By SANDI GENOVESE

Scripps Howard News Service

Some of my friends are already preparing their holiday photo cards. You know the ones I mean: the family on vacation in Hawaii, or everyone gathered around the fireplace in festive gear. That made me wonder about other cards that feature a photo.

Why not celebrate other occasions with a photo card as well? Here are some possibilities:

nStaycation postcards. Take photos of the kids camping out in the back yard or of the family dressed up to go to church or dressed down for a swim. Get copy paper from the printer to fasten to the back of the photo in order to transform it into a postcard. Simply write a short note, and then address, stamp and mail the postcard to make a big splash this summer with family and friends.

nBaby-shower invitations. Customize a shower invite with a photo. Attach baby clothes to a ribbon or clothesline with clothespins. Snap a picture of it, and add text for a personal card cover that is as unique as the baby it celebrates.

nThank-you cards. Take a photo of any recent gift -- say, a dinner out or a birthday present. Attach the photo to the card cover, and add thankful text with stickers or rub-on words for a truly personal thank-you note.

n "Hello, Kitty" cards. Somehow my sister and I got in the habit of sending notes that feature photos of our pets. It only takes a few minutes to print out a photo of Jeepers, slap a note on the back and mail it off to her dog, Margarita. She and her husband do the same thing, and I stick them to the fridge, down at Jeepers' level, of course.

nGrandparent-brag cards. Mount a favorite photo of your kids to a slightly larger piece of card stock. Include a note penned by you and your kids on the back, and add a small strip of self-adhesive magnet so the proud grandparents can save it on the fridge.

n Friendly updates. If you're not one to write much, save a lot of time with a photo card. Keep friends and family informed of a new car, a home renovation, even a new pair of shoes, with a photo card that includes a brief description.

In this electronic age, e-mails, voice messages, text messages and tweets are handy but impersonal. It's surprising how much more a handmade card will mean to family and friends.

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