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How To Make Your Own Photo Gifts

taking photo
(credit: istockphoto)

Now is a good time to look through the photos you've taken this past year and find the best ones to share with loved ones to turn them into special gifts to cherish (at last they can escape the confines of your phone or computer!). The following sites make it easy to upload your photos, share them with family and friends, order prints and get creative with making photo gifts. The choices are dizzying but here's who made our list and they're all very nice.

Smugmug
(credit SmugMug)

SmugMug
www.smugmug.com

It's no surprise that the most popular photo gift on SmugMug is the coffee mug, which offers designs that can incorporate more than one image. You'll also find quite a variety of photo gifts that include mouse pads, keepsake boxes, photo puzzles, magnets, postcards, key rings, aprons, T-shirts and more. In addition to helping you place your photos on gifts, the site also has an option to help you store your photos. If you're running out of room on your computer to store your photos, sign-up for a SmugMug subscription ($5/month), and upload as many photos as you want (UNLIMITED). And, when you're ready to order prints or gifts, just find your favorite pic in your account and click the "Add to Cart" button and choose your product. It's the perfect option for gifts for the holidays or year round!

Wall print
(credit: fotoflōt)

Fotoflōt
www.fotoflot.com

With the fotoflōt system, images are professionally printed on Fuji Crystal Archive paper then mounted onto 1/8" acrylic. Your museum-quality prints are displayed without glass, so there isn't any glare or reflection, just pure image. Also, without frames or matting, the image size increases while occupying the same amount of wall space. You can choose from rectangular, square or panoramic formats or group a few images together of varying sizes. Hanging the prints is easy. Attach the mounting bracket to the wall, align the magnetic cups to the magnetic discs, and snap your fotoflōt print firmly in place.

Shutterfly
(credit: Shutterfly)

Shutterfly
www.shutterfly.com

You'll find a wide variety of unique custom gifts at Shutterfly. From iPhone and iPad cases to gallery-style canvas prints, one-of-a-kind photo books, magnets, water bottles and cozy photo blankets, the site is your one stop shop. Even pillows are available to add a personalized design and photo, which comes in two sizes. Other stand-out products are curved glass prints, ornaments (metal, pewter, wood and ceramic), and photo coasters which feature no-slip cork backing and a different photo on each coaster.

Calendar
(credit: Snapfish)

Snapfish
www.snapfish.com

With more than 90 million members and 2 billion unique photos stored online, Snapfish by HP claims the number one spot in online photo service. You'll find over 100 customizable photo gifts and holiday cards, from display-quality photo books and posters to photo mugs and jewelry. A personalized photo calendar is the perfect gift for the upcoming New Year. SnapFish's 2014 Photo Calendar Gift Pack includes three 8.5 x 11 calendars in gift sleeves. You can choose from modern or classic designs and customize special dates with photos and text.

PhotoBox
(credit: mpix)

Mpix
www.mpix.com

With more than 90 million members and 2 billion unique photos stored online, Snapfish by HP claims the number one spot in online photo service. You'll find over 100 customizable photo gifts and holiday cards, from display-quality photo books and posters to photo mugs and jewelry. A personalized photo calendar is the perfect gift for the upcoming New Year. SnapFish's 2014 Photo Calendar Gift Pack includes three 8.5 x 11 calendars in gift sleeves. You can choose from modern or classic designs and customize special dates with photos and text.

Liz Laing is a writer, web designer and photographer who lives in Los Angeles. Her latest projects may be followed on Liz Laing.
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