Well, it’s that time of year again. Time to decorate, bake, shop and, oh yes, send out Christmas cards. I really like sending out Christmas cards. Some of my friends are all crafty and creative and make their own cards. Check out these homemade beauties from my cyber pal Susie Lindau. http://wp.me/p1un5Q-15s
Here’s another one, it’s nuts but super rockin cool: http://wp.me/p1un5Q-1zY
Some of my friends send out annual family holiday “newsletters,” advising of all the family accomplishments throughout the year. They usually contain a photo or two.
Whether you send out cards or not, here’s a few “facts” I uncovered about the greeting card industry, and Christmas cards in particular:
According to Greeting Card Association, 1.6 billion – yes that’s billion with a “b” – Christmas cards are purchased every year. Now purchased doesn’t mean mailed, but who buys and doesn’t send?
7 out of 10 card buyers consider greeting cards “absolutely” or “almost” essential to them.
Women purchase an estimated 80% of all greeting cards (big shocker there I know), spend more time choosing a card than men, and are more likely to buy several cards at once. (Well duh, that way you don’t have to make multiple trips.)
And did you know that there is an established set of rules associated with sending out cards? I know, right? Rules. Here’s what I discovered:
#1 Cards should be mailed out as early as possible, but not more than a week before Thanksgiving. (Before Thanksgiving? Really? Too soon if you ask me.) Ideally you want your cards to arrive in early or mid December.
#2 Use your own handwriting wherever possible (as opposed to having somebody else write them out I guess); show that you care enough to take a few minutes and give each card some attention; handwrite a short note on the inside of the card. The site I visited – 7 tips for proper Christmas card etiquette – even says that you should especially use your own handwriting on the outside of the envelopes. So no printed, mail-merged, labels you lazy people.
#3 Don’t send e-cards as a substitute for real cards. A Christmas card should be an act of generosity with a personal touch. E-cards “no longer evokes the feeling of traditional winter cheer.” Take that e-greetings.
And then there’s the element of receiving cards. I love receiving cards in the mail even more than I enjoy sending them out. But every year I wonder, where am I going to put all of these cards? Well, let me tell you dear readers, with a few keystrokes on your computer, you can find a plethora of awesome ideas. Clothspins and garland seem to be the top choices but a quick visit to Pinterest.com and the words Christmas card displays in the search box will bring up more options than you’d ever want or need.
Do you send cards? Do you like getting cards in the mail? How to you display your holiday cards?
Fun fact about me: I used to send cards to all of my friends for every single holiday.
Word of the Day: Patique
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, December 2014. All photos courtesy Google Images and Pinterest.
Once upon a time, I sent Christmas cards. Then, welllllll…I guess I either got lazy or felt pressured and wanted to rebel against Hallmark or simply ran out of time…I dunno. Maybe a combo. Whatever the case, I don’t do the card thing anymore. I do, on certain occasions, send out Jib Jab cards. Because they’re fun. One might be headed your way soon…
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Hi Coleen. So nice to see you this morning.
I get that sending cards isn’t for everyone. And I do love me a good e-card as much as a paper one. Let’s me know that someone was thinking of me. That’s what it’s really all about right?
Have a wonderful week my friend.
Patriaic
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You just reminded me that I need to go out and but my gal and the family Christmas Cards. I’m so behind this year!
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Well Phil, there’s still time, but don’t wait too much longer.
Happy shopping!
Patricia
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Cards are near, if not at, the top of my list of stressful things about the holidays. I like getting them, so I send them. But whoever wrote rule #2 can kiss my a**. They must be a Martha Stewart type who has plenty of time and no stress. Yes, I use labels – I figure it’s better than not sending cards at all, which would be my other choice.
I used to hang mine on the wall and then make gift tags with last year’s, but those are more holiday to-dos that had to go.
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So you’re a rule-breaker, Jennette? Hmmmm.
I was shocked when I saw that list of “rules,” Before Thanksgiving? Seriously? That’s just wrong. And there’s nothing wrong with labels. I mean, who saves the envelopes anyway?
I hope you have a stress free holiday. Just do what you can. We love you anyway.
Patricia
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I LOVE sending and receiving Christmas cards! I wrote most of mine out over the weekend while watching Christmas movies. I’m almost done (still need a few more addresses) and they’ll be put in the mail this week. I really wish more people would send cards… it seems to be a dying tradition, but it’s so wonderful to receive festive pieces of mail.
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I’m with you Jessica. I love doing the card thing. It’s something so small, yet goes a long way in brightening someone’s day. It is indeed a dying tradition but I’m clinging fast to the old ways. I’m glad I’m not alone.
Patricia
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Awesome post. You are reminding me how late I am already in sending mine out. I had planned on sending them out right way, but all the cards I bought are MIA! 😦 Now I have to go shopping for new cards. So sad.
By the way – I have decided I was very naughty. 😉
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Ooooo – I love naughty girls. We’re starting a club and you’re in.
Cards are something that appeal to certain kinds of people. They are not for everybody. Some people get all warm and tingly when they get them in the mail. Others – not so much. Sending them can be a chore, but I like to think of it as a walk down memory lane as I write a little note inside. Reminds me of the reason why that person is on my list in the first place.
Sorry for the missing cards. They’ll turn up and then you’ll have one less thing to do next year.
Thanks for stopping by my dear.
Patricia
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Who buys and doesn’t send Christmas cards you ask? Moi! Because I bought a couple boxes and then photo cards became all the rage and now we do those, but I still have 2 boxes of cards! #HeadDesk
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Well Jess – it’s not to late to send them puppies out. But, photo cards are really nice too. I wish I had the skills necessary to make my own. Maybe someday when I have time to play around on the computer I’ll figure it all out.
Thanks for visiting. Happy holidays!
Patricia
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Great post, Patricia! We are inconsistent Christmas card-senders; sometimes we have our act together, and (this year) sometimes not! Ah, well. If I could send a cookie in the mail, I would. 😉
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Oh but Kathy, you can send a cookie in the mail. Cookie cards would be awesome!!! But you’d have to wrap them up all special like and that would be a lot of extra work and money for the postage.
I always say – especially this time of year – just do what you can. No sense adding stress to an already stressful time. Nobody will think less of you (I hope anyway – I know I won’t).
Happy holidays!!
Patricia
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I like to send (and receive!) cards, usually I make the photo kind or with a doodle. But like last year, I think this year my cards will be the Happy New Year kind. 🙂
Oh and I didn’t get very far finding a definition for patique!
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Oh, well, that’s because it was supposed to be pRatique: noun
license or permission to use a port, given to a ship after quarantine or on showing a clean bill of health.
Makes a difference when you use the “r” too.
New Years cards would be unique and still appreciated I’m sure.
Thanks for visiting.
Patricia
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I like Jacquie Lawson e-cards. Look for one later, much later this month. Me, I’m way behind and will let lots of tasks go this year. It gives me joy, though, to think of your hand-picked tree and your pleasure in sending Christmas cards.
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