Selfies, snaps, and quick candids. It’s rare a day goes by that we don’t take a quick pic to capture the moment.
In fact, approximately 1.2 trillion digital photos were taken worldwide in 2017. That’s about 160 pictures for each of the 7.5 billion people on our planet at the time.
So what are we going to do with all those pics?
Keep reading for seven ideas on what to do with old photos. With these creative concepts, you can put your favorite selfies and snaps to good use! Start snapping up these tips!
1. Photo Books
Before making a photo book or album, get organized!
Start by creating a chronological timeline. Stack your photos by month then by year. Organizing your photos in chronological order will make it easier to remember each moment.
One photo will then flow into the next.
This is a good time to start culling out photos. If some are fuzzy, full of red-eyes, or just not worth keeping, throw them out. Don’t cling onto photos that aren’t worth the space they take up!
Make sure you’re honoring your past.
Your children and grandchildren will flip through these photo books someday. Which moments do you want to highlight and commemorate? Not every photo is worth keeping.
Still considering what to do with old family photos? During this process, consider digitizing. You might want to keep some of your favorite photos on the computer as well as in your photo book.
Digitizing can help protect your photos from a fire or flood.
Having digital copies of your photos makes them easier to share with family and friends, too.
Organizing your photos for a photo book will also make it easier to decide what to do with old photos that are leftover. Pick out some of your favorites while you’re making your photo book. Then save those photos for some of the other items I have listed below.
2. Greeting Cards
Once you’ve organized your old photos, it’s time to get creative!
When deciding what to do with old photos, the possibilities are endless. For example, you might decide to turn some of your photos into greeting cards.
To prep for this project, you’ll need:
- Cardboard
- Glue
- Scissors or a cutter
- The photos you want to use
First, measure your photos. Then cut the cardboard so it’s a little bit wider than the photo’s width and double the length.
Fold the cardboard in the middle so the two flaps are equal. Choose one of the flaps and cut a small window. This window should appear smaller than the photo you’re using.
Next, slide your photo in through the flaps then glue the sides down. Now you have your own homemade card.
Homemade greeting cards are a wonderful personal gift. Just add a unique message to the back before sending it out to family or friends.
3. Collages
In 2017, 85% of the photos taken were on smartphones, 10.3% were on digital cameras, and 4.7% were on tablets. Regardless of where you took your photos, or when, you can print them all out for one big project.
As you decide what to do with old photos, consider creating a collage.
Summarize your year by creating a photo collage of your favorite moments. Once you’ve created your collage, frame it! Post it on a wall in your favorite room for guests and family members to see.
That way, you can share your favorite moments from the previous year with everyone who stops by.
Head over to The Memories Place for more great ideas!
4. Custom Coasters
If you haven’t decided what to do with old family photos yet, how about custom coasters? This one is a lot of fun for the do-it-yourselfers out there.
Here’s what you need:
- Water
- Sponge
- Dry towel
- Corkboard
- Brushes
- Photo transfer glue
- Fixing varnish
- Photos printed with a laser printer on normal paper
To start, cut your corkboard into square tiles. The size is up to you, but make sure your photo will fit.
Then cut your photo. Use the brush and transfer glue before sticking it onto the corkboard tile with the photo facing the cork. Then press both together firmly.
Give the glue a few hours to dry. Then wet the paper with a sponge until it breaks away. Clean the paper away from the print and dry the tile with a towel.
After it dries, apply another layer of glue then fix the image with varnish. Tada! You have your own homemade coasters.
5. DIY Photo Magnets
For another fun do-it-yourself project, try making photo magnets.
Keep your printed photo as is or personalize it with messages. To make sure it lasts, laminate the photo. Then add adhesive magnet tape on the back of the photo.
Stick it to your fridge, and you have your very own magnet!
6. Stone Photo Holders
Head outside and search for a few good riverbed stones. They should look medium in size. You’ll also need:
- Wirecutter
- Needle-nose pliers
- Metal wire
- Your photos
Choose your favorite stone and cut a length of wire. Then wrap the wire around the stone twice. Make sure it’s nice and tight!
Use your pliers to straighten the wire as needed. Create a 90-degree angle in the wire so it stands upright. Then use the pliers to twist two small loops at the end of the wire.
The loops should press into each other.
Then slip a photo between the loops. Now you have your own photo stand.
7. Photo Accordion Books
Instead of leaving all of your printed photos in a box, put them on display.
Fold a sheet of paper into a layered accordion. Then place a square photo within each accordion box. You can use scrapbook paper or washi tape to create borders.
Add ribbon to the end of your accordion and let it hang anywhere you’d like.
What to Do with Old Photos: 7 Creative Ideas
Ready to decide what to do with old photos? Get creative! These seven ideas are just the start.
Dig through your photos, get inspired, and see where your ideas take you.
Check out the Hobbies section of the blog for more creative ideas.