Christmas Cards

Okay, earlier I spoke of how we came to terms with not doing Christmas cards this year. Making and desgining Christmas cards is something that I have enjoyed doing for as long as Vernal and I have been married. Vernal adds a lot of design input into the overall look and direction of the card and is a good vote of confidence.

I have always enjoyed getting cards that have a personal touch, a photo, a written message. But I do understand how difficult it is to send out 200 cards and write a message to each. That is our dilemma: how to maintain personality and balance the massive undertaking of making the cards.

That is why we gave up this year. It was early December and I hadn't thought about any design ideas. To keep cost down I would usually buy cardstock paper (8.5 x 11) and print them at work. I would try to come up with a black and white design so that it really isn't costing them for color prints. I would then have to cut each card and fold and then after that Vernal and I would write messages. We just didn't have time and I didn't have an idea.

I think the other factor contributing toward my attitude is the Church's Christmas Card drop-off. In general, it is a good idea. It saves lots of money not having to buy stamps. And I very much enjoy receiving cards from others...But the problems are: Where do you draw the limit? Do I give a card to everybody int the directory? Should I feel bad for the people who I don't give cards? Do these people really care? etc.

I opened a few cards the other day and one was a bland religious themed card and when you opened it up there was a computer printed sticker of the givers name. What's up with that? They couldn't even write there name. That is why we weren't going to do cards. If giving cards is that automatic and that cold and un-human, then why bother. I wish those people would just save the money, because it really means nothing to me.

Vernal was thrilled and relieved when I asked her if we could skip cards this year.

But there is a new Christmas card trend that is getting bigger and bigger each year and that is the photo card. Yes, I believe they are cheesy as all get out with their premade templates, but I find them very enjoyable. We get these from friends that we haven't seen in a while and each year there is the photo update on their family or just the kids. The message is simple and friends like to see friends. Sometimes there is a letter attached and sometimes not, but I think there is not a written expectation with the photo card. With the photo card the picture tells the story and personal words are not necessary. (All of this justification came to me later.)

So last Friday night, I sat down in front of our computer to pick out some photos to print to put in a frame for my mom's birthday and I came across this picture I took of downtown as I was driving home one day. I hadn't seen it before, because I just downloaded the pictures on to my computer.

That got me thinking - I could add the word merry christmas and then I thought what if I add a picture of the boys...or the whole family in black and white. What if I add a star and make the whole graphic look like some abstract christmas tree and yet keep it off in the corner so that the actual photo still has presence. I didn't mean too, but one thing lead to another and soon I had designed a Christmas Card.

"This is perfect!" I said as I tried to convice Vernal who was still happy at not having to do cards this year. "We don't have to write any messages. It is on the card. I know it's lame, but everybody else is doing it that way," I say as I pull out a photocard of her highschool friend's boy standing in front of a chirstmas tree. "This just might work. It is only 15 cents per picture to print at Sam's club and we don't have to put them in envelopes for the church people. We'll treat it like a postcard."

This has been the easiest and quickest Christmas Card I have done in 9 years. It took about 12 hours from the idea to holding them in my hand... and I have tons of ideas for next years card. Can't wait.