A photo gift is only as good as the match between the photo and the surface. A group photo on a mug is six small faces; a single face on a mouse pad is a lot of empty desk. We make four photo products, and this is the honest comparison: what each prints, what it suits, and what it costs, so the photo you have goes on the thing that will show it.
The four, side by side
| Product | Best photo | Washing | Posts in | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photo mug | Two sides, about 20 by 8.5 cm total, curved | One or two faces, landscape or square | Dishwasher-safe | Small box | £9.62 |
| Photo magnets, set of 3 | Three 5 cm squares | Three photos that belong together, square-cropped | Wipe | Envelope | £7.34 |
| Mouse pad | Largest flat area, landscape | Group photos, landscapes, children's drawings, logos | Damp cloth | Flat parcel | £7.84 |
| Pet portrait tote | One side of a 20 by 25 cm canvas bag, as line art | A pet, face to camera, plain background | Hand wash | Flat parcel | £9.13 |
Prices as of September 2026; the live price is on each page.
Choose by the photo you have
- One face, close: the mug. The daily object, and the one grandparents use.
- A group, a wedding party, a team: the mouse pad. The only surface that keeps six faces as faces.
- Several photos from one day: the magnets. Three photos that tell a story on a fridge.
- The dog or the cat: the tote, which turns the photo into a drawing rather than printing it, so it is carried rather than kept.
- A child's drawing: the mouse pad (largest) or a magnet (cheapest).
Choose by the person
- Grandparents: mug and magnets; they print no photographs and these fix that.
- Colleague or teacher: mouse pad for the desk; mug if there is a class photo.
- Someone who has moved away: magnets, because they post in an envelope and go on the new fridge.
- Pet person: the tote, then the bandana for the pet.
The photo rules that apply to all four
Original file, not a screenshot or a forwarded copy; even daylight, no flash glare; faces large; a plain background. Sublimation prints colour but not white, so pale areas of a photo show the white surface through on the mug and magnets. The long version is in which photos print well on a mug and how to upload a photo for print.
Everything is printed to order in Cheshire, usually dispatched within one to three working days, with free UK delivery. Because each piece is printed from the photo you send, it cannot be returned for a different photo; if you are unsure which product suits a photo, email it to support@larencraft.com and we will say. More is in gift ideas.
Frequently asked questions
Which photo gift is best for a group photo?
The mouse pad: it has the largest flat landscape print area, so six faces stay six faces. On a mug a group becomes six small ovals.
Which photo gift can I post in an envelope?
The set of three photo magnets. The mouse pad and tote go as a flat parcel; the mug needs a small box.
Which photo gifts are dishwasher-safe?
The photo mug, because the print is fused into the glaze. Magnets are wiped, the mouse pad takes a damp cloth, and the tote is hand-washed.
