Archive for 'Photo Cards'

Send Your Christmas Greetings the Traditional Way

Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 at 1:52 am  
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Christmas is the most celebrated holiday in the world and it is the one holiday that carries with it a slew of traditions that people the world over hold dear. The cutting of the Christmas tree,  hanging decorations and special food preparation are all a part of this very special time of the year.

 

The sending and receiving of Christmas cards is a holiday tradition that unfortunately many people no longer take part in. Since the widespread phenomenon of electronic communication, many of us choose to send our December greetings by email. The truth is that most people love to receive a Christmas card the old fashioned way-through the mail. Nothing can compare to opening that envelope and finding a lovely hand signed Christmas cards. An e-card or a email is quickly discarded and does not really tell those people you care about that you took much time at all in sending it. On the other hand, when someone you know receives a card from you in the mail, this shows that you have indeed set some time aside in your busy life to send along a small gift that really means something.

If you would like to truly make your friends and family happy this upcoming Christmas season, why not consider sending out some Christmas photo cards? It is really quite easy to do as you only need to choose one of your favorite family photos and have it made into a holiday card. There are many businesses online that do nothing except create custom cards of all types. You can easily select a template for your holiday cards or Christmas invitations if you are throwing a party, the choose the message you wish to have printed on the card.  The cards will then be mailed to you so that you can address, sign and mail them out to the people you care for. It could not be easier.

 

Sending a Christmas card is a terrific way to stay in touch with friends, family, colleagues and business associates. Holiday cards are the ideal way to let people know that you care and shows that you have not forgotten them. Christmas cards are a symbolic way of showing those you care about or have come into contact with they they have brought meaning in some way to your life.

You can easily select a template for your holiday cards or Christmas invitations if you are throwing a party, the choose the message you wish to have printed on the card. Christmas cards are a symbolic way of showing those you care about or have come into contact with them.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/holidays-articles/send-your-christmas-greetings-the-traditional-way-1305973.html

10 Christmas Tips For Cutting Down Holiday Stress and Enjoying the Season

Monday, September 28th, 2009 at 1:45 pm  
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For many modern families, Christmas is magical, wonderful and also filled with stress.  There are so many last minute things to do, traditions to uphold, expectations to be met and relatives to appease.  But how do you minimize the crunch and pressures without sacrificing holiday joys? Here are ten tips to help you get there.

1. Start early. Most people don’t plan an important vacation to an exotic locale right before they expect to leave on the trip. They realize to get the best reservations at a great price, they have to make arrangements in advance.  Yet so many of us feel we can crowd all the holiday shopping, baking, card writing, entertaining, decorating and wrapping into a few short weeks.  Give yourself more time to do these things, and it will automatically be less stressful.

2. If you’re doing photo Christmas cards, eliminate the big picture taking session.  Instead, look at some of the great pictures you have already taken over the summer or during fall excursions.  If you don’t have one fabulous group snapshot of the family, take advantage of the trend in multiple photo holiday cards and use individual pictures you like of each of your kids.

3. Make sure you get your Christmas cards early.  You can find deep discounts right after the holidays on boxed greetings or you can order them in advance online.  As soon as you get them, address all the envelopes, sign and seal and put aside to mail later.

4. Keep a gift idea notebook.  All year long, if a friend or loved one mentions they like something or they have an new interest or hobby, jot it down.  Keep lists of gift possibilities. That way, when it’s time to shop for presents, you don’t have to spend lots of time wandering around malls, wondering what to buy.

5. In fact, avoid the mall.  Yes, black Friday deals can be very enticing, but that item will probably be long gone by the time you get there.  Even if you haven’t done much shopping online in the past, this is the time to do it.  There are even better discounts in internet stores, some with free shipping, and you won’t have to deal with the traffic, parking or crowds.

6. Instead of wrapping presents, use dollar store gift bags. Just add a bit of tissue paper and you’re done. If you do decide to wrap your gifts, wrap them as you buy them or when the package arrives in the mail. That way you avoid letting them pile up and having to do it all at once.

7. Simplify your decorating.  Pre-lit Christmas trees, wreaths and garland have big impact and are quick and easy to set up. But it might be time to consider cutting back on the little holiday knick knacks that take hours to place around the house. 

8. Trade holiday tasks with a friend.  If you enjoy baking cookies, but dread stringing the lights, and she hates the kitchen, but loves to decorate, then swap jobs.  The result is that you’re both doing a project you like and passing up one that causes you stress. 

9. Lighten your holiday entertaining burden. If your entire family is descending on your house for Christmas, announce it’s potluck this year and ask everyone to bring a dish. Or spend a little extra for once and let your favorite deli or gourmet food shop make some of the food.  Remember, there’s nothing wrong with slice and bake cookies or cutting other corners. 

10. Make a list of all of the holiday things you feel compelled to do every year, and then go over it carefully and see what you can cut out or at least, where you can cut down.  Then, find the one thing on that list that may take a lot of time and effort, but it brings you and your family joy.  Concentrate on doing that with all heart.

If you plan ahead, simplify, ask for help and cut down, you’ll be free to enjoy the family traditions you truly love.  Instead of losing sleep, running around and rushing to make it through the holidays, you’ll have some extra time to create wonderful new Christmas memories.

Linda Kling, as the owner of www.photo-party-favors.com, has offered ideas to people planning celebrations since 1992. Besides unique photo Christmas cards and Christmas personalized photo candy bars, her website offers free printable Christmas gift tags, party recipes and much more.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/holidays-articles/10-christmas-tips-for-cutting-down-holiday-stress-and-enjoying-the-season-1277188.html

Great Christmas Cards: The Do’s and Don’ts

Friday, September 11th, 2009 at 5:19 am  
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In this article, we’ll examine the various approaches you can take when selecting and creating your Christmas cards.  From blank Christmas cards to personalized photo Christmas Cards, you have many options.  You also can create Christmas cards yourself, but you run the risk of doing it wrong.  Find out why below!

