6 Crazy Ideas to Put the FUN Back in Your Family Christmas Card and Family Holiday Photo

One of the most popular family holiday traditions is sending out Christmas cards to faraway relatives, neighbors and friends with a family photo. However, the actual taking of the family photo for the family Christmas card is not always a jolly joy, sometimes considered a nuisance task marked by grunts and groans, resulting in a staged, stiff photo of fake smiles and barely contained hostility. Try making the family Christmas card photo a wild and crazy experience and you will be thrilled with the result.

The most important aspect to remember while planning your family holiday picture is to have fun with it. If the family members are enjoying themselves and each other, it will shine through in the family portrait. Some creative ideas to help your family have fun and enjoy taking the family holiday picture for the annual Christmas card are:

1. Get out of the house, out of the photo studio and take the picture outdoors, perhaps while selecting the Christmas tree or building a snowman;
2. Wear matching family clothing - matching holiday Christmas pajamas or family matching holiday shirts are a great twist. You can also wear them on Christmas Eve and while Christmas caroling.
3. Dig out a special picture from a special family vacation during the year - who says the family Christmas card has to be taken in the winter? A treasured family picture in Disney World or while white water rafting is just as special as one taken in winter.
4. Wear goofy hats - santa hats, chef hats, baseball caps, be creative!
5. Get active - instead of posing the family stiffly in front of a camera, try having someone take a picture of your family engaged in your favorite family activity, whether its biking, mountain climbing, lounging around, a snowball fight, sledding or playing the Wii
6. Family collage - a really creative Christmas card idea is taking a close-up snapshot of each family member individually being their own individual self. Put all the photos into a collage to compile a family Christmas card that symbolizes the uniqueness of the individuals in your family and also how they come together to make the family special!

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This holiday season loosen up a little, be creative and have fun with your family while taking your Family Christmas picture! Family and friends will be talking about your Christmas card for many holiday seasons to come.

6 Crazy Ideas to Put the FUN Back in Your Family Christmas Card and Family Holiday Photo

6 Crazy Ideas to Put the FUN Back in Your Family Christmas Card and Family Holiday Photo

FOOTSTEPS CLOTHING.com is a fun family apparel company offering family-oriented designer clothing and fun family matching clothing, shirts and FAMILY MATCHING PAJAMAS. Visit the FAMILY HOLIDAY SHOP for more tips and products to enhance your family togetherness this holiday season!

Matching Family Pajamas to Crazy Christmas Cards - 5 Unique Family Holiday Tradition Ideas!

Family holiday traditions are as unique and varied as families themselves. Holiday tradition marks the season and encourages family togetherness. The entire holiday season is permeated with a beautiful air - families being together, spending time together, respecting each other and loving each other. If you are looking to start a unique and special family holiday tradition for your family, here are some great ideas that real families enjoy each and every year. Even if your family has a host of tradition, a new and unique holiday tradition can add some extra excitement to your family's holiday season.

Matching Family Pajamas - Purchase a fun holiday or Christmas design of family matching pajamas early in the holiday season and have the whole family wear their matching pajamas while holiday baking, watching Rudolph, trimming the tree, Christmas Eve and opening gifts on Christmas morning.

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Family Christmas Card Photo - The taking of the family photo for the family Christmas card to send out to family, friends and everyone is not always a jolly joy, sometimes considered a nuisance task marked by grunts and groans. Try making the family Christmas card photo a fun experience and you will be thrilled with the result. Some creative ideas are:

Matching Family Pajamas to Crazy Christmas Cards - 5 Unique Family Holiday Tradition Ideas!

• Take the picture outdoors, perhaps while selecting the Christmas tree;
• Wear matching family clothing - matching holiday pajamas are a great twist;
• Take a special picture from a special family vacation during the year - who says the family Christmas card has to be taken in the winter?
• Wear goofy hats - santa hats, chef hats, baseball caps, be creative!
• Family in action - instead of posing the family stiffly in front of a camera, try having someone take a picture of your family engaged in your favorite family activity, whether its biking, mountain climbing, lounging around or playing the Wii
• Family collage - a really creative Christmas card idea is taking a close-up snapshot of each family member individually being their own individual self. Put all the photos into a collage to compile a family Christmas card that symbolizes the uniqueness of the individuals in your family and also how they come together to make the family special!

