First of all I would like to wish all my readers and all my customers old and new, family and friends a very happy Christmas. This week will be my last column until the New Year we will be back again with our column on the 10th Jan 2012. I hope you and your families have a very happy and peaceful and safe Christmas and New Year. 

How to Make Your Own Photo Christmas Cards

Some of the most enjoyable moments of the Christmas holiday season are receiving Christmas cards and photos from family and friends. Making photo Christmas cards is a great way to show off your beautiful family to your friends this holiday season. Here are several easy ways to make your own photo Christmas cards.

Choose a family photo to use for your Christmas cards. Maybe you already have a great family photo that was taken in the past year. If not, rally the family for a photo shoot. You can either choose the outfits your family will wear in the photo or allow them to choose their own while keeping within photo-appropriate guidelines. Position your family in front of your Christmas tree or against a winter-themed backdrop, set up a tripod, set a timer on your camera and say "Cheese."

Buy photo frame cards from your local discount or craft stores. Photo frame card and coordinating envelopes are available in a wide variety of patterns and messages. Four-by-six-inch photographs slide easily into the photo frame cards to create easy, inexpensive photo Christmas cards.

You can also make photo Christmas cards online. Many sites allow you to upload your Christmas photo and then choose a holiday-themed border and message to complete your card. Depending on the site, you may be able to print the cards directly from your computer printer or have them printed by the site and mailed to you. Coordinating envelopes are almost always available to complete the look of your photo Christmas cards.

Roll up your sleeves and make your own photo Christmas cards. If you want true, do-it-yourself photo Christmas cards, you'll need coloured card stock, a photo-friendly glue stick, scissors, glitter or sequins, and any other embellishments of your choice. Fold the piece of card stock in half vertically, apply glue to the back of the photo and centre the photo on the front of the card. Write----or type, print, cut and glue----a message for the inside of your photo Christmas card. Decorate your photo Christmas cards with glitter, sequins or other embellishments. Purchase coordinating envelopes from your local craft or stationary store to complete your photo Christmas cards.

How to Make a Christmas Card From a Photo

Sometimes traditional Christmas cards don't capture the message you want to send friends and loved ones during the holidays. You can take a favourite picture and make a Christmas card that will be displayed each year. There are many different styles and ways to produce them. By creating your own you can add an individual touch to a seasonal greeting.

Pick a setting for your photo. By the fireplace or Christmas tree are traditional backdrops for photo Christmas cards. To save time, you could use a favourite photo from the past.

Start early and experiment taking pictures of your family. Posed snapshots are nice but the picture that reflects your family's personality is always a favourite for friends and relatives. Use a digital camera to create a quality picture.

Save the pictures you want to use on your computer. These images can be added to computer software to print your own cards, uploaded to a website to order cards or copied to take to a photo kiosk. When you are ready to create your Christmas card, you will be able to insert pictures into your cards to view the final product before you order.

Research Christmas card software. Free photo software sites can be downloaded to your computer so you can create your own Christmas photo cards. Purchase photo card stock from an office supply store.

Upload your photo to websites that help you create and order customized Christmas photo cards. Search for promotional codes and discounts before you order to add additional savings. Cards are usually shipped and delivered in two to four weeks.

Take your digital images -- on your camera's memory card or on a CD copied from you computer -- to a photo kiosk. Kiosks are stand-alone photo centres that allow you to make copies of your photos and create items such as Christmas cards. Kiosks are located at most businesses that provide photo services.