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

A Wonderful Personalized Gift Idea For Valentine's Day

Maybe your loved one likes to cuddle up with a warm beverage on a cold winter's evening. Here is how you can help them cuddle, while showing your romantic soul, for Valentine's Day. Customized photo blankets make great gift ideas for him, or her, or young children, babies or the home itself. If you are looking for a unique gift idea for someone special then a customized fleece blanket could be a perfect place to start.

We all love Do-It-Yourself projects and that is why personalized gifts are becoming ever more popular as presents for people of every age group. A customphoto blanket allows you to use your designer skills to make your own uniquely customized gift that displays your favorite photos in vivid and attractive colors.

Should you choose to create a custom photo blanket I recommend you look for one that is made from a soft but durable fabric such as polar fleece. You will find polar fleece blankets are suitable for indoor and outdoor use, thus offering a much wider range of uses.

It's also best to search out a photo gifts Webstore that provides a photocollage option. Most people do not have access to photos that are large enough to cover an entire blanket without having to artificially enlarge them. The issue with having to enlarge your photos is they lose their clarity and consequently the quality of the image on the finished blanket is likely to be unacceptable.

The big plus about being able to create a photo collage is it gives you the flexibility to make the exact design you need, no matter how intricate and complex that may be, while still being assured of a high quality finish.

When you browse around you will see that custom blankets are available in a whole host of different sizes. A number of webstores also offer the option of having your images and designs printed on the reverse side as well. Regardless of the size or if you choose to have your blanket printed on one side or both, one thing is for certain; they give you the chance to create your own unique gift that will make an awesome present for just about anyone.

Small fleece blankets are often used as baby blankets and provide a marvelous gift idea for newborns. Personalized baby blankets are always cherished by mom and dad and as the baby grows, often become a great comforter to the child themselves.

Customizable blankets also make great gift ideas for adults, especially grand parents; particularly when they are customized with precious photos of their grand kids.

One of the best things about polar fleece blankets is their durability makes them suitable for outdoor use as well as indoor use. So it doesn't matter if you want to use them as a lap blanket to snuggle up on a chilly winter's night or as a picnic blanket, they are suitable for both!

In addition to pictures of children and grand children, another popular design idea for personalized blankets is photos of sports teams; they make perfect lap blankets and body warmers for those of us that enjoy cheering on our favorite teams on freezing winter nights.

Many people love turning their own gift ideas into reality and customizable photo gifts give anyone the opportunity to do so. If you want to put your own images and designs on a blanket, whether it's for personal use or for a gift, it's easy for you to create your own photo blanket; just search out a photo gifts webstore and with just a few clicks of your mouse your ideas will become a reality!

Do it yourself fleece blankets are great fun to make, particularly when you create them with your own unique photo collage, plus they make fantastic gifts for your loved ones.

Finally, for those people who may not be familiar with the benefits of polar fleece, you should know that it is a man made fabric manufactured from something called polyethylene terephthalate and is designed to mimic wool. Polar fleece is a tough fabric that shares all of wool's finest qualities but only weighs a fraction of similiar woolen products. It is soft, comfortable, warm, machine washable and fast drying, making it a good alternative to wool, especially for those of us who are allergic or sensitive to wool.

View our fully customizable fleece blankets

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!

Unusual Valentine Gift's Part One

Winter is upon us and some of us are thinking of Spring Cleaning, while others are thinking of Valentines' Day. Why not combine the two and make a  chore into a romantic endeavor?

Personalizing your own custom shower curtain is a terrific way to give your bathroom a vibrant new look and to remind the love of your life that you are still a romantic at heart.. Best of all, regardless of the bathroom's theme or color scheme, you can make your own unique shower curtain in vibrant colors designed to bring the best out of the existing decor. 

It really is surprising how a new shower curtain can transform the look of any bathroom - red or blue, green or yellow, the color doesn't matter because you can make your shower curtain to complement any color scheme you can think of!

Many of us would like to update our aging bathrooms, but the reality is, few of us can afford the thousands it costs to do so! Just another reason to brighten things up with a vibrantly colored shower curtain.

Personalizable shower curtains are available in many different sizes and are designed to fit both bath tub showers and stall showers, regardless of shape or size. The most durable ones are made from a tough polyester fabric that can be easily customized with a wide array of colors to complement any bathroom.

