Christmas Gift for Any Budget

Digital picture frames are the scrapbooks and photo albums of the 21^st century, and memory cards are the modern-day storage equivalent of file cabinets. Either --- or both --- can be an excellent gift if you fill them with photographs and images that are meaningful to the gift recipient.

A digital picture frame often comes with some built-in memory that may be supplemented by the addition of a memory card. Before you wrap the frame (with or without a memory card), enclose a note that describes the images that have been saved to the digital picture frame.

If a digital picture frame costs more than what you have budgeted for someone on your gift list, however, you can give a photo-filled memory card without a frame. Wrap the memory card in a small jewelry box, again enclosing a note that briefly describes the memory card's contents. The recipient can view the images on a computer either by inserting the memory card into the computer (if it is equipped with a memory card slot), or using a USB cable-connected card reader to transmit the images to a computer.

Paper print photographic images may be scanned for transfer into the digital frame or memory card. You can also scan in drawings and images you create just for this project, such as title pages or explanatory notes. You may wish to solicit copies of digital images and print photographs from friends and relatives, also, once you have your theme in mind. Some possible themes for a gift photo collection follow:

• A Family Photo Album. This would be an excellent gift for everyone in your immediate and extended family. Then, if one of the "albums" should ever be damaged by fire, flood, hurricane or similar catastrophe, a replacement may be made from another family member's copy. The original work could be quite an ambitious project, however; the collection of photos you are able to put together in time for this Christmas might be just "Part 1" of several installments.
• A Childhood. If you have been documenting the childhood of a daughter/son, niece/nephew, cousin, or child of a friend, a chronological collection of photos of their early years could be a nostalgic treat for them once they are past the age of 18.
• (Name of Gift Recipient's) Life So Far. This would probably take the form of a chronological recounting of an individual's life "so far," more suitable for a more mature gift recipient than "A Childhood."
• Love, (Your Daughter/Son/Niece/Nephew). Your mother/father/aunt/uncle will enjoy a collection of photos of you in college, on a special trip, or perhaps a collection of photos of you with them through the years.
• Your Friend, (Your Name). This could be a collection of photos of you sharing different activities with a friend over several years.
• A Good Sport. This could be a collection of sports and competition images that include the gift recipient. This theme is suitable for sports enthusiasts such as soccer, basketball or football players; tennis players; runners; golfers; or perhaps even highly competitive poker or bridge players.
• The Office. Do you have a collection of photos from office parties and events for the past year (or two or three)? Put them on a 1 GB memory card and you have an appropriate gift for your boss or a co-worker.
• Our Cruise to Alaska (or Florida, the Caribbean, Italy, wherever). This is pretty self-explanatory. If you took lots of photos on your cruise, organize them under categories including shore trips, onboard games and activities, and special onboard dinners. You might wish to scan in copies of itineraries, postcards, and cruise line brochures, too.

A digital photo album or photo-filled memory card is a gift that will require more effort and thought than simply shopping. But it is a gift the recipient will enjoy far longer than a sweater. Here's hoping your photo project turns out well. Merry Christmas, Santa!

Resources:

For addition shopping information on digital picture frames try the Consumer Reports website:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/cameras-photography/digital-picture-frames/index.htm