Here we are mid November. Crazy, no? There is snow on the ground where I live, so thinking about Christmas is not a big stretch for me. And so, I begin to think about sending Christmas cards.
Adorable bedding by Garnet Hill (which seems to be on sale right now).
Sending Christmas cards should not feel like a chore
Whether you are planning your USA Thanksgiving or not, Christmas comes faster than Rudolph can blink his nose, and if you send out Christmas cards (See one of my most popular posts on this very topic) there is no time to waste.
Last year I shared a few tips on how to make sending out Christmas cards easy instead of a chore that we dread, or worse, that we feel obligated to do. Here’s my updated list:
1. Start now. If you include a family photo take it today. Don’t hold out for perfection. In fact, some times the blooper photos make the best card.
2. There are tons of online card companies that offer fabulous designs and then ship them right to your door (here are some of my favorites)
3. Get your stamps early. I have found this little detail to be most stressful when I am half way through the cards and realize I am out of stamps.
4. Know your deadlines. I picked up this handy little reference sheet at my local Canada Post Office last week. To get the entire list of dates visit Canada Post. And the United States Postal Service Holiday Shipping and Mailing Schedule will prove to be very helpful. For international here is the Royal Mail Christmas 2014 posting dates.
6 more tips to make it easy
1. Don’t try to get it all done in one night. For me this approach just sucks the joy right out of the whole thing. Try addressing envelopes to names ending in A-C to start.
2. Use tape for a quick and easy way to seal the envelopes. For those of you who want to add a splash of colour, use Washi tape to seal the envelopes.
3. Next year consider getting labels or a stamp with your return address. This really speeds things up.
4. See if you can find a corner in your house where you can leave all the card sending stuff out. That way you don’t have the hassle of getting it all out every time you want to work on it.
5. One more thought on family photos. If you have teenagers, do vet your preferred photo through their eyes before sending to print. I learned this the hard way and and to reprint my cards last year with a whole new photo. Everyone needs to feel they look their best in the family pic.
6. Did I mention that the whole thing goes so much better with a hot drink in hand and the fireplace on?
Do you send Christmas cards?
These are some great tips…I am usually a last minute person when it comes to sending cards – then I get all stressed out about them! Thanks for linking up with us at Home Matters Linky party!
Hello there Zan, lovely of you to stop by for a visit. I hope this year there is no stress involved with your Christmas cards. You need to get that hot drink out… 🙂 Talk soon I hope.
All good tips, many of which I have used already. Card sending and receiving are one of my favorite things about preparing for the holidays. I love your blog!
Hello there Ann, So nice to meet a fellow card loving person! I bet you have some tips of your own…please feel free to share. I’m always on the look out for ways to encourage more people to try putting pen to paper at Christmas. I’m tickled pink to hear you like my little corner of the blogosphere. I do hope you will pop back soon for another chat. Lovely to meet you.
Step #6 is the best! Thanks for motivating me to get mine done now.
Hey there Pam, so what is your preferred hot drink to go with Christmas cards? I am a tea gal but like to change it up with warm apple cider or hot chocolate from time to time. I know, I live on the wild side, don’t I?! ha. Good luck with those getting those cards done. I am starting mine this coming week.
Some fantastic tips here I’m currently getting myself organised to start on my cards
Lovely of you stop in and say ‘hello’ Alice. So glad you liked the Christmas card tips (I’ve learned the hard way over the years). Thank you for sharing on twitter as well. Enjoy getting those cards ready.
Love it, Barb! I enjoy writing old-fashioned Christmas cards for the older folks on my list. Some I mail, but some I deliver in person along with a wee gift. If they happen to be specialty cards (homemade), it’s fun to chat about the pretty features of the cards with those who receive them. I tend to send cards electronically to the youngins’. They seem to get just as much a kick out of finding them in their Inbox as much as my elderly aunties enjoy finding them in their mailbox! Lol Thanks for all the great tips!
Linda at Beautiful Ideas
Linda, I love how you customize your card giving to what is most meaningful to each generation! I haven’t thought about this before. Very thoughtful. And of course, your in person delivery, who would not love that. So nice of you to stop by and share your stories. Talk soon I hope.
Great tips Barb! I do have the cards, but no picture yet. Love number 6….hhmmm coffee or tea?
Thanks Lori, sounds like you are well on your way to getting your cards out. I’m a tea gal myself, but I had warm apple cider with mulled spices the other evening and it was amazing. Can’t go wrong with either, I don’t think. 🙂
All of these are great tips. I usually start before Thanksgiving, but I’m completely behind this year. Great reminder for me to get it together. Thanks for the tip about tape. Why didn’t I think about that before. I had been using water with a wet paper towel. Tape is so much easier. Thank you! Glad I stopped by.
Kirsten, so lovely of you to take the time to pop in and say ‘hello.’ Glad you found the tips helpful. The tape thing never occurred to me either until I discovered washi tape, so much nicer on a card than the shiny stuff. Lovely to meet you and I hope we chat again soon.
What a great tip! Hello, my name is Misty, from The LadyPrefers2Save at http://theladypreferstosave.com, and I’m one of the new co-hosts for the Merry Monday Linky Party! I wanted to write and thank you for linking up to this weeks Merry Monday party, as well as to let you know that your post will be linked to the Merry Monday Pinterest board, as well my social media accounts. I would love to have you also stop by my blog as well! Thanks for linking up at the Merry Monday’s Linky Party this week, and I hope to see you linking up next week as well. Have an awesome week!
Hello there Misty, Thanks so much for taking the time to visit. Lovely to meet you. I appreciate you sharing on your social media sites these tips on sending Christmas cards. Looking forward to joining you again soon. 🙂
Your tips are great! I have limited my sending of cards in past years (maybe because I had to send out so many thank you notes over the years!, but this year, I think I will spend some time writing cards. And I gotta get that family photo done! With two teens, it won’t be easy :). Thanks for the schedule; am gonna print that out if possible. Is it too early to say Merry Christmas? 🙂
So glad you find these suggestions helpful Glenda. I bet so many will appreciate getting a card from you this year. Good luck with that photo!