Like other personalized photo gifts, it's extremely easy to make your own unique shower curtain using your own photos, designs and text to create your own unique shower curtain that complements both the colors and theme of your bathroom.

If you do decide to create your own shower curtain look for a company that will print your photos and designs on the shower curtain using a dye sublimation process that will ensure the fine details of your design are displayed clearly in vivid colors. Dye sublimation will also ensure your designs will not fade, crack or peel and your shower curtain will remain in pristine condition for years to come.

If you are looking for a unique gift idea for someone custom photo gifts are often one of the best ways to go. If you are familiar with a friend or family member's bathroom, a personalized shower curtain certainly makes an unusual gift idea, especially when you design it to complement their bathroom decor.

Often, when you think of a great gift idea for someone it's not always easy to find what you are looking for. The best thing about custom photo gifts is they give you the ability to create just about anything you can think of! Even better, they allow you to do it yourself; all you have to do is upload your photos, logos and designs to a photo gifts webstore, add them to a product, put a personalized message or any other text you choose on it, and you will have made your own unique one of a kind gift in just a few minutes.

The bottom line is, making your own gift ideas is not only easy, it's great fun too!

So, next time you're in someone's bathroom, make a mental note of the theme and color scheme, a personalized shower curtain may just be that perfect present you have been looking for.

View our fully customizable shower curtains

Design Options For Personalized Badges

The new year fast approaches and many organizations may be thinking about fund raising activities, to raise money for new projects or new initiatives inspired by their new years eve resolutions. One idea to consider for fund raising are personalized badges

Personalized badges are used by schools, retail organizations, political campaigners, non-profit groups and craft makers. Badges are affordable and easy to order in bulk quantity online. Whether a small business is advertising a new promotion or whether a non-profit group is setting up a booth to gain support at a community trade show, badges are visible and help to promote an idea, person or company.

Frequent Uses of Badge Buttons for Businesses

Businesses often find many ways to utilize badge buttons that can be worn on employee shirts or work vests as a way to advertise the business. Many companies have made it a standard requirement for employees to wear badges that inform the customer the employee is willing to help the customer.

Badges will often be used to promote a new product the company just received or to promote a new service the business is offering. When a customer visits a store and sees employees and store managers wearing badges with a picture of the new product, the customer is more likely to ask about the product. The easy visibility of badges helps to generate interest and relay a message to customers. This can generate more sales and assist a business in spreading the word of new products and services to consumers.

Using promotional items such as badges can assist a company in promoting a holiday special, seasonal products or a grand opening. When used in conjunction with promotional signs, giveaway ink pens and other similar promotional items, custom badges with unique company designs can be very effective in helping a company to obtain more sales.

Non-profit Organizations Find Badges Helpful

Many community non-profit organizations must work diligently to spread the word about the services they provide. When a non-profit organization such as a food pantry, clothing pantry or children's service ministry is able to reach out to the public to inform people of its services, it stands a better chance of gaining more financial support and volunteers to partner with them. Using personalized badges during community events and setting up an information booth will help to make people in a community more aware of a non-profit organization's services.

Because many non-profits operate on very limited funds, badges are ideal items to utilize for advertisement purposes due to their affordable costs. Purchasing badges, or as they are known in the USA, buttons, online in bulk allows non-profits to buy inexpensive promotional items that can be distributed to local neighborhoods and businesses.

Schools Utilize Badges to Announce Events

Elementary, middle schools and high schools often utilize pin-on badges that may be worn on shirts as a way to announce PTA meetings, football games, art groups, language groups and student council services. When faculty wear badges with their names or class printed on them, this can help students to know who to direct their questions to and who to go to for specific information. Badges are also often used as name tags during school orientations, academic clubs, sporting events and meetings. Students can design their own photo badges as part of an art project or the button badges may be ordered with the school's logo or mascot on them.

Stocking Stuffers what about Personalized Magnets?

Stuck for an idea for a great stocking stuffer? Think about personalized magnets. Personalized magnets come in a variety of styles. There are picture frames to hold the portraits of loved ones and pets, ranging in size from a snapshot style several inches across to frames as small as a postage stamp. Magnets attached to wooden slats on which the names of family members are painted are quite popular. Sometimes the magnet is just a flat glass marble glued over a picture of something or someone, or a written word, which has significance to the person who owns the magnet. Other magnets are bulldog clips with children's names on them, so that classroom artwork can be hung and its tiny artist immediately identified by all who see it.

