DIY Christmas Cards Tutorial: 3 frugal tips for an unique card

I opened my mail on Black Friday and discovered one of my nephews in all his Christmas outfit glory.

My sister-in-law is obviously the most organized mom on the planet.

So that early bird card pushed me to get a move on the holiday season.

Christmas card. Check.

I can’t get my boys to sit together for a decent shot {unless they are watching tv}.  So I usually choose two shots that I loved from the past year.

Here’s this year’s Christmas card that I fretted over for the past three hours.

Here are a few tips to make 100 cards for under $30! {no company perked me for this tutorial}

1.)  I edited the photos in the Instagram app on my iPhone.  Instagram gives photos an artsy edge.

Plus it makes otherwise less stellar pictures more visually interesting.  Since I rock an iPhone as my primary camera {and not a DSLR: hint hint, Santa}, you need all the editing you can get.

Think of instagram like airbrushing a model.

2.) I created this card as I create my header, blog buttons and other photos with text in Picasa!

 It’s the poor man version of photoshop, because it’s free.   Use the collage feature, set a background, add some text, and voila, it’s done.  I saved the photo as a 6.5 X 7 aspect ratio.  I find the albums in Picasa a wee bit annoying, but for free, you can’t beat it.

3.) Then, I uploaded my work of art Christmas card to Costco.  If you are a member, you are not chained to the rather blah choices on their website. Some are okay, but they are by no means original.  If you look at the photo website below, check out where I placed the green arrows {more holiday, custom template}.

 Using the blank template, you just have to save the creation from Picasa in the 6.5 X 7 aspect ratio.

With tax, 100 cards and envelopes with 6 free 2012 calendars were a little over $28!

Now get your cards done, mamas, before it’s too late.

Just wish stamps didn’t cost me $50! 

Grrr.

If you have any holiday ideas or want to add some of your own…
stop by my holiday link party
open til 12-25

Linking up to:
Tatertots and Jello, Tip Junkie, Home Stories A to Z