Why A Personalized Photo Book Makes The Perfect Gift For Parents

A personalized photo book makes an ideal gift for any loved one celebrating a special event. A wedding, birth, baptism, birthday, graduation or even Christmas; photo books are the perfect gift for saving those cherished memories.

Nothing is more personal than giving a personalized photo book with meaningful pictures in it. Personalized photo books are about sharing memories of the people and places that are important to your friends and family.

Everyone has mountains of old pictures stored away in boxes, pictures that haven't seen the light of day in years. Nowadays, instead of locking our pictures away in an old shoe box, we store them on our computers. Now, if you are anything like me, you look at those pictures about as often as you look at the ones stored in the shoe box in the back of your closet!

Imagine how frequently you would look at those very same pictures, pictures that hold all those special memories for you, if they were in a smart looking photo book that you kept on the coffee table in your living room.

What a wonderful gift idea.

Imagine the fun you could have if you had a photo book of the family vacation you could quickly pick up, to show friends how your "better half" made a complete fool of themselves on the beach or in the night club!

Think about the happiness a photo book of the children would give to their grand parents. You could rest assured they would love it and it would almost certainly take pride of place in their home!

What about the god parents? The possibilities are endless!

A Photo book really is the perfect way to record those special moments in your life, big one in a lifetime events like weddings, births and baptisms.

Photo books are also surprisingly affordable, with prices normally ranging from as low as $10 for a small basic 20 page book up to $150 or more for a large 100 page book.

The quality of photo books can vary widely between suppliers, so there are a few things buyers need to be aware of:

1.     Try to avoid "glue bound" books. Although they look and feel fine when you first receive them, after even relatively light use, they tend to come apart. This is especially true in warmer climates where humidity plays havoc with the glue.

2.     Look for a "Stitch Bound" photo book. A stitch bound book will allow you to spread the book out flat so you can flip through the pages without having the binding crack.

3.     Try to stick with at least a 157gsm or higher premium paper.

4.     Look for a web store that offers easy drag and drop picture placement, controllable text placement and a good choice of themes and backgrounds.

When you design your photo book it is worth remembering that you should have the option to order multiple copies. That means it's pretty easy for you to make gifts for more than one person. All you need to do is change some of the text to create individually personalized photo books for as many people as you want.

If you make the right choices, you will have a photo book that will bring great pleasure to you and your family for years to come, plus, it will look great on your coffee table!

Conclusion

Photo books are a wonderful gift idea for those difficult to buy for people, especially parents and grand parents.

The one thing you can be certain of is a photo book with pictures of the grand children in it will not only be well received, it will take pride of place in the home and bring them a ton of enjoyment as they show off the grand kids to their friends and neighbors!

View our fully customizable directory here or here

The Best Gift Ideas Are Not Always The Most Expensive

Gift giving is an excellent way for loved ones, co-workers, and significant others to express thanks and love for each other. The best gift ideas are those which are not necessarily the most expensive, but rather those which come from the heart. 

Here are some suggestions to help you in your pursuit to find that perfect gift. 

Fruit and gift baskets are ideal for that hard to shop for person. This "gifts within a gift" contains lotions, creams, colognes, candy, coffee, tea, and many other miniature goodies. Along the same lines, business gift baskets can be given to a fellow co-worker who is celebrating a special occasion or is in need of a pick-me-up. 

Coffee gift baskets are often exchanged between co-workers and are supplied with some of the best coffee in the world. Known as Koa Coffee, it is homegrown in some of most lush regions of beautiful Hawaii. Whether receiving fruit, gift, or coffee baskets, that coworker or loved one will surely get a lot of use out of their many novelties. 

Another unique gift idea is gift cards! Gift cards can be used at a variety of discount stores and fine dining restaurants. The wonderful quality of gift cards is that they give gift recipients the freedom to buy what they want at their own convenient time. 

Givers can specify the amount to be spent directly on the card. Gift cards are ideal gifts for couples celebrating an important anniversary or newly-weds who simply need a romantic night out. 

