Paper & Pictures & Postage, Oh My!

One more thing to check off my list... The Thanksgiving cards were mailed today!

(What, you don't send Thanksgiving cards!?)

And now that the Thanksgiving cards have been sent off on their merry way, I can start thinking about CHRISTMAS cards! Woo! Around our house, Thanksgiving day is also known as the official "Christmas card picture" session. (Anyone else's family color coordinate for this yearly ritual? I voted for pink this year and was shot down.)

I go through the same Christmas card debate every year... make them, semi-home make them, buy them, design and then print them? The possibilities are endless. After the craziness of the first half of the school year, I think this year I'll be letting someone else do the hard work - the designing, the printing, blah, blah, blah.

I looked high and low and decided that I love the new designs in the holiday card collection at Shutterfly.

This card makes me smile - I love the hand doodled, casual look. If we get a great "laughing" picture I think it might be the winner.

This gorgeous card is begging for an elegant, all in white, family beach picture. Too bad I don't live on the beach. Thanksgiving in Port Aransas, anyone? If I start lobbying for it this year, I'll have 367 days to convince everyone...

Be still my heart. This one is precious. Anyone have some kids I can borrow? I don't think I can get all of the furbabies in a "joy" filled picture for this one. But, I still love it.

While I was rummaging around, debating folded or flat - card stock or photo paper - one picture or three, I got some great present ideas.

Perhaps a calendar for my grandmother? I could highlight everyone on their birthday month and fill in the rest of the year with various family pictures.

I was thinking about stealing facebook pictures to make photo books for my brother, who could use a little college reminiscence in his life right now or to chronicle my sister in law's adventures with us in Europe this summer.

I can't decide which Christmas card I'm going to order... I think I'll wait to see how our pictures turn out! Until then, I'm going to keep drooling over the abundance of options.

Bloggers, Shutterfly is offering 50 free cards just for you!  Let me know if you'd like more info.