About mid-fall, many people start dreading the annual chore of sending holiday cards. Images of late nights addressing envelopes, struggling to find a flattering family photo, or trying to put together the dreaded “letter” may come to mind. There is no doubt that sending holiday greetings is a task, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here are the key steps:
Set Your Budget
Cards and postage can add up. Decide in advance how much you are willing to spend. This will help you make decisions.
Set Your List
Begin (now!) by assembling your list. Whether electronically or on paper, record names, addresses, and emails (if you have them). Be sure to include people from whom you’ve received cards in the previous year (tracking this is very helpful in refreshing your list), family/friends you will send to “no matter what”, and new contacts you’ve made during the year. Keep separate lists for business & personal.
Choose a Greeting Type
Your can either send paper cards (homemade, generic or customized) or an electronic card. Paper cards typically offer a more personal feel, while ecards are more affordable. When deciding, be sure to consider whether everyone on your list will read/has access to an electronic card. If not, stick with paper.
Two types of services can help you with customized paper cards:
- Online card creation sites, such as Shutterfly, Snapfish, and TinyPrints: here you can upload images and choose a variety of personalization options, including pre-printed signatures and envelopes.
- Card Sending services, such as Pixingo, and Send Out Cards: these sites will not only help you create a card, but will (for a fee), send the cards for you.
Buy Postage
The USPS offers holiday stamps each year. You can order these online to save time. Buy stamps now so you will have them when you need them.
Write an Update Letter (optional)
The annual letter is a matter of personal preference. Some love to hear about the details of the year, others don’t. With the advent of social media, the need for these updates has lessened. However, if you enjoy sharing the year’s highlights (or lowlights), remember to keep your message brief and not too “braggy.” Consider printing it on a festive piece of stationary.
Address, Sign & Stamp
If you decide to go with paper and do the work yourself, consider breaking the project into small bits. For example, affix postage/return address labels one day, print and fold letters another day, address envelopes another day, etc. OR, consider making it a “family event.” Children can be very helpful in applying stickers or stuffing envelopes.
A few tips to keep in mind:
- If you use a photo, run it by family members first (especially teens) to make sure everyone is ok with it.
- Any scanned image can be uploaded to personalize cards, including children’s artwork and handwritten messages.
- Be careful when selecting card shape. For example, square cards require extra postage.
- Printing addresses on your computer (either onto labels or directly onto envelopes) saves a lot of time and energy.
- A few hand written words at the bottom of a pre-printed card offers a meaningful bit of personalization.
- Always order a few extra cards for unexpected errors or last minute additions to your list.
- If a card you send is returned, make note of it so you can correct your list for next year.
Prepare for Receiving Cards
Cards can make a beautiful holiday decoration as well as a cheery greeting. Decide in advance where & how you will keep them when they arrive. A few ideas include:
- Hang them around a doorframe or on a bulletin board
- Put them in a basket
- Place them in a sorter hanging from the wall
- Clothespin them to a ribbon along a stairwell or mantle (but not too near a flame!)
Holiday cards are a fun part of the holidays. What ideas have you discovered for managing this part of the holiday season?
We always tape cards we receive to the inside of our entryway door — it’s very festive! I definitely need to use your tip about ordering postage online. The last thing I ever want to deal with is standing in line at the PO in December!
I love hanging the cards up too, Sarah. It is fun to see them all season long as you walk through the house!
My mom always puts them in a basket and I love going through them when I visit “home.” What’s funny is that the people who wrote really long newsletters about their kids when I was a kid? Now they write really long “brag” newsletters about their grandkids. It doesn’t end!
I know, right? It is so hard to stay positive without being over the top in the letter. One year my husband and I wrote our letter about getting stuck in a traffic jam on vacation for 4 hours…just to make other people feel better about their lives:) Too funny!
Those are gorgeous! My girls would love working on this! :)-Ashley
Thanks Ashley! So great to get everyone involved:)
I love getting them but I do such a poor job of sending them.. I order them every year and never get them out. I made a great wreath last year though to hang them on and love seeing it fill up!
I love the idea of a wreath, Kristen! Best if luck with getting those cards out this year… My experience is that people like getting them, even if they are late 🙂
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I’m adding Card Store to my list Kristen!
I like the idea of clothespinning them to a ribbon along the railing or mantel! I like sending Christmas cards, but I usually don’t get many.
Whether you get a lot or a few, it is nice to look at them, isn’t it? Sometimes a few cards draped or clipped can add the perfect pop of cheer! Thanks for stopping by:)
I LOVE getting holiday cards and love putting them on our basement door.
Me too, Karen. They are a beautiful decoration as well as a greeting, right? Love the basement door idea:)
There is a set of louvered doors between our living room and hallway. They’re always open, so I like to insert the cards I receive between the slats so I can enjoy looking at them.
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Louvered doors are a perfect solution, and don’t require you to add any new structure! I love your point about getting to enjoy the cards… that is what cards are all about: feeling the love and getting connected. Merry Christmas, Janet!
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