These days, old fashioned mass-produced gifts and cards from departments stores won't score you any points. The online world today offers millions of more personalized custom gifts that make those old father's day coffee mugs and theme-park keychains look very 80s.
The age of digital photography and the internet has fueled much of the growth in this category. In fact, personalized photo gifts and have become quite common. Mousepads, calendars and t-shirts are offered by many retailers, but these days, even those or old hat. New ideas can be found all over the net, and one has definitely got our attention.
Custom photo jewelry is this years big item. Most retailers offer a wide variety of silver (and others) pieces for any occasion:
- For Her: Cocktail rings, charm bracelets, pendants, broaches, etc...
- Men: cufflinks, keychains, etc...
All of theses pieces come in almost every shape and size you can imagine. Once you pick the photo pendant, ring, etc... you simply upload your photo or submit it via email. Make sure you are very clear about any cropping or other editing instructions, and request a proof before approving anything for production. Thanks to the wonderful world of the Internet, the ordering processing takes only a few minutes, and you should have you custom photo jewelry in hand in short 10 - 15 days.
But beware; not all photo jewelry is created equal. Some of the sites we've found out there use inferior or semi-permanent techniques to insert your photo that will fade with time or simply dissentigrate when exposed to water, and that's not much better than your grandmother's old locket.
But don't worry. Just make sure you find a shop that uses a high quality resin or similar sealant that will protect your treasure from the elements. Most retailers that use this type of process will be sure to tell you, so if you don't see it; move on.
Here's the real kicker; this stuff is actually very affordable. Of course you can pay hundreds of dollars on some sites, but you can get the same quality items at many other online shops for around $65. And that's with shipping. Still sound high, there are sites with high quality options at less than $50. That works for almost any budget.
It's up to you. Do you want to spend $50 on another boring gift certificate to big-box X, or save yourself the trip and get them a thoughtful personalized piece of jewelry they will wear proudly for years? Seems like an easy choice from here.
Let someone else be the lazy guy with the gift card they bought in line at the grocery store this year. With less effort, you can give the gift everyone will be talking about at this year's holiday dinner.
The age of digital photography and the internet has fueled much of the growth in this category. In fact, personalized photo gifts and have become quite common. Mousepads, calendars and t-shirts are offered by many retailers, but these days, even those or old hat. New ideas can be found all over the net, and one has definitely got our attention.
Custom photo jewelry is this years big item. Most retailers offer a wide variety of silver (and others) pieces for any occasion:
- For Her: Cocktail rings, charm bracelets, pendants, broaches, etc...
- Men: cufflinks, keychains, etc...
All of theses pieces come in almost every shape and size you can imagine. Once you pick the photo pendant, ring, etc... you simply upload your photo or submit it via email. Make sure you are very clear about any cropping or other editing instructions, and request a proof before approving anything for production. Thanks to the wonderful world of the Internet, the ordering processing takes only a few minutes, and you should have you custom photo jewelry in hand in short 10 - 15 days.
But beware; not all photo jewelry is created equal. Some of the sites we've found out there use inferior or semi-permanent techniques to insert your photo that will fade with time or simply dissentigrate when exposed to water, and that's not much better than your grandmother's old locket.
But don't worry. Just make sure you find a shop that uses a high quality resin or similar sealant that will protect your treasure from the elements. Most retailers that use this type of process will be sure to tell you, so if you don't see it; move on.
Here's the real kicker; this stuff is actually very affordable. Of course you can pay hundreds of dollars on some sites, but you can get the same quality items at many other online shops for around $65. And that's with shipping. Still sound high, there are sites with high quality options at less than $50. That works for almost any budget.
It's up to you. Do you want to spend $50 on another boring gift certificate to big-box X, or save yourself the trip and get them a thoughtful personalized piece of jewelry they will wear proudly for years? Seems like an easy choice from here.
Let someone else be the lazy guy with the gift card they bought in line at the grocery store this year. With less effort, you can give the gift everyone will be talking about at this year's holiday dinner.
About the Author:
Tonya Dalton is a respected resource in the online world of Home Design and DIY projects. For more details and special offers these gifts, visit her shop dedicated to custom photo jewelry. And for more tips on gifts, design and DIY check out her design blog.
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