Buzz
The tradition of sending Christmas cards originated in the early 1800s and remains more vibrant than ever today. They serve as a delightful means of spreading joy to distant relatives, as the arrival of a Christmas card instantly evokes the holiday spirit. Moreover, they offer a cost-effective and straightforward way of commemorating loved ones during this festive season.
Procedures
Selecting the Perfect Christmas Card
Compile a list of recipients for your cards. Similar to Santa Claus, creating a list and meticulously checking it twice ensures you purchase an adequate number of cards and don't overlook anyone. You can also mark off names as you complete each card.
- It's advisable to verify the addresses of individuals on your list at this stage.
Select an appropriate card design. Choose a Christmas card that aligns with the holiday spirit or resonates with your recipients. Options include cards featuring Christmas trees, angels, Santa Claus, or red robins.
- If you're aware that your recipient isn't religious, avoid selecting nativity-themed Christmas cards.
- For those with a sense of humor, consider opting for humorous cards.
Opt for personalized printed cards. Many online print shops offer holiday-themed cards at a lower cost compared to local printers. These platforms typically allow you to customize the quantity, cardstock, imagery, and even include a family photo, along with crafting a heartfelt message inside.
- Be mindful of any minimum card quantity requirements set by the print shop.
- Ensure you order your custom cards several weeks in advance of the holidays to allow ample time for processing and delivery.
- Capture a holiday-themed family photo featuring you and your loved ones donning Christmas sweaters. You can upload this photo to use as the cover image for a personalized card.
Create homemade Christmas cards. Purchase blank cardstock and holiday-themed craft supplies to craft your own unique holiday cards. Utilize an ink stamp featuring the phrase 'Merry Christmas' to add a festive message inside the card.
- Experiment with creating paper cutouts of festive elements using simple templates and recycled paper. Transform images from magazines into Christmas trees, ornaments, and snowmen, and affix them to the cardstock using a glue stick.
- Enhance your design by embellishing the card with white, red, green, or silver glitter.
Completing Christmas Cards
Compose a personalized greeting. Begin with 'Dear' or 'To,' followed by the recipient's name. Place this near the top inside the card. Some individuals prefer positioning the greeting above any pre-printed messages within the card.
Add a salutation to the card's interior.
While not necessary if the card already features a pre-printed message, a brief holiday-themed salutation adds a personal touch to the card.
- Keep it simple with a greeting like 'Merry Christmas!'
- If desired, include a short passage below the salutation, such as a poem, a brief message, or a personalized note about the recipient.
Conclude with a closing statement. These concise phrases or words mark the conclusion of your message within the card. Sign your name directly below or after the closing statement.
- For instance, you can use 'From, Your Name' as a closing statement.
- Experiment with other closing statements such as: love, sincerely yours, faithfully yours, best wishes, season's greetings, or even a few X's and O's, symbolizing 'Hugs and Kisses'.
Incorporate a keepsake or gift item. Many individuals include small tokens, like photographs, with their annual Christmas cards. This provides recipients with updates on family changes and offers additional information that can't fit inside the card itself.
- Gather family photos or school portraits of your children to insert into the cards.
- You might consider including a gift card to a local restaurant or store as a more substantial gesture.
- Compose a 'Christmas Letter' detailing significant events from the year, such as achievements, family vacations, or career milestones. Save time by drafting the letter in a word processing document and printing multiple copies to include with each Christmas card.
Sending Christmas Cards via Mail
Address the envelope to your recipient. Most store-bought cards come with envelopes; if not, you can purchase them separately. Write the recipient's address in the center of the front of the envelope.
- The address should include the recipient's name, street address, city, state, and zip code.
- For formal Christmas cards, ensure the recipient's title is included in the address.
Add a return address to the envelope. This ensures that if the card encounters delivery issues, it can be returned to you at this address.
- You can write the return address either in the upper left corner of the envelope or at the top center of the back flap.
Insert your card into the envelope. Most envelopes feature adhesive on the flap that can be activated by moisture. When sealing the flap, press firmly along the edge to ensure a secure closure.
- You can moisten the adhesive by licking it.
- Alternatively, you can use a slightly damp sponge, cotton swab, or an envelope moistener.
- If the adhesive is weak, you can use a glue stick to seal the envelope.
Affix a stamp to the upper right corner of the envelope. The post office offers holiday-themed stamps, perfect for adorning your Christmas cards. Once sealed and stamped, simply drop the envelope into the nearest postal mailbox for delivery.
Pointers
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Incorporate a brief message highlighting significant events from the past year.
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To cut costs, consider crafting your own card!
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If your card includes extras like a gift card or money, weigh it at the post office. Sometimes, a single stamp may not provide sufficient postage for heavier cards.
Precautions
- When sending a card to someone unfamiliar, refrain from using hugs and kisses as it can be perceived as too informal. Reserve such closings for close acquaintances like parents, grandparents, partners, siblings, and friends.
- Always remember to affix a stamp to your letter; otherwise, the post office may not deliver it.
- Avoid including offensive messages, racist comments, or negative sentiments in your cards. Remember, the purpose of these cards is to spread good wishes and cheer for the upcoming year. Offensive language could unintentionally cause offense, even among loved ones.
Materials Needed
- A card (store-bought or homemade)
- An envelope (some cards come with one included)
- A pen or pencil
- Stamps
- Cardstock
- Holiday-themed cutouts
- Glue stick
- Glitter
- A visit to the post office or mailbox
