Have you ever gone on vacation, come home, downloaded all your photos onto the computer, and then promptly forgot about them? Then comes the holidays and you run around like a chicken without a head trying to set everyone up for a family photo for the annual photo Christmas cards.

Why not take out those photos from family vacations for a second look. Some of the most natural and candid pictures are taken during a fun filled vacation. Whether it’s everyone covered in sand lounging on a beach, or with backpacks hiking up a trail. The fact remains, your family photo portrays the family doing what they love most. Who cares if they’re not all dressed up in their holiday best with a Santa hat? Your photo card, using your vacation shot, will portray the family in the best possible light.

I recently went on a vacation to Ireland. While I have been there before, it had been a very long time between trips. Besides touring some of the most photogenic places on earth, I also visited my Grannie’s cottage where my mother grew up and where I took my first steps as a baby. Grannie and Mom are long gone, but the cottage has been restored and two artists are now living there. They were very gracious and invited us in to see what had been done. I took a photo of the outside of the cottage to remember it when I returned home. It came out so well that I’m going to use that vacation photo shot for my holiday photo card order.

It has become a tradition in our family to go to shore every year. If you are not from New Jersey, the shore = the beach. My daughter and I take her two children, my grandchildren, for a week of fun, sun and board walking. If you haven’t noticed we do not invite the men folk, it’s a vacation not a “doing the same work in a different place” event which my daughter and I quickly learned the first time we invited our husbands. When we get home we show them our vacation photos and they show about as much interest as they do when we tell them about a cute hat we found or a new chicken recipe! They have not been in the vacation photos for years now and I don’t think they really care; they both have a week of bachelorhood and they are so glad to see us when we get home they can’t help but ask if we brought home any food.

My daughter Beth would love to use these great family vacation photos as her photo Christmas cards each year but she is missing part of the family. Also, she and kids are all tanned and John is pale because he spent his time away from the family watching the Mets play! We were determined to correct this once and for all. My husband and I offered to take the grandchildren for a weekend so Beth and John could have a weekend away at the shore and take as many vacation photos as they wanted. So everyone gets a nice vacation, and we all get beautiful Christmas cards!

Dashing through the snow
In a car, or plane or sleigh
Through the year we go
Taking digital photos while traveling all the way!

Kids doing Snow-y things
Making our spirits bright
What fun it is to travel and sing
A traveling song tonight.

Jingle Bells, Photos tell
What we did along the way
Oh what fun it is to take
A photo about our stay, O
Jingle Bells, Photos tell
What we did along the way
Oh what fun it is to take
A photo about our stay.

A day or two ago
I thought about holiday photo cards tried
And soon my vacation photos
Were close to my side;

The photos were bright and swank
Fun seemed to be the lot,
I chose a photo to thank
And then I ordered my holiday photo cards alot.

Jingle Bells, Photos tell
What we did along the way
Oh what fun it is to take
A photo about our stay, O
Jingle Bells, Photos tell
What we did along the way
Oh what fun it is to take
A photo about our stay.

Traveling through the year
In a car, plane or sleigh
Through the year you go
Take photos along the way!

I don’t mean to sound like a grump, but it sure is hard to be original when it’s time to send out Christmas cards. Maybe you feel the same way: the cards start pouring in around the end of November and after a while they all start to look the same, and you barely notice who they’re from anymore. So I was looking for a new idea to spice up the Christmas tradition when someone mentioned to me that vacation photos make great cards. That was it, I had my solution.

Vacation photos are fun and interesting and make people smile. At least mine do. That’s what I want! Add a personal message and you’ve got the perfect holiday photo cards. I’ve always got lots of great photos to choose from too. Last year I had one of the whole family on the beach around an awesome sand castle. Another with all of us at a lighthouse on a cliff, with the Chesapeake Bay in the background. So far the frontrunner for this year’s card is a candid shot of everyone splashing in a mountain stream on a camping trip. A little unconventional, I know, but then so am I!

I guess some folks would like to send holiday photo cards that are a little more serious and formal, or maybe with everyone in Santa suits or reindeer antlers. Whatever! No matter what you do, they’re unique. And that’s what makes photo cards the perfect choice!

