Should I use any of these pictures for my Christmas Cards?

15 years ago

I want to try my hand at making my own Christmas Cards this year from start to finish, using pictures of my home from last year. I'm trying to find the words to explain the look I want for the front of the card -- a "special effect" kind of look; something soft and cozy. I want the recipients of the card to kind of picture themselves in the picture, so I don't want it to be too defined. I just can't find the right words to describe the look. But anyway, with that in mind, do you think any of these 3 pictures would be suitable? Or should I just give up the idea for this year and try to get better pictures of my decorations to make my own cards next year? I really don't mind if that's your opinion; because I'm wavering on whether or not to do that anyway. Thanks for your suggestions/opinions.

Here they are:

basically the same look, but less of the tv on the side

a more focused picture

and another soft picture

This one is of the table setting, taken the night before my annual "just us girls lunch" with 3 of my closest friends

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Comments (17)

phonegirl
15 years ago
I love your 1st picture, it seems so balanced but the second one seems to make your large tree just pop out and appears so vivid. They are all beautiful. Your table setting is stunning also.
Luvs has been telling us to get over here and now I know why.
plainjane425
15 years ago
I agree w/phone girl on the second pic...The Only suggestion that I'd make with your picture...Everything looks so warm and inviting..however, you need a Fire in your Fireplace. It looks like a dark void, especially with all the warmth and glow of the lights from your trees and mantel. JMO.
Otherwise everything looks just lovely.
jane
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I agree with you, Oak. I did..do..love the cards that contain a letter with some photos to see like you mentioned. But I have always loved cards, silly cards or pretty cards. And just knowing someone took the time to pick out the card and write a few lines always has meant a lot to me. The cards with the name imprinted on them, and the photo cards seem to say "we're too busy for this". In fact, both my DD and my DDIL do the photo cards because they ARE extremely busy. I do understand that being the case these days. I just don't have to like it. LOL. Like Bleigh said, sometimes its physically hard to sit and do a stack of cards properly. Or at least the way I want to do them, with a short personal note and not just a signature. I'm embarrassed to say I didn't even do my cards this year. I'd bought a box of them several weeks ago, and then with the decorating taking 3 wks and now Dad this week, the box just didn't even get opened. I sent a special one to my MIL in FL as we always do, and one to my very best friend in the world in OK. But looks like no one else is even getting a real card from me this year. I feel terrible about that. hugs, Karen I think a lot of folks have stopped sending them, maybe the economy? I've only gotten a few this year myself.
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Here goes with my financial advice. I believe it's simpler than it sounds and just requires you to get your interest rates from all of your accounts in order to make your choices. First suggestion: do as celticmoon suggests and fix that $515K first mortgage immediately! As I'm sure you're aware, the fixed variable rates of now are worse than a year or two ago, but much better than the 12-19% that they were in the past. In my opinion, fix it now and pay for any closing costs out of your savings, which is presumably earning the worst interest rate. Speaking of....what savings rate is your $15K earning? If it's less than 9% (almost a sure bet), and you have liquidatable cash in assets (which you say you do) to cover an emergency fund, then using that cash to invest in your house is giving you a 9% rate of return in your house investment, which is far better than the 3-4% of a typical savings account. If you choose not to do that, then I present my second suggestion (which I still think you should consider, w/ or w/o the $15K in the equation) DH and I just went through a similar process, although with one house, and we paid off a motorcycle and a timeshare (each at ~9%), rather than CC debt. This plan mirrors our own, with different dollar amounts: Roll both HELOCs into one and LOCK your rate up now. In my opinion, it's only going to go up. You should be able to get a much better rate with a higher consolidation balance (we got 7.5% by consolidating our two loans along with our original HELOC). 65K + 30K = 95K = 11.9% of the first house or 19% of the second house. If you keep your loan:value ratio below 20%, you'll get a better deal on rates. You may even ben required to keep it below 20%; I'm not sure. Keep thinking about that. The next option is to add the 25K of CC debt into the HELOC figure, for a total of 65K + 30K + 25K = 120K = 15% of the first house. Close that loan and pay off the CC debt immediately. You're now transferring the 8.9% of wasted CC interest into an investment into your house, in addition to the tax writeoff. The last think to consider is to stick with the 95K HELOC option and pay off the CC bill with your assets. Are any of your stock or mutual funds giving you returns better than 9%? If so, then keep them where they are and do the 120K HELOC option. If they're earning less than 9%, then I refer you back to the concept of my second paragraph. If you take your mutual fund money that is earning less than 9% and pay down your worst mortgage/HELOC/CC rate with that, you're making a huge investment in your house. Now, if you want to sit on your stocks, that's understandable. I hope that my advice not confusing, and that it's helpful to you. Lindsay
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donnawb
15 years ago
I like the first and second. I agree it would look better with a fire and also the candles lit.
User
15 years ago
I like the 2nd! They're all very pretty and inviting though!
pdg777
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks, all for your comments. DD and Slinkey, duh!! I have been looking at the picture saying it looks inviting, but also kind of dark, and it never occurred to me that the inside of fireplace is what's causing it to look dark. I can't BELIEVE that I couldn't "see" that! That's the trouble I seem to have with decorating, even with the Judith's class. I don't "see" stuff until it's pointed out.

