Saturday, January 1
by Karen Robert
These holiday cards were just submitted by the Bale family and they are some of the best series of cards I’ve seen this year. I adore how this family really goes for it every year always with a creative sense of fun and flare. It helps that Dad is pretty skilled at Photoshop, though it should be noted that the photos for all of these cards are taken by themselves with a timer. I am in awe.
This was their card in 2007. It’s a fabulous Christmas card where they are helping each other get a star on the tree using in the style of “Cirque du Bale”. I’ve seen many cards with this theme. but this one is particularly imaginative in the way they lean against each other. Lori Bale (Mom) says that they did this in 5 shots all photoshopped together by Dad. The dog was separate, Mom and Dad were taken in front of a green screen, then one of Mom and her daughter, then one of the kids, and finally, the tree was added into the back ground as the 5th shot. This card is a huge success; it’s one of my all time favorites Christmas cards. It’s incredibly creative and incredibly well executed, a perfect combination.
This is the Bale family Christmas card 2000 of the family reflected in an ornament. This is a wonderful idea which I’ve seen quite a lot, but this one is very well executed. I think I may do a blog posting soon showing all of the ornament reflection shots I’ve come across.
Here is their card in 2001. Great Christmas card of kids inside of a snow globe. This is a fun twist on the snow globe card with the kids looking at it from outside as well as being inside. I did a posting on snow globe Christmas cards which this card would fit into perfectly.
Here is their 2003 Great Christmas card of two kids looking inside their fish bowl decorated for Christmas. I have never seen the fishbowl theme, I love the hats on the fish. I wonder if the line inside the card was “Fishing You a Merry Christmas”?
This is the Bale Family Christmas card from 2004 of a photo of their dog stealing a slipper of one of the kids. It’s such a cute idea for a Christmas card. I am curious if this was one shot of photoshopped together.
Here is the Bale family card from 2005 where each member of the family holds a blank card and they are photoshopped one within the other. Photos of frames within frames are another theme I may explore in another posting.
The Bale family Christmas card 2009 made with Sparklers with time lapse photography. See more cards using light and time lapse photography.
And here is their card form this year, 2010. I love it! They posed the family into a scene mimicking the Norman Rockwell painting, “Freedom From Want”, but with a modern twist. This reminds me very much of a card by Theresa Thompson mimicking the same painting. Notice the dog, the lizard and the rabbit at the table. I also like the original Norman Rockwell painting in the background.
And finally in honor of the day, here is a New Year’s Day card from the Bale family from 2002. On this one they photoshopped more confetti into the picture.
A huge thank you to the Bale family for taking the time to share these with me. I look forward to seeing what they come up with next year.
Happy New Year!
More Christmas cards are coming they are still coming in and I am struggling to keep up.
Monday, December 13
by Karen Robert
This is a cute concept for a Christmas card, putting your family or pets inside a snow globe. It’s hard to execute, it takes great photoshopping skills and if you get it wrong the thing looks a little awkward. I found quite a few that were well executed though, so I thought I’d show them to you as inspiration to give it a try.
You can have one of these made on Etsy at http://www.etsy.com/listing/37154983
This is a cute snow globe card, it looks like part of it was hand sewn with glitter inside.
Find out more about how she did it at: http://dailyviolets.blogspot.com/2010/11/christmas-cards-already.html
This is a sweet Snow globe Christmas card.
Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonynewell/2123325316/
This is a beautifully executed snow globe holiday card with 2 dogs in the middle. Clearly the creator of this card has a lot of skill with Photoshop.
This image of a man trapped inside a snow globe cracks me up. I love it’s minimalistic approach.
I found it at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29233640@N07/3373940125/
This is a more lengthy photo shop process. The creator of this card goes to great length to explain how it was done at: http://galefraney.wordpress.com/2008/08/30/snow-globe-card-art/
Cute Christmas card of a girl inside a snow globe.
Found at: http://www.eyefetch.com/image.aspx?ID=94355
Found at Awkwardfamilyphotos.com
From Capitol Hill realtor Marlow Harris, who runs the Seattle P-I Capitol Hill blog, and the aptly named “Unusual Life” blog.
Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashedesign/sets/72157621967769341
Here is another snow globe Christmas card idea made by
Jennifer DeDonato. She used cardstock, ribbon, large glitter, acetate and a sewing machine. Read more about how she did it at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/colorfly/3127004864
If you make a snowglobe card and would like to share it on this page, please let me know.
Monday, December 6
by Karen Robert
The Brady Bunch image from the opening credits on the show is great inspiration for making a Christmas or Holiday card. Many people are doing it. Some of you may be too young to understand the impact that The Brady Bunch had on the generation that grew up during the 70′s. Back when there were only a few networks, it was a big deal to have an amusing show which was appropriate for groovy young people like myself. This show has a real sense of nostalgia for many other groovy baby-boomers it seems. As I searched, there were loads of cards out there, some better than others. I think that these below are some of the better examples. What makes these cards work in my opinion is having good lighting and a consistent plain background. 
This is the original opening credit image of the Brady Bunch Show.
