| Your friends, relatives and neighbors are eagerly | | | | Christmas cards, try taking some candid photos of |
| looking forward to your annual Christmas photo | | | | your kids doing things they enjoy. Or pose them with |
| cards. But how do you make this year's holiday card | | | | props that reflect their interests or accomplishments. |
| really fresh and original? Here are seven ideas to help | | | | 5. Scrapbook a page. If you're creative, you can put |
| you make your new photo Christmas cards stand | | | | together several cropped photos and your greeting |
| out. | | | | on holiday background paper, then photograph or |
| 1. Go black and white photo for a dramatic look. | | | | scan it to be used as your photo Christmas card. |
| Many digital cameras have a setting that will enable | | | | Since most photo card companies use 4 x 6 inch |
| you to take your photo in black and white. Or you | | | | photos to produce your cards, trim a standard 12 x |
| can change a color snapshot to grayscale in your | | | | 12 inch scrapbooking page to 12 inches wide by 8 |
| photo editing software. If you don't know how to do | | | | inches high as your background for your layout. |
| it yourself, most photo card companies can do it for | | | | 6. Embellish it. Even if you have already ordered |
| you at no extra charge. | | | | standard photo Christmas cards, you might still be |
| 2. The more, the merrier. This year, include more | | | | able to jazz them up a bit. Check out the |
| than just the kids in your photo Christmas cards. Get | | | | scrapbooking aisles in your local craft store for tiny |
| in the picture with them! One year my uncle | | | | embellishments, such as bows, ribbons, and other |
| remarked that while he enjoyed receiving a photo of | | | | holiday dimensional items. These are practically flat, |
| the kids every year, he would like to see a picture of | | | | since they are meant for a scrapbook page, so they |
| us, too. So, gather the entire family, even the pets. | | | | will still fit into your envelope after you glue them on |
| And if you have an opportunity during the year to | | | | your cards. |
| attend a large family get together with grandparents, | | | | 7. Shop around. There are so many photo Christmas |
| uncles, aunts and cousins, you might consider using a | | | | card companies on the internet that are offering |
| large group family photo. | | | | unique, original, personalized designs. Some designs |
| 3. Pack the Santa hat on vacation. Whether you're | | | | can even contain multiple photos, so you don't have |
| going to the beach, sightseeing in the city or pumpkin | | | | to worry about getting that one perfect snapshot. |
| picking in the fall, bring along a holiday prop or two, | | | | Or they will put your photo into the shape of an |
| such as a Christmas stocking or ornament. When | | | | ornament, tree, or other holiday symbol. Many |
| you're taking photos of your family excursion, include | | | | companies will let you write your own message, so |
| a few with everyone holding or wearing the | | | | you have more choices and options. They come in all |
| Christmas props for refreshingly different holiday | | | | price ranges, so it pays to do some browsing. |
| photo. | | | | So, don't be afraid to try something a little different |
| 4. Think personality. While you might enjoy a posed | | | | with your photo Christmas cards this year. With a |
| photo of your children all cleaned up, in nice clothes, | | | | little imagination, your holiday photo cards will be truly |
| with not even a hair out of place, it doesn't show off | | | | special. |
| their real personalities. For more interesting photo | | | | |