Welcome to November! The Christmas season is officially off and running. Red cups at Starbucks, decorations galore at Costco, and advertisements for Black Friday are already underway. All of which mean it is time to start thinking about those seemingly mandatory but oh-so-fun Christmas cards!
With so many options to choose from, we've decided to compile a list of Christmas card ideas ranging from incredibly easy to creative do-it-yourself cards.
1) If you're considering personalized family photo cards, now is the time to schedule that photo-sesh! Overwhelmed by the thought of getting the family together in coordinating outfits and smile-worthy attitudes? Don't be! Here are some tips from my friend Marlene (whom I deemed the photo pro):
"I'm not sure I qualify as a pro at taking family photographs (you should see my family's outtakes!), but we have had A LOT of family photo sessions! Here are a few things that have worked for my family.
1. Start thinking about outfits right away! I choose our colors based on how I plan on using the pictures. When I knew I wanted to order a huge canvas enlargement for our living room, I choose colors that would match in my house. When I wanted a picture of the kids for the bedrooms, we all wore colors that coordinated with their room decor. I'm not even kidding. Once I know what colors I want then I start looking for the one stand out outfit. If I get in a bind, one or two of us can be neutral tones and throw in a color accessory.
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| Marlene and her Beautiful Family Photo by Moments Captured Photography |
2. Timing is everything! With two little ones, I plan our sessions for times they will be most rested. 4:30 in the afternoon usually works best for us. That way I know they will have taken a nap! We once made the mistake of a session right at 3:00 in the afternoon. We had to wake them from naps and it was not pretty.
3. Pack distractions. A good photographer should pack a rattle or toy to entertain kids, but don't count on it. I always try to pack a favorite loud toy to get the kids to look at the camera. A whistle, squeaky duck….
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| Photo by Moments Captured Photography |
5. Bribe the kids. I'm not sure if I should admit this, but I always pack a bag of treats. I've done jelly beans, yogurt covered raisins, smarties, any small candy I can say "Just smile for this picture and then you can have one more!"
6. Lastly, choose your photographer wisely. Get recommendations from friends and find someone you feel comfortable with. This is especially important when kids are involved. Make sure the photographer is someone who will engage the kids. It doesn't hurt for them to have lots of patience either."
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| Our daughter Photo by Moments Captured Photography |
Love the pictures you see? These were taken by Christina from Moments Captured Photography. She does AMAZING work. Fun to work with, creative, and flexible! Check out her website for more information. I (and Marlene) highly recommend her for your family photos!
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| Our Christmas 2012 Card Made on cardstore.com (With our own photos) |
Once the photos are done, check out one of these sites:
- Cardstore.com is currently doing 50% off holiday cards, plus free shipping with a purchase of $30 or more. They have tons of styles to choose from, and they will send the cards directly to your family and friends (which in my opinion is the hardest part!)!
- Already signed up on snapfish.com, shutterfly.com, or costco.com? They all have incredible deals, too!
2) Feeling creative? Have a little extra time to spare? Then why not try your hand at making your own Christmas cards! Babble.com has a really cute compilation of 10 DIY Christmas Cards. My favorite is the Reindeer Thumbprints because it looks fairly easy and can involve the whole family!
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| Reindeer Thrumbprints Card from Babble.com |
3) Feeling creative but don't want to bust out your craft supplies? In the past, I've bought a card making kit that came with blank cards, decorative cut-outs, and craft paper. We found an adorable kit on Kim's Card Kits. This kit has so many components, it truly turns out handmade. They've made it easy to get your craft on, without having to spend the time and effort to buy the components separately. How about a family craft night to assemble them, complete with apple cider and haystacks?
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| Christmas Cheer Card Kit Makes 12 Cards, $22.00 |
4) Just want to get those cards out with as little effort as possible (we won't tell!)? We love all the boxed cards at World Market! Here's our favorites:
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| Merry Christmas Boxed Holiday Card Set of 15, $9.99 |
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| Owls on Branch Boxed Holiday Card Set of 15, $12.99 |
We're so excited about this season and all that it brings! We hope this list give you some different ideas for getting those Christmas cards out. If you have any other ideas, we'd love to hear them, so please comment below :)
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