 
Holiday Charity for the whole Family - the holiday spirit is all about giving. Try making your holiday charity a family event. Not only will this tradition instill the charitable spirit into children, but will give the whole family a special bond as they assist those less fortunate during the holiday season.
 
Christmas Eve Bingo - Christmas Eve is a special time for families to be together and celebrate each other. Make your own Christmas bingo cards out of construction paper using any fun symbols and bottle caps for marking the cards. Your family may have more fun making the bingo cards!  
 
Family Cookie Exchange -  A cookie exchange party is a fun event for adults during holiday time. Why not include the whole family and invite some good friends over for a family cookie exchange? Be sure that the kids help bake the cookies and mix the punch!

Matching Family Pajamas to Crazy Christmas Cards - 5 Unique Family Holiday Tradition Ideas!

FOOTSTEPS CLOTHING.com is a unique family apparel company where you can find a large selection of products designed to promote family togetherness including matching family pajamas, holiday pajamas for the whole family, matching Christmas pajamas with family-inspired designs adn expressions. Visit the Holiday Shop at Footsteps Clothing.com for a wide selection of unique family gift ideas including our best-selling MATCHING FAMILY PAJAMAS.

40th Birthday Cake Ideas

A 40th birthday is a great time to celebrate! If you're going to be throwing a birthday party for someone who is reaching that milestone, here are some 40th birthday cake ideas for fabulous cake possibilities.

First, consider the old standby. A simple cake should work for this one, but have the number 40 written as big as possible. Then, surround the edges of the cake with 40 candles. Don't forget to light them. And don't forget to have a fire extinguisher standing by.

Birthday

Second, why not try a photo reproduction cake? These are becoming more and more popular and they can be very beautifully done. You'll need a favorite photograph of the birthday gal or guy. Maybe one with the spouse, or even with the kids. Phone around to local bakeries to find one that has the capability of turning the photo into a cake topper. They'll make an actual edible photo to put on top of the cake. Most cakes I've seen like this are real conversation pieces. Everyone loves them. And then you get to eat it, and it's always fun to see who gets to eat Uncle Larry's head.

40th Birthday Cake Ideas

Third, try the hobby angle. Does your brother like to fish? Then, have a cake decorated with a fishing theme. Does your aunt like to golf? Golf-themed cakes can be super cute. There was a very beautiful cake at my local bakery that was decorated with shoes and handbags for a woman who loved shopping. Whatever the hobby, the bakery can do it!

Next, you can't forget the "Root for the Hometeam" cake. Does your family love the Razorbacks? A cake in the shape of a hog, covered in bright red icing will always make people happy. And then you get to make fun of everyone because after they eat the icing, their lips and mouth will be bright red for the rest of the day. Any team colors or logos will make a super 40th birthday cake really special.

Lastly, don't scoff at the tried and true tombstone/over-the-hill cake. Yes, it's been done and overdone. But it also makes people laugh every time. And, truly, the 40th birthday is a great time to poke a little fun.

Whatever cake you choose, make sure to take a picture. Because the recipient is going to remember this birthday for a long time!

40th Birthday Cake Ideas

Leefe Poche is the founder of http://www.cakes-you-can-bake.com

Inexpensive Kids Birthday Party Locations

While throwing your child a birthday party is high on any parents list, most people don't want to spend a fortune for the celebration. Depending on the time of year and your budget, there are some great options for the location of the party (other than your home).

If you do decide to throw a party outside your home, be sure to include your child in the location decision. If the child is young, you may want to bring them to the location prior to the party so that they can get comfortable and excited about the upcoming event. Most kids look forwarding to opening their presents at the end of their party. So whatever option you choose, make sure you set aside a special place where all the party goers can place the birthday gifts.

