My Holiday Cards: 12th Design
DESIGN 12: FRONT
DESIGN 12: FRONT FLAP
Message: “Warm wishes for safe and peaceful travel this holiday season.”
DESIGN 12: INSIDE SPREAD
Overall size: 15×5.
DESIGN 12: BACK
Specs: Horizontal 5×5 tri-fold card on archival linen with the inside design spanning the inside spread, folded in thirds.
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What I love about this design — The travel theme that is built into this card is timeless! That picture on the front inside flap is one of my all-time favorite pictures. Why? What is it about kids in the car that we can all relate to? I guess it’s a ritual of childhood to be loaded in a vehicle of some sort, sitting dangerously close to your siblings, on a trek over the proverbial river and through the woods to grandma’s house. It just EEKS family, and that’s why I LOVE this card! The family travel theme is echoed on the outside of the card, with images that resemble standard travel snapshots. Then open the card to its full 15×5 spread and you are invited, literally, inside. Oh sure, the texture is nice, and if you study the actual card carefully, you might notice a very subtle post-mark motif and hand-writing, like a postcard. And truly, the background image of the children wrestling on the couch (yet another timeless childhood ritual) is charming, but it’s THEIR EYES that really draws us into their world.
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Cheers! And thanks for visiting the blog!
This was my favorite Christmas card I received this year. In fact, I called the family right when i received it because it was so unique. The card tells a story. It reminds us how lucky we are to have our families and how the most important thing in life is spending time with them. I really liked the individual pictures of [the children]. Especially their eyes! This is the only card I will keep all year on my entertainment center and I look forward to next years!
[thanks for the comment! I edited it to remove the children’s names and the family’s last name. —jws]
Comment by DMF — January 28, 2008 @ 2:16 pm
Hi Julie,
The card was absolutely the best Christmas card I’ve seen yet! I’ve shown it to all my friends and they are blown away. Makes mine look pretty bad!!!
Robin Marx
[Thanks for the comment, Robin! I edited it to take out the family name. —jws]
Comment by Robin Marx — January 28, 2008 @ 2:19 pm
I always look forward to receiving Christmas cards that give a glimpse into the lives of my friends and their children. Since we live far apart, we don’t see each other as often as we’d like. This card gives me a sense of the different personality of each child.
Comment by Donna — January 28, 2008 @ 2:21 pm
Jen & John - You guys look great. I loved receiving this card - - I especially liked the “travel theme” as it made me think of your trip here to see us!! Happy New Year! Anj
Comment by Anjanette — January 28, 2008 @ 2:44 pm
I love this card. so creative and peaceful. what a way to capture a beautiful family
Comment by suzi manley — January 28, 2008 @ 2:59 pm
My favorite Christmas card this year! BEAUTIFUL pictures!!!
Thanks for great shots!!!
Nancy Fuccile
Comment by Nancy — January 28, 2008 @ 4:03 pm
I love this card! You definitely get the feel that it was a year in their travels as opposed to a one day photo shoot. I love the shots of the kids on the inside. Their eyes and expressions are incredible! And I definitely agree, the car shot and wrestling shots were relateable and telling. Jennifer- your family truly looks picture perfect!
Comment by Stacey — January 28, 2008 @ 7:18 pm
When I received this card I was so struck by how these adorable children are growing, and their personalities really came across in the photos. Though I haven’t gotten to see the twins in almost 7 years (!) and have never met their brother, these photos gave me a glimpse into how happy they are.
Comment by Michelle — January 28, 2008 @ 8:04 pm
put all other christmas cards to shame. if you want to make your friends jealous choose julie as your photographer and i don’t even know her, just admired her work.
Comment by jp — January 28, 2008 @ 9:23 pm
This card is amazing (as are the people in it)! It’s like reading a story. We have all of our cards displayed on a wall and everyone who comes over comments on how beautiful this is. As soon as we received it my husband said you have to tell Paige that this one wins!
Comment by tara — January 28, 2008 @ 10:43 pm
Jules, it is so apparent that you LOVE designing these cards. The are spectacular!
Comment by Lisa Carpenter — January 28, 2008 @ 11:09 pm
I think this card is the best so far. Everyone I show it to flips over it. The holidays are for families and not just kids and this card gives family and friends who received it a chance to enjoy some special moments through living pictures. The eyes of the children on the inside spread are intense and captivating. I espcially like that each picture can be cut out and framed as a keepsake. Superimposing them over a fun loving scene was so special. The back flap was a perfect closing.
Comment by mts — January 28, 2008 @ 11:12 pm
I laughed out loud when I saw my grandchildren in the car with Drew controlling the snacks! Back in the days when there were no seatbelts or restraints my brother and I couldn’t travel two hours in the car to the shore without having some sort of major spat. My father would threaten to pull over if we didn’t stop. You are a modern day Norman Rockwell. I loved everything about the card.
Comment by Donna Lambdin — January 29, 2008 @ 9:05 am
Love the travel theme coupled with the inside saying. The inside spread is amazing with the bacground picture fitting two sides. Great card.
Comment by Dawn — January 29, 2008 @ 9:23 am
This is a beautiful card! Who ever called it “peaceful” was dead-on. Also, the layout and photos are so artistic. (Of course, the adorable models don’t hurt.) Love it–I’d definitely recommend this one to all of my friends.
Comment by Jenny F — January 29, 2008 @ 9:04 pm
you saved the best for last — the back of the card. incredible!!!
Comment by bob — January 29, 2008 @ 10:41 pm
Paige’s friend, Donna, called today to see if she could register a comment on Paige’s card because she has a newborn and no time to go on the Web site.
I HEAR YA!!!
No problem! It was great talking to you, Donna! She said they kept Paige’s card from last year up all year long, and now they have this year’s card displayed. I love hearing that people keep their cards out all year! Thanks again for calling, Donna, and I wish you and your family the best in this exciting year of your new baby boy’s life! —jws
Comment by donna — January 30, 2008 @ 12:20 pm
When i opened the card I didn’t know what to expect. I got goose bumps seeing my grandchildren come alive in front of me. You captured them perfectly.
Comment by DGL — January 30, 2008 @ 9:00 pm
My sister in law checks out my collection of holiday cards every year and as soon as she caught a glimpse of this one she picked it as her favorite…and I can’t help but agree. The pitures capture such a fun and loving energy that you feel when you’re with these kids.
Comment by susan gray — January 31, 2008 @ 8:04 pm
the back photo says ‘the best it yet to come,’ exactly the right message from christmas and new year’s.
Comment by bob — February 3, 2008 @ 12:25 pm
This is the best Christmas card a grandfather could receive to show off his grandchildren in so many ways with the fun, excitment and the love they bring to me. As the pictures show I need to stay fit to keep up with them. Thanks for your creative way of bringing some of these special moments to life for me.
Grandpa
Comment by john schuchman — February 7, 2008 @ 9:37 am
If those were my kids, I’d have you make the inside of that card into a big wall canvas for the den. Those colors would look great on my wall. You got me thinking about wall canvases with that other post about the montages and the gallery wrap hanging over the bed.
Comment by Steve G. — February 14, 2008 @ 11:32 pm
That picture in the car is TOO CUTE, Julie! The inside of the card is beautiful! But I love the picture on the back too. UGH! You make it so hard to pick a favorite thing!
Comment by michelle — February 19, 2008 @ 1:51 pm