Our Family Christmas Cards 2016

I think Christmas cards can cause a big stress for families- because most of the time they require a darling family picture. I almost went there and jumped on the stressed out Christmas card train. But I didn’t let myself. I stopped and thought “how can I make this the easiest and fun for my family?” And it totally worked! I partnered with Tiny Prints to share what I did this year-

I originally was going to drive around and find the “perfect” setting for our pictures to be taken at. I was envisioning a big white barn that was slightly modern. Rather than waste half my day trespassing on someones property. I decided to just take them right outside our home on our front porch. After my husband sprayed it down with some vinegar water…seriously he is the best man (the hose was already put away for the season).

Next thing I decided that would eliminate stress was to wear clothes we already owned. WEIRD right? We know what looks good on us from our current wardrobe, so stick with that! I picked my outfit first (because…I am the mom) then I selected everyone else clothes to coordinate with mine and the front of our home. With Christmas pictures I say more layers the better! One of my tips for family pictures is to wear clothes that coordinate with your home decor. Since we typically hang our family pictures in our home they should “match” your decor.

Next step was to set up my own trip-pod and test it out a couple of times to get the right setting. Thank goodness for tri-pods!  Then I text my friend to run over and press the button to snap the picture and 20 minutes later we were good to go.

No stress- just happy, adorable smiles. I have friends that use their favorite pictures from the year and that is always so fun to see or them on vacation. One friend took a selfie of her family in her family room- it was so cute and made me laugh. It can just be something simple!

I was thrilled when I found these glitter cards from Tiny Prints! I loved the touch of gold to tie in the colors in our clothes and front porch. The glitter does not even come off, it is sealed so nicely.

These envelops with the writing “please deliver to” won me over- I love the font they used- wish my hand writing looked like that font! But even if it did I don’t think I would want to write it 100 times.

I love to get a little message on Christmas cards saying what everyone is up to. Sometimes they are cheesy, but I love them. The first year we had Ella I just sent a picture of her and a little poem I made up. Now I send one of all of us- because those are the Christmas cards I like getting the very most. You can find the exact card I used from Tiny Prints HERE

You just might want to order stamps from Tiny Prints as well! Get it all to coordinate and not to mention you have it all come to your home at the same time- then you can start the assembly line of getting the cards out before December 24th!

I always save all the Christmas cards I get until we get new cards the following year. They are fun to pull out and also get ideas from.

This year I hung a strand of THESE battery operated lights over THIS piece of art. It would look great over a chalkboard too. I hammered two nails behind the art on both sides. Then used wood clothes pins that I spray painted gold to hang the cards. Mix in a little fresh pine and you are all set!

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays this year! I am so thankful for my readers and all of you who take the time to pop over and see what we are up to.  And since I love you all I will share the first picture we ever took in front of our home here in Connecticut. I remember it so well- that is the amazing thing about pictures- they bring up so much emotion. I remember it was freezing that day. It was the first time I had ever seen our new home in person and I was pretty anxious to get started on making some changes on the inside as well as adding some curb appeal. This is when we started our little life on the East coast and the start of my blog not too long after.

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