have been mighty embarrassing had that not been the case. So, with no complaints from me at all, and a pretty little name to boot, I have to say, this was a fave.

This is a shop that promises much more from the outside than it delivers. Maybe it's the name, but…read moreI imagined a Mecca for the craft-lover, pens and papers and sparkly glitter and string and glue and all those things that I love so much. But it's just a card shop. Don't get me wrong - it's a good card shop in the sense that if you need a "Happy You're 80 and Haven't Broken a Hip Yet" card for your Great Aunt Muriel, then this is a place to come, it's just like Clinton Cards or Birthdays, except it's privately owned. They offer helium ballons and small gift items like teddy bears and keepsakes, but that's about it. They could do with getting some more unusual cards in as some of them are quite old fashioned for my taste. Totally okay as cards shops go, but I wouldn't go out of my way again.

Utopia is my first port-of-call when I know someone's birthday is coming up, or at Christmas…read moretime...you're pretty much guaranteed to find something in here you know that person will like. The variety is huge - massive wooden chess sets to quirky key rings and everything in between. There's nothing cheap or tacky, just beautiful gifts at incredibly affordable prices. The last time I was (it was only last week, due to their being a friend's birthday on the horizon), I was served by the most friendly lady I've ever had the pleasure of speaking to. She really was genuinely lovely, and that really made the trip for me. There's nothing better than decent customer service, and I definitely experienced some top class service that day. With some of the loveliest ranges in town, and wonderfully helpful staff, Utopia really is a must see...you won't be disappointed.

Yeah I have no complaints about Utopia. I'm glad there is only one of its kind in Belfast as that…read morekeeps the family who run it in trade and the customers flocking back. I love to go in at Christmas time as my mum has a thing for Christmas decorations and this is the best place in town to get a quality piece at a really good price. It houses such a mixture of goodies you could spend hours just browsing. There is a massive selection if ornaments such as statues of dogs, animals and fairies. They also have a large collection of really nice inexpensive costume jewellery. You can pick up anything in here from a rubber chicken to a ceramic panda. It is definitely the place to go for gifts of any sort. I was bought a poker set from here many moons ago and I still treasure it as although it wasn't really expensive it has the feel of a luxury item.

Not only can you get all your regalia for a birthday party here (cards, balloons, streamers,…read morebanners) but there's also a Thornton's here, which is a retailer in some cavity killing confectionery, mostly chocolate. This is a real bonus if you're out shopping for yourself and forgot (or couldn't be bothered) to get someone something for their birthday. A card, a box of Thornton's chocolates, and a cup saying "party girl" and you're all set.

Paperchase is the sort of stationary shop I go into only to browse, but often end up buying…read moresomething, even if I don't need it. Sells cards, wrapping paper, notebooks, diaries, photo frames, scrapbooks, party items, bags, umbrellas, cases for glasses, gifts and some basic art/ craft supplies. A beautiful range of patterns, design, colours and textures. Plus lovely illustrations on cards and notebooks. Not the cheapest shop for such items, but the products are beautiful, which makes it hard to resist impulse purchases. Staff are nice and offer an option to sign-up for a "Treat Me" Loyalty Card at the till. This allows customers to build up credit towards receiving free treats and discounts.

If you're a stationary geek, you should definitely give this shop a visit! They have so many quirky…read morejournals and pens, and they are all of such high quality. Yes, the prices can seem a little steep but you really do get your money's worth. That staff are incredibly helpful and friendly. They wrapped up a gift I was buying and made me feel very welcome! Great spot!

Oh boy, oh boy…read more.. I'm one of these people who always wanted to be artistically creative. My mum can paint, sketch, knit, crochet, and all the rest of it, but unfortunately I didn't inherit her arty farty genes. Stick men and colour co-ordination is really the height of it for me. Well, at least my stick people will be well dressed... Thank goodness for Craftworld, a haven of every possible kind of art form known to man. To my delight, this includes those colourful beads which you place on a random plastic shape, cover with iron-proof paper, and iron. Cue excitement. I actually made one of these a number of years ago. A blue and red place mat in the shape of a star which sits on my desk. Craftworld appreciates the lesser forms of art. Happy days. If you're not one for fusing together beads (and let's face, apart from a five year old and myself, who really is?), do not fear. Everything from dolls houses to thread, from glitter to polystyrene shapes can be found in Craftworld. There's a lovely wee wedding section at the very back too. Lovely jubbly.

This place is unbeatable for everything craft, ribbons, buttons, wool..everything…read more I had the very frustrating experience of going here to pick up stuff everyday for two weeks before my wedding...men beware it may just dooo your head in unless your the president of your local sewing club. Prepare for a busy stuffy room with way too much choice!!!!

I really like The Works, you can pick up all sorts of interesting books here for a bargain price,…read morethey are arranged out by category like they would in a library, children's section, thriller, local history, cookery, reference books etc. They also stock a wide range of craft goods, such as easels, all types of paint and paintbrushes, scrapbooks, stickers, wool, needles, you name it! The Works is a good shop for giftware too, for example if you have secret Santa, there are loads of fun items, themes such as Star Wars, Game of Thrones, Hello Kitty, and more. This is actually one of the nicer The Works stores I've been in, it's not too crammed as some others are, and is easy to navigate without knocking things over!

This is a great wee shop inside connswater shopping centre. There are a vast selection of books…read morethere are every book you can imagine in this shop, I like the cookbooks as I like to bake at home , most of my cookbooks are from here and theres lots to choose from and the prices are decent too. The works also sell children's books and children's toys and sweeties at the till. Theres a small craft selection which has a good selection of boxes ec to keep your crafting supplies in. If your an artist theres a brilliant selection of canvas's and paints and brushes even charcoals and pastels. Theres a great selection here for anyone into painting. Also a selection of DVDs, calendars and diarys. Theres gift sets and gadgets in store. Shop is always crammed and well filled with stock!

Cards for occasions is a notion that baffles me...Ok I get that it is nice to say some thing nice…read moreto someone in the written word and for it to be on a piece of card that they can keep it and always have it. But their are cards that just take the mickey a little bit, especially as some are so expensive. Some of the more established card retailers are so expensive and we as the human race where probably led to believe if we wanted to send someone a card that there was no other option... enter card land...this shop has done for cards what pound land has done buying for portable bbq's. Birthday card for under a pound, yes please!!! now I can either decide to spend the money that I would have spent on a card somewhere else, either on the person that I am buying a card for or on myself...mmm...hard decision!!!

I don't know if I've mentioned it but I am doing this big balloon event? Last week at short notice…read moreI needed some helium, so I went to Cardland as they always have inflated helium balloons on display. Unfortunately they didn't have any helium at all to sell but the two members of staff agreed to help me fill up 50 helium balloons from the canister they had out the back. They showed amazing levels of customers service and couldn't have been more helpful. To be honest this is a store that I have never been to before, despite passing it loads of times. It's a tiny shop but they manage to cram in a lot of cards and gifts for any occasion. As mentioned, the staff are what makes Cardland stand out - they really went the extra mile to help me out! 5 Stars for them and 4 stars for the overall store!