Easy DIY: Simple Holiday Card Display Idea

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Global Influence. All opinions expressed are my own. 

The season for holiday cards is quickly approaching! I used to spend a ton of time thinking about the cards I was sending out each year, but very little time worrying about what to do with the cards we received in return from family and friends. Then, a few years back, I found inspiration for a simple holiday card display from (where else?) Pinterest and I've never looked back!

The problem I always encountered was the number of cards. For the first couple years of our married life, we tried sticking them on our fridge, but it quickly got to the point where there were three layers of cards and they all fell off anytime someone moved, breathed, or (heaven forbid) opened the freezer door. I was hesitant to go with a basket or box for storage during the holiday season, because I wanted to enjoy each card over and over again!

This idea is very simple and you only need two supplies: a big roll of holiday-themed ribbon and some clothespins (you could easily DIY those as well to make them glittery or patterned or generally more Christmas-themed, but I haven't gotten around to that yet).

Take the ribbon and loop it all the way around your kitchen cabinet doors, tying a knot in the back. You can cut it and use Duck Tape to hold it to the back of the cabinet as well, but after six weeks of holding up cards, the stickiness of the tape wears off and cards and ribbon may start falling into your food as you prep for New Year's Eve. I may or may not know this from experience.

Depending on how many cabinets you have (and how wide they are), you can probably display an impressive amount of cards in a festive way - without taking up any other wall space! During the holidays, the stuff in my home seems to increase exponentially so I try to keep it all as contained as possible.

And that's it! Told you it was easy! Do you display the Christmas cards you receive? Tell me your best organization idea for the holidays!  

This post was inspired by Paper Culture known for their eco-friendly Christmas and Holiday Cards.

Making Christmas Merrier with Minted

Disclosure: I received complimentary product in exchange for this post. No other compensation was received and all views expressed are my own. 

I've mentioned before that I handmade all of my Christmas cards the first year that Andrew and I were married. We sent out at least two hundred cards that year and with each passing holiday season, I laugh a little bit more at myself - because it was stinking awesome that I managed to get cards made in time to mail for  Christmas. Lately, I'm doing well if I have my cards ordered by the holiday, but I'm determined that this year will be different!

We have already had our family photos taken this fall, and I'm just waiting for my CD to arrive so that I can take advantage of an early sale on holiday cards! I've been browsing the Christmas card selection at minted and I just can't decide which one I like best.

I prefer a kind of "traditional" feel to my cards, so I tend to gravitate toward those that actually say "Merry Christmas" and not another sentiment. I also love receiving cards from friends and family the most when they include an updated photo - so it's a given that my design choice can feature a new photo of our family.

So, here I'm sharing my top five card choices and I need you to help me choose the best one!

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Option 4

Option 5

I guess it's also kind of clear that I prefer scrolling fonts, isn't it? I can't help it! My handwriting is not anything close to that gorgeous - yet another reason why ordering photo Christmas cards is a million times easier than making them myself.

Go take a peek and see if you can find your favorite minted design! You can even grab a super deal - 15% off your holiday card purchase if you buy them by the end of Monday, October 13. Better yet, you can snag the deal today and make your cards later! How perfect! Use code EARLYBIRD14 to get the deal.

Make sure you leave a comment to help me choose - which of the five options above do you like best?

Disclosure: I received complimentary product in exchange for this post. No other compensation was received and all views expressed are my own. For more information, you can read my Disclosure Policy.

Merry Christmas! {2013}

From my family to yours - we wish you the merriest Christmas ever! Hope you are all having a wonderful, magical day! I'll hopefully be back to a normal blogging schedule after the holidays when things are a little less crazy around here.

Tiny Prints Holiday Cards + $50 Code Giveaway

Disclosure: I was selected for this campaign as a member of Global Influence and received a promotional item as a thank you for participating. All opinions expressed are my own.

If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you've probably arrived at the realization that I am the world's worst a bit of a procrastinator. I tend to have a lot of things on my plate and they all tend to get done at the eleventh hour, such as last year's Christmas decorations.

The first year we were married, I handmade all of my 200+ Christmas cards. While I'd love to have that kind of time on my hands again, I know it isn't going to happen - so for the last few years, I've ordered photo Christmas cards (and New Year's Cards last year when I was waaaay behind on everything due to newborn Addie). My photo cards of choice always seem to come from Tiny Prints!

The Tiny Prints Holiday Card collection never disappoints, and this year I especially love them! I'm having a tough time deciding which one to order. I will probably be able to make a better decision after tomorrow's family photo shoot! But with all the gorgeous designs to choose from - Contemporary, Classic, Vintage, Full bleed photos, All That Glitters, Bold Expressions, Simply Chic, Woodland Wonder, The New Tradition - you can see why I might have a hard time making a decision!

Once I decide which card to use, there are more fun options to consider. Most of the cards can be ordered with your selection of trim - square, rounded corners, brackets, tickets, and scalloped edges. I love the simplicity of a rounded card and it is so much easier to order them that way than to hand-punch them! There is also the option to add matching address labels and envelope liners to your order. During the busy holiday season, I will take all the extra help I can get!

