These custom photo paint-by-number art kits are the coolest gift of the summer

We've played countless rounds of cards and assembled literally thousands of puzzle pieces lately, but our new favorite obsession in my house has been paint-by-number kits. So when I discovered these custom photo paint-by-number art kits on beautiful canvases from Winnie's Picks, I thought they'd be an amazing gift. or a fun way for us to all spend a weekend. Think of all the gift potential: a sweet photo of Dad with the kids for Father's Day, a portrait of your recent graduate in their cap and gown, a summer vacation photo (the paint-by number landscape art comes out amazing) to remind your kids about the first trip you'll take together when this blasted quarantine is over. Your birthday kid with a group of their besties. Or hey. even a sweet picture of a pet for anyone at all. Look how great the pet art come out!

Related: How to make a gratitude garland: a simple craft to help us remember what's important

The process to make your own custom paint-by-number art is easy: just upload a picture when you order, and they'll transform it into a custom paint-by-number canvas. While I haven't tried a kit myself yet, they have many, many examples on their site so you can get a pretty good idea how well they convert from photos. Just keep in mind that the pictures that turn out best tend to be portraits with a simple landscape background — like mountain, a grassy area, or water. A busy background, like a bookshelf or full room of furniture is a lot more complicated to complete and I couldn't vouch for the results. Also note: As with those 1000-piece puzzles, these custom paint-by-numbers art kits will take stamina and perseverance!  That's why I suggest they're a great family project. Turn on your kids' favorite music, set up a dedicated spot in your house with lots of light and  -- IMPORTANT! -- a good chair. Then, just hang out together while you paint. The end painting is going to be a treasured keepsake  of course. But right now, while we're looking for ways to spend quality time together, that's the real gift. Upload your own photo for a custom photo paint-by-number art kit from Winnie's Picks.