Holiday cards + Tiny Prints giveaway

This is a sponsored post. Tiny Prints is giving me a credit toward my holiday card order to write this post. They've also provided me a giveaway for a reader.

We did our annual family photos about a week ago (with the same amazing photographer we used for last year's family photos and for our maternity photos) and while I wait impatiently to see the images, I've been perusing the Tiny Prints website to start narrowing down the holiday cards I like.

First of all, here is the card we sent out last year:

Now. What I learned last year is that it is totally futile to try to pick a design using a stand-in photo, because the composition and coloring of the final photo selection will be totally different. So this year I didn't even bother with that. I just went straight for the card designs I liked best, and once we get the images from our photographer then that will definitely inform the final choice of design.

As far as parameters: I want something that is not religious or holiday-specific, as we ourselves are a mixed holiday couple and our friends and family celebrate all different combinations of holidays. I like flat cards, preferably, but not necessarily, rectangular. I don't like our last name to be enormously prominent. I generally like designs with just one big photo on the front, especially because Tiny Prints lets you put two small photos on the back, which we did last year, in part because our front photo didn't feature Montana and in part because we had so many amazing photos of just Callum that we had to share at least one:

Beyond that, all I want is something visually appealing and not too hokey. So. Here are the designs I'm leaning toward this year. It seems like they break down into a few basic categories.

Language or design/color scheme that isn't overtly Christmas-y, but still invokes Christmas:

Structured for family news, which makes me feel awkward/I don't know what I would write, but I'd love to get this kind of newsy card from other people so maybe I should get over myself:

Basic wintry:

Anyway. Soon enough we'll have our photos and then I can actually make a choice! And order the cards! And send them out! And then it will really feel like the holiday season has begun.

In the meantime, Tiny Prints is offering a giveaway for one reader: $50 off your holiday card order. To enter, leave a comment here by Friday night and I'll pick a winner at random. And if you're interested in ordering from Tiny Prints whether you win a giveaway or not, check out their special offers page.

And here's a comment prompt for people who want to enter the contest: tell me about your holiday card habits. Do you send one out most years? Does it have a photo? How do you normally display the holiday cards you receive?