There's not too much you can say about a card shop is there really? Well, I'll try my best…read more I went into Cards Etc. last week simply because it was the first place I came to on Town Street that sold greetings cards. I needed something special for my father that said 'I really hope this card makes up for the fact that I'm too poor to buy you a proper gift' - and thankfully I found just the thing, as the selection is absolutely huge (it puts supermarkets to shame). You'll be glad to know the 'Etc' bit isn't false advertising either - they also sell wrapping paper, gift bags and erm...envelopes. Enjoy!

It happens more often than not to receive more than one of a particular card on your birthday. I…read moresuppose Clinton's card stores only have a few cards that can apply to each celebration and personality. Even if I don't have a set of matching cards on my birthday, when I line all of them up on my fireplace they all look pink, they all have a shoe or a handbag on and they say Happy birthday in a Gothic, swirly font. Therefore it is essential that shops like Card Etc are knocking around.This is a hint to my friends to pop in and get me a different card!! Card Etc is located in Horsforth and is easy to nip into to browse around their unique cards and wrapping. Clinton's and Birthday's cards can become a little repetitive and increasingly expensive, therefore browsing around Card Etc's individual collection is a welcomed changed. Many cards are hand-made and many are created by different designers from the artists larger companies use. This adds a much more personal feel to a gift card. If it's someone birthday coming up I would head here for a card with an individual and personal touch.Many of the designs are really creative and contemporary which is right up my street.

I travel through Otley on business on a regular basis, and often pop in to Mounseys for a magazine…read more- I've never seen such a wide range of magazines on offer! They also stock lots of greetings cards and other gifts, and the staff are both knowledgeable and friendly.

Mounsey's is a huge stationary and gift card store situated in the heart of Otely. To find it all…read moreyou need do is hop off the bus, go past Savers Fashion Nett and head up onto Market Street - should be easy to spot from there as it has a huge glass window and big signage with the name branded over! There are all sorts of cards in here, you will be truly spoiled for choice, as there are rows and rows of them! Obviously Mounsey's wouldn't survive on card sales alone and so there are a number of other related items for sale here. You can purchase a wide selection of books although there doesn't appear to be any order or theme to the titles stocked - which include British Wildlife and Stephen Fry in America for example. There are also plenty of magazines, Lottery and tons of puzzle books and calendars! As it has been established since 1859 I think it's only right that should you be in need of a birthday card, or indeed a crossword book, that your purchase be made in Mounsey's. After all, Clinton's are two a penny and will almost certainly cost you more.

I came here to pick up a few bits for my sketchbook after hearing about it from a friend who's…read morepretty arty. I can't say I found anything completely inspiring or unusual but the basics of the kit you need were there. Brushes, Pencils, Card, Crafty bits and bobs....etc. The shop is reasonably priced and does have some nice quality materials.

Headingley don't have many arts and craft focussed shops around, but tucked up a back road,…read moreDisdale's is a resource for the artier of Headingley's residents. It is a traditional arts and crafts shops, selling quality materials in the way of fine paint brushes, drawing pencils of many kinds, quality paper meant for certain tasks etc. As I say in many other of my reviews, I prefer a more creative way of finding imaginative materials in unexpected places, rather than conforming to these sorts of traditional (overpriced) shops, but for what it is, it is a great thing to have in Headingley, away from the busy pub ridden road.

This is a delightfully full gift shop in the heart of Otley, with all kinds of treats and…read moresurprises. The shop indeed has a large number of china gifts, including pig shaped piggy banks, crockery sets, figurines and more. They also had a number of pewter items, including pewter keyrings in all kinds of designs - cats, cars etc. I don't think you could find a more specialist gift shop with such thoughtful items. They have special VW gifts, including mini camper vans and VW mugs - the sad thing is I know people who like these things! They also have a really special range of gift cards, which isn't something most actual card shops can boast, including 'swinging greetings cards' and 'wheel' cards! The owners are clearly dedicated to finding the best gifts with the most personal touch. Stop by next time you are in Otley, if only to gaze upon their hoards of pretties.

A quaint gift shop in the Market Square of Otley there is an abnormal amount of china and…read morekitchenware, a rather country set with a cock and hen as the feature is proudly displayed in the window when I was browsing for Christmas cards, I found a very apt, large card for my Nanna completely with all the sentimentality that I could never muster by myself. There are gifts for children such as wooden toys, pencil cases and games and very gentile owners happy to help.

