Creating a Christmas card featuring a photo of your family is easier and less expensive than ever using technology available with any digital camera, a home computer and printer, or a photo center. It's a one-of-a-kind gift. You even have the option of selecting different pictures and designs appropriate to send to family, friends, business colleagues and others on your Christmas card list. The idea can be used to easily create cards for other holidays and birthdays.
Instructions
1. Choose a few photos for possible use in your Christmas card. Pick either a picture posed specifically for the card or one taken at another time during the year, such as a family vacation or another candid moment. Make sure everyone's eyes are open and will feel the photo flattering of themselves.
2. Select a way to design and print your cards. There are several options. Websites such as Snapfish, Shutterfly and My Cardmaker offer card-making programs. Many discount stores such as Walgreens and Target have picture printing and card-making kiosks. The Kodak Picture Maker allows you to scan a photo or use a picture from a digital memory card to create a card. Bulk buy stores such as Costco and Sam's Club have card-making options on their websites or kiosks in store for members to create holiday cards. You can also purchase or download card-making software onto your own computer.
3. Insert your memory card into your computer and log onto a card-making website or into the store's card-making kiosk. Select and upload your pictures. It's not necessary to send the same card to everyone on your Christmas list. You can choose different pictures and different card designs. You can also take your digital memory card into a store with a kiosk and create the card on site.
4. Choose a card design or background. For example, Costco's website has many Christmas and winter designs appropriate for a Christmas card, including a few that carry the sentiments Feliz Navidad, Mele Kalikimaka and Happy Hanukkah. Several designs even give you the flexibility to use more than one photograph. Once you click on your selected background, most websites will automatically insert your photograph for you to preview.
5. Add a personalized greeting. Most card designs give you a few lines to type in information such as your family's name and a special Christmas message such as "May peace and love surround you at Christmastime" or a short synopsis of the events of your year, such as a new home, new baby, new job or new school.
6. Preview your card. Check for spelling errors. Double-check for photo problems such as red-eye.
7. Finalize your digital photo Christmas card, pay for it and print it. Some kiosks allow you to print immediately. At Sam's Club, for example, you can design and order the cards from home and pick them up in the store. Many sets come with matching envelopes. Shutterfly's Christmas cards will be delivered by mail. Some websites allow you to print on your home printer.
8. Send your cards. Use proper postage. Most cards available on digital printing websites require only one stamp.
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