Holiday Photo Card Blog Hop!

  
Hi Folks! It's Christmas card production time at our house, about a month earlier than usual thanks to the Holiday Photo Card Blog Hop that Darlene asked me to join this year (thanks Darlene!) I've completed a few different prototypes, but before true production starts for the 100+ Christmas cards we send out, I'd love your help selecting which one to go with.
    

I always find it interesting and helpful to learn the background on big projects like this, so before we get to the actual cards, let me share my process. Last year at Walmart I was shopping the 75% off Christmas aisles and found these boxes of flat, red glitter wreath ornaments. At the regular price of $3.00 for 12 they were too expensive, but at 75% off they were only 6 cents per ornament. Now we're talking! With the hole in the middle I could turn this into a Christmas photo card!
 


I'm famous for having grand plans for sale items, flea market treasures, goodwill store finds, and then either forgetting about them or never get around to making something with them. This time, however, I was smart and I packed the sale boxes of ornaments away with my Christmas ornaments, CLEARLY LABELED so I would see them and remember why I bought them. Guess what, it worked!

The card couldn't be simpler to make, and that's very important to me since I have so many to send out. It's no fun being holed up in your craft room all December mass producing cards! The basic premise is to hot glue a photo behind the wreath opening. It's a photo, a card, and an ornament, all in one! I did have to modify the wreath slightly, since the ribbon tails hanging in the center blocked the photo. Don't let something like that stop you from taking advantage of a drastic clearance like this, as once I played with the ribbon tails they easily snapped off.

Now it's a matter of choosing which embellishments to use on the wreath.



The first version has a red gingham ribbon hot glued to the wreath, as well as a Joy die cut from Winnie & Walter's The Big, the Bold and the Merry Cutaways. The photo has a lot of blues, so the festive red and green colors need to come from the wreath.




This is the most mail-friendly version, as it just has a silver foil die cut ribbon from Winnie & Walter's Essentials: Noel Cutaways. Since the photo has so many greens in it, and the wreath is red, I didn't think it needed much else to be festive.
  

The last version version features another clearance item ... a 90 foot role of ribbon that was 90% off at Hobby Lobby, bringing the price down to ONE DOLLAR. That's less than a penny per card, folks! The downside is that it's thicker than I'd like for mailing, since it's such a wide ribbon. To cut down on the thickness I just gathered it in the middle instead of tying an actual knot and secured it with wire. The ends of the wire were perfect for securing it to the wreath so I didn't need to use hot glue. The tag is from Winnie & Walter's Essentials: Audrey Cutaways and the tiny sentiment is from Happiest of Holidays with Evelin T Designs.

Now I need your help ... which ornament/card do you prefer? I'm also torn on which photo to use. I generally like close-up photos so you can see faces better, but there's something about the photo of us in the field that calls out to me. Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section, I would greatly appreciate it!

Each year on the back of the photo card I make a year-in-review word tree. In addition to keeping people updated on what happened this year, if they want to know, it will also serve to hide the back of the photo. Personally, I like having this for myself so I can remember what we did this year!

 

Here are a couple tips for making your own holiday photo cards that I've learned along the way:

- take your pictures early so you have plenty of time to order them online. Aside from generally being more expensive, most in-store places have lower quality and can only print glossy photos (not matte)

- don't forget to determine what envelope size you'll need...if it's not a standard size it may be more expensive and/or take longer to order.

- consider things that will increase the postage required in the US...like using square envelopes, having the address go on the short side of the envelope (portrait), having the card too thick. 

- the post office has yelled at me for putting the return address on the back of the card, but so far I have not experienced any service difficulties.

- invite a friend over to help you assemble. be sure to return the favor, or treat for lunch : )

  

Also, here is a gallery of all the photo Christmas cards I've sent out each year, for even more ideas. It was fun for me to see how our family has grown throughout the years! I have a dear friend who tells me she's kept each card and puts them out every year on her mantle, how sweet is that?!

2005 - sew a tiny pocket and stick a photo tag inside

2006 - incorporate the photo into the message of your card

2007 - make a photo card that pops up and folds flat

2008 - make a tri-fold card, and capitalize on a funny
picture with a humorous message inside

2009 - print your sentiment on clear acetate so the photo inside will show through

2010 - have your family hold letters to spell out a message, like "joy"

2011 - cut an interesting shape for the base, then add your photo as a flap in front

2012 - use Silhouette to cut out "merry," showing the photo inside

2013 - add glitter patterned paper and mail in a legal sized envelope

2014 - use dollar store wire garland to hang photo mounted on chipboard

2015 - use a die cut word as a stand

   

And here are the backs of all the cards, a decade's worth of updates on our family : )

If you'd like more information, there are posts on my blog for the 2012 and 2015 Christmas Cards.

Now back to the blog hop, shall we talk prizes?!

·       Two yearly subscriptions to LiveLoveCards.com

·       $25 gift certificate to Simon Says Stamp

·       $25 gift certificate to Ellen Hutson

·       $30 gift certificate to Altenew

·       MISTI (or mini MISTI!) from My Sweet Petunia

·       $25 gift certificate to Paper Smooches

·       $25 gift certificate to Lawn Fawn

·       $25 gift certificate to My Favorite Things

Winners will be selected at random from the comments left on each blog hop stop.  Be sure to leave a comment on each stop to increase your chances to win!  Leave your comments by Tuesday, November 22, 2016, 11:59pm CT.  Seven winners will be announced on LiveLoveCards on Wednesday, November 23rd, just in time for Black Friday!

Here is a list of the stops you'll be sure to find a ton of photo card inspiration from:  

• LiveLoveCards
• Simon Says Stamp
• Caly Person
• My Sweet Petunia
• Ellen Hutson
• Kelly Griglione <-You are here!
• Altenew
• Cassie Tezak
• Paper Smooches
• Francine Vuillème
• Catherine Bowen

Thanks for stopping!
-Kelly