But since there’s only seven weekends ’til Christmas, it might not be a bad idea to start thinking about it.
To ensure your holiday cards will arrive at their destinations on time, experts say the prime time to mail them is the day after Thanksgiving. Doing so will give your recipients the chance to display their card as a decoration.
So take some time and make this year’s card special.
Here’s an easy idea offered by the ladies of Bell Fine Arts. The gingerbread man holiday card is fun and easy to do for people of all ages.
What you’ll need:
- An empty card form. A package of 10 can be purchased for $8-10 from craft stores like Hobby Lobby or Michael’s. Or you can make your own out of white or colored construction paper.
- Brown construction paper for the shape of the gingerbread man.
- Background material for the front of the card like felt, old wrapping paper, old holiday cards, cloth or a handmade abstract drawing.
- Styrofoam plate
- Small square of cardboard or foam measuring about a ¼ inch thick and a ½ inch wide
- Glue
- Scissors
- Items to use as accessories for your gingerbread man, like ribbon for a bow tie, buttons for eyes or tissue paper for a skirt. Colored pencils, markers, paint and crayons will also be useful in the decoration process.
What you’ll do:
- Decorate the inside of your card first. (It can open left-to-right or top-to-bottom.) This is the place for personal messages. Then set to work on the front of the card.
- Draw the shape of a gingerbread man onto a sheet of brown construction paper. (Do it freehand or trace the shape of a gingerbread from a cookie cutter or stencil.) Cut it out.
- Glue gingerbread man onto the bottom side of a Styrofoam plate.
- Decorate your gingerbread man. How your gingerbread man looks is up to you. After you’re finished, cut it out and set aside.
- Choose what you want to be the background for the front of the holiday card. Once you’ve decided, cut it into the shape of a rectangle and glue it to the front of the card, leaving some room at the top of the card for a handwritten greeting like Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas.
- Take your decorated gingerbread man and glue the square of cardboard or foam on his back. Then attach the gingerbread man to the card by gluing the free side of cardboard square. This will give your gingerbread man a 3-D look. He’ll stand out into the foreground by a ¼ inch.
- Give the glue some time to dry before packing in an envelope.
Holiday card tips
- If uncertain if the recipient celebrates Christmas, Hanukkah, or another religious faith or tradition, then send a neutral card with a greeting of Happy Holidays, Season’s Greetings, Warm Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season or Peace on Earth.
- Handwrite the recipient’s name inside the card. Include a note wishing them well and sign your first name.
- Including a photo of the family is always delightful.
- Send cards out in time for the recipient to receive before Christmas. The day after Thanksgiving is suggested.
- Only send holiday newsletters to close friends and family who would be interested in the details.
- Remember to include your return address on the envelope.
- Send a card to everyone who sends you one.
- E-mail greeting cards are not a substitute for an actual holiday card.
Source: www.drdaveanddee.com
Business Greeting Card Etiquette
- Buy quality cards: Start with a good quality business greeting card to show that you value your clients and colleagues. Skimping on your selection can be interpreted in a number of ways. Your recipients might take it as a sign that business has not been good or that they aren’t worth much.
- Update your list: Make sure your list is up-to-date with correct names and addresses. If you do this on a regular basis, it does not become a dreaded holiday chore. As you gain new contacts throughout the year, take time to add them to your database for your business greeting card group. This way you won’t embarrass yourself by sending the card to the old address.
- Sign cards personally: Even if you have preprinted information on the business greeting card such as your name, you need to add your handwritten signature. The most elegant business greeting cards should have your personal signature and a short handwritten message.
- Handwrite the address: If you are ready to throw up your hands at this point and forget the whole project, then have someone else address the envelopes for you. Don’t use computer-generated labels. They are impersonal and make your holiday wishes look like a mass mailing. You may save time and even money, but you can also lose a client in the process.
- Mail to home address: Mail your business greeting card to the home. Be sure to include the spouse’s name.
- Use titles: Whether you are addressing the envelope to an individual or a couple, titles should always be used. It’s Mr. John Doe or “Mr. and Mrs. John Doe.”
- Be sensitive to traditions: Find out whether your business greeting card recipients observe Christmas, Hanukah, or Kwanzaa. Make sure your message is appropriate for each individual. If you decide to go with one card, choose a generic one that will not offend. “Season’s Greetings” and “Happy Holidays” are safe bets.
Source: www.mannersthatsell.com
-tlunsford@temple-telegram.com
