Metal ornaments have become one of the most popular ways to turn photos into holiday keepsakes. Their polished finish gives pictures, names, and custom designs a distinctive look that’s different from traditional ornament materials, while the durability of coated aluminum means they’re made to return to the tree year after year.
Today, personalized metal ornaments come in a variety of shapes, styles, and layouts. Some feature a single standout photo, while others combine multiple pictures, custom text, family names, dates, or holiday greetings. From annual family ornaments to gifts for grandparents, newlyweds, pet lovers, and new parents, there’s no shortage of ways to make a metal ornament uniquely your own.
Customize Metal Ornaments with Photos and Text

Personalized metal ornaments offer more ways to create something unique than many traditional ornament styles. The combination of photos, custom text, different shapes, and countless design options makes it easy to create an ornament that feels personal to your family and your tree. Small details can completely change the look, whether you prefer something simple and timeless or a design filled with photos, color, and personality.
Single-Photo Metal Ornaments
Sometimes one photo says it all. Choose a design that puts a favorite picture front and center, whether it’s a family portrait, holiday snapshot, or another meaningful memory.
Photo Collage Metal Ornaments
Can’t pick just one photo? Create a collage metal ornament with multiple images in a single design. It’s an easy way to fit more memories onto one ornament without choosing between your favorite pictures.
Personalized Ornaments with Names and Dates
Add names, dates, holiday greetings, or personal messages to make your ornament even more personal. Whether you’re commemorating a special year or adding a simple family name, custom text can help tell the story behind the design.
Text-Only Metal Ornaments
Photos aren’t required. Create a custom metal ornament with a family name, monogram, holiday greeting, meaningful date, favorite saying, or other personalized text.
Front-and-Back Ornament Designs
Take advantage of two-sided personalization by customizing both sides of your ornament. Add a different photo to each side, pair a photo with a message, or create two completely different designs in one keepsake.
Metal Ornament Shapes and Sizes

Personalized metal ornaments are available in four shapes, each offering a different look on the tree. Whether you prefer a classic ornament silhouette or something a little more unexpected, there’s a shape to match your style.
- Round (3.25″ diameter): A classic ornament shape that’s always in style.
- Square (3.125″ x 3.125″): A clean, balanced shape that works beautifully with photos and personalized designs.
- Rectangle Bracket (3″ x 4″): Decorative bracket-style edges give this ornament a more detailed, distinctive look.
- Gift Tag (3″ x 5″): Inspired by a traditional gift tag, this unique shape brings a playful touch to holiday decorating.
Every metal ornament includes a red ribbon for hanging and arrives with a soft protective pouch that’s perfect for storage or gift giving.
Personalized Metal Ornaments for Meaningful Moments

