It is always nice when someone you know has something that they love to collect. The whole gift giving experience becomes much easier. I have a couple of friends who adore jewelry. One of them absolutely loves big chunky pieces in all sorts of colors and materials. My other friend is a bit older than me. She has always loved more conservative jewelry, but after her fourth grandchild was born, she became hooked on charms. This happened when her children gave her a beautiful bracelet adorned with photo charms of her grandchildren.

In case you didn't know, charms are beautiful and attractive decorative pieces attached to jewelry that adorn one’s wrists, neck, and ears. These are usually associated with spirituality, luck, and mystique but you can make them closer to your heart by using photos of your friends, pets, and loved ones. Bracelets are probably the most commonly thought of charm item.

photo charms are pieces of jewelry with photographs set right into them. Depending on your preferences, you can put these charms on bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings, and even your dog's collar. There is a wide selection of materials to choose from - gold, copper, bronze, plastic, enamel, glass and silver charms. Design options include cameo, vintage and antique looking to the more common square and round shaped pendants, cuff and chain link bracelets, mini photo frame bracelets, bangles, toggle bracelets, etc.

The easiest way to find companies offering this type of service is by searching on the Internet as most of them operate online. Once you’ve selected a design, you need to submit the photo/s you want customized either via an uploader, email, or snail mail. Some companies allow you to have the color of the photo changed to black & white or sepia, and they can also take care of resizing the photos and making sure that they fit in the charms.

However, if you do not want to spend the money on having charms customized, you can make them on your own. It is a creative, fun, and inexpensive way to add a personal touch to your jewelry. When making your own photo charms, you only need a few materials and tools: photo frame charms, scissors, adhesive, diamond glaze (or other clear coating liquid), and a small paintbrush, all of which can be purchased online or in craft stores. You can find a lot of easy to follow step-by-step instructions on how to make them on the Internet.

These can also be great gifts for friends and family members. Giving your Mom a bracelet with all her grandchildren’s pictures on separate charms, for example, is a sure way to warm her heart. A necklace with a back to back photo of your kids on the pendant is a nice gift to your spouse. For a dog lover, a dog tag with her best friend's photo (i.e. the dog!) in it is a nice gift as well. There are endless ways to make these wonderful and thoughtful gifts.

Photo charms are not only pretty and stylish, they capture special moments and people in your life and you can take these memories with you wherever you go.