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If you're like me, you have hundreds of photographs sitting in envelopes, pictures from birthday parties, weddings, family gatherings, anniversaries, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas. You have already put the best snapshots into albums and these are leftovers. You don't want to throw them away, but you also don't know what to do with them. Instead of letting your snapshots take up space and contribute to the clutter in your home, use them to make collages that you can give as Christmas gifts to family and friends.

Here's how:

• Assess your collection of pictures. Do you have several dozen of your spouse or significant other? Your parents? Your children? Grandparents? A friend? A beloved pet? Decide which person would like to receive these pictures and divide them into groups accordingly.
• Buy a picture frame with glass for each collage you are going to make. Department stores sometimes have sales on picture frames, and you can often purchase a suitable frame for $5 or less.
• Cut a sheet of paper (use cardstock, 24# paper or light cardboard) to match the size of the opening on the picture frame.
• Cut out the background of the pictures, leaving just the people or pets. Cut out enough pictures to cover the sheet of paper.
• Arrange the cut-out pictures on the paper. Mix and match and experiment. Try placing the pictures at different angles.
• After you have an idea of how you would like to arrange the pictures, glue them to the paper. Cover the entire sheet of paper with pictures.
• When the glue is dry, insert the paper into the frame.

Collages are not only a good way to use your old snapshots, but the recipients also will cherish them for years to come as a special and thoughtful gift.