Thinking Ahead: Christmas Card Design Inspiration (Shutterfly Blogger Promo)

I don't like to post about Christmas before Thanksgiving comes, but the blogosphere doesn't roll that way. And, if I'm honest with myself, some Christmas-related things need to be planned ahead of time. Like Christmas Cards, for instance! I'm sharing a few beautiful Christmas Card designs that are inspiring me this year.

Last Christmas, I had the pleasure of participating in a Blogger Christmas Card Promo from Shutterfly and I'm excited to share some designs with you again this year too. And guess what? If you're a blogger, you can also sign up for the program and receive 25 free cards if your blog is chosen...details are here.

I am a big, big Shutterfly fan. I think that the selection of holiday photo cards pretty much speaks for itself!

I feel like I could spend an hour or so just taking notes on the photographs featured so I know exactly how I want to photograph my girls this year. I'm thinking close-ups, and black and white shots since I don't have their Christmas dresses picked out yet.

The site is a wonderful resource for Christmas gifts: ornaments, personalized throws, jewelry, you name it---can all be customized with your favorite photos.

I receive Shutterfly emails a couple of times a week, and I am always able to score a deal on photo calendars. These make excellent gifts for grandparents and great-grandparents. T's grandparents kept theirs on the coffee table and passed it around to visitors because they liked it so much. My Nannie, who is 100, doesn't really want or need anything...but she enjoys flipping through her calendar and seeing the pictures of my girls.

One of these days, I will get my act together enough to throw a real Christmas party! Shutterfly has an entire shop devoted to beautifully designed Christmas invitations. How sweet (pun intended) is this Cookie Swap invite?

In short, I was more than pleased with our Christmas Card order last year. I had never ordered photo cards before, and Shutterfly made me a believer! Quality paper, quick delivery, nice color...it was all good. I am a happy Shutterfly customer, and will continue to place orders with them as long as they continue to deliver high quality photo products!

Do you order photo Christmas cards, or do you like traditional cards?


*Shutterfly did not pay me to write this review, although they did give me a promotional code for 25 free cards. As always, my opinions are my own!

More Highlighted Links--Share Your Best Post!

Good morning, friends! If you're here to link up to Weekend Bloggy Reading, it's open for new links until 10 pm (ET) tonight. Please share your best post of the week with us...crafts, recipes, home decor, book reviews--all kinds of posts are welcome.

I also like to Feature bloggers who not only have great projects, but who also take the time to follow through with good blogging etiquette and link back to me within their post(s). I add many of these Features to Pinterest, so there's some extra incentive to be a gracious blogger and add a link back to this party.

Here are a few links from Weekend Bloggy Reading that caught my eye!

~Gallery Wall Tips and Tricks

~Scarflette

~Historic Country Church

~Hot Cider

~Expandable Journal

~Burlap Covered Pin Board

~Mod Podged Suitcase

*Please, if you haven't already, take a few moments to visit a few of the other links from the party if you linked up this weekend. I love hosting, and I love commenting on posts...but it's no fun for anyone if we just have stale links sitting around. Get out there and find some fun reads! {wink}

Did I feature you today? If the answer is "yes," feel free to grab this button for your sidebar!

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Enjoy your Sunday!

Highlighted Weekend Links-- Share Your Best Post!

Happy Saturday! Are you enjoying your weekend? Please pop in to link up YOUR best post of the week at my Weekend Bloggy Reading party. Open for new links until Sunday at 10 pm (ET).

All kinds of posts are welcome: We have recipes, home remedies, room makeovers, crafts, fashion advice, book reviews, and more! The code for the button is near the end of this post.

There are a lot of fabulous posts this weekend! If you haven't yet, please be sure to visit some of the other links from the party and say a quick howdy to those who have taken the time to visit you. That's how a good blog party works--lots of participation. Otherwise we just have a bunch of stagnant links, and that's no fun for anyone!

I'd also really appreciate it if you'd take the time to link back to me within your post(s)...I like to return the favor by Featuring the bloggers who follow through with good old fashioned blogging etiquette!

Keep reading to see just a few of the posts that caught my eye so far:

~Home Office Makeover

~Oreo Pretzel Truffles

~Bathroom Remodel

~Pumpkin Carving Party

~Halloween Table Setting

~BOO! Baskets

~Art Gallery Party

So, what did you have up your sleeve this week? Come by and share it with us here! Be sure to check out some of the other bloggers' work too. Here's the button in case you'd rather use that than a link back.

