This Holiday, It's Personal.
Our 10 Favorite Gift Ideas for 2010.
#1: Family Recipe Books
Personalized recipe books make the perfect holiday gift for friends and family members. Creating this type of book is a labor of love that will be appreciated by anyone you know that likes to cook, or is in need of a little inspiration. Remember, it's not just the food that's important, but also the memories associated with these delightful dishes, and those who created them.
Tips & Tricks
- Add photos of the prepared dish and the family member that conconcted the recipe.
- Scan or take a photo of old recipe cards to include in the pages of your book.
- Include an anecdote about the person who created the recipe or the time of year when your family enjoys that particular dish.
- In Picaboo X, or on the web, search for fun food backgrounds.
Suggested Book Style: Large Classic Custom Cover w/ Lay-Flat Paper
The beautiful laminated cover will stand up against spills and the lay-flat pages will allow your recipe book to lie flat on a counter or table.
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#2: "This Is Your Life" Biography Book
This holiday, create something extraordinary for a special person in your life. A biography book highlighting achievements, mentors, good times and friends from long ago will be received with astonishment and joy.
Tips & Tricks
- Get quotes from friends, old and new.
- Scan old photos and other mementos.
- Take photos of trophies, awards and diplomas.
- Make a two-page spread with photos from every birthday party.
Suggested Book Style: Madison
The custom photo cover is perfect for the highlight photo of your book and the pearl finish of the pages will give your photos a warm glow.
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#3: Personalized Note Cards
You can rest assured that the person who has everything doesn't have these. Put a photo you're proud of on the front of a card and order sets of 10 for family and friends. Note cards are a creative, inexpensive gift that your friends can use to send sentiments or greetings.
Tips & Tricks
- Add a discreet caption on the photo with your initials and date, or the location where the photo was taken.
- Grandparents will love note cards featuring a sepia or black & white photo of their grandchildren.
- Add a background to the inside of a folded card for texture and style.
- Take full color photos and use Picaboo X's Photo Tools to create an artistic look.
Suggested Cardstock: Standard or Premium
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#4: Wedding Album for Parents & In-Laws
Whether you were married within the year or years ago, a beautiful album full of memories of that special day will be treasured by both of your parents. Create a replica of your wedding album, or customize a book of photos of the day that was also special for them.
Tips & Tricks
- Use two-page spreads in a book with lay-flat pages for a dramatic effect.
- Include a thank-you note telling your parents or in-laws how they made your wedding day special.
- Remember to include many photos of your parents and in-laws with you and your spouse.
- At the end of your book, include a page that has a photo of you and your spouse next to a photo of your parents on their wedding day.
Suggested Book Style: Modern
The Modern book style is a contemporary design that features a frame-like cover which is perfect for adding the quintessential photo of your parents or in-laws with the bride & groom on your wedding day.
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#5: Personalized Photo Calendar
Another gift that is guaranteed to deliver a smile every day of the year is a personalized wall calendar. Customize each photo page with photos of special times and write captions to note special events for each month. For friends, create a calendar with artistic photos that you've taken, or images related to their favorite hobby.
Tips & Tricks
- Add fun family facts from years past in the months they occurred.
- Include vintage family photos to relive special occasions.
- Create a baby journal calendar to record firsts in the month they happen.
- Add motivational or spiritual quotes each month to inspire your loved ones.
Suggested Calendar Style: Premium for laminated photo pages, or Standard for photo pages that you can write on (all calendar grid pages are ready for your written notes).
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#6: Picaboo Gift Certificates
You love Picaboo and they will, too! Picaboo Gift Certificates can be printed or emailed so that you can send them directly, or present them yourself. They can also be used with any promotions we're running. With denominations of $25, $50, $75, $100 and $200, there is a Gift Card that meets your budget.
Tips & Tricks
- Enclose a Gift Certificate in a Photo Book, Note Card or Calendar gift that you've made for someone to inspire them to start their own Picaboo project.
- If you are planning to print and send a Gift Certificate to someone, print it on high-quality stationery or resume paper.
- Take a screenshot of the Gift Certificate and add it as a photo in a Picaboo card for an amazing presentation.
#7: College Student Advice Book
The perfect gift for a Freshman you know is an Advice for College Life book. Help take some of the stress away and even add some humor with advice on topics like laundry, dating, waking up for class, easy recipes and how many times a week to call home!
Tips & Tricks
- Take photos in the grocery store of the items they should stock in their dorm room (e.g., type of detergent, handy-wipes, snacks, etc.).
- Make a list of your family's phone numbers & email addresses, so they can keep in touch with everyone... no excuses.
- Add photos of family pets for when they get homesick.
- Include a picture of their favorite car, vacation destination, or other objects of desire, to inspire them to work hard.
Suggested Book Style: Classic Custom Cover
Create a cover that is completely unique and memorable with a full-page cover photo and caption. Remember, this is the first thing they will see when they open their gift, so "wow" them.
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#8 Corporate Calendar
Celebrate your corporate culture with photos of your company's staff, products and events. Employees will love them and so will your customers. Don't have photos of events at your company? A travel business can add photos of the world's most beautiful destinations. An architect can use photos of inspiring designs. A manufacturing company can use photos of its equipment and impressive orders being completed.
Tips & Tricks
- Make each month specific to a division within your company.
- Include corporate event photos from years past - parties, break-throughs, honors, etc.
- Highlight Personal Assistant Day and other special, staff-centric holidays.
- If you don't have your own photos, use inexpensive stock photos that you can purchase from a variety of websites.
Suggested Calendar Style: Premium for laminated photo pages, or Standard for photo pages that you can write on (all calendar grid pages are ready for your written notes).
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#9: Grandparents Brag Book
There are few things that delight grandparents as much as their grandchildren. Create a book filled with photos of them spending time together. Whether they are reading, walking, playing sports or sitting for portraits through the years, nothing will be cherished by a grandparent more than this gift.
Tips & Tricks
- Ask your child what they have learned from their grandparents and include their responses in your book.
- Add your child's favorite meals or treats that their grandparents prepare or give to them.
- Illustrate with photos or write about traits that your children have inherited from their grandparents.
Suggested Book Style: Regency
The padded, stitched leather cover of the Regency book is elegant and allows for a "featured photo" to be set into the cover. Perfect for displaying on a coffee table.
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#10: Family Heritage Album
Perhaps the most special way to honor family is through the creation of a Family Heritage Album. Every family member will be touched when presented with a memento that contains important and interesting family history and photos. Get your family involved and work together to create a photo book that will be cherished for generations.
Tips & Tricks
- Take photos of family heirlooms and include a caption that explains the significance of each one.
- Scan or take photos of special documents and letters. Transcribe handwritten messages and include dates, where applicable.
- Include photos of artwork, previous homes and other landmarks that are important.
- Add as many photos as possible. Picaboo book pages are archival quality, traditional photos are not.
Suggested Book Style: Madison
The cover of the Madision book features a laminated custom photo that is stunning. A geniune leather-wrapped spine and back cover results in a substantial, sophisticated, stylish book that certainly warrants special content.
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