The essence of a good gift is to show the giftee that you spent the time to think of them, think of what they love, and give them something that honors that. Well that sounds simple, we all know sometimes the ideas just don’t come and you find yourself impulsively buying something random instead.

The great thing about custom framing is that it is inherently thoughtful.

It shows your friend, partner, kid, that you took the time to have something made just for them. And that gift they can display and serve as a daily reminder of that someone cares for them.

So without further ado, here are some thoughtful framing ideas ripe for the stealing…

+ Love Notes

This one is an easy gift idea for a loved one—is there anything sweeter than gifting a love note— a reminder of your history, a gesture that you recognize and appreciate their love, and a way to memorialize your relationship.

Another variation of this idea is to frame up everyday notes you may have saved. This is a wonderful idea to celebrate a life— passing by and seeing their handwriting, even as short as a “Have a great day!” Note, carries the spirit of the person who wrote it and is a nice reminder that you are cared for.

+ Common Objects :: Bowties, Glasses, Jewelry, Accessories, Plates

So many fun ideas here! Often people forget about framing objects; but there are so many great and special ways of displaying common items. Frame up Dad’s old bowties; Grandma’s locket, inherited China plates, Your favorite shoes from when you were a little kid… Anything that brings back good memories is a great thing to frame.

+ Page of their Favorite Book

This is a great gift for any book lover you know! Frame up the whole book, the cover art, or even a print of the first page!

+ Poems

Poetry speaks to the soul; it refreshes and inspires. So why not frame up your or their favorite poem? Or do a little digging and find a quote that you know will speak to the giftee.

+ Pet Portraits

Commission a portrait of your furry friends! There are a ton of artists out there in every thinkable style that can take a photo of your beloved pet and turn it into a magical piece of artwork!

A couple more styles of pet portrait: 

+ Lego Portraits

This is a cute idea that is perfect as a wedding or anniversary gift. You can get Lego people custom made to look like you & your partner; and we can frame it up in a frame with calligraphied names and any other special information. A perfect gift for the inner child in all of us.

+ Ticket Stubs & Event Merch

Whether its tickets from the championship game, that epic concert, the museum you went on your first date at, or flight stubs from that awesome trip to the south of France; framing your collected tickets up as a gift is an amazing way to remember that great time and preserve the memory for years to come!

+ Jerseys & Sports Memorabilia

Hey sports fans— this ones for you! Can you imagine their face when you present them a framed jersey from their favorite sports star? What about framing up that championship ball in a plexiglass box? How cool would that look on the mantel?

+ Kids Art

Has the fridge filled up with art tacked on with magnets? Why not frame up one of their pieces— can you imagine how special they would feel to see their art honored like that? Or maybe the gift is for your partner— a special portrait of Daddy? Their homework assignment entitled “Why I love my Mom”? Oh yeah these are the kinds of things that give you all the feels.

+ Recipes

Do you have a recipe that’s been in the family a long time? Why not take that old recipe card and frame it up— maybe even with grandma’s old wooden spoon, the tool that started it all. Secret family ingredients can be redacted if necessary 😉

+ Favorite Song Sheet Music

Is there a song that will always remind you of someone, of somewhere, of some happy time? We’ll that might be a great gift idea then! The scores for popular songs are available as posters that you can frame up and gift. A wonderful gift for any music lover in your life.

+ Toys or other Childhood Memorabilia

Teddy bears, toy trucks, baby blankets, pacifiers— don’t let these beautiful childhood memories grow forgotten and mildewy in a box somewhere— frame them up and preserve those wonderful memories!

Hopefully these ideas have given you a few of your own! Make this holiday season special with custom framing– the possibilities are endless, but the end result will always be the same: showing your loved ones how special they are to you. 

Have any other fun framing gift ideas? We’d love to hear– leave your thoughts in the comments below! Happy Holidays to all!