Create A Postcard From Child’s Art

Posted on September 19th, 2013 by Jean

I love my eldest daughter’s drawings. Here are some witches she drew recently. I love the expressive eyes, the assortment of body shapes & sizes, and the atypical colors of their gowns and hats.
 
I thought it would be fun to order postcards with this design. I removed the witches names (Rosie, Athena, Nestella, Dixie and Ivy) and a few ink smears. Then I downloaded the standard postcard template from Vistaprint, and placed the scanned drawing on top. I added the holiday greeting, colorful border and copyright info, then uploaded the completed piece.
 
The smallest quantity is 100 postcards, and including shipping, the cards cost approx. 22 cents each.

 
My youngest daughter was excited to see her sister’s postcard, and asked if she could design one too. Of course I said yes! She actually is a whiz at photoshop, and set up her page to the right dimensions. She drew images on separate layers: the pumpkin twins, the moon full of craters and aliens, pieces of candy, and Happy Halloween!
 

 
A few of you are going to be receiving these in the mail. If you are a friend, a reader, a friendly reader, and would like to receive one of these postcards, send me a message through my contact page.
 
• Do you have a little artist in the family?
• Would you turn your child’s art into a postcard?

Don’t Tell Dad

Posted on September 17th, 2013 by Jean

Just before Father’s Day 2013, Natasha Curry of HLN’s Weekend Express asked viewers to send in videos saying why their Dad was the best. Our daughters were eager to take part. While Tom was doing yard work, the girls swam and I filmed. They laughed, they were tongue-tied, they froze, but finally everything fell into place. I had the perfect little snippet of my daughters praising their father.
 
I edited the footage in secret, and told the girls, “Don’t tell Dad”. It was going to be a surprise.
 
I uploaded the video to CNN, and waited. The girls and I checked the site almost daily to see what other families had submitted.
 
One week prior to Father’s Day, my daughter woke me with the words, “Mom! Dad saw the video!” My mind raced. How did he see it? Did he use my computer?
 
“It’s on t.v.!”
 

 
Natasha was using our submission as a promo!
 
Tom, who had gotten up early, sat on the loveseat in tears, overcome with emotion. He had been reading emails, not paying attention until he heard the names of our daughters. He looked up and was amazed.
 
It was the best Father’s Day ever.
 
• Do you have a favorite Father’s Day memory?
• Are you an iReporter for CNN?

Halloween Costumes 2013

Posted on September 14th, 2013 by Jean

When the Halloween catalogs arrive, my daughters pour through them in search of the perfect costume. My eldest decided on the flamingo outfit without hesitation, even offering to buy the headpiece with her own money. My youngest had been vacillating between a cupcake fairy and a lollipop fairy, when she spied All American Miss. Her decision was made, and she paid for her accessories (hat and choker) too.
 
Seems like just yesterday they were Disney Princesses.

 
• When do you start searching for the perfect costume?
• Store-bought or homemade?
• Scary or sweet?

Tags: Chasing Fireflies, Flamingo, flamingo costume, Halloween 2013, Halloween costumes, jean has been shopping, Miss America costume, Patriotic costume, petticoat for girls, red white and blue costume, trick or treat