It's time to put together Christmas cards to send out to friends and family...I have noticed a lot of online sites offer a "design your own" option. So even though I have actually designed my own for greeting card companies, I will look over these options and see what they have to offer, stay tuned. Yesterday I received my first card in the mail, actually photo in the mail. I have come to accept that even if you send actual cards (uh-oh here comes her yearly lecture...) that you had better shove a photo in there because people ask, "why didn't you send a picture?". When did Christmas cards become a chance to show off your family instead of sending a warm holiday wish? I do like seeing families, don't get me wrong..., I just like a pretty card too. I want to actually open it, touch paper...see handwriting.
When I was young my mother used to cut up the previous years cards and use them a gift tags...very clever. I think it is the memory of doing that that makes my genuinely miss an actual greeting card. My mother used to write a nice sentiment on a scrap piece of paper and then hand copy it into each card. So over the years I have tried all sorts of things, photos inside of cards, photo cards, letters with photos on them, NO photo.The illustration aboveis something I sent out one year when we never got together in time for a photo! I noticed that now every year my husband asks me, "What are we doing for a Christmas picture?" So there are two ways of looking at this "photo trend", it is either a nice new tradition for you and your family or another bit of evidence of a self centered society. Look at me and my children...oh and by the way Happy Holidays....Ouch! Doesn't that sound terrible?! Ack! Monica! I don't mean to sound like Oscar the Grouch, it is just something to think about as you send out your holiday cards. Why are you sending them? Are you really sending out a bit of love to your friends at Christmas time, are you sending out a blessing and prayer? Maybe you are sharing your family with someone else's family and a photo is the best way to do that...hmmm something to think a about.