This is pretty a pretty cute Brady Bunch Card. I love the pregnant belly in the middle.
found at: http://home.348north.com/archives/our-family/
Again, this is by Theresa Thompson, I’ve shown this card before, but it is such a great Christmas card that I had to include it. I love the fact that she also shows the back of their head son the back of the card.
I love the polk-a-dot background on this Brady Bunch Card.
Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/skg/4320130833/
It’s a nice twist on this Brady Bunch image to make it in Black and White.
FOund at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/krissypics/4989302211/
And I love the bright colors on this version of a Brady Bunch photo.
FOund at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bananaketchup/4528973485/
This looks like it’s a Corporate card. I love the idea of doing a funny corporate card in the Brady Bunch theme.
I love the addition of pets in this Brady Bunch Card
Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/35124656@N07/3279207369/
I love how this guy in the outer photos are all zoning on on the middle guy, It’s a good twist on the Brady Bunch theme.
I think this is all the same person in each square on this Brady Bunch Card.
Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/snelly23/3066701103/
If you have a Great Brady Bunch Christmas card, or any other fun, unusual Holiday card and would like to share it with us, please submit here. Or if you want to browse more clever, creative holiday cards, go to the gallery section in the menu and browse other fun cards in the Family Section, the Pets Section, the Grown up Section, the Corporate Section, the Santas Section, the Kids Section, the Vintage Section or the Illustrated Section. I also have a Book Section where you can see examples of cards in my book.
Saturday, December 4
by Karen Robert
Wearing ugly Christmas sweaters on Christmas cards is all the rage. Yes, you heard me, bad Christmas Sweaters are trendy. These cards are so corny , cheesy and just plain awkward that they are hysterically funny. People are having bad sweater Christmas parties, people are writing articles about them, and yes, people are wearing them in their Christmas cards. But this time, with irony. Here are my top picks for awkward, cheesy, corny, Christmas cards of people wearing ugly, bad Christmas sweaters.
I’ve posted this card before, it ‘s by Theresa Thompson, for me it’s the quintessential bad sweater Christmas card. She gets lots of points , in my eyes, for getting her teenage kids to wear the plaid vests. To see more of her cards on this site go here.
And here is another one of my favorite Bad seater Christmas cards. It’s by Trevor Navarra, he had a few pictures in my book. So many , that we actually edited this one out. I don’t know why actually since it’s so great. I love the sparkle of the tooth. Brilliant.
Yikes, this one was taken at a Sears portrait studio..I love the pose. It’s very “40 Year Old Virgin”.
By photographer John Keatley for his company card this year. He’s the one in the wheelchair.
Ever wondered what the disembodied heads of Yamaha factory riders Valentino Rossi, Ben Spies and James Stewart would look like on ghastly Christmas sweaters? Oh, I love the irony of tough motorcycle guys in bad Christmas sweaters.
These aren’t actually the worst Christmas sweaters I’ve ever seen…but the awkward spirit is there.
By Scot at scott.sphotographs.com.
Corny , Cheesy Christmas sweater Christmas card again by John Keatley again. He is available to do a corny shoot like this for you, or for your company. Both of his cards are in fact for companies. You can find him at keatleyphoto.com
Lovely couple with a lovely sense of humor…I hope. found here on picasa.
Oh, Scott…you’re so awkward.
Sony Music released this Christmas card of the cast of Glee wearing bad Christmas cards. The photo was released to promote their Glee Christmas Album which came out this month.
Even the dogs got into the action at http://littlemayra.blogspot.com
The legs are more scary than the bad sweaters on this Christmas card photo
I love the closed eyes on this card…this card sooo bad, it’s fabulous. I found it on Flickr.
Aaaaawkward
Thanks Chris and Jana Schaeffer here on Flickr.
This one was on Awkward Family Photos, but I am sure it is staged. The dog was added later on the sweater, you can tell it was photoshopped in. I love the fact that it is hard to tell if it was faked though, it makes it even more funny. …hmmmm.
Pippa’s google eyes take this card from bad to fab.
And here is an invitation to a bad Christmas sweater party found here. I love the fact that these sweaters are different, no red and green here, but snowflake inspired….niiiiice touch.
If you want to buy a bad Christmas sweater go to here, on this site you can also get some great party planning tips for throwing a bad Christmas sweater party. Parties like this are all the rage I hear.
Now that was a fun blog posting, probably the favorite one I’ve done yet this season. Remember, please send me your fun cards so I can post them for all to appreciate and admire. I have many more postings like this coming up every day. Submit your card here, or if you are a photographer with lots of fun cards to show, I would love to do an interview with you. Contact me.
Wednesday, December 1
by Karen Robert
I am just tuning into the fact that Chelsey over at The Paper Mama at is having a holiday card challenge. I’m in!
I featured one of Chelsey’s card a few years ago, here it is again:
And here are some other holiday cards she’s done over the years:
Chelsey is definitely one of us crazies who don’t want to send the standard card.
Now for my submission. My card is not QUITE ready yet due to my husband not being available much during the daylight hours. So I asked Chelsey if I could use one of my favorite Christmas cards from a previous year, she said, “yes”, so here it is. I know I posted it last year, but I do love it so…
WE SEW WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS
If you want to submit a card to The Paper Mama, go here, but hurry, the contest ends on December 3rd. I would love to post the finalists next week (if Chelsey and the finalists will allow it). Stay tuned.
