This year, I’m running a bit behind things. I haven’t traveled that much more than usual, but yet I’ve been more tired and less eager to get things done.
While I always think I will finally use up my stash of photo insert cards that I purchased at Target 3 years ago, the truth is that it’s just too easy to get photo cards made and ready to go. Let’s face it. It looks nicer and more professional. When you get a card like that, you smile. I know I always do. And isn’t that what the holidays are all about, sending around smiles to your peeps?
Every year, we usually pick one picture of the family and make a go of it. Sometimes we stage a photo shoot. Sometimes I go off the bossy deep end and order everyone around till our eyeballs bleed. Last year, we used this photo:
Love it, right? I certainly did, and still do. Even tho it looks like someone is stepping on Mr. IT’s toe, we all look pretty great.
I took the photo last year and uploaded it to Shutterfly, where I had so many options to choose from for creating the best holiday cards. SO MANY OPTIONS, in fact, that it got me to thinking.
While a family portrait is great, there are so many pictures taken on the fly during the year that would make for a great collage. TAKEAWAY – you don’t have to have one perfect picture. Grab a bunch that represent your year, and put them into one photo card montage to share with your friends and family.
Pictures like this one:
Not quite perfect, since I cut off the top of his head, but I love that smile.
Or this one:
The family portrait where one person is not looking at the camera, because, hello, there is cake.
A fun family memory – we have enough Disney pictures to make a boatload of photo cards!
Or hey, how about this one?
Ah, yes…more special times. Thanks in advance to Kelly and Danielle for not beating the crap out of me when they see this one.
Anyhow, there is SO MUCH more that you can do with photo cards these days, and I was really inspired looking through the Shutterfly site. This month, Shutterfly is hosting “Family Photo Days on the site to help people get inspired. You might find yourself taking new pictures for your cards, or looking over family pictures from the year past in a new light. There is a digital tookit online with tips, videos and a great community to bounce ideas off of. For the more competitive among us, there is a photo contest with 5 winners based on they type of photo – best funny family photo, most unique family photo, etc.
While you’re looking through all your pictures, you might find yourself so inclined to create a photo book. You can also use photos to create some really unique gifts – I still have the photo mug of my daughter that a friend gave me. Calendars also make great gifts, and it’s easy to create one. Shutterfly has you covered there too.
How about you? What kind of photo card are you plotting for this year?
Disclosure: I wrote this post as a part of a Global Influence campaign for Shutterfly. I received 50 free photo cards for participating – all opinions in the post are mine and I received no other compensation.
