Christmas Card Help

[lovely1m]

In the past, I have always used a Christmas-y photo or a winter/snow picture for our Christmas cards. This year I am going to use photos from our trip to the ocean in South Carolina this summer. I have no idea how to make Christmas cards without a Christmas theme though. Can you show me your cards, if you have done this, or give kit suggestions? Thank you!

[littlekiwi]

Since I live downunder I don't have a use for all of the traditional type christmas kits so last year bought this one

https://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/sweetshoppe/images/cache/89c502afc5acf50181bf07512c184199.jpg (https://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/sweetshoppe/product.php?productid=21170&cat=0&page=1)

[jacinda]

You could use the calendar toppers by Cindy and Dani. The toppers come with and without the month on it, so a perfect ready made christmas card without snow:

https://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/sweetshoppe/images/cache/6a7d34a69cc8f9569ce213d51cf4a816.jpg
(https://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/sweetshoppe/product.php?productid=22351&cat=264&page=1)
You'll have to view it bigger in the shop (3rd thumbnail) as I couldn't get it to show bigger in the forum.

[rach3975]

I use a winter kit with a photo like the one you're describing most years. Here are some of mine--excuse the older style of some of these!

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e320/craftystitches/Digiscrapping%20LOs/2010Card_rach3975.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e320/craftystitches/Digiscrapping%20LOs/2008Cards_rach3975-1.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e320/craftystitches/Digiscrapping%20LOs/2007Card_RGB.jpg

[jacinda]

Lots of ideas on pintrest too:

http://pinterest.com/search/?q=christmas+card

I like these ones. You wouldn't even really need a kit for most of them:

http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/241419504_deVebpqu_c.jpg

http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/224882103_hNZEYhFi_c.jpg

http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/206219194_7uszFB86_b.jpg

http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/206818376_D82g2nij_c.jpg

Here's some inspiration too:

http://www.minted.com/christmas-photo-cards?start=18

[Jengerbread88]

You could use a tropical holiday kit, like the retired Libby "Have Yourself a Maui Little Christmas"?

https://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/sweetshoppe/images/cache/0e538b1cd4d3aa319688386536237589.jpg

(It is retired, right?)

ETA: I know SC isn't really "tropical" per se, but it's a more beachy-themed thing, kwim?

[jacinda]

I'd just use a beach themed kit

[ColleenSwerb]

I like my christmas cards to stay Christmas themed, even if the photo isn't Christmas-y, kwim? So I'd either just make a regular christmas card, or go with something beachy to match the photo.

[lovely1m]

Oh, I like the thought of those more typography style ones. Gotta see what I can come up with. Thanks for the help, girls!

[heathergw]

I think they're retired but I used La's Christmas card templates and a Fall kit for mine to make it Christmasey...

https://www.sweetshoppecommunity.com/gallery/data/500/2010-Christmas-cardslargewe.jpg (https://www.sweetshoppecommunity.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=162464&ppuser=8261)

[kscwgirl]

Last year I used pictures from Disney World and did a quote but still Christmas colors.. I'm not sure if this will show up.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0cf30b3127ccefbc3338b865100000040O01AcN2zRk4bMQ e3nw4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/

This year, I'm using this family pic that we just had taken yesterday.... and will do the same kind of thing, probably. Who knows. :D

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/309574_272769979420123_221625614534560_908012_1253 278919_n.jpg

[breakingbrie]

I'm no help on suggestions, I usually take a particular christmasy pic just for the cards. But I'm loving the suggestions, and I had to pop in to say Sara, LOVE your new family pic!!

[Leontine78]

I see a template job coming for Cindy!

[adrianka]

Another cultural question from the inquisitive (or obnoxious, it depends) mind - I gather it's pretty common to send Christmas cards based on family photos in the US, right? At least I noticed it last year in the forums and in this thread, too.

That would be the question, and a bonus silly question would be - What do single (both as "unmarried" and as "having no partner") and childless people send? Must be pretty overwhelming for them. :-)

[heathergw]

I wouldn't say that it's common to send photocentric cards here... most people I know buy cards or make their own and some will insert a picture inside but most just send a card... The ones that send photocentric cards are my friends who are into scrapbooking and photography.

My Mom makes her cards but doesn't insert a picture or anything and she never did even when we were kids. My MIL sends out a newsletter that has a couple pictures on it but they are of the grandkids, not themselves. My single friends don't send cards and I didn't until I was married. My Aunts and Uncles who don't have kids in the house, just buy cards and send them... I do have one Aunt who does a newsletter like my MIL. When we were just married and before we had kids I just made cards.

[adrianka]

I wouldn't say that it's common to send photocentric cards here... most people I know buy cards or make their own and some will insert a picture inside but most just send a card... The ones that send photocentric cards are my friends who are into scrapbooking and photography.

My Mom makes her cards but doesn't insert a picture or anything and she never did even when we were kids. My MIL sends out a newsletter that has a couple pictures on it but they are of the grandkids, not themselves. My single friends don't send cards and I didn't until I was married. My Aunts and Uncles who don't have kids in the house, just buy cards and send them... I do have one Aunt who does a newsletter like my MIL. When we were just married and before we had kids I just made cards.

Ha! I had obviously drawn my conclusions based on the scrapbooking community, which can lead to distorted impressions. :-) Thanks a lot for clearing this up for me!

[heathergw]

oh, and I'm not doing a photocentric card this year... I'm doing a hybrid card and I might send a picture of the kids to just my relatives who haven't met Asher yet.

[adrianka]

oh, and I'm not doing a photocentric card this year... I'm doing a hybrid card and I might send a picture of the kids to just my relatives who haven't met Asher yet.

:-)

[lovely1m]

Yep, I get a variety of cards and photo cards and pictures tucked into cards. I like getting pictures of my relatives/friend's and their kids, so that's what I send.

[color of my heart]

on the topic of photo cards-
we get a LOT of photo cards. i think it's big for people with families. we also get a lot of family newsletters. i think out of the 100+ cards that my family gets each year, at least 80% are either photos or newsletters. the rest are just cards with little notes. i've tried for AGES to convince my mother to let me design our cards.. she just buys them.

on the topic of making your own/kits to use-
i think a really clean typography based card would be awesome, actually. i love seeing all the christmasy/wintery cards. but i also love seeing type based cards as well. maybe it's the graphic designer in me. (:

[lovely1m]

Thanks so much for all your help! I ended up combining 3 of the cards from Jacinda's examples to make mine. I love it! The back is very much like the last one, just word art on the photo. The front is similar to the first one's layout with the saying from the second one. Thanks so much!

[adrianka]

Oh, don't forget to share the result if you feel like it. :-)

[dana]

Oh, don't forget to share the result if you feel like it. :-)

this! i want to see :) LOL! i need some inspiration to get started on mine!

[lovely1m]

OK. :) This is the front, I made everything here. Can't remember what fonts I used, just a bunch.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b194/lovely1m/Cardfrontsmall.jpg
This is the back (its a flat 5X7 card). The word art on this one is from Abish Allen.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b194/lovely1m/cardbacksmall.jpg

[adrianka]

They turned out fab! I love how you played with the colours on the first one to match the photo.

[julia]

Awesome job on that card. I need to get pictures taken this weekend! :)

[lovely1m]

Thanks, girls! I am really happy with how they turned out.

[dana]

super cute! and i love the way you added the stripes to match his shorts!