DIY birthday cards?

i have been terrible about sending out birthday cards. Also, having the number I need to send double by getting married makes it that much harder.

I used to go to hallmark & spend 1-2 hours picking out the perfect card for everyone. I'd do them all at once so it just took one trip. I haven't been keeping up with that lately. I hate spending $3 on a card that I don't love. And I don't like sending out generic birthday cards that come in a box.

So I was thinking about making my own b-day cards. I wanted to design them on my computer & upload them to a website to print. I've done this in the past where I made a personalize card for each person. but it was pretty time consuming so I don't always get around to it. then i don't send anything.

My other idea was to make 1 version of a card that I could use for all the b-days. I'm worried that might not be personal enough. but then I think it's more personal than those boxed sets of bday cards. I might need a few different cards so people in the same family don't get the same one.

One I had was to spell out Happy Birthday with the photography alphabets I've collected.

Any ideas?

That's cool Morgan. I always design my own Bday cards too but I personalize them with photos pertaining to the birthday girl or boy.

Love the idea with the alphabet!

do you print them yourself? I had been ordering them from shutterfly, but it takes some time so I don't always do it. plus i have to think ahead for them to arrive in time. also, i don't have pictures i could use for everyone.

I just started thinking of a blank card that I can attach a picture to. so then i'd just need to order prints to pick up at target. maybe like those funny cards that have a B&W old picture on the front.

maybe the picture won't be of the person, but of something funny i pulled of the internet.

Yeah we have a photo printer. I just use card stock and it looks great. I've gotten lots of positive feedback from the recipients.

If we need a general card we usually just go to the dollar store. And then personalize it by writing a nice message inside.

morgan-

you can go to Joann's or Michaels & buy just plain ol' white (or other color) cards n a pack. Just get some photo corners & voila> you can run the card throught the printer or even handwrite on the inside.

I make my own cards (but the more scrapbooking/stamping kind) & can tell you where to go for the good deals/coupons.

awesome! i'll check it out. I know where to get 40% off coupons.

i would not have thought of photocorners.

I think I'll print small pics (maybe 2 per 4x6) and leave a white border around them. Then stick them on a blank card with the photocorners. i'll either run it through the printer or write on it. I was thinking about using black cards & the pens that can write on black.

I think this will be fun. i'll be much more excited about sending a card that I made. I'm going to get started on collecting the pictures to print. I'm sure there will be a few ferrets in the mix. i will probably use mostly funny animal pics.

remember to the the photocorners that have the adhesive already on them. I never use the ones that I have that don't have them.....I lack patience.

My boring birthday cards are from Shutterfly. I just googled a nice pic of a cupcake and put it on the front. The inside is blank and I just run it through my printer and print something nice and personalized for each person...