8o DECORATIVE 



the subject is entirely germane to this discussion, I do 

 not introduce it more than in the way of a passing 

 mention, lacking that personal experience which is the 

 basis of this monograph. I merely hint that patience and 

 " a way with children" have been known to produce 

 most pleasing results in designing for advertising. 



. For the home worker who wishes to 



c'^d"*^ make his holiday-giving distinct, and 

 without flavor of the shops, and also for 

 the ingenious designer who may want to work to a 

 financial profit, the making of photographic Christmas 

 cards will be interesting. Such cards are individual, 

 and therefore far more pleasing to the recipient, usually, 

 than the stock designs of the stores. A way to intro- 

 duce a Christmas flavor into the productions, while also 

 retaining the personal element, is to provide several 

 negatives of holly, laurel, galax leaves, Christmas trees, 

 ice-covered twigs, and other easily recognized holiday 

 motives, arranging to mount these on the same card as 

 the print from the purely individual negative. One able 

 to draw letters successfully may also produce a Christ- 

 mas wish in verse or prose, photographing it to any 

 smaller size for use in connection with a picture bit 

 that will be readily recognized by the recipient. A 

 phrase of holiday cheer may be drawn upon a Christ- 

 mas toy ball, with care, and keeping Well inside one- 

 third the circumference. This, photographed as hanging 

 from a bough of a Christmas tree, with proper attention 

 to lighting, will form a pleasing part of the card. ' 



The Christmas dinner may have a photographic 

 menu card, such as shown under a later heading on 

 these pages. I remember one joyful occasion of this 

 kind at which each guest found at his plate a red ribbon, 

 which, when pulled at the arranged time, drew from 

 the concealment of the center-piece a small photograph 

 having a special appeal to him and bearing the felicita- 

 tions of the day. 



With just these hints, the home worker will see many 

 ways in which the camera will provide charming ad- 

 juncts to the holiday giving, with a personal point that 

 is always pleasing. Let me hint, however, that the best 

 way to work is to provide the essential negatives a year 



