Looking for some cute DIY gift ideas for your girlfriend? This picture collage is the easiest homemade gift that you can make – trust me, it’s guaranteed to make her swoon!
I’ve included the step-by-step Canva tutorial, which includes a video as well as screenshots of the process.
If you’re feeling nervous about using Canva or have some doubts about how you can gift this, then check out the FAQs that I’ve addressed.
Table of Contents
Give the tutorial a try and if you still feel like you’re not happy with the design you’ve created, then I also have the template for sale. You can get instant access to the Canva file. All you need to do is drag and drop the photos – You can buy the Love Collage Template here
Now to get back to our tutorial.
Things you will need
- 8 photos that you want to use in the picture collage.
- A free Canva account.
Time you will need
This is one of the easiest yet most creative things to make for your girlfriend! It’s super simple to make, and will only take 10-15 minutes of your time.
But if you’ve never used Canva before or are finding it too hard, then don’t worry, you can just buy the template and drag & drop your photos into the frames. That will only take about 5 minutes.
Video Tutorial
Step by Step Tutorial
- Create a free Canva account if you don’t already have one
- Once you have signed in, click on ‘Create Design’ in the right hand corner and select the design type based on how you are planning to give it to her.
- Poster:
If you’re planning to give it as a poster, then figure out the size of the paper you’ll print it on.
In the search bar, if you type ‘Poster’ you’ll get a lot of size options. Either select one from them or choose ‘Custom size’ and type in the exact dimensions you need.
- Greeting Card:
Same way for a card. Type ‘greeting card’ in the search bar and go through the options or choose ‘Custom size’ and type in the exact dimensions you need. - Framed Picture Frame:
If you’re planning to frame it, then first check what the size of the frame is, then choose the paper size accordingly. - Phone message:
If you’re planning to send it to her in a message, then I would suggest that you create it in the size of a phone wallpaper. Type ‘phone wallpaper’ in Canva and choose the best option. - Email:
If you are planning to send it virtually as an image then figure out what device she’ll view it on and where she would want to save it. Would she open it on her laptop and save it there, or would she open it on her phone and maybe use it as her screensaver or wallpaper. Choose your size based on that.
- Once you’ve figured out the dimensions and have opened your Canva design, you can give a name to your document for ease of access.
Then, go to ‘Elements’, scroll down to ‘Grids’. Keep scrolling until you find the 2×8 grid. Click on it.
- On your page, reduce the size of the grid so it’s not too close to the edges. Leaving a white border along the edges makes it look more elegant.
- You can change the spacing between the photos by going to ‘Spacing’. I have kept 0 spacing as I felt that looked best with this design.
- To center align your grid, go to Position, click on ‘Middle’ and ‘Center’.
Now go back to ‘Elements’ –> ‘Frames’. Scroll down to ‘Letters’. Select the letters you want
- Choose the letters and click them to place on your grid. To change the color, click on the color box and choose white. Do the same for all the other letters.
- Resize the letters by dragging the corners in and out. They should the height of the individual row.
- To add your photos, go to ‘Uploads’, select ‘Upload files’ to upload your photos from your computer.
- Drag and drop your photos in the grid frames.
- To download it, click on ‘Share’, then on ‘Download’.
- Choose file type as ‘PDF Print’ as that will give you the best image quality. Click on Download to save the pdf file on your computer.
- You can print the file at home if you have a printer or get it printed professionally. Use a good quality paper for the best results.
How should I give it to her?
This simple design can turn into a cute homemade gift for your girlfriend depending on the way in which you present it to her.
Here are some options with photos –
A printed photo poster
This is a cute diy gift idea for your girlfriend if you want to give her a casual ‘just-because’ gift. If you want to give it on a special occassion then a poster might seem too simple. In that case, it’s better if you frame it or give it as a greeting card.
A picture frame
This photo frame gift idea is great for birthdays, anniversary or valentines day. Since it is a homemade gift, this DIY picture frame collage instantly turns a simple gift idea into something meaningful. The personalized photos add a uniqueness to it, turning it into a keepsake which will be cherished for years to come.
