Make your own Christmas Cards

Making greeting cards is fun and a good, creative pursuit. I've been making cards, invitations, flyers and other party printables for quite a few years.

Designing and printing one greeting card is cost effective. Printing sixty cards is not. Whether you print them at home or have them printed, ink is costly.

Photo printing services may try to "improve" your photos, which can be disappointing. The photo I've chosen for my Christmas cards has snow falling. When I had prints made, the company sharpened the image by removing the snow. That spoiled the soft look I wanted for the image, so I‘m printing them myself.

I use an inexpensive card making program called American Greetings CreataCard by Broderbund. It's an older program and very easy to use. There are other good programs available. HP has downloadable templates.

This program comes with a variety of ready made cards for all occasions. I can use their designs or import photos and clip art from other sources.

The program walks you through the process in a very user friendly way:

• Choose the card shape - tall or wide.
• Choose your photo or cover art and paste it in the area marked with dotted lines.
• Click on Text Box and position the box as desired.
• Choose a font and type in your message. Change the color and font effects as preferred.
• Move and resize the photo, text and clipart until you are satisfied and click SAVE.

Open a second card template of the same shape for the inside greeting and repeat the process as above. When you are satisfied, click SAVE.

 Print your first card on inexpensive paper. You may want to go back to make changes to the card.  Simply reopen the document in the card program and make edits and changes.  Print a second trial.

When you're satisfied with the card, load photo paper or card stock into the printer and you're in production.

I made a logo for my cards and I added the Santa hat for Christmas. Having the logo personalizes the cards. Card stock, photo paper, ink and envelopes can be purchased at office supply stores.

There are many sources of free clip art on the Internet.  Clip art collection CDs can be purchased inexpensively.  Customize clip art in an art program.  You are only limited by your imagination!