I have used a few of the other overlays so far but this one was on y wish list, well and now I can play with it. I like that you can use it for more than just for the Christmas season. Yes, with a little tweaking you can use is for birthday photos, 4th of July and so many other occasions. Love to use part of it for beach and ocean pictures too. They might be a bit much if you are a beginner, but they are sure fun to play with ...so give it a try