Design Crafters

Author and Mom Sherrie Le Masurier offers tips on how to organize a family photo for your Christmas card.

Not as ornate as the one on the right, but a real live photo of your real live family.

Before we go over her tips, we should point out that although Christmas is eight months away, springtime would be a great backdrop for your family photo that you can integrate into your card.

Assuming you already own a digital camera, Sherrie recommends a good photoediting software suite. There are several free ones, but I like Adobe Photoshop Elements4. It’s easy to learn and is priced at around $99.

“When it comes to posing your family there is no right or wrong way to do it,” Sherree writes. “It is also up to you if you want your family members to dress casually or in formal attire. Some of the best cards I’ve seen are with families in jeans and T-shirts wearing Santa hats. Your photo Christmas cards can be wacky and wild or classic and refined.

“Heck, you don’t even have to use a holiday backdrop or seasonal accessories,” she adds. “What about taking a family photo outdoors with colorful autumn trees or a beach as a backdrop?”

I’d like to add, why wait until autumn, when the colors of spring are already here?

Once you are done, you can use Photoshop Elements to compose your card, or use an online photo service to print or even design your family photo Christmas card for you.

All you have to do is upload the photo to one of many online photo services and they can create, edit, and even print the cards for you. Most online photo services are available for a nominal free or if you have the time you can learn how to do it yourself.

(World Village)