10 Christmas Card Ideas You Should Steal + Free Template!

Awesome Christmas Cards + bonus free template!

I know, I know! Halloween is barely over and I’m already talking Christmas. But it’s already time to start getting plans locked in for Christmas cards!  It happens every year: photographers pack their schedules for the holiday rush as families procrastinate and, inevitably, miss the card ordering window. Keep reading for 10 inspiring Christmas card ideas you should totally steal,  AND a free Christmas Card template to get you started!

  1. Put on your best holiday wardrobe and go for a classic card.
    Free Christmas Card Template + 10 Inspiring Ideas for Christmas Card Photos

    Photo credit: Emily Plunk Photography

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Free Media Kit Template for Bloggers

Any serious blogger hoping to work with brands and advertisers needs a solid media kit. But if you’re fairly new to this game, you might be wondering where to start? Never fear! Today, I’m providing a free media kit template for bloggers.

I recently just made my first media kit. After a few years of casually blogging, I decided it was time to get serious – and no better way than making a media kit for working with others! I customized mine in design, color and content to match the branding on my blog.

Free Media Kit Template for Bloggers | www.fivemarigolds.com

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Free Art Prints for Boy’s Room

I’m slowly going room by room and decorating where inspiration strikes. That only happens to be working in the kids’ areas, but I’m embracing it!

Next up is Dub’s bathroom. I love the idea of making it an all-boy kind of space – I absolutely love decorating really boyish spaces – but I want it to be somewhat neutral since it will be shared with overnight guests.

I railroaded Dub into the blue color for his room – I’d rejected the crazy bright aqua color he really wanted (I just couldn’t…) so I let him choose the paint for this space himself.

I tried to convince him that a steel blue color would be great. I go for neutrals everywhere else, so I was hoping this would be a room with some color. However, he really liked the idea of a silvery gray for the space. Out of 5 grays, he chose Sherwin Williams Gray Screen because of the slightly blue tint and light tone. Nice choice!

Here is the working Mood Board I’m using to inspire the makeover.

Boys Bathroom Mood Board | Five Marigolds

I designed artwork to add some color to the otherwise neutral, rustic space. I’m not 100% sure on this scheme, but since the artwork is free (I already have the IKEA RIbba frames on hand from a failed attempt to use it elsewhere), I’m going with it for now.

Splish Splash Take a Bath artwork for IKEA Ribba Frame | Five Marigolds

Rise and Shine Free Printable Artwork | Five Marigolds

 

Be Strong and Courageous Free Printable | Five Marigolds

And just because I couldn’t decide…I’m sharing a few variations I worked on:Be Strong and Courageous Free Printable | Five Marigolds

Rise and Shine Free Printable Artwork | Five Marigolds

 

What do you think? I’m hoping this inspires others to add some color to their spaces, so I’m making several of them available to you for free!

These 12×12 printables are designed to work with the Ribba frame, so you’ll want to get them printed at the copy store.

If you download these, please take a moment to tell me about it below. Even better, share photos of them in use. I’d love to see these prints getting used and enjoyed!


Minecraft Steve Lego Birthday Party Favor

For Dub’s birthday this year, he wanted everything Minecraft. He also loves Legos so, naturally, Lego Steve from Minecraft seemed like the perfect party favors.

I did a lot of research trying to find an easy way to do this. To be honest, I was hoping there would be a sale of Minecraft Lego lots on ebay that would allow me to phone this one in, but it was not to be.

So, I ended up making a Minecraft Lego Steve myself using the Lego Pick-A-Brick feature.

Minecraft Steve Lego Favor | Five Marigolds

While you can do this in-store if you have a Lego retail location near you, they have a varying selection, so I saved myself the trip and did my shopping online. I wanted to be able to have all the pieces I needed for Minecraft Steve! This is where I insert my Lego PSA – I found out after I placed my order that Pick-A-Brick orders can take up to 18 business days! That’s almost a month! So, this Lego Minecraft Steve favor only really works if you are planning out by at least a month to ensure your Bricks get to you in time.

Here’s what I ordered to make 15 favors:

Item#, color  – quantity

  • 300423, blue – x30
  • 4113915, yellow – x15
  • 4155708, yellow – x15
  • 4163696, light blue – x15
  • 4179833, light blue – x15
  • 4211210, brown – x15
  • 4243821, green – x15
  • 4271949, brown – x15
  • 4579260, yellow – x15

For the pick axe, I had to go to Ebay where I got a great deal paying $1.47 total for 15 axes. That brought the total to $26.21 for 15 favors, or $1.74, each. (I didn’t see any swords or pick axes in the Pick-A-Brick section when I was ordering. They do have a “mini Fireman’s axe” or a “warrior weapon,” though.)

Then, I went to work making  a face for Minecraft Steve in PhotoShop. I measured it to the size of the 2×2 Lego and then I printed it on Avery label paper. Removing the paper backing first,  I cut down each face sticker to the exact size and then replaced it on a small square of the paper backing to place in the favor bag.

Steve Lego Face Free Printable | Five Marigolds

I took a photo of the complete Lego Minecraft Steve to include with all the kits. The kids had a lot of fun putting Lego Steve together while they were still at the party, and had a great time showing off their new toy when they were done.
Minecraft Steve Lego Favor Insert Printable web| Five Marigolds

I placed the Legos in a small jewelry ziplock bag. Then, I made a simple tag that I stapled to the top of the sealed bag as a finishing touch.

Minecraft Lego Steve Favors | Five Marigolds

This was a huge hit among the 6 and 7 year old crowd!

While this Lego Minecraft Steve party favor does take a bit of advanced planning, you and your child will will have so much fun sharing these unique and fun activities for the kids to do!

