Gift for Grandmother - It Will Bring Tears to Her Eyes
She has everything. She never asks for anything. And then she says, "You shouldn't have gone to the trouble." But when grandma unwraps a hand-painted painting of her grandchildren, the tears come. It is the gift she remembers for the rest of her life - not the chocolates or the flowers. Ready in 2-3 weeks, with delivery throughout Switzerland.
Find the perfect gift for grandma →Why is it so hard to find a gift for grandma?
Grandma is the person who always says "Don't buy anything for me". She has a whole life behind her - the furniture is in place, the curtains are the ones she likes, the drawer is full of scarves. She has everything practical. But is that a reason to give 30 CHF worth of chocolates and call it a day?
The truth is that grandmothers are some of the most grateful recipients of personal gifts - just not things. It is not more cushions or new glasses she wants. It is memories. It is the grandchildren. It is her own mother, whom she has not seen in a picture for 30 years. It is the family gathered together on one canvas.
We have painted portraits for hundreds of grandmothers. Every time the reaction is the same: silence, tears, and a hand that trembles a little as she holds the painting. Afterwards it hangs in the centre of her living room - more often than not the first thing she shows visitors from then on.
Get ideas for choosing a subject in our guide to personalised paintings, or go straight to our page about personalised gifts.
Why a hand-painted family painting touches grandma deeply
There is a reason why hand-painted portraits of grandchildren are one of our most popular order types. Here is why it hits grandmothers so hard.
1. The grandchildren are her heart
Ask a grandmother what she is proudest of, and she will say her grandchildren. A hand-painted painting of them all together lands exactly where her heart is. It is the most direct route to her tears.
2. It hangs on the wall for 20+ years
Where a bouquet of roses wilts within a week and the chocolates are gone by Wednesday, an oil painting hangs on her wall for the rest of her life. Every time she walks past, she thinks of you - and of the family.
3. It shows that you thought about it - not just grabbed something
Grandma can feel the difference between a gift grabbed in a hurry and a gift where someone has chosen a photo, chosen a size and waited 2-3 weeks. It shows that you have given it time - and that is what she appreciates most.
4. It awakens memories from her whole life
Many grandmothers also receive paintings of their own late mother, of their childhood home or of the couple when they were young. These are memories she has not seen as a picture for 30-40 years - now suddenly as hand-painted art.
5. She can show it off to everyone
Grandma loves having something to talk about when neighbours, friends and family come to visit. It is a great conversation starter and a gift she will keep showing off for years.
6. It is one of her last great gifts
Let us be honest: the time we have with grandma is limited. A hand-painted painting of the family is a gift she keeps all the way to the end - and that the family inherits afterwards. It is a gift that builds a bridge between generations.
4 subject ideas that work for grandmothers
You know grandma best - but here are the four subjects most often chosen with us as a gift for a grandmother.
1 All the grandchildren together
This is the classic. All the grandchildren in the same painting - even if they have never been photographed together. We can combine several photos into one joint portrait so grandma gets them all on the same canvas. Read about family paintings from several photos.
2 The whole family - three generations
Grandma, her children and the grandchildren in the same painting. It is a gift that often becomes an heirloom in the family for generations to come. Especially beautiful when grandma is in it herself.
3 Grandma with the grandchildren
A moment between her and the grandchildren - a Christmas dinner, a summer holiday on the beach, her reading aloud to a grandchild. A personal moment made permanent. Many choose this when she has an especially close bond with the grandchildren.
4 Her own mother or childhood home
For grandmothers who lost their own mother years ago, a painting of her late mother is one of the most moving gifts. Or of the childhood home she grew up in. These are memories she cannot buy back - but you can give them to her as a painting.
Read our guide to preparing your photo for a painting - especially important when you are using older photos of grandma or her mother.
Prices for a personalised painting as a gift for grandma
One fixed price per size - frame and shipping included. All prices are for a hand-painted painting on canvas with a floating frame and delivery throughout Switzerland. Choose the size according to how big an impression you want to make - and how much wall space grandma has in her living room.
| Size | Price | Best for grandma |
|---|---|---|
| 60 x 40 cm | 495 CHF | Bedroom, chest of drawers or kitchen wall - she sees it every morning |
| 70 x 50 cm Popular | 645 CHF | Classic size for grandma's living room or hallway |
| 70 x 70 cm | 795 CHF | Statement gift from the whole family - hangs above her sofa |
| 100 x 70 cm | 1,095 CHF | Family portrait with all the grandchildren together - an heirloom |
A floating frame in black, white, natural, silver or gold is included in the price - the painting arrives ready to hang. Read our full price guide to hand-painted portrait paintings, or go straight to the order page.