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1. Town Park Shelter. Many local communities offer rental shelters at the parks where they have picnic tables, grills and play equipment for the kids. The older children can go play while the adults hang out. The food doesn't have to be gourmet, instead keep it simple and easy like barbecuing hot dogs or burgers or a couple baked lasagnas with salad. Follow up with a fun birthday cake from your local warehouse club, grocery store or your own kitchen.

Inexpensive Kids Birthday Party Locations

2. Fast Food Restaurant. Both McDonald's and Hardees offer kids parties that include a party hostess, food and cake at reasonable prices. The other great thing about these restaurants is that many have Playlands or plastic ball pits so that the kids can be entertained while the adults chit-chat and relax a bit.

3. Children's or Science Museum. If you have a larger budget, a local science or children's museum can be a great place to hold a birthday party. Some places have party hostesses and provide some supplies, so just check what they provide in your city. You may only need to bring a birthday cake and presents.

4. Movie Theater. Many towns have inexpensive or dollar show theaters that will rent out the entire theater or give you big group discount as well as discounts on snacks and soda. Some theaters will let you bring in some of your own snacks and a cake so just check and see what can be done at your local theater by speaking with the manager.

5. Neighborhood Club House. If you live in a planned community, chances are that you have a club house in your neighborhood or apartment complex. Often these rooms are either free or can be rented for a nominal fee by residents. The club house would likely give you more room than your home, but it would still be close enough that you could set up the birthday party relatively easily. Not to mention, you don't have to clean your house!

6. Local Fire Department. Often times, local fire departments have rooms that they will allow local residents utilize for free or for a nominal fee. Some fire departments will even give the children of a private birthday party a tour of the department and let them try on some of the firefighters' gear and get their photos taken. These pictures make great keepsake gifts for all the children.

Inexpensive Kids Birthday Party Locations

Can't make the birthday party or need a unique birthday gift this year? All About Gifts & Baskets has a huge selection of Kids Birthday Gift Baskets for any age. From candy to cookies, chocolate to books, let us take care of all your gift basket needs. Shop online and ship direct to the birthday boy or girl.

Awesome Cricut Card Ideas For Your Family

Why spend another penny on a store bought greeting card now that you own a Cricut cutting machine. You paid a lot for that Cricut, so let's put it to work. Here are just a few Cricut Card Ideas that will get you started and allow you to use any of your cricut cartridges you choose.

The next holiday coming up on the calendar is Easter. When I think of what cricut card ideas I can come up with, I think of how your family and friends will react when they receive a handmade greeting card made by YOU. Now that you have your Cricut cutting machine and a variety of cricut cartridges, it is so easy to add your personal touch to a card.

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If one of the cricut cartridges you have is the Cricut Doodlecharms cartridge, you can make a really cute handmade greeting card of the Easter Bunny or an Easter Basket filled with colored eggs. Or maybe another one of your cricut cartridges is the Cricut Wild Card cartridge so you can make a Filigree Easter Egg card. Another one of my Cricut Card ideas is if you have the Cricut Stretch your Imagination cartridge. You can make a card with a Bunny coloring Easter eggs or a bunny in a basket.

Awesome Cricut Card Ideas For Your Family

As far as all of the cricut card ideas I could come up with for Easter, not all of them need to have bunnies or eggs on them. Here is an example of using a different one of your cricut cartridges called A Walk in My Garden cartridge. With this cricut cartridge you can make beautiful daffodil, hyacinth, or tulip to be the theme of your card. You are the artist of this Easter card, show your creativity and have fun.

Then the next big card day is Mothers Day. Think of how your Mom will feel getting a handmade greeting card from her child. You will totally make her day. No matter what cricut cartridges you have you will be able to find some thing that will put a smile on her face, and of course you will do all of this with your magnificent cricut cutting machine. It could be as simple as a basic flower from the Plantin SchoolBook cartridge, that you cut into different sizes and layer on a card, and then add the words Happy Mothers Day, or to the Best Mommy in the World.

