The nearer we get to Christmas, the extra I need to keep away from purchasing. The shortage of parking, urgent crowds, and cabinets stuffed with generic items drive me loopy! In the event you’re like me, right here’s an concept that solves that drawback. You’ve spent all 12 months taking photographs and movies in your smartphone or digicam. With a little bit of tweaking, you may flip them into the proper Christmas present.
After all, what that tweaking entails is determined by your ability degree, and obtainable software program. We’ll ensure that we embrace strategies right here for everybody—from the iPhoto novice to the After Results knowledgeable. Prepared? Let’s dive in!
DIY Video concepts for Christmas
1. Make a video of your 12 months
In the event you haven’t already, seize some footage of your work Christmas social gathering, household picnic or child’s faculty live performance. Are you taking advantage of your DLSR’s potential to take superior high-quality movies?
If not, take a look at Knowing The Basics Of The Video Mode On Your DSLR Cameras on Popularwp Aetuts+. Then take a look at our concepts beneath for tactics of sharing that footage together with your workmates or household.
2. Create a photograph slideshow
If video’s not your factor, do the identical together with your photographs. Use iMovie to create an superior DVD present utilizing photographs from a faculty or work occasion, or simply use the very best random photographs out of your Photostream this 12 months.
There’s an in depth tutorial for learners on Tuts+ that guides you thru the method: Creating a Slideshow With iMovie and Burning It to a DVD.

When you get to the step about how you can enhance circulate with transitions and music, it’s time to go to AudioJungle and decide the appropriate tunes. Listed here are just a few suggestions:
- For movies with children: Happy Fun, Kids Music, Inspiring Children’s Choir &
Ah Kids. - On your work or workplace social gathering: Midnight In Tokyo, Electro Perfecto, Super Dance Party & Dangerous Guitar Party.
- Good for Christmas and New Yr: Kids Christmas Collection, Christmas Acapella & New Year’s Song.
three. Ship a digital postcard
In the event you’re holidaying over the festive season, ship a postcard. A digital one.

Seize an After Effects project like this one, create your postcard, and add it to YouTube or Fb in your family and friends to take pleasure in.
four. Digitize outdated photographs
Consider all the cash your mum spent on faculty photographs once you had been rising up. There’s plenty of reminiscences there! Take them out of the drawer, scan them, and convert them right into a slideshow that the entire household will take pleasure in.

It’s not only a nice current in your mum—your brothers and sisters will like it too. And why not use some VideoHive magic to offer them an applicable vintage look with an After Results template like this one.
5. Make a digital photograph album
You’ve in all probability spent all 12 months taking photographs of your children—performing within the live performance, climbing on the playground, tearing round the home… and all these embarrassing moments you managed to seize. We usually consider giving photographs to the grandparents, however what about utilizing them as a artistic present in your children.
Collect photographs of their favourite moments, brighten them up with a kids-appropriate VideoHive template like this one, and put the video in your youngster’s iPad to allow them to take pleasure in it any time.
Don’t go away the that means of your album unclear. Add a message!

On VideoHive you’ll discover nearly 1,500 titles and 500 lower thirds to go well with any model or theme. Right here’s a decrease thirds pack with plenty of selection.
6. Flip your venture right into a DVD present
Presumably one of the best ways to share your video present is on a DVD. Your non-technical kinfolk will know what to do with it, and so will everybody else. And it means you can provide a bodily present, which can imply extra to folks. Nicely, don’t let the creativity cease with the video—ensure you personalise the DVD as properly.
Tuts+ can present you ways to do this, whether or not your favourite instrument is Photoshop or Illustrator.
One other sensible strategy to share your video present is on a USB stick. Right here’s an effective way to make it particular, and add a contact of sophistication.
Subsequent Steps
With so some ways to take pleasure in multimedia at this time, video makes an superior present. Are you planning to offer video this 12 months? Inform us about it within the feedback.


