You want to be intentional this Christmas, and I bet you have at least one person on your list who’s hard to shop for. Take a peek at these 15 uncommon yet practical gift ideas, ranging from $0 (if you DIY) to bigger Santa-style gifts of $200+ (great for group gifting).
These options are perfect for: Toddlers, Teens, Spouses, Grandparents, In-laws, Teachers, Yourself…?! BONUS: Extra savings included!
(1) Family Photo Coasters. Create photo coasters as a gift — but with a twist.
Create one for each family member (including pets)! These are such a hit for kids (we gifted it to our oldest when she was 1.5 and all the kiddos play with them now). Also great for them to learn family members names and recognize faces if you don’t get to see family as often.
Save $10 with MPix today. (Search “coasters” in the search bar!)
(2) Hand-made ornaments with printed photos.
Find a holiday craft kit that makes 8-12 crafts. Print out your favorite photo of your child from the year (or in their Christmas jammies or with Santa). And use as little gifts for loved ones, teachers, babysitters, etc. Add candy canes + get creative! They also make great gift tags!
Bonus: It’s a fun project to keep the kiddos busy.
Shop at your favorite craft store for “holiday craft kits” like this one or this one.
(3) Chatbooks subscription or mini books.
Another kid favorite! When I tell you our girls spend HOURS looking through our Mini Chatbooks — they’re such a great investment for many reasons. Entertainment, fun family memories, and a super simple way to get your memories OFF your camera roll and into your hands.
Chatbooks are so easy to make right within the app. They even have a “Toddler-Proof” Guarantee and will replace any damaged books for free!
(4) Family photo session with a local photographer.
Gift loved ones a photo session with the entire family (and offer to schedule it FOR them). We did this as a group gift for my parents last year and they were so thrilled.
You can reach out to a local photographer ahead of time to coordinate, see if they offer giftcards, or simply write a note + wrap it up. Then make the plans later (even if the photo session is next year!)
This is one of those gifts that takes work upfront, but you’ll be so thankful to have a timestamp with loved ones. (Ask for recommendations or search your local Facebook groups to find a photographer near you!)
(5) DIY Keepsake Family Video.
Do you have all of your kiddos’ milestones recorded in little video clips on your phone? Did you take a vacation this year or have a special event?
Turn your 100s of video clips into a full family film to enjoy together around the big screen like the VHS days! You can certainly DIY (with a quick YouTube search). Short on time, not techy, or wish you could just snap your fingers and have this done FOR you?
Learn more or complete an order form today. (Holiday Special: $50 off an annual video when you complete an order form before 11/22!
(6) Family Video “Netflix” Subscription.
Hear me out. Think about how easy it is to pull up your favorite streaming service and hit play. Now picture doing that with your family videos!
Projector is an easy-to-use app. You can load your videos from your phone or computer (without a limit!) and categorize them. What’s also cool? You can have as many users on your account as you want (hello grandparents, cousins, and more!) Only the owner needs a paid subscription.
(7) Let Your Artist Kiddos Shine.
I know you have a pile of artwork laying around your house—whether you intend to sort it or toss it. One idea for a great gift is to repurpose it! For grandparents, godparents, teachers, aunts + uncles.
Consider upscaling it with these changeable hanging frames. Another idea is to create a photo book with just the artwork and toss the rest to cut down on clutter.
If you’re really into organization, consider this Memory Box from The Short Years (my favorite baby book company)!
(8) Shake it like a Polaroid picture.
This is such a fun gift! Especially for the moms here. (Subtly send the link to your husband anybody!?).
Turn your everyday iPhone photos into instantly printable “Polaroid-like” photos. If you struggle to get photos printed and hate running to a store last-minute before a birthday party, this is a super solution for you.
Use as birthday decorations, hang on the fridge, start a little photo wall of candid moments. The kiddos will love seeing them around your home!
Grab a the printer here (+ don’t forget extra photo paper)!
(9) Storyworth.
For any story and family history lovers here, this is for you. It’s a way to help preserve your family’s story for generations to come.
