There’s a giveaway too — Keep reading for details.
It’s that time again. Time to think of a ridiculous premise for our holiday cards! You know how I do a monthly shoot for the kids in the same chair to document their growth? I thought it would be fun to do the same portrait for all of us this year, then compile the photos into a card.
Eleanor is a toddler. If you’ve experienced toddlerhood, you’ll know that’s all that needs to be said.
I put her down for a nap in hopes of a better shot later. I used the time to run out for flowers (Brandon’s idea, and a good one at that). We took the rest of our photos while E slept, but here are a few from the second attempt later in the day. We tried to bribe her with a lollipop. She let it fall out of her mouth and onto her skirt, and was then appalled.
August was happy! A happy but wiggly, rocking, and slightly out of focus baby. It was so dark in the living room, I had to bump the ISO waaaaay up, open the aperture all the way, and hope for the best.
I was the consummate professional, needing only one shot. Or perhaps I’m just saying that so I’ll only have to show you one shot. You’ll never know.
Brandon looks like a standup fellow. So dapper. So mature.
Oh, wait! We have a B-side. A Brandon B-side.
Aw yeah. Brandon’s footie pajamas made a triumphant return. Along with my necklace. And with that, here is this year’s Balch family holiday card.
We’re lookin’ good.
Giveaway
You are no doubt inspired to make your own holiday cards now, right? OK, you may not want to take the route we did. You can still go for the classic family photo, and for that you’ll need a nice camera. And something (or some things) to put that photo on. Well, Shutterfly is offering 50 cards, a 12×12 photo book, an 8×8 photo book, mug, 3 calendars, reusable shopping tote, and an ornament, along with a PowerShot S100 Camera.
Visit Shutterfly to select your favorite photo card template, and leave a comment here about which one you like best to enter. A winner will be randomly selected.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.) 18 years or older. Ends 12/6/11. To enter and for Official Rules, including odds and prize descriptions, visit Girl’s Gone Child, The Spohrs are Multiplying, or Make and Takes. Void where prohibited.
Congratulations to the winner, Diana L!
546 comments
Linda
I love ” Pretty Poinsettia Print Christmas Card ” Thank you for such an awsome giveaway.
young cm
Love Shutterfly! Fave holiday card at the moment is the Holiday Love Sketch card.
Mika H.
I love the Bright Merry Cheer card!
Mary Cox
and by “Simply Joy” I meant “Simply Love!” Oops :)
Mary Cox
My favorite card is the “Simply Joy.” Merry Christmas!
Alison
My favorite is the sparkle joy card! PS- love your holiday card, it’s hilarious!
Christie
I really like the Coastal Wishes card. Fingers crossed! ;)
Bekki
Your card is so cute! I like their colorful cards, like the Merry & Bright line–so cheerful.
atout
My favorite is the Sparkle Joy card.
Angie
I like Sparkle Joy, although my second choice is Merry & Bright Zig Zag.
Laurie
you look great. any of the cards that say Merry & Bright. I love the stripes and zigzags.
Amanda @ RE:DO
So many cute options, it’s hard to choose! One of my faves is the Message In Lights card.
Jenna
Love the simplest ones the best – more photo than design. Lots of cute options!
Beks
Love the Polka Dot Christmas Wishes template!
Merry Christmas!
Brandie
I didn’t know Shutterfly had so many great photo templates! It was hard to choose but I really love the Mod Christmas template for holiday cards.
Paula
I love the Coastal Wishes card :)
Happy Holidays to you and your family!!
Stacee
It’s hard to choose, but I’ll go with the Big Cheers Christmas Card design. Happy Christmas to you and yours, Nicole!
amanda
Fa La La is great – there’s enough room to include a bunch of pictures from the year. No need for a letter with updates, let the photos tell the story!
Sarah
Your pics are adorable. You guys look like you have so much fun! I think I would buy the “what fun” template. Very cute!
Kat
The Air Mail Love Holiday Card! Super Cute!
Ashley R N
Starlight Snowflakes… but could I change my mind? Love so many!
Lindsey G.
I love, love, love the chic chandelier birthday card. It’d be really nice to one day throw myself a fancy birthday party.
Jamie Tinaglia Lee
Adorbs! Brandon’s picture made me bust out in laughter LOL definitely did not expect that!
Shandra Lenae
I love the Joy Template!
Chelsea C.
Loving the Joy Template. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
deanna
I can’t choose between Posh & Merry and Bright Merry Cheer – both so cute!
Abbie
Berry Merry frame! Cute.
colleen j.
its a tie….the oh what fun and the happy everything are so wonderful!!
Meredith
Blessed religious frame~ Meredith
bonnie
my favorite is the missing cookies christmas card!! thanks for the chance to win! xox
Courtney K
Holy cow that’s a ton of stuff! As for the style, I think I like the Joy and Peace one the best.
Carrie
I really like the “Everything Happy Holiday Card” — perfect for the season and for friends of all religions this holiday season. Super cute!
Faith
I just made some funny Xmas cards using the Bright Merry Cheer card.
Aimee
I think falala is super fun! Thx!
Laurendy
my favorite is the Merry Bright Greeting Holiday Card, simple yet fun – love it
kimberly
I love the Frames of Joy 5×5 card–it’s square & has the perfect amount of photos for us :)
Emily St.Clair
Love the “Retro Stripe Frame” card!! -emily
Jahje
I love the Joy template, so simple and beautiful.
Jackie
I love the Merry Bright card – colorful and cute!
Beth
I like the Fun Filmstrip holiday card.
eva chinetti
delicate merry Christmas is my favorite!!! I love the simplicity.
melinda
Snowflake Ribbon. I’m from New England and am all about a white Christmas!
