10 DIY Photography Gifts for the Holidays

DIY Photography  •  Photography Tips

Still have a bit of last minute Christmas shopping to get out of the way? Don’t sweat it. The folks at COOPH have come up with a handful of personalized photo presents your friends and family will be ecstatic to receive this holiday season:

1. The Photo Cube

For the puzzle fanatic in your life, this personalized gift offers a new, challenging twist to the traditional Rubik’s Cube. All that this makeover requires is a steady hand and a reliable fixative!

• Divide a 2.25″ square photograph into even thirds vertically and horizontally.
• Glue each segment directly onto a Rubik’s cube.
• Brush on a final thin layer of glue to fix the photographs in place. Mix up the Rubik’s cube and gift away!

If you feel like it, assign color schemes to the images you attach to retain the look of the original Rubik’s cube.

2. The Image Clothesline

A twist on the traditional picture frame, this creative hanging frame is a cinch to put together. Aside from having the ability to display multiple pieces at once, this setup allows owners to easily switch out images.

• Find an old, empty picture frame (sans glass). Using whatever method you’d like, fix a few strands of string across the length of the frame.
• Once the string is set in place, use clothes pins to hang photographs inside of the frame.

3. DIY Candle Holders

Bring a little bit of life to boring, basic tea light candles. This simple modification will light up any room while simultaneously bringing your photographs front and center.

• Print a panorama photograph out on transparency film. Carefully crop it down.
• Roll the photograph up and fit it inside of a small glass.
• Place the candle inside of the glass once your photograph is in place. The light of the candle will illuminate your image.

4. The Rustic Photo Stand

This photo stand is the perfect gift for the outdoorsy type with an artistic eye. Rather than settling for traditional frames, prop images up with whatever Mother Nature has to offer!

• Seek out and cut down logs into interesting shapes and sizes using a hand saw.
• Once you’ve acquired a piece of wood that you’re satisfied with, saw a line partway through.
• Along the line, slide in photographs. If done correctly, the line sawed into the wood should be narrow enough to hold photographs upright without any additional assistance.

5. Infinity Photos

Creating a photograph that would make M.C. Escher proud isn’t as difficult as you might think. This projects puts a new spin on the group portrait and can bring friends and family together even when they’re miles apart.

• Take a portrait of a friend or family member. Print and frame the photograph.
• Find another friend or family member and have them pose with the framed photograph.
• Repeat the process as many time as you’d like. After the third or fourth photograph, the effect will become evident!

6. Photo Bookmarks

Bookworms young and old can get a lot of use out of a simple bookmark. Using a photograph of your own, even a straightforward gift can become sentimental.

• Laminate a photograph of choice.
• Cut out a select subject or detail within the selected photograph.
• Punch a hole in the cutout and attach a ribbon or braided string.

7. Budget Picture Frames

Purchasing picture frames from a craft or home goods store can quickly become an expensive endeavor. Why not try out this clever alternative, which costs just a few cents to assemble?

• Using a hot glue gun, attach 4 pairs of popsicle sticks side by side.
• Attach the pairs together to form a square. Secure the photograph in place.
• Glue two more popsicle sticks to the back at an angle to get the frame standing.

8. Hanging Photo Ladder

The photo ladder is an attractive, unique way to bring images together. Regardless of subject matter, this display is sure to catch the eyes of visitors.

• Mount a selected series of photographs to card stock or foam core.
• Connect each photograph in the series together using pins or string.
• Use clothes pins and additional string to hang the ladder to a wall hook.

9. DIY Magnets

Who doesn’t love a good fridge magnet? This little craft can make all the difference in making a space feel a little bit more like home.

• Print photographs onto a thick, sturdy material.
• Cut the photographs out into interesting shapes.
• Use markers to color in the edges of the material.
• Attach magnets to the back and stick to the fridge.

10. Picture Wheel

This picture wheel proves the old adage that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

• Recycle an old bike tire.
• Use clothes pins to attach photographs to the spokes of the wheel.
• Secure to the wall and enjoy!

If desired, spray paint the wheel before securing photographs to add a bit of extra flair and hide any signs of aging.

Let us know if you give any of these projects a try!