I always turn to photo gifts for creative gifts at Christmas, so I've been perusing the Tiny Prints selection already. If you're looking for a great gift for grandparents, I can tell you that photo books and canvas prints are always a big hit!

Have you planned your holiday cards yet?

Giveaway

One Director Jewels reader will win a $50 Tiny Prints Code (plus free shipping) to use toward the purchase of your holiday cards or photo gifts!  This giveaway will end on October 22 at 11:59pm CST.  This giveaway is open to US readers only.

To enter the giveaway, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below (you may need Javascript enabled to see the form and it may take a moment to load)!  Once you complete the first entry, the other options will open up so that you can complete them as well.  All of the "extra entries" are optional - you can do just one, or as many as you want!  Winners will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was selected for this campaign as a member of Global Influence and received a promotional item as a thank you for participating. Tiny Prints will be providing the giveaway prize. All opinions expressed are my own. I truly love this company and have no hesitation in recommending any of the Tiny Prints brands! For more information, you can read my Giveaway Policy and my Disclosure Policy.

Our Incredibly Late Christmas Cards

Confession time: I haven't mailed our Christmas cards yet. 

Having a newborn is a valid excuse, right? 

I'll be sending them next week, finally.  I ordered two different cards because I loved the Merry Christmas design, but I also felt that since it's the middle of January, perhaps a New Year's Card was more appropriate.

So here they are!

Have you ever sent holiday cards long after the holiday has passed?  Next year, I plan to be way ahead of the game.

FREE Greeting Card from Treat 11/19 - 11/20

I don't know about you, but I love things that are free.  Love, love, love.

So when I heard about this offer, I had to share.  Because maybe you love free too.

Today and tomorrow, you can hop over to Treat and snag a FREE greeting card.  Treat offers a great variety of cards for every occasion - holidays, birthdays, thank you or pretty much anything else you can think of.  So why not grab a card for free and save it to use this holiday season?  You can create a unique and personalized card for so many reasons - like a note of appreciation for your Thanksgiving hostess or a just-for-fun note to wish someone happy holiday shopping!

Want to get the deal?  Here's how.  Head over to Treat and use code TREATBLOGR when you check out.  That's it!  Super fast, super easy...and super free.  But hurry - the offer ends tomorrow, November 20.

Let me know what kind of card you make!  And have fun!

Tiny Prints Holiday Cards + $50 Credit Giveaway!

The first Christmas that Andrew and I were married, I set some really high expectations for myself.  I handmade all of our Christmas cards.  We're talking like, 200 cards.  It was fun, they were really pretty... and I had no idea that it would probably never happen again.

Since that time, I have come to the realization that it is insane trying to get everything done during the busy holiday season!  Christmas cards are a tradition that I really don't want to give up, but I have to face the facts that I simply cannot spend weeks on end creating cards by hand.  I'm pretty sure Lincoln would rip/eat them all if I even tried.

So what is my solution, you ask?  This year, I am ordering my Christmas Cards online from Tiny Prints! Their collection of cards this year features over 800 designs, so there is definitely something to suit every family's needs!

I have so many favorites, I'm having a hard time choosing.  I won't actually be ordering my cards until sometime in early December, since we will have a new family member arriving sometime in the next few weeks!  That gives me a little time to decide, but I need help!  I know our color scheme in our Christmas photo will be black/green/white, which definitely influenced my choices.  Which of these cards do you like best? 

Option A

Option B

Option C

Option D

So what do you think?  Do I have a winner?  I love all of them!  Make sure you check out Tiny Prints' Special Offers to snag a great deal on your own holiday cards.  You can also follow them via social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Google+!

 Giveaway

One Director Jewels reader will win a credit for $50 off your total Tiny Prints order!  This prize does not include shipping, cannot be combined with any other promos, and expires 12-14-2012. This giveaway will end on November 16 at 11:01pm CST.  This giveaway is open to US readers only.

To enter the giveaway, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below (you may need Javascript enabled to see the form and it may take a moment to load)!  Once you complete the first entry, the other options will open up so that you can complete them as well.  All of the "extra entries" are optional - you can do just one, or as many as you want!  Winners will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Thank you to Tiny Prints for sponsoring my card samples and the giveaway prize!  I received no other compensation and all views expressed are my own.  For more information, you can read my Giveaway Policy and my Disclosure Policy.

McKinley Top 10 Moments of 2010

Top Ten Moments Christmas Card

Make a statement with custom Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

cards, cards, cards!

I've always wanted to be that domestic diva who makes cards for every occasion under the sun and just has them sitting around, waiting to be sent out on a whim.

I may not quite have attained that goal, but I'm making progress. Check out my creativity from just the past two days. Incredible.

I realize that all of these birthday cards have a very similar theme - but hey, it's super easy to make a pile of cards when you have only a handful of supplies in front of you. No big decisions to make. :)

And since it's wedding season, a few cards of that nature...

Loving that I can sometimes find time to craft!! And I knocked a whole bunch of things off the to-do list. It's been a pretty good week so far.

Also I have cute hair. That really helps my outlook on life.