For many families, the holidays comes with an extra layer of joy, community, and stress: family holiday cards. It may be fun to get holiday cards in the mail from family members, relatives, and friends, but it can be hard to figure out how to perfect your holiday card. Here are some tips and tricks to help you send out a holiday card with ease that you and your friends and family will love!
Find a photographer friend. Skip the pricey professional photographer and recruit a friend (hopefully with a good eye) to capture your family’s charm. Head to a park, find a cozy spot indoors, or find some wilderness to have them take a few pics. There is also no shame in setting up a phone and counting down for the perfect family picture. Try to pick a time with soft natural light (early morning or late afternoon) for the best results. And if you don’t have time to get the family all together before the holidays, use a picture from earlier in the year! People just want to see your beautiful faces, they don’t care what time of year it was.
Make it personal! Find those fun photos that show just how awesome your and your family are, write a personalized message, add some names, or write a handwritten note. My family always provides a little update of what everyone’s been up to during the year, and I can confidently say the relatives love it.
Use Paperless Post as a great option if you’re stuck for time, if you just need a free option or if you have a lot of international card recipients on your list. Although it may not be as satisfying as sending a physical card, you can design something gorgeous that will land in your friends’ and family’s email inboxes — and Grandma can always print it out for her fridge!
Another option is to let the kids craft the cards. You can let your kids’ creativity shine through construction paper, markers, stickers and glitter glue made into festive scenes. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also create one-of-a-kind keepsakes for friends and family. Plus, it can be a fun, screen-free activity that will keep little hands busy.
