holiday postcard and mini-album :: tutorial and free download

I'm going to admit something to you right here, right now...I like crafting, projects, mini albums, creating home decor items, card making, altering items and photography more than I like making scrapbook layouts.

GASP! HORROR! SURPRISE! A secret revealed.

There I said it. I should tell you though that I have 8 albums full of layouts, so it's not as if I layouts aren't on my agenda. It's just I think all those other ideas are more fun. Please don't judge me. I'm a good person. Really. Hang around to see what fun I have in store for you this week. Okay, I might even include a layout or two, we'll see.

Now on to our week of holiday projects, ideas and gifts. While you're searching for your address book, go ahead and turn on your favorite holiday tunes and make yourself a mug of hot cocoa. We're starting this crafting party out by getting our greeting cards ready. You heard me right, Christmas cards. In July.

Most people don't have fancy photo editing programs that allow one to send custom designed photo cards to friends and family every year. Or if we do have those programs, they can be a bit intimidating. But, we're not going to let that stop us today.

Just for you, the best blog readers ever, I've designed post card blanks in an 8.5 x 11 format that can be printed at home, trimmed and then adhered to the back of a favorite photograph. I've included cut lines to make the trimming easier. A little gift from me to you! You can also find this and other free downloads in the menu bar and in my sidebar.

 

Download Post Cards

Now that you've downloaded your file:  

1. gather your photographs
2. print the post card blanks
3. write a sweet note
4. address the card
5. add a stamp

You've just completed your greeting cards in 5 easy steps. Easy, cute, and inexpensive. {Be sure to use a glue stick or some other strong adhesive, you don't want the photo and the post card to detach during mailing.} I've mailed photo postcards like this as thank you notes for birthday party gifts and it works!

Now I'll share with you a mini album that can be prepared before the holiday rush. I purchased mine at an end of season sale. I had to store it for a year, but I got it on the cheap so it was worth it to me.

1. trim your cardstock
2. select your patterned papers
3. gather embellishments to store in a baggie
4. print holiday photos
5. assemble pages

With a little planning {steps 1 - 3 are done in advance} you'll have another 5 step project {almost} ready! And while you're at it, why not do more than one.

Each year I do a holiday recap album for my in-laws as well as my Mom, with photos exclusive to our celebrations with them. Their albums are always the same design, just with different photos. It makes it easier for me and they're happy to have their albums so quickly after Christmas.

I think an opening page is always nice. This photo of the best cookies in the whole world don't do justice to their goodness. They're called Butter Hoernchen {German for Butter Crescents} and I could eat the whole tin in one sitting. They just melt in your mouth. And I have to wait another six months until they make their appearance.

Photos of kids and grandparents and family together are always treasured. Yes, it's great to have those" in the moment" not smiling at the camera photos, but one day the posed photos will be a treasure to have, too. Looking through my photo library, I'm amazed at how few photos we have of family members together in the same photo. Does that happen to you, too?

See how simple this is? Line around the page, minimal embellishments and just enough room for some journaling.

And the closing page. This is one of my favorite quotes about family and just seems to sum it all up for me. I sign all the projects I design for family with the line :: the wright stuff :: and the year.