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Give yourself to a loved one this Valentine's Day. It's never been easier.

Lay your claim to a special someone by giving them a T-shirt with your face on it or mail a love note with a postage stamp of yourself smiling from the upper right-hand corner of the envelope.

How about a calendar for Grandma? She can enjoy a different picture of her grandbabies each month. Or, how about a photo mug for Dad? He can share his coffee every morning with the kids. And, a photo mouse pad is a practical and personal way to remind that special college student that someone at home cares.

Retailers throughout the Dayton area offer many options for transforming photos into unique gifts. Some can be made overnight; others require up to two weeks. There are also a number of do-it-yourself options.

The hardest part of a photo gift is sifting through the options. Here's a short list of retailers and some of their offerings.

PhotoStamps ($20.98 for one sheet of 20 stamps includes shipping and handling, www.stamps.com). Upload your photo, customize your design and place your order. PhotoStamps are valid U.S. postage. Stamps.com, the company behind PhotoStamps, has been a U.S. Postal Service-approved provider of postage since 1999. Orders typically ship in three to five business days; rush handling is available.

Pendants ($24.95, Peacocks and Pears). Photos are sealed between layers of glass and hand-soldered with silver. Price includes a ball chain. Peacocks and Pears is a Dayton-based company with Internet sales (www.peacocksandpears.com) or orders taken by phone at (937) 572-5456. Check with them on time needed for delivery.

Heirloom-style postcards (32.95, Peacocks and Pears). These 3-by-5-inch postcard-size vignettes have a photo on one side and a poem, pressed flower and other vintage snippets on the other. Check with Peacocks and Pears on time needed for delivery.

T-shirts ($10.96, Wal-Mart). Photo is printed on the front of a T-shirt. Adult and youth sizes available. Allow two weeks.

Puzzles ($11.26 and $14.26, Wal-Mart). Photo puzzles come in 8-by-10-inch and 10.5-by-13.5-inch sizes. Allow two weeks.

Talking Photo Tote ($89, MotoPhoto). The photo is printed on the front of the tote. A voice message can also be recorded and replayed. Allow two weeks.

Cookie jar ($59, MotoPhoto). Photo is baked into the ceramic of the jar. Allow two weeks.

Calendars ($19.99, Kinkos). Different photos are used for each month. Available in 24 hours.

Baseball/softball ($19.95, Kinkos). Photo of your favorite player is printed directly on the baseball or softball. Allow three to five business days.

Mouse pad ($16.99, Cord Camera). Photo is printed directly on mouse pad. Available in five business days.

Mugs ($13.99 and up, Cord Camera). Sizes range from coffee mugs to beer steins. Available in five business days.

Do-it-yourself photo gifts

Marble Coaster Kit ($39.99, Bed Bath & Beyond). Kit includes four coasters, solution and tools to adhere photos to coaster surface.

Photo clock ($19.99, Bed Bath & Beyond). Clock holds eight 2-by-4-inch photos. Photos are slipped into place. Batteries for clock are not included.

Photo apparel ($7.99 for three, Michael's Arts & Crafts). Photo transfers make it possible, with an iron, to create your own T-shirts, aprons and memory quilts.

Calendars ($29.99-$49.99, Office Depot). Software programs such as Print Shop 2 and Print Master provide the tools needed to create calendars, greeting cards and more.

Photo mugs (99 cents, Michael's Arts & Crafts). No tools or glue are needed to insert photo into plastic mug.