Easy At-Home Holiday Cards

by Heather on December 6, 2010

in Lessons, Photography

I ADORE sending holiday cards. Unfortunately, I always lose track of time and the next thing I know it’s December 18th and there is no way I can get my cards printed in time without paying a fortune. And it doesn’t really help matters that I don’t exactly pick easy concepts.

holiday 2005

our funny card

coming soon

This year, yet again, I picked a far from easy concept. The card is only half-done. I know I’m not going to get them ordered in time (AGAIN), so I started looking at other options and found a great one online via HP’s Creative Studio.

Why is it a great option? Because it gives me the ability to print my cards at home. So, when I FINALLY find the time to finish the picture, I will be able to have the cards in hand just a few minutes later.

I picked this one for my example, but there is a PERFECT layout for my not-quite-ready card that I have my eye on. And you’ll all see it. Soon-ish. But for now! This:

(and for those of you with HP Printers with apps? The cards are just as awesome!)

I need to get my real card done!

But I love you, so here’s a sneak preview of a tiny part of the card:

disclosure: HP is the sponsor of this section, but they didn’t ask me to write about this. I looked for the easiest option for myself and felt like sharing. Everybody plays, everybody wins!

And seriously, my card this year? Worth the wait if I do say so myself.

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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Kate December 6, 2010 at 3:11 pm

I cheated this year and bought cards where you slot a photo into. I really should crack on with that before it’s too late.
Your daughters are beautiful! (As is rigby, not to leave him out)
This is my first ever post on this site!! Woop woop!

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2 Rebecca December 6, 2010 at 3:27 pm

I bought my cards….well, I was given my cards this year from cardstore.com. They gave me some cards to sample and a code to share a 20% discount on my blog. I totally loved them because for me they were FREE! You can’t beat free and they were really high quality AND, I was able to get postcards for my Christmas Card ….different is good.
Rebecca´s last [type] ..Thanks

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3 Jess December 6, 2010 at 5:35 pm

I made mine. And since my kids are my three cats its them, and me on it. Kind of lame I know, but people get a kick out of it. A few years ago I dressed up my guinea pigs (no lie) and my cats for Christmas and that was my Christmas card. You think dressing up a dog and child is hard for Christmas? Try three cats and three guinea pigs. Longest photo shoot ever but most adorable card ever. I miss my boys but I swore I’d never subject the cats to the hats again. (Cannon refused to come out from behind the couch for two hours.) So it’s just some cute pictures of them. Eh well I can torture my kids when I finally have them!

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4 Molly December 6, 2010 at 5:58 pm

The first post I ever read was the one where you wrote about the Maddie/Rigby card! I remember look at Maddie and going “Oh my lordy, that child is the cutest little thing I’ve ever seen!” and from then on out I was hooked.

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5 Heather December 6, 2010 at 6:34 pm

we ended up timing it so that our ‘save the dates’ were going out right before Christmas, so we just wrote ‘happy holidays, see you next year’ on each card

cheesy, i know
Heather´s last [type] ..8 days

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6 edenland December 6, 2010 at 6:51 pm

You Americans are really big on getting proper Christmas cards made up, aren’t you? It’s pretty cool …. I may even start doing it. Does slapping on santa hats in the photo count?

Can’t wait to see your card this year. I love how Maya loves your 2008 one …. bet she has it on her fridge in Israel.

xox
edenland´s last [type] ..It had to take something pretty big to knock meeting Bono off the top of my blog

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7 Kristin December 6, 2010 at 7:49 pm

That is going to be the cutest card ever!
Kristin´s last [type] ..Return to the land of the living

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8 Amanda December 6, 2010 at 8:00 pm

When you’re ready, you can join my annual club. We convene in the weekes following Thanksgiving and preceding Christmas. We do not send cards, we do not create lists, instead we live in exile, avoiding cards and dodging deadlines.
Amanda´s last [type] ..Bearing Witness

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9 Lisa December 6, 2010 at 8:18 pm

Mine are made, ready and waiting on shutterfly. But the darn $ thing gets in the way of my fun. Rigby has mastered the death ray look by the way….

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10 Gina December 8, 2010 at 4:00 pm

If you have a blog you can get 50 free cards from Shutterfly! I just ordered mine and only had to pay shipping and tax. Get the info here: http://blog.shutterfly.com/5358/holiday2010-blog-submission-form/

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11 LisaJ December 6, 2010 at 8:35 pm

You may be a procrastinator, or forgetful, or whatever…BUT those cards? Worth the wait!

Praying Saeryn does as well with Santa as Annie did!

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12 michele wallace December 6, 2010 at 9:12 pm

I cant wait to see them – I am most sure they will be adorable. You crack me up with your dog…….good times :)

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13 Elle December 7, 2010 at 12:29 am

I’ve always adored the holiday card with Maddie and Rigby. I can’t wait to see what you have in store this year!
Elle´s last [type] ..Repost When I First Got Married I Thought Couples Who Had Seperate Bedrooms Were Crazy Several Years Later- I Think It’s The Best Idea Ever!

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14 Elizabeth December 7, 2010 at 7:09 am

I always say I’m going to do cards but I never do. I can’t wait to see the finished product!!

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15 Deb December 7, 2010 at 7:37 am

Are the ones on HP creative studio save-able so that you can send them to print at a regular photo store…(can you tell I have a crappy printer)

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16 elissa lerma December 7, 2010 at 11:34 am

darn! this post came about 3 days too late. Would have save me a lot of time! Next year!

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17 Kate December 7, 2010 at 12:08 pm

oh my god the maddie/rigby new year photo is the COOLEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN. that is amazing. and rigby makes an excellent father time.

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18 amanda December 7, 2010 at 5:11 pm

OMG. I can’t wait to see it!

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