7 Creative Gifts that Use Your Awesome Photos
Making a photo gift with your own photos can be fun AND solve most gift-giving challenges – including finding gifts for people who have everything!
What makes a photo gift special?
- Every photo gift is one-of-a-kind.
- It has your personal touch. You can create funny gifts or sentimental gifts or gifts that are beautiful, sweet, playful, goofy, commemorative, loving, endearing…
- They are easy to make. There are many quality merchants…and online ordering tools give you control over design choices like size, color, and font so that you can create what you want, easily.
- Photo gifts are appropriate for every occasion: birthdays, anniversaries, Mother’s or Father’s Day, graduations, holidays – and simply when you want to share memories.
- Photo gifts are ALWAYS appreciated.
We’re here to inspire you with ideas for creative gifts you may not have time to discover. Read on!
Note: Some, but not all, of the merchants we reviewed have an affiliate program that provides a small commission. This does not influence our recommendation decision or increase the price you pay for the product – but helps us offset the cost of this site. You can click with confidence – and thank you for your support!
Kick-Around Cozy Wear
Why We Like This:
- Everyone has comfortable things they wear to kick around the house.
- You can turn these everyday items into fun and surprising gifts with a photo – it’s so easy!
- There is a great assortment of custom leisure wear available: slippers, leggings, pajama bottoms, kimonos, flip flops, and more.
Thought Starter Ideas:
- Comfy jams for your favorite couch potato
- Fun pet T-shirt for a child’s birthday gift
- Cozy slippers for the “work-from-home” mom or dad
Where to Get Them:
Bags of Love: An interesting company in the U.K. with over 450 fun, custom printed, handmade quality products. Short production turnaround and fast shipping to the U.S.A.
“Surprise Cards” That Are Really Gifts
Why We Like This:
- Those of us who love to give “surprise gifts” won’t find anything better than Boomf.
- It’s literally a card that “explodes” or pops out of the envelope!
- There are cards with confetti (you choose the style!), a butterfly that flies out, or 3-D pop-up origami animal greeting.
- Click on the video to see these cards in action…and the reactions they generate!
- Boomf is a very creative company…and also offers personalized marshmallows.
Thought Starter Ideas:
- For the boyfriend or girlfriend who is a prankster, it’s the perfect surprise for a birthday or anniversary.
- For a bride-to-be, its a unique way to announce her engagement…and ask friends to be bridesmaids.
- For family members with news to celebrate, it arrives as a simple card but creates excitement worthy of the occasion.
Where to Get Them:
Boomf – A super fun company from England -with production facilities in the United States for faster production and shipping. Special offers for our readers:
- 10% off your next order (excludes shipping). Use code: SURPRISEME
- 20% off when you buy 2 products (in the same order, sent to the same address. Use code: ROARING20S
"Big Head Cutouts"
Why We Like This:
- “Big heads” are all the rage at sporting events, weddings, and parties of all kinds.
- They are available in different sizes…and can be double-sided.
- Provides a ton of fun for everyone!
Thought Starter Ideas:
- Great for parties to honor special guests
- Fun for cheerleaders and others building excitement and energy at sporting events
- Nice for kids who could use some extra attention and love
- Awesome for sports fans… available for teams including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and Colleges.
Where to Get Them: Fathead.com – This site has lots of options and products that will liven up a party or decorate a kid’s room.
Create a Birthday Surprise
Why We Like This:
- Bold (and embarrassing!) way to surprise the birthday boy or girl!
- Terrific way to celebrate a drive-by birthday or use as a backdrop for an outdoor party.
- Can customize with a photo, text, colors, background designs and colors.
Thought Starter Ideas:
- Create a surprise welcome home for the birthday celebrant
- Use a banner to announce other milestones like a new job, graduation, and more
- Fun gift from husband, wife, child, brother, sister, family friend or neighbor.
Where to Get Them: StumpsParty.com, a fun, party destination website with lots of happy event celebration accessories
Wood Photo Blocks
Why We Like This:
- Made with high quality materials. The photo is printed on premium grade luster paper to capture image detail and vibrancy. Then, its adhered to a solid block of black walnut, one of the most valuable and unique species of hardwood.
- WOODSNAP only uses wood that’s sustainably grown in the USA, and water-based inks.
- All products are handcrafted in a California workshop with 100% solar power.
- For every order $1 is given to Farmers Footprint, with a goal to regenerate 5 million acres of farmland by 2025
Thought Starter Ideas:
- Great gifts to sit on desks, nightstands, and bookshelves
- Perfect for friends and family who enjoy the beauty of different materials and wish to support Fair Trade practices
- Is an appropriate gift for dads, grandfathers, uncles, boyfriends and husbands
Where to Get Them: WOODSNAP.COM
Custom Floating Frame
Why We Like This:
- This cool, gallery-style frame creates the illusion that your photo is floating against the wall.
- There are multiple layout options available for 4″x4″, 4″x6″, 5″x7″, and 8″x10″ photos.
- You can frame with or without a color backing – and choose from a black, walnut brown, or rustic white frame.
- It’s an easy and unique last-minute gift: order online and pick it up the same day (usually less than 4 hour turnaround)!
Thought Starter Ideas:
- Frame a shared travel adventure for a friend
- Create a wall-worthy gift for Mom’s or Dad’s office
- Use floating frames to build a distinctive family photo wall
Where to Get Them: Walgreens, where same day photo service is offered in over 6,500 stores in the U.S.A.
Photo Gift Wrap
Why We Like This:
- A simple idea that’s easy to do.
- It is an unexpected surprise…and makes ANY gift fun and personal.
- This company is pushing the envelope with very complete custom birthday packages – and an augmented reality app that makes their popular “Elfie Selfie” wrapping paper dance!
- Many companies offer photo gift wrap…we love this couple’s story of how they started the business.
Thought Starter Ideas:
- Use pet photos to surprise a pet owner
- Make any child a super-hero
- Personalize gifts for brides and grooms, graduations, friend’s birthdays, and more!
- Or, print gift wrap with your photo on it — and you’ll never need to add a card!
Where to Get It: Giftwrap My Face
Happy gift shopping…let us know (via the comment form) if you have had a good experience with any of these merchants…or if you have suggestions that we should add or include in our next round up review.