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Show your friends and family how much you care by giving them these Keepsake DIY Photo Gifts they will cherish for years to come!

DIY gifts are a great choice when you want to show someone you care.  

Taking the time and effort to make them something you know they’ll love will make your gift that much more special.  

These DIY Photo Gifts are perfect for close friends and relatives you know would cherish such meaningful family memories and are especially great for parents and grandparents who want to collect pictures of the kids as they grow.  

More easy and affordable gift ideas:

Best Ever Gifts for Mom

20 Creative and Affordable DIY Holiday Gift Jars

20 DIY Holiday Sugar Scrubs for Gift Giving

35 DIY Gifts for the Men in Your Life

40 DIY Gifts Perfect for Any Occasion

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Editing Your Photos – Without Expensive Photoshop

Need to edit your photos, but don’t want to spend the money on Photoshop? Editing your photos online is easier than ever – it almost seems like new editing programs are cropping up all the time!

PicMonkey and Canva

My favorites to use for this blog and other creative projects are PicMonkey and Canva. PicMonkey has more photo editing features than Canva, while Canva has more graphic design capabilities, so choosing the best program for you really depends on the nature of your project.

One benefit of Canva is that their basic membership is completely free, so you can try it out – and use it forever – without paying a dime. If you want to upgrade to their premium fonts and graphics, you pay just $12.99 a month.

PicMonkey ended their free program several years ago, but their basic plan is still very affordable at just $7.99 a month or $72.00 annually (save 25%). Plus, you can try it free with their 7-day free trial.

Both PicMonkey and Canva are easy to cancel if you decide you don’t want to continue your membership.

Pixlr

If you know how to use Photoshop, you can try Pixlr, another free photo editor. Their program is not as easy and intuitive to use as PicMonkey or Canva, but if you have a working knowledge of Photoshop, you should be just fine.

Their premium features cost just $7.99 a month or $58.80 a year (save 38%) and has a 30-day free trial.

Adobe Express

In 2021, Adobe released a simplified version of their Cloud programs like Photoshop and Lightroom called Adobe Express. Again, their free version offers basic features. Premium is $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year (save 16%) and has a 30-day free trial.

I haven’t tried Adobe Express yet, but I have heard it’s a good program.

DIY Photo Gifts Friends and Family Will Love

1. Glowing Luminaries

It’s hard to believe these luminaries are DIY – they look professionally done!  

This easy, fun, and inexpensive project adds a personal touch to your home décor and makes a sweet and thoughtful gift for the grandparents!

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2. Candle Holders [free printable designs]

This tutorial shows you how to customize candle holders with your favorite photos and phrases.

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3. Bottle Cap Magnets and Thumbtacks

Here’s a great upcycle project turning used bottle-caps into a useful decoration.

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4. Polaroid Coasters

Put cherished memories on display with this creative and inexpensive DIY coaster project adhering photos to ceramic tiles to make them look like old fashioned Polaroid pictures.

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5. Canvas Art

Did you know you can make your own canvas photo art?  

I had no idea until I found this super easy tutorial that turns cherished family photos into beautiful masterpieces in no time!

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6. Heart Shaped Collage

Show your love with this heart shaped photo collage filled with their most precious memories.

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7. Photo Keychain

Keep photos of your loved ones handy on your keychain, so you can show them off when you run into family and friends.

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8. Personalized Travel Map

Display vacation memories by state with this fun and creative personalized photo map.

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9. Wall Hanging

This striking photo wall hanging makes the perfect focal point for any room.

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10. Mason Jar Lid Magnets

Put those extra mason jar lids to good use with this cute DIY idea that’s as functional as it is precious.

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11. Snow Globe Ornament

Decorate your Christmas tree with your favorite memories. Also makes a great gift or gift tag ornament.

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More cute and creative DIY ornament ideas:

25 DIY Christmas Ornaments to Make with the Kids

60 Gorgeous DIY Christmas Ornaments for a Fun and Festive Holiday

12. Mini Calendars [free printable]

Make a personalized DIY photo calendar in about half an hour!

All you need to make one is 6 sheets of cardstock and 12 of your favorite photos (cheap DIY gift for the win!).

And the best part? This calendar template is updated every year!

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13. Photo Mug

Tired of having to order photo mugs online? Learn how to make your own with this simple tutorial that uses Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge.

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14. Floral Hoop

This DIY photo hoop is pretty enough for a wedding gift or decoration, yet somehow still simple enough to serve as an everyday design in any home decor.

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15. Collage Blanket

Cozy up with your favorite people with this easy DIY photo blanket.

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16. Photo Pillows

These super cute pillows are amazingly easy to make with this step-by-step tutorial.

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17. Fabric Transfer Journals

Transfer a favorite photo onto a journal where they can write their deepest thoughts with this simple tutorial.

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18. Photo Wood Print

The distressed wood look is incredibly popular right now.  Make those decorations extra special by attaching a favorite photo!

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19. Smart Phone Case

This DIY photo cell phone case is super simple and can be used for any phone that offers a clear protective case.  

This tutorial uses a clear iPhone case to display a great custom photo.  Plus, the photo can be changed at any time, making this the gift that keeps on giving the whole year!

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20. Gift Tags [free printable]

Here’s a great way to package your photo gift – with a customized photo gift tag!  All you need is Microsoft Word to change the photo and text for any occasion.

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Give your close friends and family gifts they’ll cherish for years to come with these creative DIY Photo Gifts perfect for any occasion!

What do you think of these Easy DIY Photo Gifts? Do you think you’ll make any of these simple projects this year? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Related Posts:

Best Ever Gifts for Mom

20 Creative and Affordable DIY Holiday Gift Jars

20 DIY Holiday Sugar Scrubs for Gift Giving

35 DIY Gifts for the Men in Your Life

40 DIY Gifts Perfect for Any Occasion

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