Mugs are another unique gift idea that are practical yet decorative. Gift recipients will enjoy a personalized mug with a unique slogan or message with a spin on life. In addition, your loved ones will have something to drink their freshly brewed coffee out of in the morning before starting their day. 

A variety of creative mugs are available on-line, including face mugs that have a special compartment in the bottom for storing refreshments. These mugs are very affordable and most are available at under $25. 

Handmade crafts add sentimentality to any special occasion, from birthdays to Christmas. Birth stone flower necklaces let your loved ones know that you have a special place in your heart for them. Fathers can give their wife and daughter matching mother and daughter necklaces with an inscribed message as a token of his love or appreciation. 

In addition to necklaces, your significant other will look so much more elegant wearing bracelets and rings that are made with a personal touch straight from a craftsman's hands. 

Lastly, stocking stuffers are small little affordable accessories that are charming and quaint. Inscribed key chains which communicate a special message are affordable novelties that can be placed in Christmas stockings at the last minute. These can be bought at novelty and gift shops at a very affordable price. 

Some of the best gift ideas are not necessarily found in expensive shops or boutiques. These suggestions show that you don't have to dig deep into your wallet to find that perfect gift; you only need to search your heart.


View our fully customizable photo gifts directory here or here

Gift Ideas For The Gift-Giving Year

People often wait until the last minute to come up with gift ideas , even for the closest people in their lives. They do this despite the fact they have had an entire year to dream up the perfect present for nearly everyone on their gift list. Of course, this is because the modern person's schedule is a mad dash through the best of times. A little information goes a long way toward making certain a loved one doesn't go unrecognized or has their feelings hurt. 

Each month will bring about the ABCs of gift giving occasions, including anniversaries, apologies, bar mitzvahs, bas mitzvahs, birthdays, bon voyages, congratulations, funerals, get well, off-season graduations, happy other events, marriages, promotions, recitals, retirements and more. Gift giving experts suggest coming up with a list of all possible occasions. This will help trigger reminders about upcoming events. 

Another list may be made of periodic events that crop up in everyone's calendar. Every month will feature the occasions that have been outlined above. These that follow are the events peculiar to individual months. 

February offers Valentine's Day and, because of this, a up-cropping of weddings and anniversaries. 

Spring months bring Easter, Passover and other spring holidays. 

June is the perennial season of weddings and graduations. 

Summer brings holiday trips and bon voyage wishes. 

September signals the return to school, with new adventures needing congratulations. 

October may suggest autumn-themed gifts and Canadian Thanksgiving. 

November ushers in the holiday season, beginning with the USA's Thanksgiving. 

December, of course, is jam-packed with opportunities and responsibilities for gift-giving. 

The time to keep a list of ideas for gifts is the day the idea is thought of. A small notebook or computer file with names and gift suggestions beside them can be a lifesaver in tight schedule spots. If a friend mentions a general field of interest or a hobby, the gift-giver can note it down. 

A book or magazine subscription on that topic might be the perfect present. If a loved one comments about a favorite film, performer, artist, writer or type of music, the possibilities for gifting are endless. If uncertain about which DVDs, books and similar items a potential gift recipient might already have in his collection, the gift-giver might consider a more general gift item such as a wall poster, book or DVD on a related topic. 

General gifting notions for everyone include handheld electronics, books, flowers, food, wine, plants and many other one-size-fits-all presents. However, there may be a way to find a new twist on old standbys. Is there a signed first-edition available of a favorite book? A beautiful bouquet of color-combined or unusual flowers might be more welcome than the same old American beauty roses. A special wine from a hometown, a plant with touted healing abilities, or a collection of beloved candy from a distant childhood can all make excellent and personal presents that still keep the traditional gifting theme. 

The old saying holds that it isn't the gift but the thought that counts. It's actually the thought behind the gift that matters most. Even when the gift itself has been long forgotten, the evidence that a loved one took the time to think of some perfect gift ideas for them will be remembered forever in any person's heart.

View our fully customizable photo gifts directory here or here

Need A Gift Idea?

Have You Considered A Personalized Photo Bag?