Oh well, I've just got to keep working at it! I guess I should take encouragement in the fact that a mere 6 or 7 years ago, I knew NOTHING and could care less about decorating! I'll just have to keep hanging around you all.

Thanks again.
lynnencfan
15 years ago
love the second picture - makes me want to sit down and just enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. Of course a fire in the fireplace would be the icing on the cake but it is still a warm inviting picture.....

Lynne
oldalgebra
15 years ago
I vote Picture 2.
Bye the way, the package-like art work on the right wall is a nice touch.
OA
donnawb
15 years ago
I think even without the fire that it still makes a pretty picture and you should consider sending them out.

I find when I can't find what is missing and I take a picture it is much easier to spot.
lynninnewmexico
15 years ago
Since all these pics were taken last year while your Christmas decorations were up, I'm not sure how you can add a fire in the fireplace now . . . that is, unless you're very good at cutting and pasting photos in some Paint program. If you need to use one of the ones you've showed us here, my vote would be for #2 also. It's warm, inviting, Christmassy and very personal.
On the other hand, depending on soon you put of your tree and decs, a crackling fire in the fireplace would be nice, too.
Lynn
lynninnewmexico
15 years ago
I love your idea of using a personal photo of your own home for your cards!
Purplemoon
15 years ago
I also love the second one, and what a wonderful idea with the gift box framed. Very pretty!

As for the fire going, or not....if Santa's coming down that chimney on Xmas Eve, I think HE would vote for no fire.
LOL

hugs, Karen
luvstocraft
15 years ago
Hi Pdg777, lovely pictures, but before I comment on which I like for your card, I want to know who "cheated" and opened the gift ahead of time????? LOL

Being a dishaholic, I love your last photo. Really pretty table and how nice to have a "just for us girls" lunch.

I think #2 would be a good one. Don't worry about the fireplace or candle--it's a warm inviting picture of your home, and you can be careful of those "extra" details when you take pics this year for next year's cards. ;o)

Luvs
mo13
15 years ago
I really like pic #2. And I agree that it would look even better with the fire and the candles lit. Your decorations and your table are all lovely.

Mo
jaybird
15 years ago
What a wonderful idea!! I think picture #2 would work wonderfully.....then you could make the changes this year, for next years' card!!
pdg777
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you all so much.

Re the "packaged" picture frame. I got the idea from an office decorating contest we had at work. The contest was not so much the quality of the decorating, but which one looked the most "Christmasy". The winners had decorated every single item in their office, including stuff on the walls. They covered the art work with gift wrap and bow, and that was my inspiration. (mine is actually a picture of some lilies).

luvs, re the opened package, LOL! The gift was from a friend who wanted to see me open it!
bettyd_z7_va
15 years ago
I vote for #2 also. Beautiful and very inviting.
Betty
minnie_tx
15 years ago
I like the third one down where you can actually see what is in the room it would make a very nice card .

Should I use any of these pictures for my Christmas Cards?

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Should I use any of these pictures for my Christmas Cards?

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