Thinking of making a Lego Steve for your Minecrafter’s party? You can get a head start by downloading Steve’s face here (compatible with Avery 5260* labels), the finished Steve image inserts here, and the favor tags here.  Enjoy!

MORE FREE MINECRAFT PRINTABLES: Like these printables? Be sure to check out my other free Minecraft Printables here and here.

Find my other Minecraft Birthday Party posts here:

Minecraft Birthday Party on a Budget | Five Marigolds

DIY Minecraft Birthday Party

Minecraft Birthday Party Tinsel Tassel Banner Tutorial | Five Marigolds

Minecraft Tinsel Tassel Bunting Tutorial

 

 

 

 

 

 

Star Wars Birthday Party – Invites And Thank You Postcards

My final post in the Star Wars birthday party series is to share the custom invitations and thank you cards I designed.

Each year, I’ve been lucky that my children have chosen Halloween costumes that match their birthday party themes for the following year. Dub chose to be Darth Vader, so I used his Halloween costume for the front of the invitation. I created a simple background in PhotoShop, and used the free Star Jedi font.

Custom Star Wars Birthday Party Darth Vader Invitation | www.fivemarigolds.com

I used the same background on the back, added the party details, and created a Darth Vader silhouette.

Custom Star Wars Birthday Party Custom Thank You Postcard | www.fivemarigolds.com

During the birthday party, I made sure to get one shot of all of the kids in the photo booth, wearing their jedi robes and using photo booth props. I used this image for a custom thank you postcard. On the back, I created a simple template that Dub could fill in himself. I love the idea of the postcard because it helps him learn the proper etiquette of showing thankfulness.  Sincere, personal, and to the point! And, it’s a little less expensive to mail 🙂

Finally, just to prove how much I utilize those Halloween photos, I also used it for Dub’s Valentine’s card. I wonder if he’ll be sick of Darth Vader by this Halloween?

Star Wars Darth Vader Valentine | www.fivemarigolds.com

Star Wars Darth Vader Valentine | Five Marigolds

See also:

R2D2 Star Wars Cake | Five Marigolds

Star Wars Birthday Party, Part I

Star Wars Storm Trooper Favor Bags | Five Marigolds

Super Hero Comic Book Birthday Party

Wow, I can’t believe how time flies.  As little Dub’s birthday approached, I knew his would have to be a superhero theme, but I wanted it to be less focused on commercial super heroes and a little more of a generic comic book vibe.

To set the tone, I set off to create a comic book – inspired invite. I coerced him into taking a Clark Kent/super man photo.  I just had him wear his Superman pajama shirt under a button down and snap on tie and then put on a pair of glasses frames I got at the dollar store. I went to work in PhotoShop and created this invite. I used PhotoShop action that made him look like a true comic book character.

Super Hero Comic Book Birthday Party Invitation | Five Marigolds

Next, I wanted to make a comic book pendant.  I was very pregnant and on bed rest while planning the party, so I enlisted my mom for help.  I bought a comic book off ebay, cut the comic pages into triangles and placed them inside the fold of some red binding I had on hand.  Then she simply sewed along the binding and voila!  Dub liked this so much he asked to hang it in his room after the party.

Super Hero Comic Book Birthday Party Bunting | Five Marigolds

Again, since I was very pregnant I decided to hire out the cake in the form of some amazing cupcakes from our local bakery.  I made cupcake toppers in PhotoShop and attached them to lollipop sticks I found at Michael’s in the baking section.

Super Hero Comic Book Birthday Party Custom Cupcake Toppers | Five Marigolds

This was Dub’s first party where we invited friends, so I was new to the party favor tradition.  I asked all the parents in advance to send me a photo of their children so I could personalize each goodie bag with their photo.  I added free superhero overlays like masks and emblems from Lil Blue Boo in PhotoShop and they were a huge hit!

Super Hero Comic Book Birthday Party Custom Favors | Five Marigolds

As much as I love having balloons to decorate for parties, I hate watching them pathetically deflate in the days following (my kids refuse to throw them away until the bitter end!)  So, I attached a balloon to each goodie bag for a festive display that our little guests could take home with them.  This was an inexpensive favor with big impact!  The kids were thrilled to take them home and I was just as thrilled to see them go.

Super Hero Comic Book Birthday Party Custom Favors | Five Marigolds

I had to figure out how to entertain all these kids in our teeny home.  So I set up a superhero mask making station.  I pre-cut the masks in craft foam and bought self-stick foam stars and letter so kids could decorate them and add their names.

Super Hero Comic Book Birthday Party Mask Craft Station | Five Marigolds

Next, I really wanted to create a photo booth. I bought some polka-dot wrapping paper that I just taped to the wall.  I made some photo booth signs in PhotoShop that matched the cupcake toppers, and printed them on 8.5×11″ sheets of white card stock.  I cut them out and taped them to the cardboard tube that comes on dry cleaning hangers – it was what I had on hand! Or, if you’re not the DIY type, you could buy some here.)

Super Hero Comic Book Photo Booth | Five Marigolds

Dub and a very pregnant me in the photo booth.

Super Hero Comic Book Photo Booth | Five Marigolds

My goal was to get pictures of all the kids at the party to put on the thank-you note.  What I didn’t count on was how shy the kids would be.  I had to beg to get them all to pose together so I could get my thank-you card shot! But I got it, and here’s how it turned out:

Super Hero Comic Book Thank You Postcard | Five Marigolds

I designed the back like a true post card with a fill-in-the-blank thank-you message for Dub to personalize. I heard later that our little guests were thrilled to see themselves in the card.

So, there we have it! Dub’s 5th birthday.  For more superhero birthday ideas check out my Pinterest board.

I’ve linked directly to the customizable invites and thank you notes in my Etsy shop. If you would like me to offer free downloads of the cupcake toppers and photo booth signs I used, please let me know in the comments below!