I was talking to a friend last year about Christmas cards and how I keep them for years on end.  she told me that her family takes time to pray for each family, then they throw them away.  Last year I wanted to do just that (not the throwing away part).  To take each cards down at a time and really pray for each family for a week.  I love this.  I want to save the cards forever and look at them every year, to watch families grow, and get old together. 

 I mean, so much goes into them (time and money).  From booking a photographer, to coordinating cute outfits, to praying the weather behaves if the shoot is outdoors...  I tell ya, it's a process.  Sadly, this year I just didn't have it in me to get the men in my life together for a family shoot.  Waking up every 2 hours to nurse the baby has taken a toll on me.  I just dream of getting sleep so I can function and maybe organize my life. That said, I applaud you super moms! For booking the photographer, getting cute outfits coordinated, praying for good weather, and just being beautiful.  I will do it next year.  I will do it, because I love Christmas traditions and cards are totally a part of this holiday season. 

What do you do with your old cards?

I'm going to give you a couple ideas to display your cards and how I store them. 

A few years ago, I took all the cards that I had from 2005-2011 and glued them onto boxes.  I used those boxes for years to store Christmas décor in.  I still use one box to store all the recent years' cards in. 

Last year, at Michaels's,  I picked up this cool textured Christmas paper at the end of the season, it was 75% OFF the lowest ticketed price! score!!  I always go the week of Christmas to get the deals for next year. The paper cutter is from there as well.  I found the binder rings at Target.  I glued each card to a paper to frame it, but I lost the backs of the cards. On some of the cards people wrote sweet messages and updates on their family.  I'm just going to hole punch the cards in a corner and connect the cards with a ring.  No mounting needed.  OH! did you know - I got carded buying that rubber cement ! WHAT? kids stop sniffing glue so adults crazy about crafts don't need to bring their ID to the craft store!

A few ideas to display cards as you get them is by hanging up string and beads and clipping cards with mini clothes pins.  I got everything at Target.  I always check that front "dollar" area for cute and affordable decorating things. 

One year I found the prettiest ribbon to tie around gifts.  I just haven't used it because I hate the idea of someone just throwing it away, so I kept them.  They are perfect to display the card with in a window.

Keep booking photographers, coordinating those outfits, and take time to capture memories, then send them out to everyone you know!

Merry Christmas!