When realtors are preparing homes for an open house to try to sell them, two of the most important elements they use to interest potential buyers are photographs on the walls and magnets on the refrigerator. Just as having family photographs around can make a house feel more inviting, so too can decorating with magnets make a house feel more like a home.

Though they are often referred to and thought of as simply "refrigerator magnets ," these keepsakes need not be restricted merely to the fridge and freezer. These little mementos can be used elsewhere in the kitchen, as well as in other rooms throughout the entire home. They don't even have to be very pretty to make a more welcoming environment, they just have to be special to the people using them.

Dishwashers are a great place to use custom magnets , and not just for decorative purposes. A reversible magnet on which you've written "clean" on one end and "dirty" on the other is quite useful. Magnets with the names of everyone in the house who takes a turn doing dishes can be used to keep track of just who is next in line for that chore. Certainly moving magnets around is a lot more fun than arguing over which one of you did the chore last time.

Personalized magnets can be used on the metal edges of medicine cabinets, too. Leaving a child a note on the mirror with his or her own magnet is a much more personal way to give them a reminder of something than a text or an email. Using magnets on electronics is not advisable, but placing a "World's Best" magnet, or a picture frame with a family photo in it, on your metal desk can certainly help brighten a home office.

One of the best things about photo magnets is that they are a fun and easy craft for the family to do together. With a package of magnetic strips or sheets, some glue, a little paint and a few other small items, each person can make his or her own very special keepsake. Then each one can be displayed proudly in whatever fashion your family chooses. Something as simple as a bottle cap from a family vacation can be turned into a lasting treasure in just a few minutes.

Eight Inexpensive Customized Gift Ideas

Finding the perfect gift ideas for a special occasion can be very challenging. There always seems to be that one person who already has everything. Giving a customized gift ensures that the recipient will be getting an original, one of a kind present that has been well thought out. These ideas for personalized gifts are a thoughtful way to show affection and without spending a fortune. 

For the person with a sweet tooth nothing could be better than customized candy. Many candy companies offer sections on their web pages that allow complete personalization of popular candy brands with photos or monograms. The images can be stamped directly on the sweets or the wrappers can be personalized in any way imaginable. The cost of customized candy is only slightly more than the plain version.

An item that is personalized with a special photo is a great way to give a memorable gift without spending too much money. Mugs, t-shirts, and calendars are all useful items that can be a unique gift when a photograph is added. Some companies offer a service that changes a picture into a high quality canvas that looks like a work of art.

Everyday items can be instantly personalized by adding a monogram. Putting initials on an article of clothing or an everyday object instantly makes it special and more fun to use. Ordinary items like umbrellas, bathrobes, pajamas, flash drives and journals can be easily and affordably monogrammed. Engraving or embroidering a gift with a person's name makes it an instant keepsake.

For those really short on funds, a scrapbook is a nearly free way to let a person know how much they are special. Free online programs allow photos to be uploaded and placed into customizable templates that make a professional looking scrapbook. This is a heartfelt gift that can be enjoyed for years.

Nothing makes a sweeter Christmas gift than a customized ornament. Many companies produce completely personalized ornaments at a very budget friendly price. Creating a personalized ornament from scratch is even less expensive, and nothing is quite so heartwarming as a handmade Christmas gift.

As more people are trying to reduce their carbon footprint, reusable grocery bags are becoming increasingly popular. Giving the gift of green gives friends a reason to smile as they shop. Adding a cherished quote or a work of art from a favorite artist can perfectly customize reusable grocery bags. This is an extraordinary gift that will be loved and used all the time.

Garden stones are the perfect present for those with yards. This is a gift that is a fun do it yourself project. Stones can be imprinted with children's handprints, names or favorite animals and flowers. All the materials needed are a mold and some mixable concrete. Home improvement stores sell kits that produce unique stones with different shapes and colors.

Gift baskets are the perfect customized gift to give. Everyone loves getting a basket full of his or her favorite goodies. It's so easy to fill a basket with the best treats and trinkets that fit a friend's personality. This is a project that is easy to do yourself and you can spend as much or as little money as you wish. Your imagination and the tastes of the gift receiver are the limit.