Christmas Card Parade: The Final Installment

I was originally thinking I was going to post these throughout the week but, I am just ready to move on!  So here are a few more from this year...

First up, the double sided ones:

 

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On this card {above} my friend had done some studio pics for her in-laws for Christmas.  She wasn't thrilled with having to do studio pics, but we took actual pictures of the pictures & then edited them to make them work.  Surprisingly, it worked well & we both liked the vintage look they took! 

 

This may or may not have been my favorite Christmas picture this year.  We printed these on pearl paper & they were topping my list of cutest.

 

And onto some single-sided...

 

 

 

  

 

 

And with that...I am considering Christmas a wrap.

Until next year.

Parading: The VW Bus

This is one of my best friends, which is a good thing, because if she weren't, I'd probably hate her.  Shoot did I say that out loud?  But I mean, c'mon, could these pictures be any cuter?!?  I honestly love the way it all came together.

 

The yellow bus comes from her in-laws & her & my sister had schemed up this photo shoot for weeks.  I've decided that Krista & my sister are a match made in creative photography heaven.  And admittingly, I couldn't wait to get my hands on these pictures for Christmas cards.  The only problem was choosing which ones to use.

 

Go eat your heart out at the rest of the photos here. 

And going back to my thoughts on the pictures being about the photographer as much as the people in them, I heard from both sides little Cash man was a tough cookie to crack in this shoot...I believe them, but the photos give no evidence to that fact.

And remember how I said, this year was the year of the boys...well, I wasn't lying!

Parading: Houndstooth

Every year there seems to be a pattern I am itching to get on a card.  This year, it was hounds tooth.  Not sure why, but I wanted it everywhere & managed to get it on two different client's cards, that I knew wouldn't overlap in their mailing lists.

The first one, was a double-sided square on pearl with rounded corners.  She mailed these in the brown kraft paper envelopes, which really put it over-the-top.

 

 The second one, was a folded 5x7 on linen paper & both were at the top of my favorite list this year.

 

Tomorrow?  My favorite photo shoot of the season.  Really.  I wanted to cry when I saw it only because I wished it were my idea & my pictures.

Next year, when I'm not pregnant, right?

Parading: The Photo Card

This year, it was tough to beat the photo card price through Costco & while I love me a nice linen or pearl double-sided paper, sometimes we have to remember it's just a Christmas card!  And so in that case, photo makes sense.  That, and Costco's come with lined envelopes, which I'm sure you remember I love.

So here's to some of the photo cards I did from 2011...

 

Does this one look familiar?  Yes...we just switched up the colors.

I always love seeing these things actually come to life.  I work on the files & then send them off & then they show back up in my mailbox all printed & pretty.

Merry Christmas...To You from Me.

Last year I made the mistake of designing everyone's Christmas card prior to my own & then hating both designs I did for myself.  Yes, that's right, there were two & they were both lousy.  This year, I was not going to let that happen because there is nothing more annoying than your own card being lackluster.  I have a hard time designing for myself anyway & after I design 50 cards & then come to my own, I've usually used up all my good ideas & I have nothing left in the tank.  So, this year, I had a plan & I stuck to it & I have to say, I actually like my own card, which is a rarity.  So let us celebrate that...and one other thing...

{notice the empty shoes}

it's a boy, in case you hadn't already heard...and we are all really excited.

And if I'm keeping it real, photos by Lindsey...on a random Sunday morning.  My kids' outfits were chosen 15 minutes prior & my sister forgot we had talked about doing pics that morning {the day before} and I went & yanked her from her family in her pjs for our little session...whatever it takes right?

You should also know, that she had to move a head {I think she moved the Lady's} to get that super cute picture of both my kids on the back.  This year I've decided that good pics are rarely the result of the actual people in them & moreso the talent of the photographer.  More on that later.

Let the Parade Begin: Christmas Cards 2011

 

This is was a take on the Ribbon Design from this year & for whatever reason, I kind of fell in love with these cute boys!  My husband grew up on the beach in Southern California & we spend a lot of time there each summer & frankly, these two are just extra cute. 

I was talking with my sister {the photographer} and we decided this was the year of the boys.  She too had so many cute boys showing up on her computer screen.  Maybe it is them, or maybe it is that we both have boys about this age, not sure but for whatever reason, we were loving the little boys this season!

Christmas 2011: Diagonal Ribbon

 

New & in the shop now!

This might be one of my new favorite ones.

Coming soon...some more Christmas tags & such.

Check back Monday, you might just be able to score them for nada.

Sisters.

My sister I asked to take pictures of this whole fam damily {there were 2 other families & the parents to them all} and I got to tag along and 'assist'. Which really just means hang out & keep track of her lens' while she shoots away. I have to say it was a riot. I loved seeing all the family dynamics & frankly, they were all so cute! Here are 2 cards of 2 of the sisters...

Kristen wanted classic...

Summer wanted something shabby chic...

Another Favorite.

Meet the Fetters. I feel in love with them & their pictures while doing their cards. I loved loved loved their photos...it really makes doing the card so much fun when I personally love the photos. She picked cool colors & a cool location with made pulling the card together a snap.



And while her boy is all-boy, could you just die over her girl? Oh man. Love her. and her cheeks. and her eyes.

Dreamsicle.

Again not sure if that is a word, but for your weekend viewing pleasure.

Meet baby Norah...printed on pearl for a little shimmer & cut in a square scallop. I may or may not have wanted to devour them when they came in the mail.

and we can't forget her cute-as-can-be brothers...check out Krew's lips makes me want a kiss from him too!

xoxo Norah...you are to die for sweet love.


pics? You guessed it...Lindsey Bennett Photography.

Linking up here.

Funktified.

Is that a word? Not sure. But I was glad when I got a call from Holli for Christmas cards. You see Holli is always dressed to a "T" and her house is always decked. She rocks her style & I knew she would be up for some fun cards.

In the early stages of design I mentioned using zebra on her card. I had kind of been itching to throw some zebra on a Christmas card & knew Holli was the girl to pull it off.

Low & behold, she sent me her pics & her girls had a hint of zebra as well.

perfecto.

We printed them on a pearl paper to give is some shimmer & I have to say, they are some favorites this year.

Back to the Parade

Say hello to the Hornes. Heather & I went to the same high school when we were 15, then my family moved away & now we've randomly landed 3 doors down from one another 15 years later...except that my math isn't quite right because neither of us are 30...yet. Living so close to her now, makes me wish I'd known her better back in high school. She is fave of mine.

Let the Parade Begin...

Say hello to Cindy & her cute fam. Cindy won my drawing for a free design. She was already liking the Noel layout that was posted a while back, but wanted 2 pics on it. So we re-worked it a bit & here it is.

Believe it or not, this design was re-worked 3 times this holiday season for different clients. Tomorrow...Noel version 2.

i know. i know...you're holding your breath!

A Parade.

I am dying to start posting Christmas cards from this year. Dying I tell ya. But I can't be posting them before they land in your mailbox.

Soo, start sending me your cards --- digitally or physically {which you know I love physically more} & up they will go. And to give you further incentive to really send me your cards I will enter you in a giveaway for a free digital design from yours truly, for whatever event you want. Birthday? Baby Announcement? Bridal Shower? Whatever you want.

It will be a parade. A parade of Christmas cards.

I will start with one, I know has been sent in the mail on it's merry way...

If you need my mailing address...email me & I will send it along.

Now get sending!
{Please}