Is it ever acceptable to use your 8 year old's artwork on a Christmas card?

[HuntedForest]

Have to send cards to the extended family, parents' friends and I usually send a couple to old school friends. Despite my mum telling me to use a picture of the DC, I'm well aware that they are my DC and therefore not interesting to other people nor do they want to be on a card. So, is it acceptable to use a Christmas themed picture my DC8 drew for me?

Wejustdontknow have you taught him the Pokemon Christmas songs? DD has just discovered them

@CaveMum

Thank you for posting that link. I haven’t laughed this much in ages..well since yesterday probably.

Of course it's acceptable. Far rather get a joyful kid's drawing than a bland shop bought card. Kids' artwork is brilliant, usually.

That said, I usually keep the school PTA cards for family and send other cards to friends.

Of course !
DD’s school used to have the children draw a Christmassy picture which they then sent to a company that made them into Christmas cards and a percentage of the money went to the school.
Sadly couldn’t do that this year .

@PigsInHeaven hilarious!! 😂

Our pic last year was
Santa stealing swag with an ak47 😮
Penguins with large gold $ around their necks
Complete with squad cars 😱😱

The family loved them 😂😂😂

Our school get them especially printed as a fundraiser! Why wouldn't it be acceptable?

I LOVE getting family cards with photos of children or (even better) children's artwork!

But that's because I want to look at things that are very personal to the people I care about at Christmas. I won't be seeing them in person, so it's lovely to have their stuff.

Whereas I've learned on MN that some people see cards as decor, and don't like things which don't fit their look. I feel that if I were looking for "decor" items I could buy/make my own, and the personal cards are a different thing entirely.

But I am indeed a sad, lonely aunt with no discernible life of her own, so that might be colouring my view rather.

I would only send it to people who are interested in receiving it. Generally, no one but immediate family wants to receive a child's drawing as a card.

Generally, no one but immediate family wants to receive a child's drawing as a card.

Really? My Christmas cards this year have pictures of knitted sprouts on them. I don’t think anyone has a particular view in those.

Do people really care what’s on their cards?

I've been saving my toddlers paintings all year and now using them as Xmas wrapping paper

Yes, a friend who has (admittedly rather talented) young children has done that for years and they mean so much more than the run of the mill ones.

I fear that if I don't get any cards with a hand drawn Pokemon, mutant penguins or rainbow farting reindeers, I am going to feel very disappointed.

Agree with Perkingfaintly that personal cards are the best.

Well I'd be quite happy if my own grandchildren had drawn it, otherwise no thanks.

I like kids artwork and family photo cards.

I think it is nice, much more interesting than a mass produced one.

Yes, drawing the artwork for the family Christmas card is one of the main ways that primary-aged children contribute to all the Christmas prep, especially given that they tend to be too young to be directly involved in gift buying or meal prep at that stage. They might also bake, manufacture presents, hang baubles on the tree and produce various glittery decorations for the house.

As long as your DC agrees it can be used, then that is okay.

@UsernameChat

I would only send it to people who are interested in receiving it. Generally, no one but immediate family wants to receive a child's drawing as a card.

I would, neighbours send us cards and I think it'd be quite interesting to see their kids drawings instead of a random Robin or whatever. Judging from the descriptions some people on this thread have given of their kids drawings, they'd be very interesting! I also think it's nice for the kids to see their parents are so proud of their drawings thy send it out on a card (even if secretly their parents think it's a bit crap 😆).

Our school does this as a fundraiser.

We send photo ones, and I do feel a bit weird sometimes sending them to friends, but we put a lot of effort into them to make them festive and they cost more than standards xmas cards. I also acknowledge it's quite cheesy but it's something we always do. It's a tricky one if you send one thing to one and one to another, which I have done in the past.

I only send to close friends and relatives now, so just send the photo ones. If they bin my DC so be it, my kids are ok looking not models and most family don't see them much. They are not all on Facebook.

If your DC consents to it, then yes. Perhaps asking twice with a gap of a few days in between to allow her to be sure.

@confusednotcom

Yes, a friend who has (admittedly rather talented) young children has done that for years and they mean so much more than the run of the mill ones.

See, I think that talent is beside the point when it comes to child-drawn Christmas cards -- it's more about neckless rainbow-farting reindeer and Santas with submachine guns and blingy penguins drawn by young children with more imagination than draughtsmanship, the more badly-drawn the better!

I thought most schools do this as a fund raiser - I send them to close relatives and use them up for the kids to give to their own friends

I would have no problem sending childs art work cards to close relatives, grandparents, great g.parents, close aunties and uncles, but not to anyone else. Friends and extended family would get a generic card out of a multipack.

It's quite strange, she's a grandma who has absolutely no interest whatsoever in her grandchildren via me until its Christmas when she's adamant that everyone else would like a picture of them...

Ah, a "show grandma."