Easy Christmas card photo ideas???

[havaneselover]

Okay, so I've been a slacker.

I like to send out cards with the kids' photo because many of my relatives have never met my children. I'm looking for a cute and easy idea. Was just talking with a friend and she told me about one she'd done recently--kids holding an empty frame wrapped in Christmas lights. I'd have to get an empty frame, but otherwise this sounds pretty simple.

Any other cute/easy/inexpensive suggestions?

 

[Tara619]

I just plop him down in front of the tree. One year we got out the Santa cookie plate and mug and tipped the mug over and had cookie crumbs on the plate. DS was sitting by them with his finger at his lips, like shhhh. It was cute.

 

[LJSquishy]

I like the empty frame idea.

Or, I bet it would look neat if you put them in front of a light colored backdrop (white sheet, or plain wall) and have them hold strands of colored lights kind of wrapped in them (around shoulders, etc). I don't know.

People are probably more interested in your entire family being featured, not just the kids that they don't know at all.

 

[MSSANDRA]

We got a really cute one this year. Little kid was sitting on a chair, tied up with Christmas lights, and a piece of painters tape across his mouth, older brother standing behind him with a roll of the tape in his hand. The card reads, "silent night". REALLY cute as the little guy talks all time! It was done in front of their barn which was decorated for Christmas and both boys were in jeans, western shirts and boats. I have done Christmas PJ's in front of the tree or on the bed or on the couch with mugs of "pretend" cocoa. I have also just use a favorite non Christmas picture we had from that year.

 

[Southernmiss]

Last year we did the whole family in the courtyard at church. It was taken between a wedding and reception so we were all dressed up.

This year, our son took a selfie of himself and siblings while we were on vacation that was actually really good. The kids are 13, 15, 17 and 20-- so 'selfie' age. I captioned the card 'Have "yourselfie" a merry little Christmas.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

We did then and now pics on ours.

I found an old pic from when the kids were 2 and 6 that we all liked and then posed the kids like that now - they are 15 and 19 - they did the same bunny ears goofing around that they did then.

I think the families will like it.

 

[Southernmiss]

Oh last year a friend sent a card of her 4 year-old pouting. She captioned the card 'Have a 'happy' holiday.

 

[wishesuponastar]

I saw a photo of a child holding two candy canes that made a heart shape.

 

[wenrob]

This year, our son took a selfie of himself and siblings while we were on vacation that was actually really good. The kids are 13, 15, 17 and 20-- so 'selfie' age. I captioned the card 'Have "yourselfie" a merry little Christmas.

What a cute idea, I may have to borrow that. My DH and I avoid the camera like the plague but on our trip to Disneyland this summer my oldest DD would do a family selfie before each ride and we'd jump right in. They are by far my favorite pics from that trip but because the rides were dark the quality wouldn't have been good enough size wise for card pics.

Towards the end of October when it's not hot and it's not cold I take my kids out and do Fall photos, those are usually the ones I use. I have used favorites from the year or done a collage of accomplishments for each kid from the year or just a favorite snap of them. Set ups are super cute but don't always come out as planned sometimes. People mostly just want to see the kids and how much they've changed over the year.

 

[havaneselover]

We got a really cute one this year. Little kid was sitting on a chair, tied up with Christmas lights, and a piece of painters tape across his mouth, older brother standing behind him with a roll of the tape in his hand. The card reads, "silent night". REALLY cute as the little guy talks all time! It was done in front of their barn which was decorated for Christmas and both boys were in jeans, western shirts and boats. I have done Christmas PJ's in front of the tree or on the bed or on the couch with mugs of "pretend" cocoa. I have also just use a favorite non Christmas picture we had from that year.

I love that idea : ) I enjoy funny Christmas cards.

 

[havaneselover]

We did then and now pics on ours.

I found an old pic from when the kids were 2 and 6 that we all liked and then posed the kids like that now - they are 15 and 19 - they did the same bunny ears goofing around that they did then.

I think the families will like it.

Super cute idea. I love seeing how kids are growing up.

 

[havaneselover]

Last year we did the whole family in the courtyard at church. It was taken between a wedding and reception so we were all dressed up.

This year, our son took a selfie of himself and siblings while we were on vacation that was actually really good. The kids are 13, 15, 17 and 20-- so 'selfie' age. I captioned the card 'Have "yourselfie" a merry little Christmas.

Another simple and cute idea.

Thanks everyone. So many easy and great ideas. I appreciate it. Can't believe I've waited until now to get on this.

 

[Maddie2]

Can't wait I've waited until now to get on this.

You aren't the only one! My oldest comes home from college this Wednesday and I am going to quick take some photos of our kids in front of a snowy evergreen tree in our backyard and then order the photos that night and hopefully get them in the mail the next day!

 

[pjlla]

This just made me think of the year when I thought I had the PERFECT Christmas card photo idea! I was going to take a photo of my kids asleep and caption it...."while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads."

They were about 3 and 5 at the time. I bathed them and put them in their cutest coordinating footie pajamas. I let them sleep in MY bed (so that they would be together) and waited until they were sleeping soundly. Then I was able to pose them a bit (push them closer together, etc) and snapped about 20+ pictures (this was in the PRE-digital age).

When I got the photos back and showed my DH and my Mom, they both thought the kids looked dead! Like accident victims!! I had overlit the scene, they were pale (my kids are both blonde and pale naturally anyhow) and my posing looked un-natural. Needless to say, those photos never saw the light of day!!

Just chuckling about it now as I read about all of your Christmas card ideas. Good luck... hope it works out better than mine!! .............P

 

[got2sammies]

Once you do find/take the pictures you want you can go into walgreens with a photo kiosk and upload edit it and make your cards.. Would be ready within an hour if they are not too busy.. I payd about $15 for 20 cards and envelopes

 

[jmac323]

I love these ideas! I just did boring ol' school pics this year but a friend did an awesome pic. It was the three kids "tied" up in Christmas lights with painters tape on their mouths, with "Merry Christmas HOHO" on each mouth and in behind them were the parents cheersing two Christmas mugs and smiling. I thought it was too cute.

 

[havaneselover]

Once you do find/take the pictures you want you can go into walgreens with a photo kiosk and upload edit it and make your cards.. Would be ready within an hour if they are not too busy.. I payd about $15 for 20 cards and envelopes

I didn't end up doing anything clever. We went to Christmastown at Busch Gardens Williamsburg on Sunday so I got a cute close up of them in front of a tree. I did end up using Walgreens. I usually use Shutterfly, but there wasn't enough time. I would have preferred a matte card, but oh well : ) Anyway, Walgreens had a 40% off coupon plus I went through ebates so the 20 cards I needed only cost $10 and they were ready in 20 minutes.