The Holidays are supposed to be the best time of the year for all of us.  However, between buying Christmas Gifts and getting the house ready for the family, it can be downright stressful.  One of the most stressful endeavors of all of these is getting your Christmas Cards together and out the door on time.

This is one you cannot wait on.  Do not wait until the last days to do your Christmas cards because it can absolutely ruin your Christmas holidays and leave you in a world of stress.

Fortunately, we are no longer subject to the lengthy process of yesteryear in which we had to write every single Christmas Card and manually post a picture inside.  We have many options.  Places like The Christmas Cards Store offer several options including Photo Christmas cards and personalized Christmas cards.

These offerings allow us to pre-order Christmas Cards with a picture of our family already included.  We no longer even need to send in a picture–it can all be done with our digital photographs.  Additionally, we can have a pre-written greeting message inside the cards.  The amount of time this saves can truly be appreciated if you have had to do Christmas cards manually in the past.

However, all of these Christmas cards need to be pre-ordered.  Thus, it is important to pre-order your Christmas cards well before the Holiday Season.  Even if you opt to buy blank Christmas cards in which you will write a message, it is important to start the process early so that you can get them out in time with little stress.

If you are one who likes to “brave it on your own”, you may be considering creating your very own specially-brewed Christmas cards.

I will tell you this.  When you go it on your own and create your own Christmas cards, people will either love your Christmas card…or they will hate it!

My favorite Christmas cards every year are those that are self-created!  Why?  Because you never no what you are going to get.  Like when a comedian goes on stage, sometimes he scores with the audience and other times he fails miserably.  Such is the fate of self-created Christmas cards.

The one cardinal sin of the self-created Christmas card is the “my family is better than your family” card.  You know exactly of what I speak.  These cards usually say something along the lines of “John just got his second Masters degree from Harvard this spring and has met a beautiful Alpha Chi Omega who is getting her doctorate in advanced foreign language studies…They plan to marry in the fall.”

The best self-created Christmas cards are those that are self-effacing.  Even if the people note what they did during the year, they do it in a funny self-deprecating manner.  These are usually the best Christmas cards.

For me, I like to put on the best Christmas music, light a candle, and write a personalized note to my friends in my pre-created, personalized photo Christmas cards.

However you create your Christmas cards this year, remember to begin early and avoid a stressful time during the height of the Holiday season!

Richard Mas is a retailing specialist and contributing editor to the Best Christmas Gifts for Men 2009 list at the The Christmas Store Online. His primary Christmas Holiday recommendation is to avoid the brink and mortar stores and Buy Christmas Gifts Online this Holiday Season.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/holidays-articles/great-christmas-cards-the-dos-and-donts-1214908.html

Planning Photo Christmas Cards Early – Top Reasons to Start Now

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009 at 3:40 pm  
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The last thing you might want to think about at this time is photo Christmas cards.  The holidays still seem far away. So,  what’s the rush? Why should you bother to start planning now?  Here are the best reasons to begin early.

The early bird catches the…DISCOUNT.

Many Christmas card companies, especially those online, offer a price break to those smart shoppers who think ahead. Those businesses are overwhelmed with orders closer to the holidays, so quite a few of them reward customers who plan in advance. Shop around online and you’ll find you can save money by beating the crowd. Just think of the satisfaction you’ll feel when you know you got a bargain and didn’t pay full price.

Time to browse.

Most people take their pictures first and then select the design for their photo Christmas cards later.  A better idea can be to choose a holiday greeting you love and then take the photographs that will fit into the design.  That way you’ll know if you’re going to need one portrait or multiple snapshots.  Based on the layout,  you’ll see if the pictures should be close-up or with more background  You’ll be able to visualize what the photos should look like to fit into the format of your selected card.

But finding that great design that you absolutely love can take time.  If you wait until the last minute, you may have to settle.  This way, you can look around until you find something that is unique and reflects your family’s personality.  You’ll have the time to check beyond the first page of your favorite search engine results to see what a wide variety of companies offer.

Better photo opportunities.

Now is the time to take advantage of the nice weather, sunshine and outdoor activities  Yes, you could wait until it gets colder and huddle the kids in front of the fireplace with matching sweaters and not a hair out of place.  But nothing compares to the charm of pictures of your children having fun.  Take your camera with you everywhere and record all your family’s joys. Use natural lighting, taking spontaneous snapshots rather than anything overly posed.

That doesn’t mean you can’t group your kids together while you’re out doing stuff and ask them to smile for a quick family snapshot.  But they’ll be naturally more relaxed than if they were to sit down for a more formal picture taking session.  

One less stress during the holiday season.

So, you planned ahead and took the time to find unique photo Christmas cards.  You got some great family pictures, ordered your holiday greetings early and even got a discount.  Now, take it one step further, and address the envelopes, put the cards inside, place a stamp on the outside and seal.  The only thing left to do is put them in the mailbox when it gets closer to the holidays.

With Christmas shopping, decorating and all the other seasonal things that need your attention, this is one thing you won’t have to worry about any longer.  By planning ahead, you will have less to do when the holidays approach.  You might even get a few moments to relax and enjoy the compliments, when your family and friends tell you that this was the best photo Christmas card you ever sent them.

Linda Kling, as the owner of www.photo-party-favors.com, has offered ideas to people planning celebrations since 1992. She recommends these photo Christmas cards and Christmas photo candy bar wrappers with gourmet chocolate bars. Visit her website for free printable Christmas gift tags, recipes, more.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/holidays-articles/planning-photo-christmas-cards-early-top-reasons-to-start-now-1161286.html

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