Holiday Gift Guide!
I hate holiday creep. I really do. I mean, Costco had Christmas items available before Halloween and that was just mind-blowing. But things are different this year. With supply chain and shipping issues, we just have to be on top of things earlier than usual. So here I am, writing a holiday gift guide in the middle of November.
Here are seven of my favorite personalized photo gifts for the holidays. Why seven and not ten? Because it’s only November…
*Prices current as of November 17, 2021.
*0. Donate to a charity near and dear to your loved one
Ok, so this isn’t a personalized photo gift, which is why it’s numbered 0, but this is honestly my favorite gift to both give and receive. I will often pair a donation with a physical gift, so read on for my top seven personalized photo gifts for the holidays, all of which would pair nicely with a donation to your charity of choice.
*1. Custom Photo Color Changing Mug
For the coffee or tea drinkers on your list, how fun is this? When the mug is cold, it is black. When you add hot liquid, your custom photo suddenly appears! I’m not a coffee drinker, but I would love this personalized photo holiday gift 😉.
Find it on Amazon or Shutterfly for $16-$25. The mug pictured here is from Shutterfly.
*2. Nixplay Photo Frame
This is perfect for the parent or grandparent on your list - have your photos magically appear on their frame as you take them! The photos will display as a slide show, and you can send photos to it at any time to keep it fresh and up to date. We gave one to my parents - my son’s favorite thing is to send videos of him telling jokes but not giving them the answers…
Find the frames at Nixplay. Note that there is a Nixplay membership, but that is unnecessary for most people. Prices range from $112 and up, depending on size and finish.
*3. Photo Playing Cards
Do you have game players in your circle of family and friends? How about giving them a deck of cards with special photos on them? I like this set from Printerstudio, because you can choose how many images you would like to include - just one image for the whole deck, a different image for each suit, an an image for each number, or a different image for every card. There is also a variety of different sizes and decks. They will think of you every time they play cards!
Find these cards at printerstudio.com. They also have a range of boxes and cases you can personalize to complete the gift. Starting at $14.50.
*4. Photo Pet Pillow
Know a pet lover? How about a custom shaped pillow with a photo of their pet? Or perhaps purchase one of these for your pet?
The pillow is from Petsies. Consider adding a matching pair of socks with your pet’s face on them? I bought a pair of these for my kids from Pup Socks a few years ago - they were a big hit. The pillow starts at $49, the socks $24.99.
*5. Acrylic Photo Blocks
I love these acrylic blocks from mpix. They add dimension to your favorite photos and a modern, vibrant look to a shelf or desk. Because they are printed on thick acrylic, the colors are vibrant and beautiful.
The blocks start at $49.99 from mpix.
*6. Photo Puzzle
After the past year, many people re-captured their love of puzzles or discovered them for the first time. As winter approaches, why not send your favorite puzzling friend a personalized photo puzzle commemorating a special memory? Simply upload your images and let Printique do the rest.
Choose your size, ranging from 252 pieces to over 1000 pieces, upload your photos, choose your layout, and you are done. Starting at $23 from Printique.
*7. Digitize Your Old Photos
Finally, you can give the gift of memories. Do you have a parent, grandparent, or other family member with a closet-full of old photo and slides? I can scan them and bring them back to life for you. Are there a few special photos that you would love to see restored? I can do that too. Or go big and let me organize a whole library of digital photos - removing duplicates and junk and bringing order and searchabilty. Schedule a call or send me an email today for a gift certificate or to discuss your print and digital photo organizing needs.
And there you have it, my top seven personalized photo holiday gifts for the season. Why seven? Because it’s still November, and even I’m not quite ready for the holidays! But this is an unusual year, so let’s embrace it and get started.
Looking for more ideas? Check out Photogifter.com for even more original personalized photo gifts!