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Give More This Holiday: Personalized and Photo Gift Ideas
By Margot Carmichael Lester, Staples® Contributing Writer You want to give a special gift, but don’t have a lot of time for shopping? No problem. You can quickly and easily create terrific presents customized with photos, illustrations or other personalization. Even better: You can design your gifts online and have them shipped right to you or pick them up in store by taking advantage of next-day production services. Think of it as a virtual elf dedicated to helping you do more this holiday. Here’s a short list of customizable holiday gift ideas, some of which start at only $9.99:Follow this advice to create eye-catching customized holiday items:
- Photos & illustrations. Remember that old adage about a picture’s worth? Leverage it with gifts featuring photographs or drawings. Snapshots of family trips, favorite locations or important people and pets never fail to delight. Cute drawings by your kids or awesome doodles also work well, as do sports team logos. To make your gift look professional, “select an image with a strong focal point,” suggests professional photographer Martha Hoelzer of Martha Hoelzer Photography in Carrboro, NC. “Images tend to be more interesting when the subject is not centered in the middle of the photo.” And use the highest photo resolution possible so your image looks sharp, not grainy.
- Words & letters. This kind of gift never goes out of style. Whether it’s handwriting (real or a font) or a nifty typeface, words are a great way to make your gifts more personal. The monogram is a classic customization, and favorite quotations or frequently used expressions are always meaningful. Monogram fonts can be more ornate, since there are only a few letters to read. But if you’re doing more than one word, choose a font that’s easy to read in a color that provides good contrast so the message really stands out.
- Holiday cards. While you’re customizing, don’t forget your seasonal greetings. Create an even merrier holiday missive with a photo, drawing or special sentiment. In addition to an interior message, “room to write a note is definitely encouraged,” says Mitch Dowell, founder and creative director of Branding Experiences, a marketing agency in the Baltimore-Washington area. Even if you choose not to include a personal note in each card, you can use the space to have the whole family or team sign the card.
- Business gifts & greetings. Customized items are great for customers and vendors, too. “Use the company logo in a snowflake or tree form, have the kids of employees submit drawings, provide a list of holiday jokes related to your industry, get the office dog to serve as mascot, do something self-deprecating,” suggests Lara August of ROBOT, a creative agency in San Antonio, TX. “Find anything that says more about who you are as a company and as a team to show a more personal connection.”
Armed with these ideas, you’re ready to do more this holiday with budget-friendly customized gifts designed to deliver glad tidings and good cheer.