Post by Jessica R.

Once you’ve decided if you’re going to go with candid or posed pictures,  gone through the arduous fun task of taking the photos and picked out the perfect holiday Cards, you still have to address the envelopes and get them all mailed out.

Now, if you are super smart you will embrace and love the new Tiny Prints mailing service. You upload your mailing list and we send out the cards. We’ll even email your old college roommate and ask her for her mailing address first. Really.

But if you want to write cute little notes and hand address the cards, you might need more motivation than endless reruns of Ace of Cakes and Bridezilla.

That’s what the Holiday Card Party is for.

Gather up your best girl friends. Hire a sitter to entertain everyone’’s kids. Bake a couple dozen cookies and whip up some festive eggnog, a fancy frostini or some fun margaritas. Put out lots of bright colorful pens, glue sticks and anything else you might need to get those cards signed and sealed. Then see how many cards everyone can get through in a two or three hour stretch!

There’s no better motivation than fun drinks, great friends and a few child-free hours.

Post by Jessica R.

Put down the #1 Teacher mug and the cute little apple paper weight. Yes, they’re adorable. Yes, your child’s teacher will love it. Just like she loves the 50 other identical ones that line her desk and fill her cupboard.

You can do so much better!

1) Teachers are always strapped for cash, so a Visa/American Express gift card or a gift card to an office supply or teacher supply store is bound to be appreciated and put to good use long before the new year gets underway.

2) Teachers start work early. Very, very early. A gift card to a local coffee shop or her favorite chain coffee shop will make those early mornings a bit brighter. No, you can’t put the card in a mug. Resist the urge.

3) Ask the teacher if there’s anything she would love to have in her classroom and then get some other parents to pitch in so you can fulfill that dream.

4) You can’t ever go wrong with personalized note cards. Really can’t resist the teacher theme? Check out these cute options Teacher Notecard options.

This one is adorable

But if you’re looking for something a little less teacher centric? Check out the line of regular Tiny Prints notecards.

This one is generic, but still perfect for a teacher!

5) If the whole class is willing to pitch in, the ultimate gift is something that the teacher will treasure. So along with one of those gift cards mentioned above, how about getting the whole class to work together on a sweet photo book? Parents can submit photos and even notes or pictures drawn by the kids, one parent can maybe sneak in (with the school’s permission!) to take some in classroom shots and a group picture, and everything can be scanned in and compiled into an easy to make photo book that is bound to draw tears from even the most hardened teacher’s eyes!

Post by Jessica R.

As you know here at Tiny Prints, we’re all about Gratitude. We love things that help us take stock of what we’re grateful for. Which is why we love this crafty idea.

Show off what your family is grateful for and get all your guests to join in the fun with a Gratitude Garland.

Write the things that you’re grateful for on paper leaves that you string up and hang up on a prominent wall. Make extra leaves so guests can participate. If you start now maybe your garland can go all the way around your dining room before everyone gathers for the holiday fun!

Get full details on how to make the leaves and garlands on the Family Fun site. It’s a great way to help kids learn to appreciate the big and little things that make life special.

Just to get the ball rolling, what are you most grateful for this year?

We’re grateful for all you awesome readers!