Happy Valentines Day!

From our family to yours...

Photo Wedding Invitations, Canada

 Bring on the 2011 wedding season!  We're excited to be launching our new wedding invitation sets. All designs can be fully customized with your colours, photos, etc.  The sets picture the front/ back images of the 5x7 invitation and a 5.5x4 RSVP/ information card.

Photography compliments of Clifton Saulnier Photography, http://cliftonsaulnier.ca/  (Halifax, Toronto and Victoria sets)

Photography compliments of Elizabeth Vanderbij Photography http://www.elizabethvanderbij.com/ (Edmonton set)

Our Valentines Cards

 We had so much fun taking pics for our Valentines Cards!  I found these great lollipops in Walmart's Christams clearance section for just 50 cents each.  Giving the kids something to do made it so much easier to take their photos. The result was fun photos, perfect for our Valentines cards!

Thought I would include some pics of the kids too.

100% of the sales from all Valentines cards will be donated to The Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Organization.  The digital file is available for just $10.  Costco.ca also has an amazing printing special at the moment, just .09cents per 4x6 print (ends January 16, I think).  This Valentines Day, the kids can hand out beautiful and unique Valentines cards, while supporting a great cause.  These Valentines are sure to be appreciated and won't be thrown in the trash like traditional Valentines cards often are.

Little Sarah's adorable flower is from BabyWisp, http://www.babywisp.ca/

Save the Date Photo Cards

 This is engagement season and therefore save the date and wedding invitation season are right around the corner!  I love wedding cards!  I'm not sure if it's the beautiful professional photography, the starry eyed lovers or the excitement of the promise of forever.  Marriage is wonderful, not always easy, but wonderful!  I have been so incredibly blessed to be married to my amazing husband for over 10 years already.  He is my best friend, true love and the one I love experiencing life with.  I always get a little shiver of excitement when I see engagement or wedding photos.  It is such an honor to create a card to help people celebrate the promise of forever.  Here are a few new Save the Date cards recently added.  Photography compliments of Clifton Saulnier Photography.

Win Valentine Cards!

We're currently having our January giveaway on our Facebook page.  Head on over to enter to win 15 Valentine Photo cards or a digital image of your choice.  Good luck!

Valentines Day Photo Cards 2011

I hope that everyone had a great Christmas and holiday season!  Hard to believe that Valentines Day is just around the corner. I just posted a bunch of new Valentines Day cards, several more to come.  All profits from the 2011 Valentine card collection will be donated to the Now I Lay me Down to Sleep organization.

Christmas Photo Cards in Canada

After a busy 2010 holiday card season, it's hard to believe that it's almost over.  I plan and prepare for the season for many months ahead of time and then in a blink of an eye it comes to a close.  But it's not quite over yet...we're gearing up for a BUSY weekend.  Check back soon to see why!

Birth Announcement/ Holiday Cards

I try not to add many new designs to the Holiday card page once the season is in full swing.  However, sometimes I just can't resist.  After a custom order for a client I posted the design and it's since been ordered several times in just a couple of days.  I added a "boy" version as well to give you a better idea of what could be done.  Keep in mind that most cards on the site could be customized to suit.  Just find the layout that you like best and we'll do the rest.

Christmas Photo Cards in Canada

 There's still plenty of time to order your Christmas photo cards!  If you're running behind the digital image option is perfect.  Within hours of ordering you'll be sent a digital proof to approve.  Once all the revisions are made (if there are any) you can take the image to any photo finisher or upload it directly to a photo shops website to be printed.  Then it's just a matter of picking your cards up and stuffing them into envelopes to mail.  Fast and easy!

Too much cuteness!

So I thought I would take a little break from holiday cards...

I had the awesome experience of photographing this little bundle of cuteness last weekend.  There's really nothing like a brand new baby (she was just 4 days new).  This was my first time taking newborn pics and I loved it! I was amazed how much I learned in just a few short hours.  Anyways, love how these turned out.  Isn't she precious!?!

2 for 1 Starbucks Holiday Drinks!

