Do you still send Christmas cards? We do, and I think that we always will. With everything else being done electronically now days, it’s nice to still get cards in the mail now and then. More so during the holidays. And, I enjoy reading about what our friends and their families have been up to over the past year. Seeing photos of the kids & family is always nice too, because the little ones aren’t so little for long! Seeing as how we live far from all of our family, Christmas cards are a big deal to me and I feel like it’s an important gesture to send them out each year. This year we ordered some gorgeous cards, like last year, from Pear Tree Greetings! They’ve got an awesome deal going on right now, read on because you don’t want to miss out!
I’m going to share my top 5 tips for sending & creating a beautiful Christmas card that your friends and family will be anxious to receive.
1 || Take Photos Early
We’ve been that family who’s rushing to have photos taken in the early weeks of December and it’s no fun. It’s stressful, because taking the photos doesn’t just require a quick click, but there is editing time, etc. Your photographer probably won’t have photos back to you for a couple of weeks. I recommend planning to have your photos taken in early November. This way you’ve got time, it’s likely not freezing out yet and you can still get your cards out in early December. 
2 || Stay away from the mall!!
I cannot say this enough times. We’re guilty, we have tons of photos from Brookelyn when she was a baby & toddler and family photos even taken at the mall photography studios and the ones in select department stores. And I’ll tell you, they’re so cheesy! When I look back, I just shake my head. While our family might have looked cute & happy and our baby girl was beautiful (of course), the photos are just so terrible. Most of the photographers have very little, if any training and well.. just look at the difference in a real photographers photos and the ones you’ll get from the mall. I kid you not, it can be as simple as using your iPhone to have a friend take a great family photo. Candid shots are always fun too and so easy to get of the little ones who are always on the move. Or, if you have a friend (like I do- who took our photos this year and we LOVE them) who knows their way around a DSLR a bit, ask them! Last year our family went to a local park with the camera, the remote for the camera and a tripod. We took so.many.pictures. But, we had quite a few that were really great!
3 || Coordinate Clothing
Matching isn’t always the best for family photos. I don’t like it at all but, to each their own, right? However, it is important to at least coordinate clothing. You don’t want little Joey wearing a minecraft shirt while your husband is in a shirt & tie, you’re in a dress and Jane is in leggings and sneakers. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve cringed because a family photo is adorable, minus the crazy clothes everyone is wearing. Dress comfortably so that everyone feels comfy when having the photos taken. And if you’re going for shirts & ties for the boys, then make sure that the girls have on something nice like a sweater or a dress. Choose colors that photograph well and that compliment each person in your family. If all else fails and you’re not sure what to wear, go to Pinterest. There are so many different pins there from bloggers who are photographers and can help you pick out just the right thing to wear!
4 || A Card Company you can Trust
This is a big deal to me. I have ordered cards through so many different companies and been both elated and furious. It’s all about quality. If you want to send a card that looks nice, don’t skimp. The age old saying, “you get what you pay for” goes for your photos and Christmas card printing company. Pear Tree Greetings is our favorite. They do a fabulous job with printing, have beautiful (and tons) cards to choose from, numerous different designs and layouts and the photos look just like they should when printed on the cards. When ordering with Pear Tree, I never have to worry!
Christmas Cards
5 || Appearance
The first thing someone will see when they receive your card isn’t the beauty inside, but the boring outside of the envelope. Use a nice pen, one that writes smooth and looks nice. Take your time & use your best handwriting. Use a nice return address label. If you do a quick google search, you can typically find address labels at really great prices. Or, you could order them along with your cards from Pear Tree Greetings and they’ll match your cards! As for the inside, choose a nice design with colors that compliment your photos. Write a little something wherever there is room, or choose a card (like I did above, though there are no pictures of the back) where there is a printed blurb about your year (ours also has a larger family photo on the back).
I hope that this list has helped! Don’t give up on sending Christmas cards. Sure, it takes a bit of work & time but it’s so worth it. Most people enjoy receiving them, especially people who aren’t on facebook & social media.
Right now Pear Tree Greetings has 2 fabulous deals going on! Hurry & take advantage! One ends this weekend and the other is good through 12/15.
Cyber Week Extended Sale
30% OFF SITEWIDE
$30 min, code: CYBER30 – Ends 12/6/15
Jingle Sale
Buy More, Save More Jingle!
$15 off $75 order, $20 off $100 order, $50 off $200 order
Code: SAVEJINGLE – Ends 12/15/2015
A big thanks to Pear Tree Greetings for providing our family with our beautiful Christmas cards, in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.
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