The story behind this year's Advent Calendar design...

My daughter came home from school Friday with a Christmas Card design she'd done in class, attached to an order form - £5.50 for 12 prints. Hmm...

The thought of paying that much for printed cards really niggled
me, especially as I haven't bought cards in years. But she was so excited about showing me her design, and about the positive comments she'd received, how could I refuse?

I listen as she explains her technique, then we carefully put the card back in the envelope, and I promise to "sort it out later".

So now it's Sunday, and I have to fill out the order form, and I'm becoming more and more niggled by the minute. I've got to hand it to the company, it's a great idea, but to market children in this way? Justifying it with "your school receives a £1 donation for every pack sold" just felt like bullying to me.

That was it, I decided there and then that, no matter what, I was NOT going to be ordering those cards. I would give the school £1 so they didn't miss out, and some crafting materials as an extra gesture, and a note explaining my donation. Now to tell my daughter...

"Oh, but MUM!"

In my most cheerful voice, I point out that we can scan the picture in and make our own printed cards, and tags, and notepaper and -

"But they put our designs on their website so everyone can buy them!"

Oh jees! I can't bare the thought of my family feeling obliged to buy from a company that charges its designers (no order, no upload of course). As I look into my daughter's pleeading eyes, that's when it hit me...

"Hey Sweetheart, Mummy
can put it on lots and lots of websites, and thousands and thousands of people will see it.
It can be this year's Free Advent Calendar!"

Her face said it all. We had a deal.

More about Daisy's Card coming soon.