The first thing that springs to mind when most people think about personalized photo bags is a good old fashioned tote bag. What people don't realize is there are dozens and dozens of different types of photo bags that make a perfect gift for him, her or the kids?

Let's talk a little about the different type of photo bags that are readily available in today's photo gifts market place.

Handbags

Photo handbags are very popular with women from all walks of life. They come in many shapes and sizes and can be personalized to make a special and obviously completely unique gift.

Shoulder Clutch Bags

Let her sport her favorite pictures and designs and become the envy of all those around her with a personalized shoulder clutch bag. They are suitable for most occasions, from work to casual or even a night on the town!

Bucket Bags

Put any photo or design you can think of on a bucket bag to create a wonderful gift for the woman in your life. The casual style and array of multiple interior pockets found in bucket bags make them perfect for everyday use.

Shoulder Sling Bag

Although most women see the sling bag as a casual accessory, they can also be used for work. With a light weight design and a bunch of internal compartments, they are very convenient for multiple uses. It's easy to make her happy with a personalized shoulder sling bag.

Tote Bags

There's probably nothing left to be said about personalizing a tote bag. These tough rugged bags remain a firm favorite when it comes to holiday time.

Toiletry Bags

Personalized toiletry bags are a very popular gift this year. Designed to carry all the daily essentials they make great gifts for men and women alike.

Cosmetic Bags

A very popular gift with the ladies, a cosmetics bag personalized with pictures of the kids can be a great hit. She will give you maximum points for practicality if you give her a personalized cosmetics bag!

Coin Purse

A personalized coin purse is handy for keeping loose change together. Put a trendy picture or design on it and it can make a really cool gift. A trendy coin purse can also double up as a cute accessory for keeping money and cards in during a night on the town.

Netbook (Case) Bag

A personalized netbook case or bag provides good protection against bumps, shocks, scratches, dust and debris. They also look really cool when customized with your favorite pictures and designs.

Camera Bag

A personalized camera case provides protection for your camera while also allowing you to express yourself in a way that is sure to turn a few heads when you take it from your pocket or bag.

CD or DVD Wallet Case

Very popular with teenagers who like to personalize their CD case with images of their favorite musicians and movie stars.

School Bags

Personalized school bags make wonderful gifts for children. They come in various sizes to suit all ages and can be customized with their favorite cartoon character, sports team, wrestler or anything else they are interested in.

Pencil Case

If your child is bored with the standard designs you find in high street stores you can create a unique pencil case with their favorite pictures and designs on it. It is sure to make them the envy of their class.

Conclusion

If you are struggling for a gift idea, why not consider a personalized photo bag, they can make a great gift for men, women and children alike.

A DIY Customizable Cell Phone Case Or Skin Can Make A Really Fun Gift Idea

In these days of digital technology we are swamped with electrical devices to keep us abreast of the news and allow us to stay in close contact with our loved ones. No device is more important to us than our cell phone; wherever we go our mobile phone comes too! 

Most people want their mobile phone to be unique, so it appears different to the masses. With this in mind, the most common course of action is to try and find a ring tone that nobody else they know has, or cover their phone with a customizable case or a personalized skin.

With so much music available for download, creating your own unique ring tone is easy, but when it comes to cases and skins, lots of us often run into friends who's cell phones are decorated with the same designs.

The greatest benefit of a custom phone case or skin is they make it easy for anyone to come up with and make their own unique designs that they can be sure no one else will have. The other thing customizable phone accessories provide us with is a great gift idea for difficult to buy for friends.

Spiffy phone cases and skins are already commonly used as presents for men, women and children of all ages, but as previously mentioned, all to often, you bump into people with the exact same design. Pre-designed phone cases normally cost you more than $25, while it's not unusual for good quality skins to cost $18 or more.

When you make a comparison of the cost of pre-made cases and skins with their fully customizable cousins, it makes even more sense to make your own personalized phone accessories; if you look around, you will find quality customizable cases for about $18, while personalized skins are freely available for around $16 or so.

On this basis why would anyone want to pay more for the same generic product that millions of others already have?

