Photo & Story Treasures: August 2020

This blog post will be updated each year with the latest dates/times for this annual online party!

Up now: 2023.

Find more information at the Facebook event, too!

(Check back in fall 2024 for the 2024 event and details.)

I prefer to enjoy December. I don't want to feel stressed or like I have too much to do and not enough time. I like sipping hot chocolate in front of twinkling lights, not scrambling to check things off my list. So my favorite way to enjoy December is to do a lot of things in November!

And that's how the "Enjoy December" Card Party was born more than a decade ago!

So if you don't have oodles of time for everything you want to do in December, let me help you check "Christmas cards" (or other holiday greetings) off your list!

And all you need is: a computer, tablet or phone! (Even a borrowed one from the library, if need be.)

Think you're not creative? Keep on reading because this platform is quick and easy!

It's everything you'd ever want.

"What's a Card Party?"

I'm glad you asked. It's just a time to get together with friends (even some new ones) and create your Christmas cards digitally. Since the party is in early November, you'll get your cards created and ordered and back before Thanksgiving so you can enjoy December!

All we do is get on our own computers/tablets--wherever we are in the country--at the party date & time, then create together. Well, technically we create individually, but we're "together" over the internet. I work on my cards on my computer while you work on your cards on your computer.

Instead of sitting around signing cards on your own, you get to create digitally with others! It's the best way I know to make sending Christmas cards a lot more fun.

For those of you familiar with the "Enjoy December" Card Party, it's moving! Instead of being an all-day Facebook event, it's now being held live via Zoom. There will be 3 sessions (in an attempt to find a time for everyone), and you can attend the morning session, the afternoon session, or the after-work session--or all 3!

It's the Umpteenth Annual because I can't remember when I started it! At least 12 years ago...

"What's so great about a Card Party? And how will I know if this is something I want to do?"

Aside from being held early enough to enjoy December and being held online with friends (it's fun!), you'll be creating your cards using Forever, which means you get:

high quality (with an upgrade option to gold foil-lined envelopes)
lots of pre-designed templates to use in the free Design & Print platform--and Design & Print is so simple that it takes just about no time to learn how to use
or, if you want more creativity and flexibility than templates, you have the option to upgrade to the Artisan software program to make your cards
your own Photo & Story Treasures consultant (me!) at the Card Party with you to answer questions you may have as you create your cards digitally
guaranteed photo privacy (not always true for online photo companies)
sales happening almost all the time! (Note: Bulk Discounts are available when you order at least 5 packs of 10.)

"Sounds amazing. What kind of cards are available to make? What do I have to choose from?"

I recommend the Design & Print platform from Forever for 3 reasons: it's free, it's very user-friendly and easy to learn, and you can be done with your cards and have them ordered in 5 or 10 minutes. With Design & Print, your cards will:

come in a set of 10
be 5x7 or 7x5, double-sided
120 lb. premium satin cardstock (optional upgrade to 130 lb. premium matte cardstock)
include envelopes (with an optional gold foil lining)
include many pre-designed templates to choose from

There are some additional things available to you if you create your cards using Artisan digital scrapbooking software by Forever.

After you purchase the program and install it on your PC (available on Mac using a partitioning program) and install digital art collections (either free or purchased), your cards:

come in a set of 10, except the 4x8 and 8x4 size which you may order singly
be 4x6, 6x4, 5x7, or 7x5, double-sided
be 4x8 or 8x4, single-sided
be 4x6, 6x4, 5x7, or 7x5, folded (like a traditional greeting card)
120 lb. premium satin cardstock (optional upgrade to 130 lb. premium matte cardstock)
include envelopes (with an optional gold foil lining)
are fully-editable, whether you design from scratch or use an Artisan-made template
can use a wide variety of fonts--whatever you have installed on your computer!!
allow for more text and/or more photos to fit your needs

"If I'm new to Forever, how will I know if I'm computer-savvy enough to use the free software in Design & Print?"

Two words: You Are. It really is that easy. Here's a video showing you just how easy:

The 12-minute video (above) gives you all the details, so definitely watch it all, but if you just want a quick look at what working in Design & Print is like, watch a minute's worth--watch from about minute 9 to about minute 10.

And don't forget I'll be there to help, and Zoom features a screen-share feature we can use if needed.

"And how will I know if I'm computer-savvy enough to use the Artisan software?"

There are an amazing amount of things you can do with Artisan--add frames around photos, add drop-shadows, put text boxes anywhere, use alphabets and other embellishments. Because it's a super fancy digital scrapbooking software program, it does take some time to learn, but in my opinion, cards are an easy way to get your Artisan Feet wet!

Here's what it looks like to make a card using Artisan:

And, again, I'll be there to help you with questions during the Card Party, so we can screen-share if you need to.

I also have a whole series on my YouTube channel called Artisan Quick Tips with Jennifer, which you can find at that link. I have 40+ videos showing you one thing at a time, such as how to rotate something 90 degrees, how to add edges (effects) to photos, how to use the "fill" feature to change the look of an element, how to group elements together (or ungroup them), etc.

"Okay, this is pretty cool. When is the party and how do I attend?"

Yes, it is definitely pretty cool! :)

The 2023 Enjoy December Card Party will be held Friday, November 3, 2023 in three 1-hour sessions. Choose one, two, or all of them.

The morning session will be 8:00-9:00am.
The afternoon session will be 1:00-2:00pm.
The after-work session will be 5:00-6:00pm.
All times shown are Mountain Time, so adjust accordingly if needed.
The join link and passcode are below.

You should be able to complete your personalized, high-quality cards in much less than an hour, but there's not a limit on which session(s) you attend.