Why old photos make the most sentimental gift
Most moms say they don't want anything. What they treasure is evidence of the family: the photo of you on her lap, her parents on their wedding day, the house you grew up in. Those photos usually sit in a box, faded, creased or too small to frame, which is what makes them such a good gift once they are restored and printed.
BeforeAfter10 sentimental gift ideas for mom
- 1
Her wedding photo, restored
Often the most faded photo she owns, and the one she'd most like on the wall. Restore it, print it at 8×10 or 11×14, and frame it.
- 2
Three generations in one frame
A photo of her mother, one of her, and one of you or her grandchildren at about the same age, side by side in a triple frame.
- 3
An old photo of the two of you, recreated
Find a childhood photo of you with her, restage it today in the same pose and place, and frame the pair. It is the gift that gets passed around the table.
- 4
Her parents, in color
If her photos of her own mother and father are black and white, a colorized copy can be the first time she has seen them in color in decades. Give the original with it.
- 5
A photo book of the family, with your notes
Twenty to forty photos from the family box, restored and printed as a book, with a line under each about what you remember. The notes are what make it sentimental.
- 6
Her mother's recipe, in her mother's handwriting
Photograph the recipe card flat in daylight and have it printed on a tea towel, cutting board or framed print.
- 7
The house you grew up in
An old photo of the family home, enlarged and framed, or paired with how it looks today.
- 8
Her albums, scanned and saved
Borrow her albums, scan them, and give her and the family a shared album or USB stick. Less glamorous, but it means the photos can never be lost.
- 9
A letter, framed with a photo
A handwritten letter about what she means to you, framed alongside an old photo of the two of you. Costs almost nothing; usually the gift that makes her cry.
- 10
A calendar of family photos
Twelve restored photos, one a month, with birthdays marked. Most photo printers make them and ship well into December.
Gifts for mom from a daughter
Daughters often have the best gift idea already: a photo of her mother at the age the daughter is now. Put the two side by side, or recreate the photo yourself, and the resemblance does the rest. A matching pair of lockets, each with an old photo of the other, works the same way.
BeforeAfterGetting the photos without spoiling the surprise
- Ask a sibling, aunt or grandparent. Someone usually has copies.
- Photograph prints on a visit: flat near a window, flash off, phone straight above. That is enough to restore from.
- Look in shared family albums and old Facebook posts, where relatives often uploaded scans.
- Restore and print by early December for Christmas, and leave time for framing.