In 1971 when Chris and I lived in an apartment I bought a whole bale of straw (for only $1.50) to make this card. I spread the straw on the floor of the laundry room (which I shared with other tenants).
Before placing Chris on the straw I waited until he was just waking up from a nap. Although a bit dazed, he was much more cooperative that way.
I made large photos of each of these images of Chris. I then tore & blackened the edges and decoupaged all to a board I stained. I sent the board to Kodak. They shot the board with the images and incorporated the full image into their Christmas card template.
I have no idea how I found a place to pose Chris with a sheep in the background!
This is the outside of a purchased card. The photo of Chris went inside.
This one took less effort on my part, I sewed up a hat, used invisible thread to hold it high in the air and gathered a bunch of toys together.
Chris did a great job posing with Kathy and engaging her in the candy cane.
Notice the red boots!
Outside and inside of card.
The cloud is two pieces of cardboard, one fastened to the back of a stool and the other to the front. Below the clouds is a remnant of rug that matches the rug in the Vallejo family room where this picture was taken.
The message is printed with a linoleum block cutout I made.
Outside and inside of card.
If you look close you can see the antlers are made from plain old cardboard boxes.
The snow is a sheet draped over pillows. The background is a purple blanket dotted with paper cutout snowflakes.
Outside and inside of card.
The photo showed through the bear cutout.
Outside of a purchased card with photo I took of Chris and Kathy the previous Christmas.
I wasn't so creative in 1979.
Even without Photoshop available in 1980 I came up with a way to manipulate photos. I took two separate pictures, one of a very large mailbox I found at Kathy's pre-school (I added the ribbon) and the second one of Chris and Kathy sitting at the same angle (purposely in their pajamas). After cutting the kids out and gluing them on top of the mailbox image I had Kodak shoot a new photo for me.
Because packages are wrapped in brown paper and this card had a mailbox theme, I used brown paper for the card.
On the front of the card I made holly and berries from construction paper. A hole punch was used for the berries.
The mailbox on the front opened to show the kids peeking through.
For this card I sewed together full size stockings, hung them from nails in the garage and with Robert's help tucked Chris and Kathy into each.
As I did in 1980 I cut out the images and glued them on a picture I took of our fireplace. Kodak then shot the composed image for prints to insert into each card I made.
Candy, our Cocker Spaniel, was part of our Christmas card in 1982!
Notice the background, it looks very much like the one used in 1977, same blanket with cutout snowflakes.
Using an Xacto knife to cut these full size snowflakes from white poster board was quite a job!
Check out those icicle fingers!
This card was yet another grouping of images. The hot air balloon was actually only seven inches high.
In 1984 I decided to make a pop up card.
I am amazed Chris let me dress him up in the ruffles I made. After all he was fifteen!
For this card I cut out photos of Chris and Kathy to insert into plastic circles I found at the craft store. I then hung them on our tree thus making the kids into ornaments.
I used purchased cards and glued the photo on the front covering the design that was there.
You know I am a junk collector when you see how many of the costume parts I still have around!
I have the Santa costume, the reindeer costumes sans antlers, one of the icicle bodies, both sets of icicle hands, the neck ruffles sans berets, the giant stockings. an elf hat (not sure where that came from), and surprisingly the two shepherd robes and the shepherd head band.
OSBORN KIDS LEAVE NAPA
IN HOT AIR BALLOON!
ARRIVAL TIME: CHRISTMAS
CARGO: CHRISTMAS JOY AND CHEER FOR YOU!
Chris and Kathy looking for a new adventure choose a clear December morning to begin their journey. Their hot air balloon made from scraps of foil and ribbon and a tiny woven basket pulls anxiously at its tether; both balloon and kids ready for a seasonal adventure.
Kathy carrying an ample staple of Christmas candy canes, popcorn balls, nuts, fruit cake, and eggnog climbs in first. Chris clutching the list of everyone to whom Christmas wishes are to be delivered jumps in and pulls in the ropes.
Quickly climbing skyward the sound and sight of Christmas is in the air. Christmas lights, laughing children, jingling bells, lighted trees, Christmas carols and ringing bells can be seen and heard as they go from city to city.
After delivering their special Christmas message from California to Washington they retire; tired but excited too for their own Christmas at home.
Almost unnoticed by either, Santa Claus silently glides by, reindeer and all, and nods with a smile at Chris and Kathy who are nearly sound asleep in their balloon.
They land softly and safely in their field on Redwood. As they are carried to their rooms and waiting beds each whispers to one another, "Do you think we really saw what we saw?" and "What a fun balloon ride, let's do this again next year!"
In the morning they awake to another wonderful Christmas, this season of 1984!