“Say It” With Your Own Photo Cards

I met my siblings this past week to finalize paperwork for a legacy passed down from our grandmother to our mother and now to us. I wanted to bring a memory of these two wonderful women with me as I traveled to our meeting.

As I thought about grandma and mom, I searched for a picture that reflected the bond they shared and their prairie roots. Once I found the picture, I ordered copies of the print and considered how to make something special to commemorate the event.

Mom taught us the importance of giving and sending cards. Every Monday morning, mom would sit at the dining room table and write letters and cards to family and friends. She grew up in a tradition of letter writing which she maintained throughout her life. Using the photo of grandma and mom, I created a Photo Card using their picture on the front cover and a memory quote typed inside. I placed a copy of the same photo and a handwritten note within each card.

Greeting cards were an important form of communication when mom was growing up. While email and social media have largely replaced the need for cards, sometimes “saying it with a greeting card” is still the most personal way to share your thoughts and feelings.

If you are interested in creating your own Photo Cards here are the steps I followed:

1. Scan your picture.
2. Open Walgreens Photo on the web.
   I use Walgreens Photo because they have discount coupons
   I can place my order using my home computer and the web
   I can choose same day pickup which is important because I usually do things at the last minute and
   I can pay at the store since I do not like to type credit card information on the web
3. Log into Walgreens Photo with user name and password. You get a user name and password by registering for a free account.
4. Click on upload photos to upload scanned picture into an online photo album.
5. Click on Cards and select a 5″ by 7″ Full Photo Folded Card, click on the Portrait Photo Layout and then click on Create Now.
6. Click on Get Photo to open Online Photo Albums. Click on your photo and click done.
7. Drag photo onto the front of online card. Click on inside tab to view the inside of online card. Type text. I used a memory quote I found on the web: “Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose.” ~ Kevin Arnold
8. Edit text and picture then click on Order.
9. The last step didn’t involve me at all. I had my husband pick up the cards that same day on his way home from work. Couldn’t have been simpler!

Earth Laughs in Flowers

Earth Laughs in Flowers
Ralph Waldo Emerson

We spent the morning preparing our yard for the coming winter. As we gathered the last of the vegetables and mulched the berries I stopped to enjoy the flowers final glory. They were so beautiful I ran to the house to get my camera. As I snapped pictures I noticed the flower petals were a little worse for wear due to cold nighttime temperatures.

Once inside, I decided to give my flowers a boost by importing these pictures into my computer and using the FX Photo Studio app to turn them into art. With a simple click of the mouse I previewed one effect after another until I found settings that were pleasing to my eyes. I made notecards with these pictures to share with friends and family all through the long winter. Preserving these flower memories will, hopefully, keep me a little warmer as the snow flies.

To view these note cards, click on pw_notecards. If printing, use 8 1/2 by 11 inch card stock or heavy weight paper. Once printed, fold in half lengthwise (the long edge) then cut the page in half at 5 1/2 inches to yield two note cards.