Post this: A new take on the holiday newsletter with PowerPoint

Create a dynamic, multi-media holiday newsletter using Microsoft PowerPoint 2010, and reclaim the time you spend each year chasing after paper, envelopes, stamps, and mailing addresses.

Start by choosing a template that best expresses your holiday spirit. (TIP: If the templates aren't grabbing you, you can simply swap out the images with ones that you prefer. For example, here is a great selection of holiday themed images from Office.com.)

Apply it to your PowerPoint presentation, and then go to work inserting your pictures, video, and scanned memorabilia.       

Next, comment on your slides either by typing captions or stories, or with narration, filling in the details of your life during the past year. If you want to get fancy, you can animate text or objects. And for a real showstopper, add a recording of the kids' voices, or sing a family song.  

Finally, beam your newsletter to your people through email or by embedding on your family blog or other website -- your contacts will be able to see it even if they don't have PowerPoint.

Even if this is your first PowerPoint presentation, no one will be the wiser. Crank out your own rich-media masterpiece and use your dining room as a place for holiday dining, not mass-mailing.

-- Kristin Beck, for the PowerPoint blog team