The great thing about your Cricut cutting machine and all the cricut cartridges that are available to you is that it gives you thousands of Cricut card ideas. You will see that your cards look so professional you will not be able to wait to send them out or start selling them. I'm going to get busy making my handmade greeting cards on my very own Cricut cutting machine, how about you?

Awesome Cricut Card Ideas For Your Family

Get other great Cricut Card Ideas and learn more about the various cricut cartridges by visiting JoansCraftWorld.com

10 Birthday Gift Ideas That Cost Nothing

In the current economic climate we are all looking for ways to cut back on the outgoings whilst trying to improve the incomings! Well with most people sending 30 gifts per annum and each of those gifts costing an average of it means that we are spending over ,000 a year on this area of our budget alone. Imagine the difference it would make if you could send half of those gifts for free. This would leave you with either more money to spend on the other half or to save yourself a whopping 0 each year. Now that is a saving worth putting the effort in for. Below I have listed 10 Birthday Gift Ideas that won't cost you a cent. (I didn't include postage in the above example as some of the 'Cost Nothing Gift Ideas' may incur postage if the recipient lives to far away to personally deliver to)

1. Find a good online e-card website and send them a really nice online card. Inside enter the following message 'For your gift this year, I have subscribed you to a Joke a Month service for the entire year. Don't forget to check your emails on the 1st of each month!' Set a recurring reminder on your computer to let you know that you need to email your joke. When you receive the reminder, check all those emailed jokes you have received over the last month for a suitable one and send it on. Not only does this cost you nothing but you are also give the gift of laughter which in my book is priceless.

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2. If the live locally, why not organize a Birthday get together for them and a whole bunch of friends at your place. You can set it up as a total surprise without them knowing and then just invite them round on the night using some excuse such as 'I really need you to help me tune in my TV set' or 'I have this strange damp patch in the bathroom I would like your opinion on'. OK, so how are you going to do it for free? Easy, all you have to do is to be organized up front. Firstly you draw a list of nibbles up (max 20 items), then you invite 20 friends assigning a nibble for each of them to bring. Along with this the odd numbered friends bring beer and the even numbered friends bring wine. Pick a few of the extremely eager friends to pop round early to help you decorate and now you have organized a great Birthday bash that will be really appreciated and you haven't had to dip into your wallet or purse once.

10 Birthday Gift Ideas That Cost Nothing

3. Save all those unwanted Christmas presents you receive. Place them in a strong cardboard carton and put them somewhere safe. Once Christmas is over, take them out and assign each one to your Birthday list for the year. You will be surprised how many can be recycled. NOTE - Make sure that you don't end up giving somebody a present of the gift that they gave you for Christmas!

4. When you are out shopping for yourself and you see something that you fancy buying but you only need one and they are doing a 2 for the price of one deal, have a quick mental scan down your Birthday list and see if there is anyone on there that you could give the second item to. Not only do you get what you want but a friend or relative also get a great gift that costs you nothing.

5. If you have a friend who loves takeouts, save a whole bunch of deals that you get delivered in the mail, cut out all the offers in the local papers, print out any deals that you can find on the internet as well. Make sure they won't expire before the targeted Birthday! Try to get around 50 to a 100. Make sure you have an extra large Birthday card, write your message inside and pack with all the coupons and seal. When opened all the coupons will spill out creating a great surprise ... and I bet they will use some of the coupons.

6. Great sources for free gifts are the hundreds of thousands of online competitions that you can enter online. Even if you don't fancy the item yourself I bet you will no somebody that would like it. They are free to enter and don't take that long to do and even your return on entries is 0.5%, you only need to enter a couple of hundred to get yourself a 'Cost Nothing Birthday Gift'

7. Sign up online for free samples; you will be surprised what you can get. You could go for all make up and pamper products. Maybe get yourself 10 to 15. Decorate a smallish cardboard carton like a shoe box and place all of your freebie samples inside. Label the box with something like 'Chloe's Pamper Box' and hey presto you have a great 'Cost Nothing Birthday Present'. It also works well with a whole bunch of food samples that you can get from online shopping malls and manufacturers, these make a great mini food hamper.

