A highlight of my day during December is checking the mailbox for Christmas cards. I love that so many people are doing cards with photographs on them. It is always so fun to see how families grow and change. We put all the cards on our living room chalkboard. Yes, there are only 3 stockings (mine & Chris’ are on the fireplace). Every time I found one for Baby Sister (online), it would end up being sold out. Inspired by these stockings on MADE, I think I am going to make one out of a sweater and tatting. That won’t happen before Christmas…she won’t know the difference.
The chalkboard is full of cards from this year and old pictures from winter’s past…and 4 large SUMMER pictures of my kids. I keep thinking I should replace those shirtless outside pics for something more winterish. However, I am not a fan of winter and those pictures remind me for every dreary, cold winter there is a hot and splashing fun summer.
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Chris got a card from Dave Ramsey this year. I added it to our chalkboard it makes me laugh each time I pass it because you know we are so tight with the Ramseys. Oh no! I forgot to send them ours! I am sure they are checking their mailbox daily in anticipation for it to arrive.
And here’s our card:
I thought I was being clever with the globes and strung lights for “Light of the World” (another name for Jesus)…however, several friends didn’t get it and said, “Oh, that’s fun you took pictures with your globes.” I’m not as clever as I think at times!
As I am writing this I noticed “Indiana Jones” is spelled as “Indian Jones”. YIKES! Just checked a real card and it was right there…I must have messed it up when saving it for the web.
Before you pack away or throw away this year’s Christmas cards I thought I’d share a few ways to re-purpose them…
*For photo cards, turn them into a Kid’s Prayer Journal
*Make a Circle Garland from CraftStylish
*Cut apart the cards to use as tags for gifts next year
*Make clothespin magnets or scrap paper magnets to give away next year
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas…see you next week!
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by AshleyAnn
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Susan - Love the “Light of the World!” Merry Christmas!
Melissa - Merry Christmas Ashley Ann – may your day be filled with laughter and love.
Thanks for the really fun card ideas – I adore your chalkboard, what a great idea to use it for your cards.
Charity - I love the back of your card. Such a fun and creative way to tell about each of your kids. The recipients will love them!
Casey - love the chalkboard over your couch and the way you’ve displayed everything! Also, I really love how you have little snippets about your kids on the card
Rachel - I love your giant chalkboard and how you’ve displayed all of your holiday cards. Have a wonderful Christmas!!
georgia davis - No worries, my card said Happy Holidays 2010! I think it was snapfish error. But, it still made my upset.
Shanalea - I love the light of the world idea…I might just steal it
We used our cards last year as a prayer journal and the kids really got into it. We will be doing it again.
Luisina - Hi! Mery Christmas too! I love your blog
Teresa - I see you got a card from the McKay Family. I have Abigail McKay in my class at Rejoice Christian School in Owasso. Sweet family and mom and dad always take great pictures.
Christina - Merry Christmas
Lauren Roberts - Merry Christmas to our dear friends!
Jill R - LOVE the card! Merry Christmas!
Crystal - Your card is great! Even if people didn’t get it, I think it’s very clever. Merry Christmas!
Jaimie - i’m obsessed with that chalkboard. did you make it or buy it? what a great idea- love the size.
sbj - Just curious where you made your cards. They are beautiful. Did you make them online?
jokemijn - you make lovely pictures! i discovered you through ffffound. Have a nice christmas-time.
lea helmerich - i absolutely love your blog! my daughter referred me to it, and i am so glad.
come visit my letters to young mommies.
blessings!
Holly - What a great card! I love all your pictures on the chalkboard. I’m trying to figure out exactly I’m going to do on our wall in our living room, and that’s a great idea! And I’m super impressed that you got an actual card from Dave Ramsey. We got the same one, only it was an e-card. Not quite the same!
Janica - I LOVED the Christmas card photo! Such a fun idea. I was just wondering what you printed them on and where you got them printed. Is that a weird question? Sorry. Love your website; it’s so inspirational and the pics are INCREDIBLE:) Thanks. Merry Christmas
AshleyAnn - I designed the cards…customizing a template I had. I printed them at White House Custom Color and added the ribbon ties myself.
Trina - LOVE the stockings!! Where are they from??
AshleyAnn - Trina – the cards are from Pottery Barn Kids…over the course of 3 years.
Emily - I LOVE your card – what a great idea!! I also love your ideas of what to do with Christmas cards!
Katie - Where did you get that chalkboard, or did you make it and if you made it how?
AshleyAnn - Katie: We made the chalkboard. I cut a piece of hardboard to size (it runs about $7.00 a board and is near the pegboard at most lumber stores. It is lightweight and thin). Then we cut a groove in some 1×3 boards. I painted the hardboard with chalkboard paint then slid it in the grooves. We nailed and glued it in place. I banged up the wood frame using chains, nails, etc. to make it look old then wiped on a bit of wood stain.
Heather - Hi, I am a new reader, found your blog through ohdeeoh and wanted to know where you got your daughter’s headband in the Christmas card? It is darling! Love your blog.
AshleyAnn - Heather – it is from Lou and Lee on etsy. If you do a search on this blog you can find some links to their site.
Lacey McKay - yay! I see my card up there! How fun! That board is so cute! You are so creative! Can you tell I’m getting caught up on your blog? I keep forgetting that I can’t get it through Google Reader and I figure you just haven’t updated lately! I loved your card too. I didn’t see the light bulbs, but I did get the gist of it!
Sandy - PLEASE tell me where you got that adorable chalkboard. I am so in love with it and the whole idea! You are an inspiration!
this is it!!!! « simple intrigue - [...] because today I found this jem of a magnetic chalkboard featured on Odeehdoh today! Ashley at Under the Sycamore is my kind of girl! Not only is she an amazing photog – she had exactly the same idea I had [...]
Margie - I LOVE this chalkboard! I saw it on Ohdeedoh, which brought me to your blog and I am loving your crafts and photo taking tips! I am inspired to be more crafty and master my new dslr camera, not to mention talking my husband into helping me make the chalkboard!