Andrea
I love your card. :) I like the Simply Elegant Frames card.
Lindsay Pearson
Family Highlights looks fun!
Lisa F
‘Frames of Joy’ would be a fun holiday card.
Kelle
Oh Holy Night, Beautiful!
Veronica
I like the Merry Bright postcard. The colors are very eye-catching.
mindi
I love the “simply love” card! And, I adore your card!!
Cora
I love the Top 10 Moments layout. If I had children I would so use this one, its a holiday letter and card in one!
Marisol
I like “Flurry Of Snowflakes Holiday Card” because it’s cute and allows several pictures to be printed on it! :)
Elizabeth
I love the wishing you merry card. There are so many great designs!
Aimee
Confetti Jacks is kind of fun. I like the “Merry Everything” bit!
Cathy K
Love the Joy and Peace card!
Caroline
I like ” with love”
Nami
I love the “colorful Joy” holiday card template.
Beautiful with black and white photos!
Ann
Berry Merry Frame. So pretty!
Heidi
Count our Blessings! So classic!
Melissa armstrong
Fa la la! Although I would <3 you making me a template! This year is our first true family holiday card! Two under two.
Nicole N.
I love the “Oh What Fun” flat card– so cheerful! Thanks for sharing yours!
Suzanne
I’ve been meaning to log on to Shutterfly to make up some holiday cards (after I pose my little 9 month old fellow for a photoshoot). Snowglobe one looks good! I like how you included photos of yourself…I know parents can easily be tempted to just have photos of their kids and leave themselves out, but friends and family from afar want to see the whole gang in my opinion.
Sarah
I love the Colorful Candy Wishes! They have so many to choose from!!
Stefi
The choices are overwhelming! The first one that really stood out to me was Merry Bright Zigzag. Looking to make calendars this year as holiday gifts via Shutterfly. Looking forward to seeing the end result! Your card looks great.
Sophia
Love the Merry Ribbon card. So many cute designs.
Briana Rader
I like the Joy and Peace one!
megan @ a life's design
I love the tradition of sending Christmas cards. I would select “Vintage Merry Wishes”. Happy Holidays!
Sarah Young
We just ordered photo books from Shutterfly for all our family presents! Love Shutterfly. Bright, Merry Zigzag would suit me fine. BTW, those PJs are killing me!
Melissa
I like the holiday love sketch card design.
elise
Wow! What a selection! I like the “Make Merry” card.
Sarah H.
Too many to choose from! But since we’re probably gonna do a combo birth announcement/Christmas card, I’m liking the “Holiday Banner” for its simplicity.
Elizabeth
I love the “Merry Bright” greeting card template. It’s so joyful and happy and has a great vintage feel.
farrell
wow – thanks for the generous giveaway! i am in love love love with the “retro stripe frame” template. love it!
Dottie
I would get the “Celebrate The Bang” New Year’s card template because, I’m so not going to be able to get my holiday photo together in time to send it out this year! Hee hee!
logan
Hmm…tough choice, but I think I like the “Joy in Lights” template the best.
Paige
I love the “bright bold trees” card :)
lindsay
I love the “Fa La La” template! So fun.
Amanda
Vintage Snapshots is my favorite. Love the b&w look.
Caitlin @ Hardly Housewives
I love the Cheers Zigzag and Candy Striped Snapshot. Maybe when we have kids I’ll like some of the more playful ones!
Marta
The twinkly snowflaes re my personal favorite. This is a great looking card :)
Sharon
I have a few favorites… We Believe is adorable, and for the whole family I like Merry Little Stripes.
Snowlet
I love Twinkling snowflakes!
Kim c
The peace, love, and joy is the one that speaks to my heart, as that is what I strive to fill my home with each day. You have the loveliest blog. Thank you for sharing your wonderful life and family.
Katie H
Love the “Top 10 Moments!” card – what a great idea!!
By the way, for your card: I think you should put an age bubble over the cat, as well. :)
Sascha LaCoss
Fa la La is such a cute card – i like multiple pictures on one card and the bubbles above the pictures!
Charlotte
I like the graphic punchiness of the Wishing You Merry card.
misolee
i like the faith and hope card. so simple yet so classy~
Kristin
The snowglobe. How Cute! My little munchkin would look adorable in her little snowglobe.
Erin R.
Loving the Faith, Hope Family card Christmas Card.
sarahbchicago
Sweet & Scrappy is my favorite–love the square shape and the retro label.
Tiffiny Duke
Twinkling Snowflakes is my favorite!!
Deb
How fortuitous! We’re taking family photos this weekend. I love the “alleluia” card format. And Id love to win this giveaway.
Monica
Im really loving the “counting our blessings” card! I’d love to win because we’ve been browsing our shutterfly catalog and it would push us over the edge to finally order this year!!
Love your cute card: got a big chuckle out of me, can only imagine what peoples reactions will be when they receive it!
katie
joy and peace
Sarah M
I love shutterfly, and have been browsing their cards a lot because we are having baby#2 any day now and plan to send out a birth announcement/holiday card combo. If I had to pick today, I’d probably get the Sparkle Joy card.
Jen
I like the Strictly Ornamental!
Larrs
Love the color scheme, very vintage my wife will love it. Now she will want to figure out how to create it, great ideas! Great little gerber models too!
Chris
So hard to choose – but I think I like the Tree of Memories best.
Melissa
Love the holiday sketch style!
Risarjohnson
Why Hello is AWESOME!
karen
so hard to choose…”sweet and scrappy”???
Grace
I love the “we believe”! Merry Christmas!
Comments are closed.