DIY Holiday Cards

Picture Perfect

The truth is all these fabulous new designs can't help you create the perfect card if you don't start out with a good photo in the first place. But we can help! Here, five common card mistakes to avoid.

Photo flaws: You want to make sure that your picture is a quality shot. This means no red eye, blurriness, or shadows over your child's face.

Background overload: It's hard to focus on your kid in the photo when there's a TV on behind him or groceries scattered on the table next to him. Nothing can clutter up a good picture faster than a busy background. That's why it's important to pick a simple, solid backdrop.

Distance problems: Candid photos of your kids laughing and playing outside often make the best cards. Just make sure that you're not too far away from them. You don't want your child to be a tiny speck surrounded by scenery. On the other hand, you don't want to be too close either. Shots that are right up on her face don't offer any perspective and they are hard to work with when you're trying to crop them to fit the card's design.

Unnatural poses: Don't try to prop your baby up for a shot. If he's uncomfortable, it will come through in the photo. Putting him in a relaxed, natural position, like lying on a blanket, works best.

Shutterfly.com

What's new: If you can't decide which adorable picture of your child to put on your card, then Shutterfly is for you -- it has a variety of chic cards that can hold up to nine photos. Another plus: You can pick modern borders and color schemes in brown or purple if you'd like a change from the traditional red-and-green theme.

Our fave: We love that these folded cards don't look cluttered or too busy even with multiple photos. For example, the front of your card can feature three different photos in separate boxes or ornaments.

Cost: Starts at $1.49 each.