I’m a big fan of more traditional methods. If I get an invitation to something in the mail, I know they really want me there and that I wasn’t just included because I was in their email contacts. I’m a huge believer in handwritten thank you notes. In fact I get a bit prickly about it when they don’t come in a timely fashion, or at all. I have no problem with casual thank yous and invitations via email, but to me the sentiment means so much more in a handwritten note or card. And I love sending and receiving Christmas cards.
I don’t begrudge people who don’t sent holiday cards. I know that they are busy or money is a little tight and it’s an easy thing to cut. But I certainly hope that the tradition of sending holiday cards endures well past my time on Earth.
Followers of this blog probably know that holiday cards are kind of a big deal in our house. Ever since Hudson was a puppy when we stuck a Santa hat on his head and turned it into a card, we’ve featured our dogs on our cards. In fact, I have actually met friends of friends who say, “Oh, you’re the people with the dog cards.”
Making photo holiday cards used to be a much more difficult task, but now you can design them online and preview your design with no problem. And Minted has some great designs.
I used to put a lot of work into putting the dogs in situations that could make a card all on their own, but the problem with that is that you end up being a little limited in what photos you can choose from. I like some of the card designs that get the message across with just a really nice picture, not something that is necessarily holiday related. I’m sort of loving the simplicity of this design but there are so many great ones. I usually mock up about three cards and then choose
Anyway, a good picture always helps and this year I got myself a remote and a tripod so I’m hoping it will be a little easier to take the photos with the dogs. I can’t tell you the amount of crabbiness that has ensued in some other years when getting a good photo gets way too frustrating.
Here are some of the photos we’ve used on cards in the past. I get a little weepy even thinking about this year’s card because the old boy is getting very old and I know one of these years will be his last card. 🙁 Still, lots of good memories in these photos. My favorite will always be the series with the snowman where Hudson is eating the carrot in the last one and Rita is looking at him like he’s in big trouble.
Here’s the fun part. Minted is offering a $50 gift card to their shop (you can use it on holiday cards, invitations or any of the cool personalized stuff they have on the site) to one lucky reader. Oh and it should be mentioned: They will address your cards for you! Think about all the time that will save you. And that’s time you can spend writing a note on the card, which I think is much nicer than a handwritten address.
To enter, just use the Rafflecopter widget below. For an additional entry, leave a comment telling me if you send out cards and if you save the cards you get from friends and family every year. I’ll announce a winner next Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
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29 Responses
Thanks for the fabulous giveaway. I'm a big fan of holiday cards, sending them and receiving them. We almost always do the pets-on-cards thing too (either with or without people) and I've only recently started trying to get clever/cute about it. For many years, I just tried wrangling us all under the tree using the self-timer (with only one or two people and four dogs and a cat you can imagine how much fun that was). Your idea for the remote and the tripod is great- I can't believe I never thought of it before! Your dogs are really cute- you're right about that one where he's eating the carrot- so much personality shines through!
What a fun post!! Huddy needs to live forever! Your cards won't be the same without him. <3
I love writing cards and getting them! I think I've saved all the cards I've received from you over the years – they are quality! It's funny though – I'm filling out my Christmas cards today 😀
Yes, I most certainly DO send out the real thing! I even design them…or I usually design them. I had them printed out for my business and have tried to continue that, although I don't need many cards now. I save some: depends on just how great they are, and if I can use them for ideas and/or color ideas!
I send holiday cards to close friends and family. I display the ones I receive on a door in my kitchen. After the holiday, I cut the fronts off of the cards to postcard size and use them throughout the year to enter contests or drop a hello to my friends.
That is a GREAT idea, Carol!
Every Year I Look Forward To Your Cards, I Love Them All!
I Forgot To Add, I Love Sending And Receiving Actual Cards, They Are So Much More Personal.
Love those hounds let the Holidays begin
I send out cards and love receiving them also. I love ALL your holiday cards (especially the one of Hudson eating the carrot because that is totally something everyone would blame Rita for!!) and have them all saved. I always look forward to seeing what you come up with every year.
I love Christmas cards–sending and when we receive them I love looking them through several times. We keep them in a green and red basket each Christmas. I save them all–for many many many years. I did just in the past couple of years go through them and had to finally discard–I just had no room to store them all. I save the very sentimental ones and my favorite designs. I love stamping and making cards for the Holidays…
I am really digging Minted, especially since Tiny Prints and I had our falling out. DRAMA.
As always, I just want to curl up and take a nap with your big fluffy doggies.
I love to receive Christmas cards! I save them from year to year. Some from older folks I hang onto and others I cut up to make tags or other craft items with the next year. I hadn't thought of sending out the photo Christmas cards for awhile (I use to send them out of the Hubs and I when we were little after we first got married.) This year we have 2 newly adopted puppies that turn a year old on Christmas day. Great way to announce our new additions to the family.
What a lovely tradition to use your dogs in the cards each year!! Maybe I should do the same thing with my new little Jack Russell terrier. Jesse joined our family two weeks ago and I'm loving every minute of this new baby.
thanks for the opportunity to enter this giveaway.
I've always sent cards and they're more important now that we have a little one. I save the important cards from year to year, but not all of them.
I love sending and receiving photo Christmas cards! I keep them all in a tote. 🙂 Your dogs are beautiful!
I love to send Christmas cards and I enjoy getting them. Your cards are always a big hit at my house
I love your dogs-I think Newfs are so wonderful! You have done a great job with your cards through the years!
Thanks, Layne!
I always send Christmas cards and I tend to keep other's photo cards, depending on how close we are to the family/friends
demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com
I love sending cards but sometimes they get lost in the shuffle and well never get out…..or done…I keep all my cards for a few years then when the box I store them in gets full I send them to be recylced…..
I do send holiday cards and I put up the ones we receive on our fireplace.
I used to keep every card that I ever received but when I downsized a few years ago, the box of cards was one of the things that didn't make the cut.
I love your dogs and your cards!
I totally send out Christmas cards every year. Mine came in the mail yesterday! (But I can always use a gift certificate for something fancy to jazz up the mailings.) It's the biggest (most time-consuming) Christmas thing I do each year.
And yes, I display the cards I receive (like this), and keep a lot of them. (I hang them on a ribbon on the fireplace, and previous years' cards are great to fill in gaps early in the season before I've received a lot.)
I love to display the cards in my home and I keep the very special ones
Glenda : I still have cards my Mother saved throughout her life! She loved to peruse them every Christmas and remember those friends and relatives who sent them. Sometimes I make handmade cards, but this year there are so many cards that allow us to have a hand in their creation. I'm thinking of being somewhat of a copycat and picturing my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel pulling a little red wagon full of gifts. Love your dogs!!!!
I love sending and receiving Christmas cards. I use cute little wooden tacks to put up a few jute lines on an empty wall and clip up the cards with miniature clothespins. After Christmas I hole punch them and put a big binder ring through one corner on each card to bind them all together to keep them.
How cute! Love your dogs!
I try my best to send out cards… but I definitely save all the cards I get and put them on the tree 😉