Gorgeous Prints from Artifact Uprising

About a year ago I realized we had a problem--a major problem. We had thousands of pictures of our kids, all of which were on the computer. We had approximately zero pictures of our kids that existed out here in the real world. If we wanted to reminisce with August and Leif about their babyhood, their cousins, all the places we've visited, we had to sit at the computer--and who wants more screen time? I wanted to cuddle up on the couch with the boys and flip through physical photos, not get distracted by Everything Else on the Internet.

I made a couple orders on the big, popular sites, and they were fine for getting a large volume of photos printed. But I wanted beautiful photos, too. I wanted prints that we would cherish, that we would frame, that we would happily gift to far-flung family members. Lucky for me, around that time I stumbled across Artifact Uprising.

Artifact Uprising doesn't offer an endless array of prints, posters, keychains, coffee mugs, blankets, phone cases, bracelets, dog sweaters, and other bric-a-brac; they offer a handful of gorgeous, high-quality photographic prints and products. Personally, I don't want hundreds of chintzy options when I'm printing photos or making gifts for family: I want a couple of fantastic options that will make a splash and be cherished for years (or decades!) to come.

For Christmas last year, I gifted my closest family members with the Wood Block + Prints of the family portraits we'd had taken by Sandra Jolly. When my uncles, who have the most refined style and highest aesthetic standards of everyone in the family, called to ask if they could have a set, too, I told them to wait until they returned home to Chicago and checked the mail. =)

A few months later I ordered the Square Print Set for myself, and I was thrilled with the result. Each print was a singular work of art (despite my subpar photography--but they have help for that in the photography tips section of their blog). Now I just have to figure out what to do with all these photos. Here again, though, they have some suggestions (I love the binder clip and the clipboard displays).

Seeing my photos in print--in high-quality print--has inspired me to up my photography game. I'm meeting with a photographer friend next week to help me review the basics and try to get my artistic eye open again. =)

Disclosure: I emailed the Artifact Uprising team to thank them for creating such beautiful, high-quality products--and to ask if I could write about them here on Dear Sabrina. I was happy when they said yes, and even happier when they offered to pass along a discount code to Dear Sabrina readers. For the next three weeks, get 10% off your order when you enter code MDSXAU2016 at checkout. The code expires on September 30, 2016. (They also offered me a small product credit.)

If you're indecisive like me, might I suggest you consider a limited edition National Parks print? Not only are the prints gorgeous, but purchasing one does some good in the world: for every print purchased, three kids from a Title 1 School will be provided with transportation & an educational course in a National Park. I'm getting the Joshua Tree print--that's where James and I met, and we love collecting art from places we've been together.

What are your favorite photo gifts that you've given or received?

Some thoughts on beauty here.

All photos and photos of photos by me. =)