Christmas is around the corner, and we all have one person to buy for who already seems to have everything. Another pair of novelty socks is the obvious answer. We think it's time to be more creative. Picture frames are more varied than they seem, and they make very good presents. Here are four ideas.
Frame something nobody else has
Early picture frames were carved from a single piece of wood, with the centre cut away to take the painting. They were so costly that frames were usually reserved for highly important works, such as Egyptian mummy portraits.
Today frames are affordable, so we can have more fun with what goes in them. The finger painting little Maisie brought home from school last week? Nobody else has a Maisie original above the fireplace. Nothing makes people happier than something personal to them, so think beyond the usual: a photo of the family pets, a favourite film poster or a printed poem.
Turn clutter into a keepsake
You don't have to stop at flat pictures. With the right frame you can display objects too.
- Your baby's first shoes. Frame them for the grandparents as a reminder of how small the grandchildren once were.
- The key to your first home. It may be cluttering a drawer now, but it's a thoughtful gift for your other half.
- Your son's lucky shirt. He'd love it on his bedroom wall.
You can't fit a shirt into a traditional frame and mount, but you can with a box frame, which has more space inside for bulkier items. 13mm, 18mm, 30mm and 40mm are popular depths, and because we make every frame to order we can make whatever you need.
Send a family portrait
Is Aunt Cheryl working in Australia? Is Granny enjoying her retirement in Spain? Out of sight doesn't have to mean out of mind. Send a little piece of home: a group photo showing how everyone is getting along.
Choose a photographer who is used to family groups. Baby photographers know every trick for getting little ones to smile. Pets are harder, but there are specialists.
Capturing the moment is the hard part. Framing it is easy: we make any size you need. We also offer a print and frame service, whether you want a print on paper, a multi-aperture print and frame or a stretched canvas.
Give an empty frame
Some people really are hard to buy for. If you can't think of anything to put in a frame, give the frame itself.
With made-to-order frames you can tailor one to the person: silver, gold, white or black, from 5x4 to 40x30, canvas floater frames, traditional frames and everything in between. An empty frame is an invitation to make something to go in it. You might prompt someone to take up painting or learn portrait photography. You never know, you could be responsible for the next Leonardo da Vinci.