One of my very favorite holiday traditions is Christmas cards. As a kid when the season began, I would eagerly await the mailman everyday excited to see what cards he would bring…and this was before the era of picture cards. Back then, I just liked seeing the pretty cards people would send and loved it if they wrote a note or included an update letter. And it was an extra bonus if they enclosed a printed photo!
I always made it my personal holiday responsibility to open the cards and tape them to the door…sometimes I’d even get crafty and form a tree with them. Christmas cards have always been special to me, so the time and effort that people put into sending them made an impact. It’s why I continue to send them today.
As much as I love receiving them, I also enjoy sending them. Every year I order a card that I love and when they arrive, I hand address them while watching Christmas movies with a glass of wine. It’s one of my favorite things to do during the holidays. In a world where digital communication and social media have taken over, it’s nice to know that sending a cheerful message the old school way of snail mail is still something we can enjoy.
I know they can be expensive, but when you break it down, you can send Christmas cheer to your friends and family for about $1.50-$2.50 per card. A small investment for the important relationships in your life. And it really doesn’t have to be that hard – or stressful! Consider this:
Family Photos –
We’re all constantly taking photos on our phones, so they have become less special in a way. And moms are usually taking the pictures and never in them. Planning for Christmas cards is one way to ensure you have a professional family photo taken each year, or at least one of your children. Even though getting them taken can be stressful – with the coordinating outfits and kid meltdowns – you’ll never regret having them. This family photo is one of my favorites of my sister and her family and it looked so nice on her holiday card that year.
Any Photo Will Work –
There are no rules on what photos to use for your Christmas cards. If you don’t have the time or budget for a family photo shoot this year, don’t stress! Any photo representing the year will do…and sometimes they can be more fun.
My sister hasn’t sent cards for the last couple of years because she’s not the best planner and couldn’t get it together for a professional family photo shoot. This year, I helped her realize that she was missing an important tradition and she had plenty of great photos to choose from. She ended up using a picture from her son’s football season and the card looks so fun!
Get Creative –
A couple years back, I decided to use a sketch of my dog and me that was a birthday gift from my sister that year. I loved it so much I wanted to share it with my family and friends, so the Christmas card was the perfect opportunity.
Honestly, I got more compliments and notes about that card than any other I’ve sent. Other ideas could include using a photo of your children’s artwork or a photo you took on a special trip. Share the story on your card and people will love it. Another idea – if you recently moved, use a photo of your new home along with the address.
Keep it Traditional –
There are a ton of beautiful card designs available without photos that can be personalized with a message or simply your name. So, you can still do something personal even if you don’t have or want to use a photo.
The important thing is that you are creating a connection point between you and your loved ones. They will enjoy receiving any card you send just as much.
For me, Christmas cards are as much a part of holiday traditions as baking cookies and opening presents. Hopefully if you were feeling unmotivated this year and considering not sending out cards, I have given you a little inspiration to change your mind.
There are lots of online sources that make it so easy to be creative. My personal favorite is Minted. They offer countless design options that can be sorted by message and number of photos to quickly narrow down your choices. They also have a helpful tool where you can load the photo(s) you want to use, and it will preview all the cards so you can see immediately how a design will look with your photo. This was a huge time saver. Another thing I love about Minted is the support they give their designers. They don’t simply pay them for their work and offer the designs as part of their collections. They highlight the designers by telling you a little about them and showcasing the body of their work available on the site. When I made my purchase this year, I even received a thank you message from the designer, Angel Walker. Nice touch, Minted!
Now that we are in the month of December, I will happily check my mailbox every day, smile when I open those Christmas cards and display them for the season. It’s one tradition that I hope never goes away no matter how digital the world remains, because they are treasures.
I hope you all have a happy holiday season!
~ Beckie
*Photo from Minted.com