Gifts for Mum: Turn Her Favourite Photo into a Painting

Good gifts for mum get harder to find once she has everything. One she won't already have is a kit made from a photo she loves: her wedding day, the family home, the dog, the grandchildren. She paints it herself, or you paint it first and hand it over finished. It works for a birthday, Christmas or Mother's Day.

Which photo to pick

Start with the one she already keeps on the fridge. A sharp, well-lit photo with the main subject large works best. A group shot needs a bigger canvas than a single face, so that everyone stays recognisable. We look at every photo before we make the kit, and we get in touch if something won't come out properly.

Paint or diamonds

A custom paint by numbers kit has a numbered canvas, a colour chart, paints and brushes, and the result looks like a painting. She doesn't need to be able to draw, because every area is numbered and each number has its own paint.

A custom diamond painting is made of small acrylic drills, and it sparkles in the light. There's no paint or water, but it needs a stable, flat surface, so she'll want a table to work at. It suits someone who enjoys fine, careful work.

Pick the finish she'd like best first, then choose the size. Our page on photo kits has more on both.

Which size

Custom paint by numbers starts at 40 × 50 cm. For a custom diamond painting, go by what's in the photo:

• One face: at least 40 × 50 cm, ideally 50 × 70 cm.
• A pet: often fits on 40 × 50 cm.
• Two people: 50 × 70 cm.
• A group or a landscape: 60 × 80 cm or larger.

Bigger means more work. With square drills, 40 × 50 cm takes 25–70 hours and 50 × 70 cm takes 50–120 hours.

No photo in mind?

Go by what she loves. A keen gardener might like flowers, a cat or dog owner cats or dogs, and someone who is happiest outdoors a landscape. If she likes galleries, she could paint a famous painting. A look at what's already on her walls usually settles it.

Who does the painting

Give the kit unpainted and the painting becomes part of the gift. If you'd rather hand it over finished, the hours are yours: a 40 × 50 cm paint by numbers usually takes 25–45 hours, about 13–22 evenings at two hours an evening. Start early. A larger canvas goes on the wall with a wooden frame, and it's best to stretch the canvas before painting.

If you're not sure

If she has never held a brush, that's fine. If she'd like to try it first, our small paint by numbers kits take 5–10 hours and come already stretched on a wooden frame. If small details tire her eyes, choose a larger paint by numbers and a simple subject, so the areas are bigger. Still undecided? Give a gift card, which arrives by email, and let her choose. Photo kits are made to order, so leave plenty of time; our delivery terms have the details. To compare other options, see our guide to craft kits for adults. And if crafts really aren't her thing, pick something else.

Frequently asked questions

What do you buy a mum who has everything?

Something to do rather than something to store. A kit made from a photo that matters to her gives her both evenings of painting and a picture nobody else has.

Does she need to be able to paint?

No. Every area on the canvas is numbered and each number has its own paint, so she only has to follow the numbers.

Some of the pictures in this article are AI-generated.