It works like this: Once a week, you choose a question to inspire the person you’re gifting it to, to write. They’ll simply reply with an email, which is shared with you. t the end of a year, their stories are bound into a beautiful keepsake book.
Bonus: It’s a no-ship gift so perfect for loved ones who live far away + any last-minute gift giving!
(10) Aesthetic Photo Boxes.
This is a timeless gift idea. Use it for loose printed photos, extra mementos, even baby boxes!
Personally, I have a different color for each child and a box for my husband and I. Lots of different styles to choose from, but I loved this set that you could even leave out on display so it’s not tucked away in a cabinet or closet and forgotten about.
Remember – your memories are meant to be ENJOYED now too 🙂
P.S. You could also get something like this with 18 compartments. Print your favorite photos of each kid every year, and hand this to them when they graduate. Wow now I’m teary!
(11) Best External Hard Drive for Photo Storage.
Not the sexiest, but maybe the techiest (and most practical) gift. Did you know iCloud is NOT a complete photo back up?! You can learn more about that here.
In the meantime, give the gift of photo security with this SSD hard drive to safeguard your photos and videos. Even better? Add a few DIY or Keepsake Family Videos that we chatted about above to it as a surprise!
Another option if price is a factor: these cute wooden flashdrives! (We keep one in our safe and one in each kiddo’s baby box!)
(12) Digital Photo Frame.
Another way to get your photos “into” your home and enjoy them *off* your camera roll: a Digital Photo Frame!
Set it up so that your entire family can send in photos and surprise you with their smiles and fun memories. My grandma LOVES hers because she gets to see her 16 great grandchildren!
This is a bigger option and here’s a smaller one.
(13) The Family Memory System.
Need to start somewhere when it comes to organizing your overwhelming amount of photos and videos? Or help a loved one do the same?
The Family Memory System is a step-by-step guide that walks you through creating an actionable plan for your 1000s of memories. You’ll feel so much peace when you know exactly what. todo with your photos + videos.
Get 50% off now through 12/15 using code: PEACE.
Pssst. Once you purchase, you can download, print + put it in a cute binder like this to keep with your other important household documents.
(14) Custom Family Calendar
If you’ve got a little more time and are a DIYer, this one’s for you! Gift a custom family calendar.
Add your favorite photos throughout the year (time them up with each month to make it more festive). I like using this $20 one from CVS because you can customize dates. Add family birthdays, anniversaries, and special reminders.
Bonus: One you do the upfront work one year, you can simply plug in photos the following year. It’s taken the guesswork out on what to get my mother and MIL each year!
(15) Neutral or Thrifted Photo Frames.
OK thrifters! I’m not sure you can go wrong with a vintage-style photo frame. And you can get them for as little as 50 cents! Talk about a treasure hunt.
These are also pretty cute for no-hunt, 2 day shipping 😉
Pop in a photo from the year and you have a sweet + simple gift idea!
(BONUS) Professional Photo Organizing Session.
For the one who always has a camera in her hand. For the one who has boxes of photos dumped all over the basement. For the one who has wanted to tackle this “to do” forever but hasn’t gotten around to it.
Did you know you can have your photos *professionally* organized?! To learn more and and see if this may be a fit for you (or a loved one), plug in your information here.
You made it, friend! Hopefully your heart is at ease now that you have intentional gift ideas for those you love. The cool part? These are likely gifts with so much more meaning than a simple check off your Christmas shopping list—they’re a way to bring favorite memories to life. Ready for more ways to bring your memories to life? Read on!
Hi! I’m Lynsey, aka The Memory Mom.
I help moms like you organize your camera roll, declutter your digital life, and create family memories to pass down to your kiddos in a super simple way!
I’m a wife and mama to 3. As a seventh-generation farmer’s daughter, you can only guess that my roots and nostalgia run deep. When I became a mama, my camera roll exploded wanting to capture every simple and big moment (can you relate?!). That began my journey to document our family moments well and in a simple way that would last for generations—much like the family farm. Read on for more!
*Please note: This page contains affiliate links, which means The Memory Mom will receive a small commission. Our family has paid for each product and service and did not receive any as a gift.