This lovely little shop is yet another gem in the crown of Horsforth. The sign says "Card" the shop…read morewindow says "gifts" and the open door leads one to a "chocolatiers". It may or it may not be confusing, but does any of that matter, since the effect is that you simply must venture inside. And you won't regret having done so, either, oh no. The instant that I wandered in my eyes were drawn to the stacks of old school sweeties and goodies that were piled upon the sweet laden shelving to the left of the entrance. Blackberries and rasberries (the little chewy ones), jazzies, jelly buttons, pink and white mice, black jacks, cola pips, lemon bon bons, jelly babies - and more than I could possibly list. Heavenly. And if that wasn't enough, they sell belgian chocolates too, as the lovely assistant was pleased to inform me! The chocolates come in a number of pre-packed varieties, from specially selected packs and best seller trays. Alternatively you can pick your own - 100g for £3.95 (I think) which amounts to about 7. 9 for £4.95 and there were also 12 and 24 selections, though I've forgotten how much those came to! I went for 9, I couldn't not buy some, and they were delicious. My favourites were the white chocolate pistachio ones and the little noisette. Yum! As for the cards selection, they have them all nicely arranged so that it's easy to find what you want, and they've a really nice set to choose from. The gifts are varied and thoughtful too, ranging from some deliciously scented fragrance candles, bath sets, quirky lamps, a range of really cool wine and beer glasses (decorated in glass paints with various phrases and such) and my favourite, the quirky mugs with curious sayings such as "Camp Coffee! Daddy likes it full." This strange mug had a picture of a little girl carrying an overfull mug of coffee, presumably for her father. I did not understand the joke, but it was certainly amusing! With clearly passionate owners, a fantastically tempting range of stock, and helpful friendly assistants you can't go wrong for gifts in this lovely store. I highly recommend!

Again the name of this shop is slightly misleading because this shop is an absolute hotchpotch of…read morenovelty gifts. If you are lacking inspiration for a gift then this shop should help you out loads. Immaculately ordered and neat shelves house large T-Rex size egg lamps, decorated martini glasses, bath bomb gift boxes, varied and interesting jewellery, pots by Terramund for storing and containing various things and somewhere inside are some cards.

I purchased originally from their website then when I realised they were based near some friends of…read moremine I asked them about the shop and was given a glowing report so next time I visited I called in and I have to say the owners are so friendly and helpful, the choice of stock was great and so too were the prices, its so simple to keep customers happy and yet so many shops seem unable to do this so I've taken to reviewing this particular shop in all areas I can because quite simply shops like this deserve to be recognised

With such beautiful and exquisite gift items it is difficult to see where else you would want to go…read morein Horsforth for that special present. It might be that you start at the bottom of the street and have to work your way to the top to discover Ideas, but you'll be glad you did once you've made it up here. They've a number of different items, all beautifully made and pristine, to satisfy most of your standard gift ideas. Unless you really want to personalise a gift or make it creative this shop is a fantastic place to go to find something as it has that little bit extra compared to your average card and gift store. Any old Clintons has a stuffed bear that your Mum will know in an instant where you purchased it from and didn't really make an effort. If you bought an item from Ideas, for a bit of a price granted, you will find something unique with the longevity to give a lasting impression. From jewellery, toys, frames (which you can personalise with a photograph, of course), ornaments, perfume bottles, clocks - you get the idea. Everything within is graceful, delicate and a delight to browse.

This place is my idea (no pun intended) of a proper gift store…read more Ideas Unlimited offers such a vast array of presents that it is almost impossible to walk out of here without finding something for someone - believe me when I say the range is huge: ornaments, souvenirs, stationery, jewellery, toys, photo frames - you name it, they've probably got it. It's the sort of place that takes the hassle out of getting a little 'thoughtful' present or two for someone, and the quality of the products is a lot higher than what you'll find in most gift shops - this place has an air of class about it. Unfortunately, this is reflected in the rather steep prices.

This stationers is conveniently located in Hyde Park, the student centre so now if any student…read morerequires a pen or post-it note they don't have to make the effort of dragging themselves to town or even the University. It must be new as I hadn't spotted it before and the inside seemed a little sparse. It would fulfill most peoples basic stationary needs with staplers, pens, paper and even pushes the boat out by offering sketch pads and what I think WH Smiths terms 'fashion stationary'. But its probably cheaper than Smiths.