christmas cards

We've had an early Thanksgiving miracle around these parts...our Christmas cards have been ordered.  Not addressed, but at least ordered.  I'll leave the addressing the mass pile of envelopes till after IK've stuffed myself full of carbs.   This is a first I tell you and after last years fiasco where they literally were addressed and sent out on Christmas Eve I vowed never again.  Last year was too crazy with a new baby and although I had thought about having our photographer do a professional shoot I knew we'd have to go a month or two out to get them back in time and edited.  And let's face it babies change drastically in a month and I wanted a fresh picture on that card.  My plan backfired when we were snowed in for a week and so a week before Christmas were outside with my camera and tripod trying to get one good one before it went dark.

We had our pictures done last month by our favorite photographer and so I was able to get a better jump on them this year.  I don't know about y'all but I love sending Christmas cards and receiving them.  If you've sent me a photo card I will save it.  I have dedicated Christmas card album full of Christmas cards.  I keep it out during the holiday and it's fun to look back at friend's who were pregnant and just announcing one year and then the next holding their baby.  I love it!  I'm a Christmas card hoarder I tell you.

I'm not loyal on who I order my cards from...I like to just visit the sites and see which design fits my fancy or compliments the portrait on the front.  As I was browsing I realized I spend way too much time trying to make up my mind because there are some really cute designs out there.  So, I started marking them and thought maybe I won't feel like I've wasted perfectly good nap times around here if I share them with someone who needs a card idea.  So, you're welcome if you do.  It makes me feel better that my indecisiveness can go to some good use.

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All these printable ones are from vendors on Etsy and I love them all.  When I order printables off Etsy I usually get them printed at Staples and then corner round them myself.  Great look for a not a lot!

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These are some of my favorite templates, again on Etsy, and are all instant downloads.  Cheaper then the ones above, but you're doing the work of adding in your pictures.  You do have to have photoshop, but most vendors are really good about sending instructions with the download to walk you through those steps.  And again you can take them to get printed where ever.  I actually ordered #1 and loved it, but once I added our pictures into it it just didn't go.  I'll hang onto it for another year.

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Last but not least the printed ones that come to your door ready to go!