YUM! Beginning November 18th – 21st at Starbucks from 2-5 pm you can get a buy 1 get 1 free Holiday drink. Drinks Include:Caramel Brulee Latte, Peppermint Mocha, Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha, Peppermint Hot Chocolate, Gingerbread Latte, Eggnog Latte, Caramel Brulee Frappuccino blended beverage, Peppermint Mocha Frappaccino blended beverage. *FREE beverage must be of equal or lesser value!

Free Photo Book

Offer valid from Friday, November 12 to Sunday, November 21, 2010. Limit of one free photobook per sign up at shoppersphoto.ca. Enter promo code PHOTO at checkout screen when prompted. I tried this and you have to install Microsoft Silver Light to upload your pictures. It only took about 10 seconds to install, no biggie. The photo books look really nice, you can choose your background and put captions on your photos. Remember that it’s the softcover 20-page 7×9 type that the promo code covers. If your photo book does not fit these specifications exactly, the promo code will not work. Once you finish making it you can choose which SDM location to pick it up. The retail value for the photo book is $14.99, great freebie!

I used to be an avid scrapbooker and then life got busy and then we had kids...and well no time for scrapbooking. I've become a big fan of photobooks. I love how I can upload photos directly onto the website. There's no mess, no printing, no cutting, etc. In the end I've found that ordering a photo book is actually cheaper than scrapbooking as well, bonus! I've only ever used Shutterfly and Picaboo (both are great), but I know there are many other photo book printing companies out there.


 I just finished mine and haven't received it yet, so I'm not sure how great the quality is. However, since it doesn't cost anything, just some time, it's a great opportunity to find out. Since you pick up the book from a local Shoppers Drug Mart of your choice there also isn't any shipping fees. I didn't love the interface on the website, so it took a little longer than usual, but it wasn't bad. The photo upload time is pretty long, so I would suggest setting up all your pics for upload (you can do lots at once) and then walking away to do something else (multi task). Expect to spend about an hour putting your book together. Unless you just want it to be a whole bunch of random pics, no text or customizations. I love it when some pages are entirely a photo, this can be done by clicking the photo and "setting as background."

Here's the link, http://www1.shoppersdrugmart.ca/en/Shoppers-Optimum/All-Optimum-Offers/Free-photobook.aspx. Have fun!

Let me know if you have any questions/ issues.

Last Day for Early Ordering Discount

Today is the last day to take advantage of our 15% off early ordering discount on holiday cards.  The coupon code can be found on our Facebook page.

Holiday Photo Card Ideas

Warmest Wishes: Cute Winter Theme

The most difficult part about ordering a custom photo card has got to be choosing a design.  Even the design can be changed; no design is ever set in stone.  When looking for the perfect design I would suggest looking for two things 1. your favourite theme/ look of a card (fun, classy, religious, traditional, etc) 2. have a look at your photos and see what layout would work best with them, thinking about vertical vs. horizontal layout.  Do you like the look of a collage or just one or two photos? How many photos would you like to use?

Choose the best card layout for your photos (that's the one you would actually order).  The design, colours, fonts, etc can all be adjusted.  I often see orders that will say: the main font from the _______ design, the colour red from the _______ design, the circles pattern from the ________ design, etc.  Feel free to customize and make it yours.

I've included several different examples of a single card layout to show how the theme of a card can be changed.

Nativity Theme

Love and Laughter: Fun and Trendy

Classic and Romantic

Modern and bold

Little Penguin: A fun winter theme

I hope this post was helpful in giving you some ideas on how to personalize your own custom holiday photo card.  The possibilities really are endless.  If you're looking for something that you don't see on the website, just ask.  We will likely be able to make your idea reality.  If you would like to order one of the designs seen on this post please send an email to dolcettodesigns@gmail.com or order any design and we will happily customize. Don't forget that the early ordering 15% off discount (earlyxmas) may be applied to any holiday card order until November 10.

Got a favourite?  Let us know which one you love.

Just one more week...

Until the early ordering discount is finished.  If you have your photos together, this is the best time to place your order.  Save 15% by placing your order before November 10.  Discount code can be found on our Facebook page.