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I'm working at commenting as well as balancing my family and fun time this weekend...thanks for your patience!

If I've featured you, feel free to snag this button for your blog:

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I'll be back tomorrow with more Highlights...there are so many great ones to choose from!

::Weekend Bloggy Reading:: Link Up!

Welcome to Weekend Bloggy Reading. I hope you'll link up your best post of the week today, and maybe leave me some comment love!

All kinds of posts are welcome--recipes, crafts, funny stories, home decor, etc.; but please do not link to Etsy shops, businesses, items for sale, etc. (I have a Sponsors section, if you'd like to Advertise with me.)

Here are a few of my faves from this week:

sources listed below

~Learn how to make your own Customized Paint Deck for around $2.

~Cassie created some Missoni-style DIY Chevron Striped Drinking Glasses.

~DIYers will love the new Roadkill Rescue site, where roadside finds and hand-me-downs are featured after being rehabbed.

~Laura Lynn saved a bundle by making her own DIY Canvas Art.

~Learn How to Use Windows Live Writer for blogging!

~And Me? This week featured:

• Salvation Army Shopping Inspiration
• Chicken and Biscuits Casserole
• Pumpkin Patch Love
• Outside Halloween Decorations
• A beautiful and kind write-up about my blog from my friend Beckie at Infarrantly Creative.

Time to link up your best post of the week

Rules:

• Please link back to me within your post. I will not feature your link if you don't link back to me.
• No items for sale, shops, etc. and please don't link up the same post week after week. 
• Please visit some of the other links--that's how a good blog party works--participation!

Here's the button code if you'd prefer to use that rather than a text link-back:

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Party is open until 10 pm (ET) on Sunday night.

What are you up to this weekend?

I hope to be back tomorrow with some highlights from Weekend Bloggy Reading!

(This Code is for blogs featured today!):

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Outside Halloween Decorations

I have a few little Halloween touches outside my house right now....

This sums up how I've felt on and off this week:

If I could just find my broomstick, I'd ride off to Target and maybe feel better after a jaunt through the Dollar Spot. I'm barely kidding....

I do love the glittery orange with my pink wave petunias. I can't believe they've lasted this long!

I have this cute little ceramic pumpkin house next to the front door right now, along with a faux pumpkin. Our real pumpkins from our Pumpkin Patch Trip are on the other side of the steps.

Here's a quick look at the front "porch" area.

I've got my Vinyl "Welcome" Sign and Halloween Wreath up, along with a little glitter sign I got for free from Kohl's using my Kohl's Cash and a couponn. I dressed it up with some glittery purple ribbon:

The whole area really needs some sprucing up, but this time of year leaves us a very small budget. Short of letting Natalie choose her own pumpkin from the patch, I don't think that I'll be able to add much more this year. I have two large planters up near the edge of the sidewalk. I'd love to have something taller to flank either side of the front door--I love me some symmetry!

Any (nice) suggestions?

I hope you'll come back tomorrow to link up YOUR best post of the week to Weekend Bloggy Reading. Recipes, crafts, home decor, book reviews, funny stories, you name it. Come prepared to showcase your blog and find some great weekend reads.

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Pumpkin Patch Love

One of the Fall events I look forward to most is taking the girls to the pumpkin patch. Natalie hasn't made the trip yet this year with her half day kindergarten schedule, but Michaela Byrd and I got to explore a local pumpkin patch last week with our MOPS group. If you have young kids (or even babies), I highly recommend this as a family friendly activity...lots of good photo opps! I was heading up the event, so I didn't have too much free time to snap pics, but I did get a few....

What's more fun for kids than a morning at a farm?

The animals are always a big crowd-pleaser...

"Why, hello, EstherSue. May I borrow a cup of sugar?" 

"Of course, Betty Mae. Y'all come on in!" 

The hayride and the barn are just as much of a hit for the moms as they are for the little ones! I love the look of this worn-in old tractor...

Lots of eye candy on a farm....

And let's not forget the whole point, which is the pumpkins. Slim pickins' this year, but someone enjoyed it enough to get a little crazy with the posing (she is soooo my child!).

Do you have a favorite Fall outing that you look forward to?