So if you really want to make your cell phone stand out from the crowd, why not dress it up in its own clothing by giving it a customized case or skin featuring your own one of a kind design? 

Do it yourself phone cases and skins can be anything you want them to be; you can customize them in any color you want, design them with your favorite pictures or if you are a business owner, with your company logo. One thing's for sure though, if you personalize a cell phone case or skin with your own photos and designs, it will definitely be a one of a kind!

As well as being fun to design and create, customized cell phone accessories make great gift ideas for him or for her.

Some of the more common designs for ladies include photos of their children, or for grand mothers, photos of their grand children. For daughters and girlfriends photos of their boyfriends.

For men, common designs include photos of kids, the golf club logo or if they are into cars, maybe a photo of their pride and joy. Boyfriends are normally happy with a case or skin featuring a stunning photo of their girlfriend.

Clearly you can personalize custom phone accessories with any images you want; flowers, cartoon characters, graphic designs, sports teams, dogs, cats etc. are all commonly used. The bottom line is your only limitation is your own imagination!

So whether it's an Apple iPhone or a smart phone from Blackberry, HTC, Motorola or Samsung, why not dress up your phone in it's own designer clothing by making your own custom case or skin? Better still, create one for somebody else and give it to them as a gift.... they are sure to adore it!

View our fully customizable cell phone cases and skins

Unusual Valentine Gifts Part Two

In the past it was always tough to come up with unique gift ideas for friends and loved ones, for Valentine's Day, but now, with the advent of photo gifts, coming up with that special gift idea is much easier. We all know what themes and pictures our friends and family enjoy, so the only question we have to ask ourselves these days is what image to put on what product? 

With so many different photo gifts available to us we are spoiled for choice; with so much choice sometimes we can't even see the woods for the trees! 

My goal here is to talk a little about two of the most popular photo gifts, photo bags and photo books. 

Photo Bags 

Did you know that photo bags are just as popular with men and children as they are with women? 

Photo bags have evolved far beyond totes and women's handbags; you can now find Camera Cases, CD Wallets, Netbook Cases, Toiletry Bags, School Bags and Pencil Cases to name but a few. 

The introduction of these and other products is what has led to the tremendous growth in photo bag gift giving to men and children. They all make really unique gifts. 

For women there are a whole host of different photo bags including handbags, clutch bags, sling bags, shoulder bags, purses, bucket bags and cosmetics bags, and that's just for starters! 

Designs 

By definition, there are an unlimited number of designs available to you, the most popular of which are animal skins and bags personalized with pictures of children and pets. 

You can of course add any design, picture or text you wish to any product, ensuring you can create exactly what you want - it's great fun too! 

Photo Books 

The photo book industry has and continues to see tremendous growth and there is no sign of a let up. It seems that people just can't get enough of them! 

The best thing about photo books is they are a great place to store your cherished memories and they also make a smart addition to the coffee table. 

Because photo books of the children make such a perfect gift for grand parents this has become the most popular theme. 

Other popular uses include: 

• Weddings 
• Births 
• Baptisms 
• Graduations 
• Vacations 

Photo Books are also commonly used by parents to track the growth of their children. 

Conclusion 

Both photo bags and photo books make unique gifts, year round, to different parts of your friends and family circle. 

Personalized photo gifts are the perfect way to express your emotions at gift giving time. 

Whether that gift is a photo book of your children for the grand parents, a photo toiletry bag with a picture of an old muscle car for your husband or a leopard skin handbag for your friend, there is one thing you can rest assured of, the recipients will love them! 

And as for you, another thing you can be certain of; you will have a ton of fun designing and creating them!

Give A Wedding Anniversary Gift That Will BeTreasured Forever

I just celebrated my 45^th Wedding Anniversary and over the years I have had trouble deciding what would be an appropriate gift. 

It is easy if you follow tradition, you are supposed to buy certain gifts for each anniversary, but honestly, I really did not want a gift made of paper for on my first anniversary, something made of wood for my fifth or how about a tin box for my  tenth? So what to do? Well the idea of personalized gifts is one way to go and it is easier today then ever to do this. 

