Tag: Personalized Christmas Cards

Did you ever get a personalized Christmas card and notice there was nothing too personal about it? It almost seems the once thoughtful tradition of sending a Christmas card has become a thing of the past. If you’re like me, you get the same, predictable cards – some of which aren’t even signed at the bottom! So, when I send my cards out, I make sure to spice each one up with a little something extra to make the recipient feel as though the card was made just for them. And since I only send cards to a few relatives and close friends, it’s easy to figure out what would make them smile a little brighter after opening my card.

First, you should try to choose a design with a common theme that most of your recipients would appreciate. For example, since all of my family and friends are from a big city, I usually try to select a card that has a skyline or city lights. I chose Design #844CX – Sparkling Skyline, two years ago which was a big hit!

Next, personalize the inside to reflect the way you feel during the Christmas season. After all, that card may be the only communication you have with a distant friend or relative for months at a time. I try to include a greeting that reflects my feeling about Christmas and conveys a hopeful message for the New Year. After selecting the greeting, don’t forget to let your recipients know who the lovely cards came from! I always let The Gallery Collection print my name at the bottom – it gives them such a classy finish.

If time allows, add a quick handwritten message. This is a thoughtful way to let people know the card was made just for them. For example, my mom absolutely loves anything having to do with our beloved cat Fleecie who I ended up “adopting” when I got my first apartment after college. So, I’m always sure to jot down a few details on Fleecie’s latest habits of chewing my brand new pair of shoes or finding his way to tip over the catnip jar.

Taking these few extra steps will ensure that your card stands out among all the rest, not to mention your genuine intent of the season will really show through to your recipients. After all, isn’t that what sending Christmas cards is all about?

The holidays would never be the same without my Christmas cards from friends and relatives strategically arranged like garland around the open French doors to my living room. This area served as the first stop for visitors who entered my family’s home. They couldn’t help but admire the personalized Christmas cards that caught their eyes. Aunt Gert and Uncle Klaus were notorious for adventure and each year they would write about new escapades in their Christmas cards. Everyone looked forward to reading about where they traveled to and what predicaments they got themselves in to…and the content was always as amusing as it was educational.

After appreciating the Christmas cards, guests walk through the open French doors and see the grand piano, which in the past served as the gathering place each holiday when loved ones and guests would burst into harmonic caroling. Fritz always started off the night tickling those ivory keys to tunes of those upbeat classics: “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” “Jingle Bells,” and “Joy to the World.” Zelda would sit back cracking her knuckles awaiting her turn at the piano to play the mellow tunes that included “The First Noel,” “Little Drummer Boy,” and “Silver Bells.” They entertained guests throughout the evening and everyone always knew when the night was winding down; Fritz and Zelda would sit together on the piano bench and simultaneously start playing “Silent Night.” No matter where guests had scattered to, this song drew everyone back to the grand piano for what they knew would be one of the last tunes of the night. When the song concluded we held our glasses up high and toasted to another memorable holiday before joining in the final holiday classic “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

In recent years growing families, out of state residences, and busy schedules has kept the tradition from continuing, but for me the magical moments come alive each Christmas. I remember the joy and fun each time I gaze atop the piano where I display the personalized Christmas cards from my dear family and special friends who at one time, on that very spot, let their vocal pipes loose for the sake of good times and tradition.

Have you ever received an unsigned greeting card, in an envelope with no return address?  If so, you may be more likely to appreciate the efficiency and freedom of personalized Christmas cards.

On the surface, you might find the incident to be amusing.  But, like her Royal Highness, “I am not amused.”  I am annoyed.  Who do I thank?  How sincere are these good wishes if the sender was too uninvolved to remember to sign?  I have enough to keep track of in my life without a little mystery like this popping up to distract me!

Perhaps you can imagine my embarrassment when I discovered that I had committed this very faux pas.  I truly don’t know what mental lapse caused it, but one year I discovered that several of my Christmas cards went out in this clueless way.

How did I discover this, you ask.  Well, I had picked out some really distinctive, fabulous looking cards so it was easy to spot mine within the tree-shaped Christmas card display on my friend’s wall.  I was so proud of myself!  Until I started peeking inside the cards to see who sent which.  When I peeked inside my card I was chagrined, but of course my friend knew who sent it because of my return address on the envelope, right?  That’s when I learned that I had sent an unsigned card in a blank envelope.  We shared a little embarrassed laugh.  Oh, well, these things happen.

When I saw the same unsigned card on display in a client’s office, I was mortified.  The worst part was, I had no way of knowing how many went out unsigned (I remember signing some cards) or how many went out with no return address on the envelopes (perhaps a blessing in disguise if the card was unsigned).

That was probably the first time that I messed up in that way (I hope) and it was definitely the last time!  Now I order my cards with my name printed on them and I order my envelopes with my name and return address printed on them.  I still like to handwrite a salutation and a couple of words, if time allows, and sign my first name.  But now I have the comfort of knowing that, if I’m in rush or if I forget, my Christmas greetings will still go out to spread holiday joy without creating confusion.