8. Look through your book collection for ones that you have read, but look like they have never been opened. Alternatively check your DVD collection out for ones that show no signs of having been previously watched. They are only cluttering up the house, they make great gifts, and again, they cost you nothing to pass on. Works well with CD's to!

9. Check through all you digital photo's on the computer for pictures containing the Birthday boy or girl. Print them out and cut them into different shapes. Collect some rusty colored dried leaves from the back yard and build a collage of the pictures framed with the dried leaves. Using different colored pens add a witty or loving caption to each of the pictures and you have yourself a great homemade gift (always worth extra points) that costs you nothing.

10. For loved ones you cant beat a really meaningful and heart felt poem. It may take a bit of time to put together and if you are struggling for ideas you can always have a check on the internet for a little inspiration. You can put your poem straight inside the their Birthday card or you could try it with a collage as in point 9 but maybe use rose petals instead of dried leaves (you would need to dry these out by pressing them first our you will find they will go all brown and yucky!)

Well that's the lot; Even if you don't fancy any of the 10 'Cost You Nothing Birthday Gift Ideas' I have suggested I hope that it has given you a few ideas of your own to help with keeping the outgoings down a little this year.

10 Birthday Gift Ideas That Cost Nothing

For a great selection of Birthday and Christmas gifts in Australia visit http://www.gifts2thedoor.com.au and in the UK visit http://www.gifts2thedoor.co.uk

Writing Tips - How to Write a Birthday Card

Birthday cards can contain a very simple, single-line message. Some people, on the other hand, prefer coming up with complex and more artistic birthday wishes. Writing a successful birthday card involves sincerity, sense of humor and emotionality.

In fact, writing a text for a close friend is far from complex. All you need is the positive sentiment connected to that person and your creativity. A beautiful birthday card contains a very honest and straightforward message.

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You can create several types of greeting texts. It can be few-sentences long, or it could be a famous quote. You can even come up with your own fun and original birthday card poems.

Writing Tips - How to Write a Birthday Card

Simple Wishes and Messages

Traditional messages have their charm and such greetings will never go out of fashion. Starting a card by saying "Happy Birthday, dearest (name of person)" will always be an attractive way to start making your statement.

If you feel like using your own words, try to write several sentences of best wishes. Be yourself and use the words that are typical for your everyday speech. A statement written this way will make the birthday person think of you instantly.

Are you uncertain about the things to write about? What would you like to say to your friend or loved one? Which wishes will be most appropriate? You know that person and you know how to come up with something touching and very personal.

Here are several simple birthday card message examples that you can make use of:

Happy Birthday! Wishing you a tremendous year and an amazing party tonight!

Happy Birthday, dearest (name of person)! May all your wishes come true!

Every year we grow wiser and more experienced. Wishing you the wisdom to make important decisions and the childhood spirit to keep your life attractive and wild!

Happy Birthday, dear! Wishing you another great year of fun, friendship and moments that take your breath away!

Add Fun or Famous Quotes

Famous quotes connected to birthdays and special occasions will add some glitter to your birthday card.

Choose quotes and statements carefully. They have to correspond to the overall tone of the message you are trying to make. Here are several famous quotes that you can use when writing your birthday card:

- If you survive long enough, you're revered - rather like an old building. - Katherine Hepburn

- Count your life by smiles, not tears. Count your age by friends, not years. - John Lennon

- Wisdom doesn't necessarily come with age. Sometimes age just shows up all by itself. - Tom Wilson

- Our birthdays are feathers in the broad wing of time. - Jean Paul Richter

Try Writing a Poem

Poems can be fun, emotional or very cute. A birthday card poem will add something extra special to your message.

Writing a poem is very simple, as long as you have the right idea. Dictionaries, even online ones, will provide you with rhyme suggestions that will help you come up with beautiful birthday poems.

Relying on your sense of humor is the best option that you have. Make your dear one laugh and you have certainly achieved your mission.

