Most personalized Christmas gifts put a photo on something: a mug, a blanket, a canvas print. They get a smile on the 25th and a cupboard by February. A custom paint by numbers kit uses the same photo differently. The person you give it to paints it, area by area, over a few weekends, and what ends up on the wall is a painting they made of a picture you chose for them.

That is the whole pitch. It works for some people on your list and badly for others, so this page is mostly about telling them apart, picking the photo, and getting the box there in time.

Who it suits, and which photo to send

Your mom or dad

Skip the formal family portrait. The photos that work best are the ones parents already keep on the fridge: the kids on a beach ten years ago, the house before the extension, the dog that is no longer around. Pick one with a clear subject and daylight. A 16"x20" canvas with 36 colors is what most customers choose, and it gives faces enough room to look like the people in them.

Grandparents

The grandchildren, obviously. Two or three kids sitting close together is fine; a group of eight is not, because each face ends up the size of a coin. If eyesight is a concern, go up a size rather than down, and choose 24 or 36 colors so the numbered areas stay larger.

The pet owner

Get the pet at eye level, near a window or outdoors, with sharp eyes. Black cats, black dogs and long or mixed coats need 48 colors, otherwise the face turns into one dark shape. The custom pet portrait kit page has the details on fur and whiskers. For someone who has lost a pet recently, a kit can be a kind way to spend time with the photo. It can also be too soon. You know them better than we do.

A partner

The wedding photo is the obvious choice and it works. A trip photo often works better: a street in Lisbon, the two of you on a ferry, a cabin you rented once. Landscapes and places are forgiving and look good with 24 or 36 colors.

A friend who already has everything

Their own photo of a place they love. Ask a mutual friend or check what they post, then ask them for the original file under some excuse, since images saved from social media are usually too small to print well.

When it is the wrong gift

Someone who wants a finished picture on the wall on Christmas morning should get a print instead. A 16"x20" takes most people two or three weekends.

The same goes for anyone who has told you more than once that they have no patience for crafts. Paint by numbers is relaxing for a lot of people, but not for everyone, and a half-painted canvas in a closet makes a poor present.

Then there is the person whose taste in pictures you are guessing at. For them, the gift card lets them choose their own photo, size and number of colors. It arrives by email, which also makes it the right answer after the shipping deadline has passed.

What it costs

Prices on the custom paint by numbers kit from a photo start at $19.95 for a 12"x12" canvas with 24 colors. The 16"x20" with 36 colors, the usual choice, is $39.95. The largest option, a 20"x26" with 48 colors and the DIY frame kit, is $79. Shipping to the US is free with no minimum.

Every kit comes with the numbered canvas, acrylic paints mixed to match the photo, brushes from fine to wide, a small print of the photo to paint from, and instructions. The canvas ships unframed unless you add the frame option.

Getting it there before December 25

A custom kit is made after you order. We check the photo, trace it, match the paints, and the parcel leaves within 1 to 3 business days. Transit to the US takes about 7 to 15 business days, with tracking. Working from the slow end of both ranges, the last safe order date for Christmas delivery in the US is Friday, November 27, which is Black Friday this year.

Orders placed between November 28 and December 7 often still arrive in time, but we cannot promise it. The full table, with Thanksgiving and Hanukkah, is in our Christmas order-by dates for custom kits.

The most common delay is the photo, not the carrier. We ask for at least 1500 pixels on the short side (2500 for the 20"x26"). A screenshot or a picture saved from Instagram usually falls short, and every round of emails to get a better file costs a day or two. Our guide on what makes a good photo for a custom kit takes five minutes and saves most of those delays.

Keeping it a surprise

You can ship the kit straight to the person it is for: enter their address at checkout. If you want something to open on the day and the kit is running late, print the photo you chose, put it in a card, and say the rest is on its way. People tend to like that version of the story.

Quick answers

Can I order several custom kits with different photos?

Yes. Each kit needs its own upload. Custom kits count toward the multi-kit offers on the store, and the discount shows in the cart before you pay.

What if the photo is not good enough?

We check every file for size and sharpness before printing. If it is too dark, too small or blurred where it matters, we email you and ask for another one before anything is printed.

Can I use a drawing instead of a photo?

Yes, as long as you own the rights to it. Drawings with flat blocks of color usually need fewer colors.

Upload your photo and pick a size, or start from a pet photo.