Your Go-To Guide to Perfect Christmas Cards
Blogmas Day 8
My friend Katie is the real-life Leslie Knope from Parks and Rec. She is creative, crafty, kind, smart, and thoughtful. She thinks of everything and remembers everyone’s favorite things. I aspire to be her, not gonna lie.
Earlier this month we were texting and I admitted to her I had just ordered my Christmas cards. In a perfect world I would’ve ordered, addressed, and sent them by now but it is what it is.
We got to chatting about her Christmas card tips and how I should share them on my blog. “Guest blog post if you need me to” she said, in which I responded, “Can you please?!”
So, friends, today I’m excited to share the 10 tips to great Christmas cards, written and shared by the real-life Leslie Knope herself. Here they are!
{ONE} Choose a collage design
A collage design is a card with 2-4 pictures featured on the front instead of one. Rarely does the entire family (dogs are part of the family) look good in the same picture. When you choose a card option that has multiple sections, you can put your best face and your children’s best faces forward.
{TWO} Shop around for card prices
There are so many websites that offer deals and discounts. Beware of the ones that sound cheap. Sometimes you will have to purchase 500 to receive the $0.79 per card price.
{THREE} Order stamps online
You can order your stamps from USPS online. When you order online, you can get the perfect stamp in the quantity and pattern you need. You don’t have to settle for the flag forever stamps. You (or your spouse) also don’t have to wait in line at the busy post office.
{FOUR} Buy a return address stamp
Return address stamps can be found on many websites and even Amazon. Stamps range in price from $20-$30. Address stamps will save you a lot of time and you can use it all year long! When you use the stamp, you should also stamp all the cards first and wait for them to dry before you write on them. This prevents you from smudging the ink of the return address. (Printed return address labels do the trick, too!)
{FIVE} Gather addresses early
Gather your addresses before you sit down to start addressing your envelopes. Making an excel or Google Sheet will help you sort, delete, and update yearly. Also, if you add the addresses to you phone, you won’t ever have to ask for someone’s address before you visit them!
In my experience, there is also always that friend who takes forever to text you back. Don’t let them prevent you from completing this step! If you have their number, you can always text their parent or more responsible sibling. Then, as a thank you for their help, just send the sibling and parent a card, too.
{SIX} Practice writing the address
Practice the spacing of the addresses on the envelope before you try to write all of them. This will help you find the perfect spot to place the address for a neat card front.
{SEVEN} Order a sample card
Time permitting, you can order a sample card for minimal cost. This gives you an idea of what you are getting before you buy 50-100 cards.
{EIGHT} Order a few extra
After you calculate the final count needed, order a few extra cards and envelopes. (Extra envelopes in case you butcher the zip code or forget someone got married.) Make sure you order a few extra so you can have one to save, too. Also, this way you have a couple to send to people that you might have forgotten to include on your original list.
{NINE} Ask for help stuffing or stamping
Between my husband and I, I have the better handwriting. Since I am so particular, I would never allow him to write the addresses on our cards. The postman also appreciates this. I have him help by stuff the envelopes or stamping. It also makes it a group activity instead of a daunting to-do.
{TEN} Reward yourself for writing
Writing 30-100 addresses can be taxing. I always reward myself with a Christmas treat like a cookie or hot cocoa. Pro tip: You should have the treat AFTER you finish. I learned my lesson after a couple of spills and icing smudges on cards.