Too bad vacations only come along maybe once or twice a year.  I know, for me, just looking at vacation photos brings a smile to my face.  And, when I do bring them out, the results are always the same.  We sit around the kitchen table and laugh and start telling the same stories we’ve all retold time and time again.  But it doesn’t matter.  Vacation photos let us take a break from the mundane and go back to a wonderful time when we left our cares behind – be it at the office or at home – and just relaxed.

It almost seems unfair not to share that feeling with others and Christmas photo cards are the perfect way to do that.  Just imagine the look on your friends faces when, in the middle of winter, they get your Christmas photo card showing your family on a relaxing cruise or lying on a beach.  And it doesn’t have to be fun in the sun that makes everyone smile.  I’ve lived many a vacation vicariously through my friends when I see them skiing down a killer mountain or riding a donkey down the Grand Canyon.   Just seeing families enjoying time together makes everyone feel good.

I think some of my favorite vacation photos tug a little at my heart strings too.  I come from a very large family and all our vacations when I was young included my grandparents who are no longer with me.  Those vacation photos are priceless and I know that turning them into Christmas photo cards will also mean something special to those I know and love who fondly remember those times as I do.

Lots of people I know make vacations family reunions.  What a great idea to take those vacation photos and share them with extended family members or those who couldn’t be there through a Christmas photo card.  It serves double duty – reminds everyone what a great time they had and maybe causes anyone who missed it to be sure they are there for the next one.

When I think about photo Christmas cards, images of children in their best Sunday clothes, couples on their wedding day, or adorable pets come to mind.  Not to say there’s anything wrong with that!  But this past Holiday season, I received a few photo cards from friends on their vacation.  Even though I was in freezing temperatures, I loved seeing my friends on their worldly (usually warm) adventures!

I thought using a vacation photo was a really cool and new take on what kind of pictures you can use on holiday cards.  But that’s exactly why I love photo cards; you can use what ever picture you want to share with family and friends!  It’s a really great way to let your loved ones know what you have been up to in the past year, while also sending them holiday wishes.

One friend sent me a photo card of him on the beaches of Puerto Rico. The design of the card was teal starfish and it looked so contemporary and unique.  Once again, photo cards are changing the way holiday cards are supposed to look.  It was so great to read his warm holiday wishes to me!  Another friend sent me a card of her and her husband on their trip to Greece.  The picture on that card was beautiful!  It was of them standing on a mountain side overlooking the majestic-blue ocean.  That sure did take me away from my winter wonderland back home, if only for a moment!

Next time I go on vacation, I will make sure to bring my digital camera.  Not only will I have those pictures as a keepsake, but I could also use them to create photo cards.  It goes to show that you can use those vacation photos in so many ways!

With economic times the way they are sometimes it’s not possible to come up with a great gift idea without spending a lot of money. Remember that fun vacation you and the family went on?  Vacation photo Christmas cards can be the gift to give that special someone to cherish forever.  They’re not your typical gift wrapped in a box with a neatly tied bow, although they could be, but they are the kind of gifts that you can sit out on your table in your favorite room and admire for years to come.

Perhaps your grandparents or dear friends have come from far away to spend some time with you and the family and giving that vacation photo card could make them still feel close by each time they take a glance at the picture. Gathering in the family room around the holidays on the big comfy couch laughing and enjoying the company of friends and family is always a special time. Why not capture that special moment with Holiday photo cards?  Who doesn’t enjoy reminiscing and feeling warm and fuzzy inside?  We all need our spirits lifted from time to time.  A photo card can do just that for you.

Before we used to keep our pictures in those little containers waiting to get them developed.  Now some are stored on our digital cameras or on memory cards.  Pick out you favorite photos, choose a nice border, personalize them, and make a nice gift out of them. If you don’t want to put them in a small gift box the high quality foil lined envelopes still keeps the integrity of the photo cards.

