A Handwritter Letter {or Card}
This post was written on November 2nd, 2010Those that know me well know that I am a paper and pen girl. My planner is paper, my personal journal is a spiral notebook, and I hand write every post before posting it. I want to pass on handwritten letters to my daughter. One of the gifts I got her for Christmas this year is personalized stationery and matching address labels. I used one of my favorite pictures of her on the front so the family she sends letters to out of state can see her sweet face every time.
For Christmas cards I follow the same idea; the photo is important and a handwritten memo on the back is always included. To me, it tells the recipient, “I was thinking of you when I sealed this envelope.” It makes it less generic. I don’t usually use a professional photo, just an every day shot. But no matter what photo you choose, the important thing is to get the cards mailed! My goal this year is to have them all mailed by the first weekend of December. I’m feeling a bit of pressure. In the past I have always ordered from Shutterfly, that’s where I download all of my photos so the process is simple. Their card assortment has never failed me, and the turn around time is super quick.
Yes, I’ll get 50 free Christmas cards for writing this post. But free cards, or not, I would recommend their products and service. In the past I have given photo calendars and photo books from Shutterfly as gifts. I have already received the stationary for Girl, and I know she’ll just love it!
When choosing my Christmas card design I look for something simple and modern. Basically, I try to have the photo and memo on the back the main focus. To finish off the look I order matching address labels and use a scrapbooking pen in coordinating colors to address the cars and write the memo.
I have narrowed down my choices to these two:
I love that this one includes the word “Christmas” and that the photo is front and center.
This one has a bit more detail, which I like, and the photo is still the main focus.
It also has adorable matching labels
Receiving cards in the mail is becoming a thing of the past, but I’m determined to keep this tradition going. One of my friends told me that she no longer sends out cards due to Facebook. It’s not the same…. it just can’t be!
November 2nd, 2010 at 9:18 pm
I love sending out Christmas cards, but always find myself running out of time over the season. I started a new tradition of picking a different holiday each year and sending cards out then. Love your new layout! It looks great!
November 3rd, 2010 at 10:48 am
What a fun blog! Thanks for the insightful Christmas card info
That will be impressive if you get your cards out by the 1st of December!! I’ll be lucky to get mine out by New Years 
November 4th, 2010 at 7:56 am
[...] Rachel, over at No. 17 Cherry Tree Lane is hosting “Be Thankful on Paper” this November. I love a handwritten letter. Recently I discovered that Tween had no idea how to address an envelope and I nearly cried. But why would he know? The majority of people don’t send handwritten letters anymore… not even Christmas cards! And you know how I feel about that. [...]
December 26th, 2010 at 6:18 pm
I so agree with you! I am happy to find something written out that I am thinking for quite some time now. Getting a nice Merry Christmas Picture in an E-Mail is beautiful but it is nothing compared to opening your mailbox and finding a few nice cards between those bills! Sadly I do not have a lot of people in my network that like to do that anymore. I just hope that they all will have this experience when they get mine