Ink lovers - tattoo as present?

heartbreak_star

I've been having difficulty thinking about what to get OH for his birthday (he'll be 33) and a mutual friend suggested another tattoo as he already has one and has been on about "getting it finished" for ages.

He's also asked me to design it within some specification boundaries, which has just made me nervous, but that's another story. I was just thinking of buying the time with the tattooist as a voucher!

Anyway, tattooed peeps...is this a good idea? Would you do it for your partner?

HBS x

getcarter

Definately, would have a chat with the tattooist first though to checked design and how long it's likely to take.

Gigglepig

Not something I would consider as a gift even if my OH liked them. I'd rather look for a nice experience, fun day out or holiday, unless there was a specific item he really wanted/needed. Quite often there is something electronic he wants (phone, music, dvds...).

Oli.s

The voucher / paying for the time is the better idea if you don't have a design in mind already.

redfragglebiker

I would say go for the voucher,

My dad paid for me to have a tattoo for my 30th that I wanted for may many years but would never have been able to afford. He simply spoke to the tattoist about how much time it would take to do the design (luckily she was my friend as well as my tattoist so knew exactly what he was on about!) and he paid her direct. All I had to do was book the time to have it done.
Couldn't have been a more amazing present.

If you would like some input into the design why not see if you can the tattoist can spend some time together where you tell them about the kind of thing you would like and they draw it uP? That way you get a professional design but it;s still had the essence of it designed by you.

podperson

I think the idea of buying a voucher for time with the tattoo artist is a nice idea. I don't know if I would want to design it unless I had a bit of talent in the area or knew very specifically what my OH wanted. A tattoo a very personal thing and it's with you for life so if he didn't completely love the design he would risk either having to hurt your feelings which could leave you both feeling bad over something that was meant to be a lovely gesture, or going ahead with it anyway to spare them and not being totally happy with it.

marisco_2

A voucher to cover time with a tattooist to design and then create a tattoo sounds like a perfect present. It seems it is something your partner would value and appreciate.

victory

I say the voucher:D

heartbreak_star

Definitely think it's a good idea to talk to the tattooist about the design - it's Celtic knotwork he wants which I'm fairly good at but would rather have the input of the person who'll be putting it on skin rather than paper once I've sketched it out. Then OH can make any extra changes he wants

Gigglepig...the last time I bought him an experience thing (paintballing) it expired before he got round to it *sigh*. I can never buy him gadgets as he's a gadget freak and buys everything he wants immediately

HBS x

Debrac

I had always wanted a tattoo when I was younger but never really got around to it and always regretted not getting one. For my 40th birthday, my two daughters (late teens) surprised me by whisking me off to get a beautiful delicate tattoo on my foot which they had paid for! Most birthday presents are forgotten over the years but mine is a constant reminder of that day and I still love it!

I say go for it!

System

If i had planned a tattoo i'd love a voucher towards it. I gave my ex money towards his first tattoo and he really appreciated it.

Perhaps give them the design and get it drawn up before buying the voucher though.