A wedding anniversary gift should be something that can be treasured, something romantic, something totally unique that your loved one will adore. 

For many of us we have problems when it comes to coming up with a unique wedding anniversary gift ideas. Here are a couple of things you need to know: 

1. For many of us, it is the "thought that counts", so although your love may want a new designer jacket or an expensive piece of jewelry, you are not getting the bang for your buck! 
2. There are two key ingredients when it comes to creating a gift that will be treasured forever. The first is your wedding picture; the second is a heart shaped gift to put it on. 

It sounds really simple doesn't it? Well it is; there is nothing more romantic than giving your woman a heart shaped gift with a picture of you wedding day on it. Better still, it won't break the bank either! 

The development of the personalized photo gifts industry has made it very easy for absolutely anyone to create their own unique gifts. There are hundreds of products to choose from and with an endless amount of pictures, designs and text available to put on them, you have an infinite number of options. Your only limitation is your own imagination! 

Let's get back to some gifts ideas 

As I already mentioned, what you need to be looking for is a heart shaped gift you can personalize with pictures of your own wedding. Two of the most popular items are: 

HeartShaped Watches 

There are obviously many heart shaped watches to choose from, but what you are looking for is a heart shaped watch you can personalize. This cuts down your options a little but still leaves you with a good choice. 

You may want to consider a heartshaped Italian Charm Watch . The reason I suggest this is you can also personalize the charms that make up the wrist band, a really cool idea. 

Most Italian Charm Watches have a wrist band made up of sixteen 9mm ItalianCharms . To create a really unique gift you may want to consider putting a different wedding picture on each of the sixteen charms that make up the wrist band. If you do this you can pretty much guarantee she will absolutely love it! 

HeartShaped Key Chains 

Heart shaped key chains make a very popular gift, but make sure if you are going to give your loved one a personalized key chain that it is good quality; avoid plastic at all costs. ChromeKey Chains are certainly worth considering as they look really sharp, especially when they are customized with your own pictures. 

Other items you may want to consider include heartshaped jigsaws, heartshaped magnets, heartshaped dog tags, heartshaped ornaments and heartshaped mouse pads . 

A heart shaped jigsaw with your wedding picture on it can be very romantic when you are leaning over the puzzle together, giggling and revisiting some very special memories. 

Most people would be happy to put a heart shaped wedding picture magnet on their fridge for everyone to see, while heart shaped ornaments and mouse pads also make most unusual gifts they are sure to appreciate. 

Then there's the heart shaped dog tags; a novel idea is to create dog tags for him and for her, they make cute romantic gifts for any loving couple. 

Conclusion 

Wedding anniversary gifts are a symbol of a love that grows stronger with each year that passes. Personalized anniversary gifts can help put the fire back in any romance and best of all, you don't need to re-mortgage the house to pay for them! 

Why don't you spoil your special someone with a very special and unique personalized gift today?

How To Find Tons Of Personalized Gifts Ideas

As the calendar continues to flash past we are quickly approaching that time again - the holiday season! We all have to get our thinking caps on again and come up with a whole new list of gifts ideas for our family and friends. 

If you are interested in finding the best gifts ideas the easy way, I strongly recommend you explore a few photo gift websites; such as Hummingbirds and Butterfly Gift Shop or Magical Gifts that Work.  you can quickly find thousands of fully customizable products, most of which can be personalized free of any additional costs! These stores offer a plethora of different gifts ideas that are sure to satisfy your needs.

If you are not familiar with photo gifts I am totally confident that as soon as you get to know them you will be hooked! In essence, in their basic form, photo gifts are no different to the gifts you find in shopping malls up and down the nation, however, the difference is, photo gifts can be customized with your own photos, logos, designs and text - that's what makes them so special - that is why they make such wonderful gifts ideas.

To give you an example of how special and meaningful a photo gift can be, I am going to illustrate how they can turn a good gift idea into a great gift idea:-

Let's say a dog loving lady wants a new tote bag for her birthday…..

