DIY Photo Cube (Great Gift Idea for Any Occasion!)

Photo gifts make wonderful and special personalized gift ideas. With this technique, you can skip spending a lot of money to buy a photo gift from a company and make your own DIY photo cube yourself!

Well, what if I told you there’s a way you can make a personalized DIY photo cube for your own desk or to give as a gift? It’s true! All you need are 5 items to get started.

This was first published on January 16, 2013, however, I am republishing with more information.

How To Make DIY Photo Cube

This was my first time working with an image transfer technique and I must say I love it. The process was even easier than I thought it would be.

NOTE: This is an EASY picture cube DIY project…but it is a bit time-consuming. So do this one when you have a little time (I go into more detail about how much time it takes at the end of the post).

Ok, grab those photocopies of your pictures, and let’s make something cute for your desk!

Supplies Needed To Make DIY Photo Cube

• Wood cube (you can order it online or possibly find it at your local craft store)
• Black and white photocopies of the photos you want to include (NOTE: This must be toner based copies! You CANNOT print on an inkjet printer with this method!)
• White paint
• Mod Podge photo transfer medium
• Sponge

Step 1: Paint Wooden Cube

First, paint your cube white and allow it to dry completely.

Step 2: Print & Trim Photos

You will need black and white photographs that are printed on a toner-based printer or copier. Trim your photos to the size of the cube. I sized my photos just slightly smaller than the sides of my cube.

Pro Tip: The images also need to be mirrored in order for them to appear correctly on your cube.

NOTE: You can cut these by hand but if you want cleaner lines, use your Cricut machine and the print then cut function to cut these out.

Step 3: Add Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium To Photos

We are going to use Mod Podge photo transfer medium to put our photos on the cube. Be sure to read the directions on the bottle thoroughly before starting to use it.

You will need to apply a thick coat to the front of your image (see the example below).

Step 4: Add Photos To Wooden Cube

Then, place the chosen photos face down on your cube and smooth them out. You want to avoid as many air bubbles as possible for a smooth finish.

Allow drying for the recommended amount of time.

NOTE: Your DIY photo cube won’t look like much at this stage.

Step 5: Gently Scrub Photos With Sponge

Now, get the paper damp and begin to gently scrub with a sponge (or your hands). This will make a huge mess AND it’s the time-consuming part.

It will take 30 minutes or more for each side of your cube. In the picture below, the image on the side has been completed and the image on top still needs some more paper removed. You just keep working the images until they all look good. Work slowly and come back if an image does not look great after it dries.

Step 6: Add Mod Podge To Wooden Cube

Finally, coat your entire project in Mod Podge to finish it off.

Simple and oh-so cool! I just love the way my DIY photo cube turned out.

I remember the first time I saw a photo cube and was blown away by how amazing and personal it was. One simple item meant so much to its owner because it was a connection to family and friends who weren’t present at the moment.

Since then, I have seen photo cubes sold as gift ideas, and they can be so expensive!

This is a great gift for moms, grandmas with images of their grandchildren, or even for dad’s desk at work. Hmm, as a matter of fact, you might want to pick up a few of these and make more than one!

Tips & Tricks for DIY Photo Cube

Now that you’ve seen this DIY photo cube, are you ready to make your own? Here are a few tips and tricks to ensure your project goes as smoothly as possible!

• Don’t Use An Ink-Jet Printer – In order to make this project, your photos need to be printed on a toner-based printer or copier. An ink-jet printer will not work and if you try to use ink-jet photos, it will ruin your cube and photos. Instead, you will need to use your laser printer or have your photos professionally printed.
• Don’t Forget To Mirror Your Image – Regardless of what type of photo you are using make sure to mirror your image so it transfers to your cube correctly!
• Take Your Time Adding The Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium – When adding the Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium to your photos, you want to take your time and make sure that your photos are completely covered. Below are are few things to remember when adding the medium:
  • Your photos need to be completely covered in the medium (you should not see any part of the photo showing through).
  • The layer of Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium should be thick enough to cover the photo (so you’re not seeing through it) but thin enough so you don’t have any globs of medium on your photo. You want a nice thick but smooth layer as shown in step 3.
• Don’t Saturate Your Paper With Water – A little water goes a long way! When scrubbing off the paper in step 5 start with a small amount of water on your paper towel or sponge. This is because if you add too much water it will seep into your photo and ruin it.
• Gently Scrub In Circular Motions – When scrubbing off the paper you will want to rub the paper in circular motions. This is because if you scrub in an up and down motion you can rip your image.

5 More Photo Crafts

Did you love learning how to make this DIY photo cube and are now looking for other photo crafts to make? Then check out the projects below!

• How to Make a Photo Lantern
• Watercolor Photo Postcards
• DIY Photo Coasters: A Great Gift Idea
• How to Make Sublimation Jewelry
• How to Make a Banner from Photos