If you're looking for some neat little gift ...

[dicksbro]

In our Peoria paper they had an article about a couple that takes photos of natural settings that look like letters of the alphabet ... and they will do a series and frame them to spell out a word ... like the name of a child or loved one. It's really pretty neat. You might want to look at it as a rather unusual gift idea ...

www.createsticksandstones.com

[BIBI]

Now how cool are they?

Great gift idea, very unique even though a bit costly.

I was on my way to order one until I got to the price...:)

[imaginewithme]

THat's neat!

[BIBI]

Ok...I went out this morning and kept seeing the alphabet in many strange places.....

Maybe I should do my own pics!

[Aqua]

That's what I'm thinking BIBI.

It'd be a really cool gift.

[WildIrish]

I once wrote a letter to someone using the same idea, but using letters clipped from newspapers and magazines.


Uh...tmi. lmfao

[BIBI]

That's what I'm thinking BIBI.

It'd be a really cool gift.


I already tried to steal them off the site but to no avail....mybad :)

It sounds like a good summer project in time for Christmas next year....

[midwestgal400]

BIBI,

I've had a bit of custom framing done, and it is terribly expensive. $200-$300 in most cases. I saw the article too, as I am in the local paper's circulation area - and I called their framing shop. The lady that answered (they said they are just the framing vendor, not the owners of the business) said this was a very high quality item, and a person walking in off the street would actually pay MORE just to get the frame, mat, glass, labor, and openings cut - even if they provided their own pictures.

By the time you take all the pictures and get it framed, you are looking at a $200 gift - plus your time - in most cases.

I may buy a couple as gifts - really neat idea!

[PantyFanatic]

Really cool DB. :) A bit late for this year but a neat thing to keep in mind.





Now let’s see what it might cost me to do it myself.:confused:

I guess if your name is Aliwishes Finkelstiner, it could seem a bit pricey, but for 8 medium (file card size) prints they want $US 130.

Material to make a good quality custom frame that’s 9” x 32” with special custom cut, non-glare glass. I’m going to guess at least $40.

Matting for each pic has to be $2 – $3 each for maybe $20. I guess I could make a trip to a studio and have a one piece mat made for …………………. $25 – $30.

If I have a pretty good digital camera, I could spend a weekend going around to things and places I’ve already scouted out and get the pics I want because I’m a fair photographer. I know I’d want something better than my desktop printer will give me so I can have the 3” x 5” photos printed for a buck or two apiece. That would be around $12.

Now in my wood working shop, I’ll take a day and layout, cut, miter and biscuit join the corners of a fine frame. I’ll sand, seal, prime and finish the wood, glaze the glass, install my mounted pics and add the backing and some hangers.



………………. Or maybe I’ll buy it from them if I like the idea. :D LMAO

[PantyFanatic]

LMAO :D

I see you had some of the same thought as I was putting mine together MisdWestGal400. lol

...... and welcome to Pixies. :)

[midwestgal400]

I was having that thought as well - LOL - I have bought a number of custom frames in my lifetime as gifts and for my house, and I've never paid less than $150 for one.

I sent them an email and asked if they would have mine done if I ordered one and in my hands by Christmas (about 5 minutes ago) - I'll update when they respond.

I think it's fun just to play around on their site and see what different words look like :)

[maddy]

That is incredibly cool .... and btw I'm seriously considering ordering... and they say if you order by 12/15 you will have it in time for Christmas....

The one I'd like is about $120 pre shipping... not bad really.

[midwestgal400]

Here is the response I got verbatim (my name withheld to protect the not-so-innocent :)


Hi xxxxxx!

Thank you so much for your interest in our keepsakes! We put December 15th as the date because we KNOW we can meet the Christmas deadline, even for customers in California. Most likely, we will extend it day by day until the 17th or 18th as we are able.

Your keepsake will take about 2 days to produce and it will ship on day 3. Some of our customers in Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana, are actually receiving these in 1 day with FedEx Ground.

If you have any questions at all, feel free to call or email me back, I'll be glad to answer them all :) I really appreciate your interest - you will really like it!

Sincerely,

Brad



I am going to order one of these for myself - is that selfish at Christmas time? Gotta spoil myself every once in a while! LOL

[BIBI]

Well with the rate of exchange, shipping to Canada and the duty.....it is not so reasonable moneywise for me. It's amazing how much some companies charge for shipping to Canada.

[midwestgal400]

you are right - but I have a friend that I've shipped to near Vancouver - and shipping alone was $22.00 - that was the cheapest - plus I had to buy a box and packing materials - overall it cost $30.00 when I was done just to send it to her!

Even in the US, UPS, USPS, and Fedex all charge about $8.00, and the boxes and packing materials are anywhere from $6.00 to $8.00 at least (especially for fragile items where you need a roll of bubblewrap). If you can get something fragile (glass in it) shipped to you for $15-20, that would be about normal.

[BIBI]

It costs 14.99 American for them to ship in the states via Fed ex...for Canada they say to get in touch with them to discuss the costs lol....and don't forget up to 20 or 30 percent rate of exchange depending on what day of the week we're in lol. Then Canada would have to get their's via duty.


BTW..welcome to pixies!

[midwestgal400]

I've been a bit of a lurker for some time, but I got interested when I saw this thread, and then I looked at that site and became interested in the product - really neat. I am about 30 miles from Peoria, and I saw the article in the paper - here is the internet link for the article:

http://www.pjstar.com/stories/121105/ART_B8ADN994.009.shtml

In order to post, I decided to join! I'll probably still be more of a lurker than anything else :)

Thanks for the warm welcome!

[dicksbro]

Hi, midwestgal400! Welcome to Pixies. Yippee, another near Peoria member. Glad to have you aboard! :)

[Lilith]

I have enjoyed playing with the site and seeing what kind of a creation I can come up with.

[maddy]

I learned, through a phone call last night, this is a family run business. I've always said those Midwesterners are just plain nice people. I spoke to Brad who is quoted above and he was incredibly polite and calming with my little technical dilemna. I also received a very kind and thoughtful email from him this morning. I was told the same thing. Because my package is being shipped to the midwest, it is being started today, and expected to arrive no later than Monday.

I didn't get one for myself, but that's not completely removed from the realm of future possibility.

I think this would make a very neat wedding gift or baby gift.

[maddy]

Bumpity-bump-bump. I still think this is incredibly cool and am now looking at making one for me.