The first alternative would be to go to a local store and buy a tote bag with a picture of a dog on it - not a bad idea, but it's very easy to do a lot better!

The second alternative would be to go to a photo gifts website, choose the tote bag you think would be most suitable for its recipient, then personalize it with a photo of her own dog, and for a finishing touch, add her dog's name to it in fancy graphics.

Which tote bag do you think that dog loving lady would like best?

If you are not familiar with how to make your own personalized gift , I am going to explain just how easy it is.

All you need to do is visit a photo gift website, browse their products, then when you have found a suitable item, all you need to do is decide how you want to personalize it.

The next step is to browse the photos on your computer, locate the photo you want to personalize the product you have chosen with, then upload it to the photo gift website.

Using the site's product personalization platform, you will find you can easily drag and drop your photo onto the product. If you want to add some text, a name, date, occasion etc. you can do whatever you want.

Once your personalized gift is complete, all you need to do is preview it to ensure you are happy with it, then put your finished personalized gift in your shopping cart and proceed to check out.

Most custom personalized gifts will be on your door step in a very short time

Tips about how to choose the most suitable personalized gifts for specific individuals

The process is not wildly different to choosing a traditional gift. The first thing you need to do is identify a product that you think the recipient will find useful - something they will use on a regular basis. It's even better if you can find something they don't already have!

Once you have found a suitable product you need to think about how you are going to personalize it. The secret to this is knowing the person; what do they like, what are they interested in? You may want to use a single photo or you may want to be a little more ambitious and make your own design, maybe a photo collage?

A great example of using the most effective customization would be buying young parents a blanket personalized with a photo, or even a photo collage of their baby…. What a wonderful gift idea!

To conclude, it's worth remembering that most custom gifts can be personalized free of charge - the consequence of which is custom personalized gifts often cost less than the traditional gifts you have bought in the past…

Photo Gift Ideas For Any Occasion

Photo gift ideas can be an inspiration to mark any milestone in life or simply to provide someone with something of sentimental value that cannot be bought. The old expression, "A picture is worth a thousand words," holds true. A snapshot takes a moment in time and preserves it. It can close the gap between loved ones who are separated by great distances. A photograph is a true treasure that can carry a person down Memory Lane. When given as a present, it can become priceless.

Photo books have become extremely popular and are simple to make through a variety of companies. A person can go to various websites which specialize in photo products, download a selection of pictures, and then create a tailored gift. If access to the Internet is not possible, many stores have machines to develop pictures. Individuals also have the option of creating a book. The background can be selected page by page. Text can be entered as pictures are organized according to preference. The book can be softcover or hardcover. This is a wonderful way to share the excitement of a wedding with others, presenting loved ones with highlights from that special day. A child's journey from infancy to graduation can be presented in a book of family photos. Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and retirement can be organized and preserved in a book.

Scrapbooking is another approach to creating a book of photos with a personal touch. Although it is more time-consuming, the imaginative individual who loves to produce a unique gift can really run with this idea. Craft and department stores have a host of materials to design scrapbooks from a variety of books, paper, and accents. Each page can be devoted to a different theme. Pictures can be scattered throughout as well as drawings, selections of writing, and every sort of decoration imaginable. A scrapbook proves that both thought and effort have been dedicated to that special someone.

This is the age of technology and mobile devices are always attached at the hip. A perfect gift is a personalized photo case for iPhones and other brands. There are many companies that specialize in all things mobile, including customized cases . A memorable photograph will be in a loved one's hand every time there is a call.

Photo cards and photo stamps are also popular options. These are perfect for Christmas when it is time to send something different to the grandparents. A holiday scene with grandchildren can be caught in a card and popped in the mail. A matching stamp on the envelope adds a finishing touch. The card is likely to be framed and hung on the wall while the stamp is saved in a wallet. Pictures are a way to carry a loved one everywhere. Calendars, mugs, playing cards, and t-shirts are just a few more photo gift ideas . 

A photo is a versatile gift that can be presented in a myriad of creative ways. Photographs warm the heart more than anything else that money can buy.