Americans wills end nearly 2 billion holiday cards this year! A favorite tradition that most people say they wouldn't dream of giving up, sending holiday greetings is a wonderful way to keep in touch with long distance friends and relatives, as well as a way to thank business associates and clients for their faithfulness throughout the year.
Although a popular activity, sending out holiday greetings can be time consuming. From choosing the right cards for individual groups of people (friends, family, professional associates, etc), to writing personal notes, addressing them and finally getting them to the post office in plenty of time for Christmas delivery, it's no wonder today's busy consumer is looking for ways to make the entire process quicker and easier.
If you're strapped for time this holiday season try some of these time saving tips:
-Buy and address your cards early. Most stores beginning selling holiday cards in early October, which a great time to begin the card addressing process before other holiday stresses kick in. Or commit to working on jus a few cards every night for the months of October and November to make the job less stressful.
-Make a list of people that you would like to send cards to, then divide that list into three groups: must send; want to send; and would like to send. Start with the must sends, and if you run out of time, opt to send a personalized letter later in the year to your want to send and would like to send list.
-Join a card-making club or make it an annual family tradition. Many people love to create their own holiday masterpieces. Some craft clubs around the nation hold card making classes and workshops and even Christmas card exchanges that allow participants to make a dozen or more of one type of card and exchange them for others. It's a great way to get a quick variety of homemade card styles. Or, use the same concept within your family and host a card-making day in late fall that allows everyone (including the kids) a chance to make their own cards to be sent to faraway family and friends in December.
-Have your cards preprinted. Many local printers as well as photo developing centers and even card manufacturers are happy to print your personalized message on the inside of the card you choose, as well as address your envelopes - some even handle the actual mailing! Although it may seem a bit impersonal to some, it can be a great timesaver for those too busy to do it themselves.
-Order your cards and stamps online to alleviate several trips out to purchase cards, buy stamps, etc.
-Always make a few extra cards and have them ready to address and mail for those you may have inadvertently forgotten, or for when you receive an unexpected card from someone you haven't heard from in years.
-Send a Thanksgiving or New Year's card instead. If the holidays are just too busy to include one more activity, try sending out pre or post holiday cards. Thanksgiving cards are a wonderful way to express how thankful you are to have certain people in your life. New Year's cards can often be made and addressed during those letdown days immediately after the holiday. Not only a great way to extend the holiday a few days longer, but cards sent then are often enjoyed more by those receiving them since they aren't thrown on a pike with a dozen others to be read quickly and set aside.
-Sending out Holiday greetings to your friends and family should be an experience you enjoy. Don't let the stress of the holidays take away the fun of catching up with those you don't hear from often. Start early and take your time. You'll be glad you did.
When making my own handmade cards I tend to use decoupage because I can sit and watch TV one night and do all the cutting out and piecing the decoupage together then the next night I can make the cards up.
I recently started to have a look at aperture cards and found that they can be extremely versatile and you can really come up with some interesting and varied ideas.
An aperture card is a card that has a template cut out of it. These designs can be as simple or as complex as you like.
You can create your own aperture cards by cutting the aperture yourself however if you are new to card making I would start off by purchasing some ready made aperture cards and have a few practice runs to see what you can come up with.
One of the most effective ways of making an aperture card interact is by turning it into a shaker card.
Step 1 - turn the aperture card over so you are looking at the back of the card. Place double sided tape around the template or simply cover all sides of the card. You will then need to place acetate over the back of the card securing it with the tape you have just attached.
Step 2 - carefully place 3d foam all around the aperture, take care not to leave any gaps or the contents will fall out.
Step 3 - removed the backs of the foam pads, although you may think this is looking messy and unattractive do not worry this will all be hidden. Gently pour glitter, confetti or very small beads into the cavity you have just created.
BIG TIP - you will not need to add many beads or glitter, remember you need enough space for them to move around giving the 'shaker' effect. This is something you will be able to judge better once you have created a few aperture cards.
Step 4 - fold over the extra piece of card making sure that it is the correct side so the card opens the right way, a beginner may find marking this side with an x before you begin helpful
Step 5 - turn the card over and admire what you have created. You can decorate the front of your card as normal.
When I first started to make aperture cards I would look at the card and think what can I do with this but after a while you will get ideas and come up with some wonderful new ways to make exciting cards.
Once you have mastered it you can then have a go at designing your own aperture cards.
Both Matthew Hick & Vicki Churchill are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.