because of you

For many years I handmade a good half of my Christmas cards. It had become a family tradition, that included bribing asking my family to take professional photos. I liked the tradition and "documentation" of how our family evolved over the years. I also enjoy the creative hand work of making cards/scrapbooking, altho I can't seem to pull those types of projects together - but once a year I do. 

Every year we alternated, one year I had the kids only photographed and the following the entire family. As a reward, I would take them out to eat after. Some photo outings even included new articles of clothing. Not a bad deal if you ask me, and we always ended up having fun (and have some silly photo memories) especially when we found a creative photographer. Last year I couldn't pull off the photoshoot or card, for different reasons. But this year I did, because of you.

While I didn't do the professional photo outing/dinner thing, I did make my own annual Christmas card!! Shirley, Fern Valley, Dreaming and Wolfie inspired me when they commented on my photo. Not a traditional Christmas photo perse, but I decided to use it for the cover anyway. I usually hand stamp the covers, and put family photos inside. I wasn't sure how this years card would come together especially with a photo for the cover, but it did. After taking a year off, I was going to let the card tradition go all together - but I'm glad I didn't. I used all my own photos on the card below, and truly enjoyed doing the hand work.

While we still may do the occasional family photoshoot outing, in the interim I plan to continue to create and feature my own photographs/composites in future cards - most likely with an equine flair. It will be interesting to see what transpires each year. Thanks for the inspiration, in more ways then one.

2011 Christmas Card cover

Inside spread

Wishing a Merry Christmas to all my blog friends!!