Personalizing Ornament Christmas Cards

Personalized family Christmas cards can be made at home. Find a card, old or new, which has large ornaments on the front - at least as many ornaments as members of the family.

Get snapshots of each member of the family which can be cut to fit the different ornaments, circles or ovals. Paste the photos on the ornaments. If you are using an old card which has a signature on the inside, that will have to be covered.

If you want to write your own message for the inside of the card, write your message and glue it over the existing message and signature. If each card is to have a separate hand-written message, cover the existing message an signature with a plain piece of paper.

Next, take this to Office Max, Kinko's, or somewhere where you can get copies made. Unfold the card completely, and have it copied (as many copies as you desire) on either 18 or 20 pound paper, not card stock. The copies should be such that you can have a card by making the two folds as was in the original card. (Card will be 4 1/4 x 5 1/2)

There would be one fold if you used the large 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 card. If you use this size card the paper can be a little heavier. You will need to buy envelopes of the proper size.

You have your cards individualized with photos (and message, if desired). All you have to do is fold the cards in the same way the original card was folded.

Source: I'm always finding ways to individualize things, or adding to or deleting portions of patterns. I did this at home when I was a child.

By Clynn Altemus from Inglis, FL