Photos come alive with all our precious moments. They're unique, powerful, and personal. They can transport
you back to your child's first steps, that gorgeous sunset on your honeymoon, or your grandmother's inviting
smile. Giving the gift of a specially-chosen photo is a way to share something truly unique with someone
close to you.
We understand the significance of a gift like this and we've collected some great ideas to help you make
your next photo gift a cherished keepsake.
The way you showcase a photo makes all the difference in the world. When you pick out a frame, choose
something that really fits the personality of your loved one.
Skip the dime-a-dozen photo frames at the nearest big box store and peruse a few secondhand stores and
antique shops instead. You're sure to find some excellent hidden treasures—from whimsical to
beautifully ornate.
Once you've found the perfect frame, go to the
HP Activity Center
for a printable paper frame to go with it.
Customize it with decorative embellishments—even add your own text.
You'll find free paper photo frames for every occasion, like the
Basil and twill photo frame. Here are
a few other themes available at the HP Activity Center:
Custom photo calendars are personal and practical—a useful gift that can be enjoyed all year.
But how do you fill up all those months in a meaningful way? Here is some inspiration to get you started:
Highlight your most memorable moments from the previous year, such as the holidays, summer
vacation, or your recipient's birthday. A gift like this reminds them of more fun times to come.
If you've got a newborn in the family, show off each month of their first year. So what if it
doesn't land perfectly on the first of the year—include photos of last year's proud mom-to-be.
Try something more abstract, like fine-art photos of leaves for fall or snow-laden trees for winter.
A serene photo has the power to transport the viewer and may offer a welcome escape from the
everyday.
The HP Activity Center
has a wide selection of custom photo calendars ready for your creative eye. Choose
from several formats: one-page with all the months or a traditional twelve-page calendar with cover.
With designs ranging from contemporary to traditional, you're sure to find the style that fits, like
this Modern date-keeper calendar.
For younger kids and teenagers, create a unique
Graffiti-cool yearly photo calendar.
Photos are welcomed reminders of the special times you've shared. As powerful as they are, adding other
keepsakes can help tell the full story. The perfect way to tell yours is with an
HP photo book.
Its special binding not only holds a ton of your photos, but you can also include other "artifacts" from
your experiences. Add things like these to complete your photo story:
Few things are as moving as receiving a scrapbook that's been lovingly crafted by someone who cares.
And the best part is, a scrapbook can be about anything.
Start a "this is your life" scrapbook that the recipient can add to over time. What better way to
say you'll be friends for years to come?
Give everyone on your child's little league team a page to customize, then combine them all at
the end of a month (this could work for a classroom, a reunion—anytime you have several participants).
Celebrate your family history with the
Family history scrapbook,
or gather photos of your family
members when they were a specific age. You'll see similarities you never noticed before.
For an interesting twist on scrapbooking and the perfect activity for both you and your little one, create
an all about me baby book.
With your help, your child can answer questions about themselves, like "My eyes
are the color of: a) Chocolate b) Grass c) The ocean d) The sky." You're sure to get a charming glimpse
into their world.
Sometimes a well-timed card is the perfect gesture. Sure, there are the big days: birthdays, weddings, anniversaries. But a photo card is good anytime. Consider one of these "unofficial" occasions:
Snapfish offers high-quality and speedy turnaround
As easy as many of these ideas may be, let's face it: you don't always have the time. That's where your
friends at Snapfish come in.
You can create wonderful gifts online, like mugs, T-shirts, tote bags, and more—visit
Snapfish.
And you don't have to do it all in one sitting. Choose your photos, arrange them and rearrange them as
many times as you need to, play with different themes and decorative touches until you have it just right.
Just save your changes and revisit to finish anytime.
For fun extras, explore the
Under $15 section of Snapfish
too.
Take a free online class
in digital photography! Explore the many features of your digital camera, find tips for cropping and editing your
images, and discover new ideas for sharing your photos in creative ways.
Printable version