The best ornaments tell a story. Personalized metal ornaments can celebrate the people you love, remember a milestone, revisit a favorite place, or capture what made a particular year special. Create one for your own tree or turn a shared memory into a thoughtful Christmas gift.
Family Metal Ornaments
Bring the whole family together with a favorite group photo, Christmas portrait, or collage from the past year. Add your family name and the year to create a keepsake that captures this chapter of your family’s story.
Grandparent Ornaments
Fill a grandparent ornament with the faces they love most. Feature one special photo of the grandchildren or create a collage that brings everyone together, then add names or a message written just for Grandma and Grandpa.
Baby’s First Christmas Metal Ornaments
Remember your baby’s first holiday season with an ornament featuring their name, photo, and first Christmas year. You can also include their birth date or other special details to create a keepsake your family will treasure as they grow.
Kids’ Metal Ornaments
Celebrate who your child is right now with a photo that captures their personality, interests, or proudest moments from the year. Create one for each child or feature siblings together in a design they can look back on each Christmas.
Pet Metal Ornaments
Give your pet a special place on the tree with a favorite photo and their name. A funny expression, sweet portrait, or first Christmas picture can become an ornament that feels every bit as joyful as the pet it celebrates.
Newlywed and Couple Ornaments
Mark a first Christmas together with a favorite engagement or wedding photo. Add the couple’s names, wedding date, or a short first-Christmas message to remember the beginning of this new chapter.
Wedding Party Ornaments
Turn a favorite wedding-day photo into a personal thank-you for bridesmaids, groomsmen, and others who helped make the celebration memorable. Keep the design consistent across the wedding party, then personalize each ornament with a name or individual message.
First Home Ornaments
Celebrate a new place to call home with a photo of the house, family name, address, or move-in year. First home ornaments can remember a new house, first apartment, cross-country move, or the first Christmas spent in a new space.
Graduation Ornaments
Honor a graduate’s hard work with a senior portrait, cap-and-gown photo, school name, or class year. It’s a fitting way to celebrate what they accomplished and give them a keepsake for the holidays ahead.
Travel and Vacation Ornaments
Bring a favorite trip back to life with photos from the places and experiences you never want to forget. Add the destination and year, or use a collage to capture more of the adventure in one ornament.
Memorial Metal Ornaments
Keep the memory of someone you miss close during the holidays with a favorite photo, name, or heartfelt message. Memorial ornaments can honor family members, friends, and beloved pets with a tribute that feels personal to the life you shared.
Friendship Ornaments
Celebrate the photos, adventures, and inside jokes that define a close friendship. Add your names, the year you met, or a message that means something to both of you, then create one ornament or a matching set.
Annual Photo Ornaments
Choose one photo that captures each year and turn it into a tradition for your tree. As the collection grows, your ornaments create a timeline of changing family photos, new milestones, and Christmases celebrated together.
How to Make a Personalized Metal Ornament
Turning a favorite photo or memory into a personalized metal ornament is easy:
- Choose a design template that fits your style.
- Select your ornament shape: round, square, rectangle bracket, or gift tag.
- Add photos, names, dates, messages, or other personal details.
- Customize both sides with photos, text, or a combination of the two.
- Preview your finished design and place your order.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Shutterfly metal ornaments made of?
Shutterfly metal ornaments are made from high-quality coated aluminum, giving them a smooth, polished finish that helps photos, names, dates, and custom designs stand out.
How durable are metal ornaments?
Metal ornaments are lightweight enough to hang easily on the tree while remaining durable enough to enjoy year after year. Their sturdy construction makes them a popular choice for holiday keepsakes and personalized gifts.
Can metal ornaments be personalized on both sides?
Yes. Shutterfly metal ornaments offer free two-sided personalization, allowing you to customize the front and back with photos, text, or a combination of both.
What shapes do personalized metal ornaments come in?
Shutterfly metal ornaments are available in four shapes: round, square, rectangle bracket, and gift tag. Each shape offers a different look while providing plenty of room for photos, names, dates, messages, and other personalized details.
How do I create a personalized metal ornament?
Creating a custom metal ornament is simple. Choose a design template, select your ornament shape, add your photos and personal details, personalize the front and back, then preview your design before placing your order.
Do personalized metal ornaments make good Christmas gifts?
Personalized metal ornaments are a thoughtful way to celebrate family memories, milestone moments, annual traditions, and special occasions. They make meaningful gifts that can be displayed and enjoyed every holiday season.
What kinds of photos work best on metal ornaments?
Clear, high-resolution photos typically produce the best results. Family portraits, pet photos, wedding pictures, baby photos, vacation snapshots, and other favorite memories are all popular choices for personalized metal ornaments.
Make Christmas Memories Part of Your Tree
Unlike many holiday decorations that come out for a few weeks each year, personalized metal ornaments often become part of a family’s collection for decades. They capture the people, places, milestones, and memories that define a particular season of life, creating keepsakes you’ll look forward to unpacking each Christmas. Whether you’re continuing a tradition or starting a new one, a personalized metal ornament is a simple way to make this year’s memories part of the tree.
Additional Resources:
- Shutterfly Photo Ornaments FAQs
- Best Christmas Ornament Ideas
- How to Make Personalized Christmas Ornaments
- How to Make a Baby’s First Christmas Ornament
- How to Pick Photos for Your Personalized Christmas Ornament
- How to Make a Memorial Photo Ornament
- Personalized Ornaments for Every Family Milestone
- How to Make a Photo Frame Ornament







