A New Way to Use Old Snapshots

If you're like me, you have hundreds of photographs sitting in envelopes. Pictures from birthday parties, weddings, family gatherings, anniversaries, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas. You have already put the best snapshots into albums and these are leftovers. You don't want to throw them away, but you also don't know what to do with them.

Instead of letting your snapshots take up space and contribute to the clutter in your home, use them to make collages (at a cost of less than $10 each) that you can give as Christmas gifts to family and friends. Here's how:

  • Assess your collection of pictures. Do you have several dozen of your spouse or significant other? Your parents? Your children? Grandparents? A friend? A beloved pet? Decide which person would like to receive these pictures and divide them into groups accordingly.

  • Buy a picture frame with glass (either 5x7 or 8x10) for each collage you are going to make. Department stores sometimes have sales on picture frames, and you can often purchase a suitable frame for $5 or less.

  • Cut a sheet of paper (use cardstock, 24# paper or light cardboard) to match the size of the opening on the picture frame.

  • Cut out the background of the pictures, leaving just the people (or pets). Cut out enough pictures to cover the sheet of paper.

  • Arrange the cut-out pictures on the paper. Mix and match and experiment. Try placing the pictures at different angles.

  • After you have an idea of how you would like to arrange the pictures, glue them to the paper. (Check the label to make sure that you can use the glue with photographs.) Cover the entire sheet of paper with pictures.

  • When the glue is dry, insert the paper into the frame.

    Collages are not only a good way to use your old snapshots, but the recipients also will cherish them for years to come as a special and thoughtful gift.

    © 2003 LeAnn R. Ralph

    About The Author

    LeAnn R. Ralph is a freelance writer in Wisconsin, is the editor of the Wisconsin Regional Writer (the quarterly publication of the Wisconsin Regional Writers' Assoc.) and is the author of the book: Christmas In Dairyland (True Stories From a Wisconsin Farm) (August 2003; trade paperback) http://ruralroute2.com

    bigpines@ruralroute2.com

    In The News:


  • pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    The Venice Rookery

    Love is in the air at the Venice Rookery. The... Read More

    Modeling Portfolio Webites

    In the age of home phones and 8x10's we all... Read More

    Disposable Underwater Cameras

    Disposable digital and film cameras (also called single-use cameras) provide... Read More

    Canon-Powershot-A80 Review

    Last month we bought the Canon Powershot A80 online for... Read More

    Taking Panoramic Landscapes - The Easy Solution

    I love panoramas. There's something very appealing about their shape.... Read More

    How to Buy a Digital Camera

    Are you buying your first digital camera? Well, you must... Read More

    Getting Your Photos Ready for Sharing

    One of the main reasons people buy digital cameras is... Read More

    Better Photos with Your Digital Camera

    Everyone has a digital camera today and we all take... Read More

    Understanding Digital Photography

    Most serious photographers and all professionals use a Single Lens... Read More

    HP Digital Cameras - History and Beyond

    HP has started making digital cameras only recently. However, the... Read More

    Digital Cameras & Resolution

    While analyzing any camera, one of the most important qualities... Read More

    Top of the Line Digital Cameras

    If you think that digital cameras are for snapshots only,... Read More

    How to Buy Wholesale Disposable Cameras

    Wholesale disposable cameras are disposable cameras bought in quantity. Bulk... Read More

    Digital Film Processing is Really the Only Option for Truly Quality Prints

    Digital photography has taken off like wildfire these days, primarily... Read More

    Infrared Photography and Big City Crime

    One of the major problems of the larger cities of... Read More

    Kodak Digital Cameras - The Giant Comes To Digital

    George Eastman, founder of Kodak is world renowned today. Digital... Read More

    9 Tips For Taking Great Digital Photos

    IntroductionModern cameras are highly automatic in operation. They have auto... Read More

    How To Avoid Or Reduce Red-Eye

    Photography with the aid of a digital camera is beyond... Read More

    7 Things You Must Do If You Want To Make That Perfect Camera Shot

    Saturate yourself with your subject and the camera will all... Read More

    Photographing Kids

    Kids grow up so quickly and while we are often... Read More

    Photographs Everywhere, But Is It Really Art?

    I once heard a lady say to a photographer that... Read More

    Digital Camera Auto Exposure and Auto Focus

    The digital camera being a fantastic and technologically advanced device... Read More

    Photography Business: Taking Baby Photos - for Professionals & Families

    Babies make the best and the worst subjects to photograph.... Read More

    How To Become A Digital Photography Pro

    Being a professional digital photographer is a dream many people... Read More

    The Best Wildlife Camera To Take On Safari

    Good wildlife camera equipment on safari can make the difference... Read More

    Types of Digital Cameras

    If you are in the market to purchase a digital... Read More

    Nude Art Photography

    Nude photography is the genre of art photography, whose subject... Read More

    Digital Zoom Versus Optical Zoom

    The digital camera is but a technological advancement of the... Read More

    Start Up a Nude Photography Business

    There are major obstacles to overcome to get into nude... Read More

    Becoming A Digital Artist On A Budget

    So, you want to become a digital artist but paying... Read More

    Photography: The Basics

    Photography comes from the Greek words meaning "light writing" and... Read More

    Creating Personalized Photo Calendars

    About Personalized Photo Calendars:Photo Calendars are 12-month, wall-hanging calendars that... Read More

    Photography Contest - a fun and rewarding experience

    Do you like to take photos? Are you always standing... Read More