The Card
Buying cards that are already made is quick, easy and not terribly expensive. If you choose to go that route, think about the exact message you want to send and make sure the exterior of the card reflects that.
If you want your card to be more personal, consider making it yourself! Taking fun or funny family photos is a great way to stay connected to friends who are far away. It allows them to see how your family and its members has grown throughout the year and helps them feel more involved in your lives.
There are a ton of great ideas for making your own Christmas cards, including pop-up Christmas tree cards, Instagram cards (for the more modern senders), washi tape cards, or cards made with finger-painting by the kids. The options are more or less endless, so don’t be afraid to get creative.
The Words
For most of us, the art of letter-writing isn’t something we practice often. Of course a Christmas card doesn’t have to be as long as a letter, but it can still be stressful coming up with something nice to say. One way to go about this is to write something that you can universally send in each card.
For instance, updating friends and family members on what each of the members of your own family has done in the past year can be a great way to add personality to a Christmas card. You can even print out this letter to stick inside each card if you’ve opted to buy cards from the store.
If you’ve made your own cards, try to come up with two or three phrases that you want to use and tailor them to the people who will be receiving them. Again, consider whether you want these messages to be heartwarming, funny, informative, etc.
When writing something to each person or family individually, sharing fond memories from the past, funny stories you’ve experienced throughout the year, or even quotes and song lyrics that mean something to you can be a great way to add a personal touch.
If a party and gifts aren’t your thing, Christmas cards are a fantastic way to share cheer with your loved ones and get in the spirit of the season.Take a look a these greeting card rules for businesses if you are thinking about sending out a card from work.
Images by pacmikey, Lauren Manning and Serge Saint used under Creative Commons License.
I still like making my own Christmas Cards. I do them with paper, cross stitch them and feel like I leave a piece of me with them when I do.
ReplyDeleteI used to make cards for Christmas and do etchings and stuff. No time anymore it seems.
ReplyDeleteSadly everyone in our families would rather have e-cards instead of paper. My sons do make cards for their teachers, they love it.
ReplyDelete