How to Make Gifts Out of Photos

A personalized homemade gift is always fun to receive. Try using your favorite snapshots to make creative, one-of-a-kind gifts for the holidays, a birthday or even a wedding shower. Whether they are prints or saved on the computer as digital files, there are lots of options for making gifts out of photos. You can get started right at your own desk.

Things You'll Need

• Photo prints
• Photo digital files
• Scissors
• Magnets
• Brag book
• Matting
• Frames

Instructions

1. Organize your photos. Save printed photos for gift making. Make folders on the computer with different types of photos. Keep one of friends, family and even pets. Keeping photos organized will make it easier to put together a photo gift on short notice.

2. Make photo coasters as a gift. Grab some extra copies of photographs you love. Eliminate empty background and cut them into a perfect square. Make a set of six coasters. Take them to a local print and copy store. Have them mounted on cardboard and laminated.

3. Buy plain refrigerator magnets. Clear plastic sleeves and rigid vinyl holders are available at photography hobby stores. Fill the magnets with recent pictures of your family. These make great, usable gifts for grandparents, aunts and uncles.

4. Create a brag book for a mom or grandmother’s purse. Choose your favorite twenty-four photos. Put them in a small photo album. Group the photos by family, age or event. Personalize the inside cover of the brag book with a message and your signature.

5. Purchase a large photo mat at a craft or photography store. Have a small photo opening cut in the middle. Frame the mat with a photo in the middle of a sports team, engaged couple or retiring teacher. Have all the friends, family and students of the those in the photograph sign the mat. Give the photo gift to the couple, coach or retiring teacher.

6. Go on the internet and upload your photos to photography stores. Harold’s Photo Centers has a great selection of online photo gifts. They can make mouse pads, coffee mugs and even jewelry from your digital photos files. Have them shipped to your home and use them as personalized gifts.