How to have grandma's gift ready in 2-3 weeks
Birthday next month? Christmas just around the corner? The whole process takes 2-3 weeks from order to wrapped gift. You do not need to be early - just reasonably on time.
From photo to grandma's gift in 2-3 weeks
Choose a photo
Find the right photo of the grandchildren, the family or her own mother. 5 minutes online.
Approval
We check the photo and suggest improvements if needed, so grandma gets the very best result.
We paint
Our artist paints in genuine oil paint on canvas for 7-10 days. You receive pictures along the way.
Delivery
Discreetly packed and delivered by insured, trackable parcel delivery (DHL/UPS), duty and tax paid. Ready to give grandma on the day.
Need it a little faster - or worried you will not make it in time? Our gift card for a personalised painting can be given on the day, after which the family orders the painting afterwards.
3 stories from grandmothers who received their painting
These are not tears over a castle or a car. They are tears over grandchildren, family and memories. Here are three real stories.
"My grandmother is 88 and is often sad that her mother died when she was 20. I found an old black-and-white photo of my great-grandmother from 1955 and ordered a painting. Grandma got it for Christmas - she sat looking at it for 20 minutes and talked to her mother as if she were in the room. It is the most powerful Christmas present I have ever given."
"There were five of us grandchildren who chipped in for a 70x100 cm painting for our grandmother - we combined photos of all five of us into one joint picture. She turned 80 the day she received it. Her hand shook as she unwrapped it. Half a year later she passed away - but she mentioned that painting in every single conversation from that day on."
"Our grandmother turned 70, and we had never seen her cry with joy before. She received a painting of all 4 grandchildren together - we had combined four different photos. She said 'it is the most beautiful thing I own'. She hung it above her dining table and comments on it every time we eat at her place."
Frequently asked questions about a gift for grandmother
How long does it take to have a personalised painting made as a gift for grandma?
The total delivery time is 2-3 weeks from order until the painting is ready. Our artist spends 7-10 days on the painting itself, after which it is packed and shipped by DHL/UPS.
Need it faster - for a birthday or Christmas? Contact us and we will find a solution. In busy periods such as Christmas we recommend ordering in good time.
Can you make a painting of the grandchildren if they have never been photographed together?
Yes - in fact it is one of our most frequent jobs for grandmothers. Many families do not have a joint picture of all the grandchildren, but we can combine several separate photos into one joint family painting.
Read more about the process in our guide to family paintings from several photos - it was written specifically for this situation.
What does a painting as a gift for grandma cost?
Prices start at 495 CHF for 60x40 cm - frame and shipping included. For grandma, these are the most popular sizes:
60 x 40 cm: 495 CHF (gift from one grandchild)
70 x 50 cm: 645 CHF (classic gift - popular)
70 x 70 cm: 795 CHF (when several chip in together)
100 x 70 cm: 1,095 CHF (family heirloom with all the grandchildren)
Shipping throughout Switzerland is free, and the floating frame is included in the price. Read more in our price guide.
Can you use an old photo of grandma's own mother or father?
Yes - and it is one of the most moving gifts we make. Old black-and-white photos of grandma's late mother (great-grandmother), of her parents, or of her own husband when he was young. We can paint them in colour and bring them to life on canvas.
Read our guide to preparing your photo for tips on old, faded pictures.
What if grandma does not have room for a large painting?
Many grandmothers live in smaller flats or care homes where wall space is limited. Our 60x40 cm is perfect for a chest of drawers, a bedside table or a small wall. It does not take up much room, but it is still visible enough for her to see it every single day.
Unsure about the size? Take a photo of the wall or the space and send it to us - we are happy to give you our recommendation for free.
What if she does not like it?
We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee (30 days). If grandma is not happy with the painting, we repaint it for free, or you get all your money back. It is rare that we run into this - grandmothers are some of the most grateful recipients.
Read the details in our satisfaction guarantee.
For which occasions do you give grandma a painting?
The most popular occasions are milestone birthdays (70, 75, 80, 85, 90), Christmas, Mother's Day and special anniversaries. But in truth it works just as well "for no occasion at all" - many grandchildren choose to give the painting simply because they love her.
We especially recommend being proactive when grandma is approaching 80+. Our page about a gift for her has more ideas.
Can several siblings or cousins chip in together for the gift?
Absolutely - it is one of the most popular ways to give a large painting to grandma. When 3-5 grandchildren chip in for a 70x70 cm or 100x70 cm painting, it becomes a joint family gift that everyone has contributed to. Grandma clearly feels the extra thought.
Read about how we combine several photos into one painting in our guide to family paintings from several photos.
Find the perfect gift for grandma today
Stop chasing yet another gift of chocolates or flowers. A hand-painted painting of the grandchildren, the family or her own mother is the gift she remembers for the rest of her life. Ready in 2-3 weeks with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.