Turn your photos into festive ornaments with the Canon SELPHY Square QX10

Making your own Christmas decorations can be a fun activity to get into the festive spirit, a great idea for a personalised gift, a mindful way to take a break from a hectic yuletide schedule and an affordable way to brighten up your home for the holidays. "Crafting during the holiday season is like sprinkling a bit of magic into my home," says London-based crafter, content creator and author Duygu Turgut Gokpinar. "Whether it's making ornaments for the tree, filling a room with paper snowflakes, building a gingerbread house or making gifts for the people I love, crafting helps me to get in the spirit."

Originally from Turkey, Duygu began crafting as a child and her passion has evolved into a career. "I learned knitting and crocheting at a very early age thanks to my mum and then got interested in macramé, basket weaving, watercolour and many other disciplines," she explains. "Crafting serves as a creative outlet for me, allowing me to problem solve, think outside the box and find joy in the process of turning simple materials into something beautiful. The hands-on process allows me to disconnect from the stress of daily life, fostering a sense of mindfulness and creativity."

After working as a teacher and content creator for eight years, Duygu decided to pursue her dreams and founded her own creative studio, where she has since hosted more than 200 craft workshops for other enthusiasts. In September 2023 she published her second book about punch needle embroidery, which also has a Christmas theme.

In the first article in the Canon SELPHY Craft Club series we discovered how to make an explosion box. Here, Duygu explains how to turn photos into Christmas tree ornaments using the Canon SELPHY Square QX10 printer.

Follow Duygu's 10 simple steps to create your own personalised Christmas ornaments:

1. Select the photos you want to use.
2. Edit them with the SELPHY Photo Layout app – you can add text, filters, stickers and more to your photos at this stage.
3. Hit the 'print' button on your smartphone or other compatible device and print your pictures via Wi-fi on the Canon SELPHY Square QX10.
4. Make a frame by cutting two pieces of clear acetate sheets to the desired size (slightly larger than your photos).
5. Place your printed photo between the pieces of film.
6. Iron the film around the photo on three edges to seal them together.
7. Wait 30 seconds for the frame to cool down.
8. Add some extra sparkle by putting glitter or sequins inside.
9. Iron the remaining edge and punch a hole at the top.
10. Thread a piece of festive twine through the hole to hang your decoration.

If you want to avoid using plastic, you could also make the decorations without a frame, printing the images so that the border for the hole punch is at the top, and sticking glitter, gold leaf or sequins straight onto the surface.

"And there you have it," says Duygu, "beautiful personalised photo ornaments ready to be displayed on your tree!"

Duygu started sharing her crafting journey online 10 years ago, and created a video as part of this project to help follow the process. "What I love most about engaging with followers is the sense of community. It's incredibly rewarding to share ideas, inspire others and witness a collective enthusiasm for the art of crafting," she says.

"Working with the SELPHY printer has been a game-changer for me," says Duygu. "Personally, seeing my photos come to life with such clarity and vibrant colours was incredibly satisfying. The Canon SELPHY Square QX10's quality exceeded my expectations, turning my crafting projects into high-quality pieces that I'm proud to share."

The SELPHY Square QX10 is simple to use – simply download and connect it to the free SELPHY Photo Layout app and you can print wirelessly straight from your smartphone. "The app is very user friendly," explains Duygu. "I installed it from my phone's app store and then chose a layout that best suited my design. The app offers various options, such as collage layouts or templates specifically designed for ornaments. Next, I imported the photos from my phone's gallery, adjusting the size, position and orientation of the ones I liked. The app also provides options to add text, stickers or other decorative elements. Once I was satisfied with the layout, I printed the photos on the SELPHY Square QX10."

Prints from the SELPHY Square QX10 can last for up to 100 years,¹ which makes it ideal for creating decorations that can be gifted and enjoyed for many Christmases to come. "The XS-20L photo paper delivers vibrant, smooth and rich prints," says Duygu. A special overcoat makes them water-, dust-, oil- and fingerprint-proof, which means the decorations would still be strong and durable without the clear film frame.

"One of the best ways to elevate your festive decor game is with a personal touch – and nothing is more personal than happy moments," says Duygu. "It's a fantastic way to celebrate favourite Christmas memories or milestones like your firstborn as an adorable toddler or a picture of your proposal. Christmas is also a time when we reflect on cherished memories and the people we hold dear. It can be a way to honour loved ones who may not be with us during the holiday season or to commemorate special moments shared with family and friends."

Duygu found the ornaments "quick and easy to make", and feels this would make a great activity to enjoy together to get into the festive spirit. "Christmas is a time when traditions are passed down through generations," she reflects. "Incorporating photographs in ornaments can become a tradition in itself, creating a sense of continuity and a visual representation of family history.

"Personalised decorations have a special meaning and sentimental value," she continues. "By customising them with names, photos or messages, you can create a gift that is unique. This personal touch shows thoughtfulness and care, making the gift more meaningful."

Duygu finds immense joy in the festive spirit that surrounds this time of year. "The warmth, kindness and sense of togetherness resonate with me," she says. "As we approach the New Year, I'm filled with excitement, embracing the opportunity for new beginnings and reflecting on the positive moments the festive season brings."

Duygu makes some form of decoration each year – particularly embroidered tree ornaments, golden wreaths and upcycled items for the festive season. "Using a Canon SELPHY printer opens up a world of possibilities for creating unique and personalised Christmas ornaments and decorations," she reflects. In future, she thinks the printer would be great for creating customised gift tags – adding names, festive designs and photos to make them extra special. An advent calendar is another idea she feels would work well, particularly as you can peel off the backs and turn the prints into stickers: "You could print out small photos or numbers to mark each day leading up to Christmas and attach them to a string or a board."

Duygu encourages anyone making Christmas ornaments for the first time to embrace the creative process and have fun with it. "Making ornaments can be a wonderful way to express your personal style and add a personal touch to your holiday decorations," she says. "Remember that the joy of making ornaments lies in the journey, not just the end result. Embrace any imperfections and enjoy the satisfaction of creating something unique."

Written by Kat Halstead