Remember that being yourself is the one element that will guarantee the success of your birthday card. Be sincere and even if your message sounds unoriginal, stick to it. These are your own words and the wishes you have for a dear friend. Do not underestimate the power of this message.

Writing Tips - How to Write a Birthday Card

Misha Anatolia writes about party planning topics, including birthday and bridal shower wording tips and other bridal shower ideas. Misha enjoys cooking and hosting parties when not writing.

Note: You can reprint this article in your ezine, blog, or website as long as the credits remain intact and hyperlinks remain active and dofollow.

Happy Birthday Card: A Special Gift on a Special Day for a Special Person

We often have problems on thinking what best gift would fit to our special someone on their special day. Yet, it never came across our minds that best gifts could only come from simple thoughts of remembering them on their birthdays.

Birthday cards are good examples on how you could express your thoughts of gratitude, appreciation or just simply remembering that today is their day! Through these cards, you could convey whatever you wish to say to the person involved and put across all unsaid words, feelings and emotions.

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Buying a Birthday Card...

Happy Birthday Card: A Special Gift on a Special Day for a Special Person

Birthday Cards comes in various designs that are readily available to be bought at any bookstores near you. In choosing what to buy, one should consider:

* The recipient of the card. It should somehow reveal to whom the card is intended to. This anticipates that the totality of the card speaks about feelings towards the expected receiver of the card.

* The title of the card. The title of the card is important for it speaks of the card itself. The card must have a cliché title so as to give an impression of enthusiasm and excitement to the recipient.

* The cover of the card. The design of the cover gives the recipient a fancy feeling. In choosing a card, you must also take into consideration the recipient's personality. You might intend to give a card in which the design is too loud and lively wherein the recipient is too classy and sophisticated. This might result of losing the recipient's interest on opening the card.

* The thoughts written on the card. The card must posses the thoughts you somehow wish to convey. It might not be the exact words but still, the idea is carried out in the card. It could also contain some tricky ideas in which it adds spice and art to the card.

* The space provided. The card must have a space wherein you could freely write thoughts that was not written in the card, or things you still wish to say. This would provide you the opportunity of putting across your feelings and emotions towards the person.

Creating a Birthday Card

Personally made birthday cards are exceptional. These would give you the chance to personally craft the card for that special someone and would also showcase your talent in making a handcrafted card yourself. Below are some tips on how to make your personally made birthday card one of a kind;

1. Choosing the right paper to use.

There are lots of kinds of paper to choose from like construction paper, art paper, card boards, and etc. These papers also come from different sizes and designs. It might appear plain or have different creative patterns. In choosing the right paper to use, you must have pictured on your mind what would your personally made birthday card might look afterwards.

2. Maximizing your resources.

Recycling is one good idea of maximizing your resources. Cut outs from magazines, buttons, and unused left cloths are some examples of these resources that could be recycled. You could cut letters from glossy magazines to create an artful title or write it down yourself. You could paint a nice background design on the card or create a design using buttons and unused lefts cloths. Remember, the design would vary on how you picture your craft.

3. Creating a crafty design.

In designing your card, you must take into consideration the recipient's personality and relation to you without sacrificing the art of your craft. Pop ups would also give tricky, yet artful, design of your personally made card. But bear in mind of not over designing your card. It might look awkward already and would look over crowded.

4. Summarizing your thoughts. There are lots of artful ways on how to summarize your thoughts. Composing a poem or copying a line from a verse or song is an example of conveying your feelings. You should also consider the artful way of writing down these words on your craft.

Birthday presents need not to be expensive. There are lots of simple ways of sending your greetings. Birthday cards are one way of delivering emotions. It might be bought or personally crafted. It's not the value that counts, it's the thought within!

Happy Birthday Card: A Special Gift on a Special Day for a Special Person

Dave Poon is an accomplished writer who specializes in the latest in Special Occasions. For more information regarding Happy Birthday Cards [http://www.funbirthdayworld.com/happy_birthday_cards.php] please drop by at [http://www.funbirthdayworld.com/]