A photo greeting card
Turning this collage into a greeting card is a good fit if you have another bigger gift planned. You can customise the word in the middle of the collage based on whatever best suits your relationship. Some word ideas are – love, home, mine, yours, amor, calm etc.
Virtual Photo Gift
If you have an anniversary coming up in a long distance relationship then sending this to her as a virtual surprise is a great idea. Just keep in mind how she would want to save it. Would she print it out, or set it as her laptop wallpaper or would she want it as the screensaver on her phone? Depending on the answer you come up with, choose your size. Canva has size options for all these scenarios. Just choose the dimensions before you start creating the design.
Love collage phone wallpaper
If you are going to send her this collage in a message, then create it in a size that looks best on a phone. She will most probably want to set it as her phone wallpaper or screensaver so choose the design dimensions in Canva accordingly.
What ocassion is it suitable for?
This is a cute diy gift idea for your girlfriend, no matter the ocassion. You can gift it to her as –
- an anniversary present
- a birthday gift
- as a monthsary gift
- as a valentines day gift.
- as a christmas gift
- as a ‘just because’ gift
- as casual gift in a long distance relationship.
Homemade Anniversary Gift
If your anniversary is coming up soon and you still haven’t figured out any gift ideas, then this is a really great option. Since it is printable, you’ll be able to get it ready in no time. You can write an anniversary letter to your girlfriend and give this as a last minute anniversary gift for her. Maybe frame it in a pretty picture frame, write a heartfelt letter and give it to her with a big bunch of flowers. She’s sure to be touched by the sweet gesture and will remember it for years!
Handmade Birthday Gift
Have you ever made a handmade birthday gift for your girlfriend? If the answer is yes, then you know how special that made her feel. And if you’ve never done something like this before, then what are you waiting for? This is the perfect tutorial for a beginner. This photo frame gift is quick, personalized and a really easy thing to make for your girlfriend – what more would you need to make a cute homemade birthday gift for her?
DIY Monthsary Gift for Girlfriend
For a monthsary you don’t need to go all out. You can give her thoughtful little things like a box of chocolates, flowers, a card, or take her out on a surprise date to her favorite cafe, buy her a favorite dessert, or if you are both busy that day then send her a food delivery from her favorite restaurant. It’s the thought that counts and celebrating the little moments is what life is all about!
Valentines Day Gift for Long Distance Relationships
This can be good e-card to send in a long distance relationship if you want to surprise her through a text message or an email. Or another sweet thing to do in a long distance relationship is to send this to her as a card or poster along with a care package and a handwritten love letter. You can then celebrate your valentines day with a virtual date – look up activities you can do together without needing to be in the same room. Like cook a meal together via zoom, or just order-in the same meal at the same time or play fun virtual games, there are so many options to try.
Homemade Gift for Girlfriend for Christmas
This can be a cute thing to make for your girlfriend for christmas. You can print this out and frame it in a beautiful picture frame. Give it to her along with some other cute gifts like jewelry or something else that is customised with her name. Everyone loves thoughtful personalized gifts so I’m sure it’ll be a hit.
Just Because 'I Love You' Gift for Her
Sometimes the most precious and memorable gifts are the ones given without any occassion. These ‘just because’ gifts are guaranteed to melt her heart because they show her that she’s always on your mind. That she randomly pops into your head when you least expect it! So the next time something reminds you of her, don’t forget to tell her. And brownie points if you send her this love collage!
Isn’t this an easy yet creative handmade gift for your girlfriend? Making handmade gifts using photos always works really well as it instantly transforms a forgettable gift into a memorable keepsake that you’ll treasure for years.
I hope that now you have some idea of how you want to create and gift this photo collage. If you’ve spent the last few days wondering how to make handmade gifts for your girlfriend then I hope you have found this tutorial helpful. If you weren’t happy with the design you created or found it too time consuming then you can check out some of my other gift templates here –
And don’t worry no matter what you decide to gift her, she’s going to love it! The fact that you’ve spent so much time researching the perfect gift for her just shows how much she means to you. So no matter what the gift, she’s sure to appreciate every thoughtful gesture.
If you have any doubts or questions for me, you can drop it in a comment below.