It’s always better when you take the time out to make your gift giving extra special. I remember receiving a hand-painted ornament with my family’s name on it and I knew thought and time went into it.  We use it year after year and it’s one of our most treasured gifts.  There is nothing like seeing someone make use of or enjoy a gift you’ve given them.  Seeing the photo Christmas cards you sent someone displayed brings pleasure to both the giver and receiver.

This year I decided to try something different with my holiday photo cards. I usually wait until the last minute to get that forced smile out of my kids while they are dressed up in their holiday clothes. All parents know it can be a challenge to get kids to stand still and co-operate for the yearly photo. Gathering the kids for the same old photo scenario became a stressful event each year, for me as well as the kids. The holidays can be stressful enough with all the rushing around. I grew as tired of posing the kiddies in front of the holiday tree year after year as they did. If this event sounds familiar, I’m about to share a great solution!

Thankfully, I thought to grab my camera before heading to the beach this summer. I had taken tons of great photos while on vacation this summer. I decided to showcase my favorite vacation photo on our holiday cards this year. As a result, I was able to create some wonderful vacation photo holiday cards. The vacation photos reflected the happy time we were having as a family, and gave the cards a very casual, natural and comforting look, instead of the usual forced, uncomfortable smiles. Also, I feel by creating vacation photo holiday cards, my family members will be able to display and enjoy the photo all year round. It gives the idea of holiday photo cards a greater purpose, since they can be used throughout the year as a memento of good times. I started a new tradition this year by taking casual, natural poses while the kids are having fun in the sun. There was no stress involved. Sending vacation holiday cards was a pleasure!!

When I used to think about holiday photo cards I automatically went to thoughts of the traditional family of four and on occasion Fido would be added in. I never thought about sending out photo cards because that was not representative of who I was. Well times they are changing. Now I believe holiday photo cards can represent the traditional family as well as someone like me. I am single without children but that does not exclude me from sharing memorable moments. Let me tell you; holiday photo cards are a great way to show off captured moments from your last vacation or special event.

Last year I went to Vegas and I can’t describe my whole trip because as the saying goes; “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”. With that said, I took some great shots there. Well last year I chose one of my best photos from the trip and used that for my holiday photo card. I now just theme my cards as vacation photo Christmas cards. When I visit friends and family we always talk about my pictures and where I went for vacation and it leads to hours of conversation. So don’t let lack of spouse and kids stop you from sending out photo cards for the holidays. Go through those vacation shots, pick out your top ten and decide on the best. Now the only thing left to do is choose the perfect card which I usually get  from ChristmasCardsDirect. They have so many choices that I usually find a perfect match for my top picture. Trust me. My holidays are full of fun and laughter reliving my pictures. So what are you waiting for? Get started today!!!!

My best friend moved to London 6 months ago, and while I was super emotional watching her pack up and leave, I also felt a calming voice in the back of my mind, soothing my troubles with this tiny glimmer of hope: “you can go visit her!” And visit her I did! It was amazing to reunite with her and spend time with her, just like old times. But the best part about this trip? This was my first time abroad, an experience I will always treasure. Thankfully, this little vacation produced about a billion vacation photos. I honestly could not stop clicking my camera, snapping every chance I got to remember each and every detail of this trip. I can’t even begin to tell you how many pictures made it home with me, and I wanted to share each and every one with every person I knew.

With the Holidays close at hand, I thought it would be a great idea to send out Christmas photo cards with some of the highlights of my trip. It was such a thrilling experience, one that I want to share with my friends and family. I’m busy choosing pictures from this great vacation now, and I think they add such a personal touch to these cards. No frumpy Christmas sweaters, or forced poses in front of a Christmas scene. The landscape itself is the star of the show; I’m just the extra standing-in for a while. Fortunately, some Christmas photo cards offer multiple “windows” in which to put pictures. I plan on sending out pictures of the landscapes, not just of me standing in front of Big Ben with my toothy grin (believe me, I could not stop smiling my entire time there, except for when I had to leave and say goodbye yet again to my friend). I hope these photo cards can spread a little joy, and maybe spark the interest of some of my friends and family members so that they will actually want to take a trip themselves! If they need a tour guide, I’ll definitely be ready!