The Last-Minute, So Cute $7 Gift I’m Getting for Everyone This Christmas

The best and most sentimental gifts are always tied to memories. So if you ask me, you can’t go wrong with gifting Christmas tree ornaments for anyone who celebrates Christmas. Every year, I look forward to unwrapping my holiday decor — and years of cherished memories along with them! 

Sentimental gifts often require personalization. But this year, my friends and I decided to pull back a little bit on holiday gift-giving. So my goal was to come up with something simple and inexpensive that still had a personal touch and looked luxe. With splurge-y custom creations out of the question, I finally found the perfect solution — in an unexpected place — with these double-glass brass picture frames from Amazon.

These tiny frames come in a pack of four, so I knew that wallet-size photo prints would do the trick. I had the 2×3-inch pictures printed for about $1 per sheet (that’s just 25 cents per photo!) then cut them out. One thing to keep in mind: All four images must be the same, which worked out for me since I used the same images for multiple ornaments. 

Another caveat is that I did need to trim the images slightly smaller than they were to fit into the tiny frames. To make it easier, I created a stencil using the frames themselves, and then cut the images to that size. This worked out perfectly.

To get the images into the frame slots, I slipped the top in first, then the left side, then the right side, followed by the bottom. This was a little tricky, but patience is definitely key. The frames come with little round stickers, too, which I placed in the middle before closing; this helps prevent the image from shifting around. 

I loved that the frames each came with clip-on metal chains as well. This makes for a simple and sturdy way to hang them. For a slightly more festive look, though, you can swap them out for ribbon instead. I tried tying them with a plain red ribbon, a red ribbon with a bow, and also a wider red ribbon. (I did still include the chains with the gift, though, in case the giftee preferred that look.)

I just love the way these turned out. They definitely have the look and feel of a high-end gift. But at $6 a piece (and with Amazon’s ultrafast shipping), you really can’t go wrong. These will be a gift your friends and family will cherish — and lovingly hang on the tree — for years to come.