Wednesday, December 1
by Karen Robert
A fun way to make a boring beach shot fun for Christmas is to pose with a sand snowman. What better way to winterize a beach photo? Here is one I did once. The kids loved posing with the sand snowman they had helped make (and RE-make every time it collapsed). Hint: bring a spray bottle of water to help keep the sand moist.
Taken by Karen Robert
All it needs is a kid next to it
Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pamk/2398891839/
Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pamk/2371842490/
How do they get the sand to stick together like that?
Taken by Bill Shaw
http://www.flickr.com/photos/95771949@N00/6513744/
Sand sculptures at the Gaylord in Kissimmee, Florida
Taken by Robyn at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterblog/60743805/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/seancarr54/1563691180/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pamk/2514305549/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kathyprints/2112574828/
by Kathy Archbold
found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gracedvornik/4438031887/
Sunday, November 28
by Karen Robert
I have shown you images before of people writing on themselves in a photo. I think it’s a great way of getting a message across. This time I am posting about writing on the knuckles as if they are tattoos. It’s a concept I am thinking of using for our Christmas card this year. The knuckle tattooing trend was, I think, started by gangs where they tattooed hateful things on their knuckles. I have been seeing photos of all sorts of non-hateful things being written on knuckles and a few fun cards like that as well, so I am thinking that MAYBE my teens wouldn’t mind doing something like that this year. At least they don’t have to stand there and look attractive. I did some research and found the following photos inspiring.
By Jeff Holmes on his Flickr site
Found here on Flickr
Fun idea in a blog by Archie Mcphee
Unknown
Unknown
Flickr
unknown
Rocker tattoo
knuckles
Unknown
I’m trying out my idea tomorrow for my card. I’ll show you if I am successful.
Friday, November 19
by Karen Robert
And finally, here is my last card that I am posting for now from the Sigler family at weareheavyduty.com. For their 2008 card they used a long exposure camera and light sabers to make Christmas designs, in effect painting with light.
They are so descriptive about how they did it, I thought I should let them tell you how they went about creating this in their own words in case you want to try something similar.
“This large scale light painting of a Christmas tree was made in our backyard. On the ground the tree was 55 feet tall and about 25 feet wide. It appears short and fat because of the angle of the photograph. I had the camera, and video camera, in a stairwell window at the back of our house. I’m at least four storeys (someone asked, that is in fact the correct spelling) in the air because our property drops quite a bit. We are in the mountains. But the back lot is nice and flat. I used rope to lay out the tree and enlisted the family and some conveniently located neighbors to move the lights around.
The kids were in the middle of the tree swinging the light sabers (see below) in circles to make the “ornaments” and Mars walked back and forth to make a “garland.” The Moms (Mary and Jill) made the tree outline by waving two light sabers each as they walked along the rope, invariably racing at the end of each take to finish in time. I used a kitchen timer and called out the remaining seconds.
I wanted to do some light painting myself so I took the tripod and camera outside and made some “Nöels” in green and red. Nöel (Which I now know should be spelled “noël” – oof, embarrassing. I was in the dark!) is way easier than trying to write “Merry Christmas,” backward mind you, in the dark, before the time runs out and the shutter closes. Plus, Nöel is so short I was able to turn the light on and off for each letter, and add the umlaut over the “o.” I put a strip of four of these inside the card, along the top.
cool card
We did something similar for the family shot on the back of the card. For this one I used another camera, mounted on separate stand, just for the flash. That way I could move the lights around to make the frame, then get back into position before the second camera flashed, which would make us visible in the photo taken by the first camera. Staggering the timers on the two cameras so that the flash would happen after I was done drawing, but before the shutter closed on the first camera was a challenge. Have I mentioned we were in the dark? The image came out too dark on the card but the original looks good.
This was a fun card to make, but I was stressing about the execution. I mentioned to my friend Gary a couple months ago that I was worried about the logistics and he said something like “only you would have a Christmas card with logistical challenges.” Why do things the easy way? Walk hard.”
Thanks again to the Sigler family for allowing me to show you their wonderful cards. Hopefully I will posting this years card within the next month. Stay tuned. (No pressure or anything Siglers).
Thursday, November 11
by Karen Robert
This Sigler Family made their own handmade Christmas card in 2006 using the idea of each of them making a snowman out of different objects which reflects their own personalities. Posted at www.weareheavyduty.com .
In the family’s own words, this is how this card came about.
“Paris had the idea of snow people. We rolled with that and decided to stick with the tradition inside the tradition, individual pieces.
Clockwise from the top left:
Paris used rolled colored paper strips.
Mars obviously used Legos.
Mary worked with yarn and felted the nose and hat. She also broke the mold with a two-ball shorty.
Tracy after a few failed attempts decided to use three lamps, he had made a while ago, for a minimalist, and sort of boring, snow-bot.
Kodak now allows you to put a stamp-sized image on the back of the card. We used a pic of our four hands in the same orientation as the snow folks.
