Share the Christmas Love: Tiny Prints and Michelle Pendergrass Photo Session #Giveaway

Christmas is one of my favorite times of year, and so it's the perfect time to share some of my favorite things that make the holiday season a little merrier and brighter! This is part one. 

Christmas cards are not a checklist item for me; they are a creative project I look forward to piecing together every year; I love all the aspects of Christmas cards --  picture session leading up to Christmas, the picking of designs, the merging of the two and even mailing them out!

I love this project mostly because it's a family affair in which I can unleash my creativity -- and because my kids think licking and sealing the envelopes in the coolest thing ever. Win!

Honestly, though, I can see how it would be stressful rather than fun if I didn't have a great photographer and a great card design destination like Tiny Prints where I can easily create beautiful cards.

This year I had my project cut out for me because Tiny Prints featured so many gorgeous designs, and I had so many beautiful pictures to choose from after we did a photo session with my super-talented friend Michelle, who captured the very essence and spirit of our family in her beautiful shots!

After picking my favorite captures from our session with Michelle and narrowing down my favorite designs over at Tiny Prints, I finally landed on a lovely multi-fold card unlike any I'd made in the past.

When they arrived, I was just as smitten with the final product as I was with the previews online! I can't wait to send them out!

So how about you? Do you want to take a stroll around Tiny Prints and pick out your favorite card? Tiny Prints is giving away a $50 gift certificate plus free shipping to one reader here! See the Rafflecopter for Tiny Prints below to enter! 
{Tiny Prints fine print for giveaway: Shipping offer applies to non-sample orders shipped to a location within the 48 contiguous United States. There is no minimum purchase required for this promotion. This offer may not be combined with other offers. This offer is not applicable to previously placed orders or toward the purchase of gift certificates, calendars, photo books, and Erin Condren Day Planners. This offer is valid for one transaction only and any funds not used in the transaction will be forfeited. Offer valid for one-time redemption per billing address. Offer is only valid on Tiny Prints.}

And are you in the Chicagoland area and still need the perfect Christmas card photo? Michelle Pendergrass is giving away one 15-minute session and one perfect photo for a Christmas card to one reader! The shoot is scheduled for Sunday, December 8, and Michelle will be in touch with the winner about a time that works for everyone. See the second Rafflecopter below for this giveaway!

{Michelle Pendergrass Fine Arts and Photography fine print for giveaway: Winner must be available for pictures on Sunday, December 8. Previously booked sessions will not qualify for this giveaway. Family must be willing to meet in the Grayslake, IL area for their pictures. Pictures will be taken outside. Michelle will gift you with 15 minutes for the photo session and one picture. She will send you the digital file.}
a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway

Share the Love: $50 Tiny Prints Giveaway!

** This giveaway is now closed! The winner is Katie H!**

For Christmas cards, we love ordering from Tiny Prints simply because the designs are beautiful and the product is always high quality!

 There's just one tiny problem I have when it comes to placing my Tiny Prints orders: how on Earth do we choose just one card with some many lovely designs to choose from?!

 Of course, that's not really Tiny Prints' problem -- it's my issue, and I own it whole heartedly. :-)

 This year, I'm loving two different cards especially, and I'm having a hard time choosing.

 Colorful and bright?
 

 Or soft and classic?
 

Which would you rather get in your mailbox?

Help me decide, and there might be something else in your mailbox before Christmas!

Tiny Prints is giving one person $50 off her Christmas Card order! Simply leave a comment with which card you'd choose if you were me, and you'll automatically be entered into the drawing! 

And then maybe head over to Tiny Prints and start eyeing up which Christmas Cards you would choose and maybe check out some other special coupons!

Giveaway ends at 9 p.m. tonight, November 19, 2012.

Also, thanks for helping me make our Christmas Card decision!

This is a sponsored post from Tiny Prints. All opinions are mine; Tiny Prints is gifting me with some Christmas Cards of my own in exchange for spreading the love about Tiny Prints. 

Share the Love: The Perfect Christmas Card isn't About the Perfect Picture

So we have this conundrum: I love Christmas cards and photos and believe the two should be all smoochysmoochy and coexist in lovely beauty gracing the refrigerators of loved ones everywhere.

And my boys, well, they don't {shocking, I know!}.

Last year's Christmas card photo shoot debacle ended in tears, mine and theirs, after both of my boys became personally acquainted with the wonders of goose poop as I flailed my arms and squawked like said geese while they became one with the nastiness.

So I decided we'd try to something a little more casual this year.

While this year's photo shoot, which actually ended up being G's idea, didn't end in complete poopy, tear-ridden disaster, it also didn't end with a happy mommy photographer. Rather, I was completely frazzled and grumpy from the complete lack of interest and cooperation.

And this has gotten me thinking -- Christmas is supposed to be a joyful celebration of Christ's birth. Christmas cards are supposed to be greetings of good cheer and wishes for a wondrous celebration. There shouldn't be tears {goose poop} and frustration wrapped up in it.

Though, yes, a good picture says a thousand words, a happy family speaks volumes more.

Thus, starting this year, I'm embracing the imperfect photos we have that feature genuine smiles, placing them on the absolutely gorgeous Tiny Prints Christmas card we found, and I'm resting in the intention of our hearts -- our Cause for celebrating -- being the main message on our beautifully designed cards:

Because it isn't all about us anyway -- Christmas time or other. 

Tiny Prints offered me 50 Christmas cards in exchange for posting about its beautiful selection of Tiny Prints Christmas Cards. They are absolutely gorgeous. As always, opinions are mine alone, and I only spread the word about products I love and use from companies I'm proud to support.