Personalized Picture Frames Make Wonderful Gifts

Personalized picture frames are all the rage. They are sold everywhere, including the local car wash gift shop. They're frames for Moms, Dads, Grandmas, Grandpas, babies, dogs, cats, graduates. You name it, there's an elaborate picture frame specially designed to highlight the photograph being placed in it. There are even picture frames that are embellished with photographs.

These picture frames can be made out of many mediums such as wood, heavy card stock, metal, glass, and leather. They can be etched, carved, covered, and embellished. A few can be put together to form an impressive photo screen. The only thing that limits what you can do with a picture frame is your imagination.

Obviously, you need pictures to complete your personalized picture frames. If you're going to make frames to decorate your home and want to add some beautiful floral, mountain, or landscape images, you'll want to go out and take those pictures first. That way, you can make your frames to compliment your photographs. Load your camera bag with the necessary equipment; camera, memory cards, tripod, extra battery (if necessary), extra lenses, and any other accessories you may want. Think of the area you plan on putting your picture frames when taking the pictures. You'll want them to enhance the location where they'll be placed.

After you've taken all your photographs and selected the ones you want to frame, then select your picture frames. One of the easiest frames to work with is the unfinished wood frame that you can find in any craft store. Remember to get the right size photo opening and the right direction, horizontal or vertical, for each photograph. Remove any glass or matting and put a base coat over the entire frame to seal the wood. Now is the time to decide how to design the base of your frame. You can put another coat of paint to coordinate with your color scheme and begin embellishing. Allow paint to dry thoroughly before proceeding.

Another impressive technique is to cover the frame with pieces of scrapbooking paper and then begin adding various items to personalize the frame. If you have very nice handwriting, you can elaborately write words to describe the photo you're going to place in the frame. If you're not comfortable writing it yourself, print the words out on your computer and glue them onto the frame. Embellish with things that bring out the beauty of the picture. For example, if your picture is a tranquil waterfall cascading from a beautiful lush mountain, embellish with botanicals or glittering glass drops. Always stay with the theme of your photographs.

Embellishments can be most anything. Ribbon can be used to make bows or trailed around the frame. If you're using a heavy card stock frame, a hole punch could be used to string the ribbon through the frame ending with a bow in a corner. You can use glue or a glue gun to attach buttons, glitter, beads, shells, sequins, or just about anything you'd like. These picture frames make fantastic gifts and they are relatively inexpensive to make.

Depending upon where you're going to take your photographs, take the proper camera bag. One that has the necessary features for the type of photography you have planned for the day. If you are going to take some pictures at a local rose garden to get some floral prints, you might want to take your rolling backpack camera bag. It allows you to fit all your equipment, including that all important tripod for close photography, and affords the convenience of wheels. You may want to put together these frames as housewarming gift for friends who just bought their first home. They'll love and treasure the uniqueness of them for years to come.

Make a list of who you plan on giving these special personalized picture frames to ahead of time. Then decide what kind of frame you plan on making for each one of these people. Next, make a schedule of when and where you're going to take your photographs. Then the only thing that's left is to take your camera bag and head out to get those perfect photos for those priceless treasures you'll make for family and friends.

Suzanne VanDeGrift of has developed this article for M-ROCK.com, manufacturer of exceptional quality backpacks.

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