Easy Toddler Mail-Out

I try to mail pictures to the grandparents often. If something as simple as a few pictures of my kids can make my loved ones happy - then I am going to mail them pictures! 

With the Thanksgiving batch of pictures, instead of including a note card, I let Hudson send a coloring sheet. 

I simply found a printable coloring sheet online that I liked, printed it and let Hudson color away. 

His coloring may just be scribbles these days, but it made for a fun bit of mail for our family. 

It was so fun, in fact, that I plan to do this for other holidays! 

Collecting Christmas Cards

It's no secret that I love mail. And so, when the Christmas cards begin to come in, I am soooo excited. I like to display the cards I receive. I think it further adds to the Christmas decor and is a visual reminder of some amazing friends and family. This year, I decided to use some metal chip clips that I had on hand.

I had used these clips back in my college dorm room to display notes and cards (see them hanging from the end of my bunk bed). I had gotten them from my uncle, who works at a grocery store.

They are the clips that hold chips or different little items on the isle at grocery stores.

Since I have a few of these, I hung them on different sides of my hutch. As one fills, I move on to another.

How are you displaying your cards this Christmas? Do you put them in a basket? Did you make something crafty? Next year, I might try to make something, but this year, I was happy to just use an item that I had on hand.

See a previous card display project with shutters here. 

The Shutters were Hung in the Kitchen with Care...

I find myself almost skipping to the mailbox each afternoon to see what Christmas cards may have arrived. Last year, I put all of our cards inside a metal birdcage - This year, I wanted to find a different way to display the cards we received.

In our old apartment, I had 2 black shutters hung on a photo collage wall - Unfortunately, this is the only picture I could locate of the shutters - it only shows the corner of the collage.

 

I also used to use them in my dorm room. 

After a quick coat of glossy red spray paint (left over from my fork and spoon), they were ready to be hung. 

I decided to hang them at different heights to keep it from seeming like the twin towers on the kitchen wall. (For some reason, my decorating often resembles National monuments.)

Our Christmas cards look perfect nestled in the shutters.

As we get closer to Christmas, I am sure they will fill up more.

 

And, I'm thinking this will be a great place to display mail all year - Birthday cards, anniversary cards, etc!. One more item to check off my Christmas To-Do list!

How are you displaying your cards this year?

Christmas Cards and Labels

Christmas is getting closer and I've just crossed a few more items off my Christmas to-do list!

My Christmas cards are out! I've started a new tradition - It's worked great the past two years. After Christmas, when all the Christmas-y things are on clearance, I purchased my cards. Ashlee and I ended up getting a fabulous deal on our cards last year at Hobby Lobby. I love to find cards with Scripture inside, and Hobby Lobby carries a wide selection. When I put my Christmas decorations away, I pack my purchased cards with them! Then, there is no hunting for them next year! And I've found I'm a little more motivated to get the cards out.

This year, I love going to the mailbox each day to find out what cards we received. Soon I'll share how we are displaying our cards in the Cook house.

I also wanted to include a picture with our cards this year -something taken inside our home (Since this is our first Christmas in the new house). I love all the photo cards, but they are too pricey to print for my cards. Ritz Photography has an excellent deal that was in my budget. You can get 3 1/2 x 5 inch prints for 6 cents each Tuesday.

Growing up, my dad would make Amy and I design things for church or other projects on the computer. He taught me so much about design and how to maneuver images. Each time I design something on the computer, I am so thankful that my dad thought this a valuable life lesson. For my wedding, I ended up printing my own invitations and many other things. It has saved me so much money in the long run.

After finding several images that I was satisfied with on Pinterest, I came up with this design.

I love that you can see part of our home, the tree, and my big red C!

Also, since we now have a permanent address, I have been wanting one of those fancy, adorable return address stamps. But, picky me can't decide on a design - so I came up with a design for regular old address labels. And to make them fancy, I turned them vertically.

Eventually I'll decide on a stamp design. Etsy even has vendors that allow you to design your own!

So, to my blog reading family,

Merry Christmas!

Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

Love, Jeremiah and Cindy