Tag: Personalized Christmas Cards

At The Gallery Collection, you can order handsomely designed and manufactured Christmas cards, choose from many thoughtfully written greetings, and then you can personalize your selection with two lines of print. In today’s fast-paced world it is a welcome relief to know that you can have your cards ready to send without appearing rushed or lazy. The Gallery Collection’s personalized Christmas cards look like you spent the time to choose something unique and stylish to send to friends and family. The foil on the inside of the envelope looks so elegant, your recipients will know they are getting something extraordinary and distinctive before they even see the card inside.

Honestly, I like to sign my own cards so when I am given my complimentary order of personalized Christmas cards I let my neighbors have them and they add their personal note. They get so excited when I bring the catalog over. Since I only give them 25 cards, they make a list of the special people that get the “good” Christmas cards. At their New Year’s Eve party, my neighbors brag about how I give them the free cards order, and then I hear “Can you get me some cards too? They are so nice!” Everyone wants to be my neighbor when I bring home The Gallery Collection catalog…ahh! But will they take out my garbage or mow my lawn?!?

Ordering personalized Christmas cards should be on your to-do list early in the year. The Gallery Collection offers huge discounts in the beginning of the year to keep the plant busy…so order early and save a bundle! All you have to do is remember where you put them. Just think…you can get incredible Christmas cards at a decent price while impressing friends and family with your class and good taste. If only everything else in life could be so easy.

As I decide on what personalized Christmas cards to order, I am reminded that Christmas comes to everyone. In this economy, and as we enjoy all the colorful Christmas decorations in our neighborhoods, I am reminded of those who are living in more humble circumstances in public shelters, tents, inside cars, or even on the street. Everyone likes to be part of the season and the homeless are no different.

Years ago on Christmas Day we used to drive to downtown San Diego with my car stuffed full of all kinds of gifts: new coats, new blankets, shirts, shoes, socks and the like. I worked for an apparel company and they were most generous to give to the effort. Nearby golf apparel companies would also donate boxes and boxes of new golf shirts to give away. A coworker gave a cash gift and we were on our way with new socks, t-shirts and hygiene items.

We drove up and down the streets of the deserted downtown area and looked for people in need. They were easy to find in the late holiday afternoon resting on loading docks, behind trucks, huddled in doorways. One homeless gentleman was so surprised to see someone on Christmas Day. His home was hidden deep in the midst of a truck yard where no one could see his makeshift abode. As I approached with our Christmas good wishes he declared with surprise, “A clean woman!” I guess he was not used to being in proximity of everyday society.

Another man walking on an overpass near Balboa Park was so delighted confronting our Christmas cheer that he said, “I haven’t had an intelligent conversation with another person in seven months!” Just like the exchange of Christmas cards, it doesn’t take much to share the true Christmas spirit.

On one of those outings I caught a glimpse of one of my fellow homeless workers walking along the cold downtown streets in his socks. I asked him what had happened, thinking there was some sort of mishap. He had taken the shoes off his feet and given them to someone with a greater need. He said, “I have plenty of shoes at home.”

Now that’s the Spirit of Christmas!

When I was a kid, I would leave out cookies for Santa and milk for Rudolph every Christmas Eve before I went to bed. Having been one of those kids who was never asked to join in any reindeer – I mean, playground – games, I felt an affinity for Rudolph, one that I didn’t feel towards the other eight reindeer. So, he got the bowl of milk. I didn’t expect him to share with the others either.

I would always include a letter to Santa with the treats, written on a pretty Christmas card. Sure, I sat on his lap at the mall and told him all about the Cabbage Patch Kids or Jem dolls I wanted, but he saw so many kids during the span between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I wanted to be sure he remembered me and leaving personalized Christmas cards seemed like a good way to make an impression. It never dawned on me that a “reminder card” put out on Christmas Eve may be a little too late. Santa was magic, after all. He’d make it happen.

I usually found whatever it was I asked for under the tree when I woke up early the next morning. The cookies and milk were gone, and a brightly wrapped package or twelve rested on the tree skirt. I do remember one time, though, when Santa wrote back.

While most of the specifics are hazy, I imagine his note – written on a holiday card, just like mine to him – mentioned what a good girl I’d been and reminded me to be a good girl for my parents for the New Year. After all, he was watching, right? The one detail I do remember, though, is that his handwriting was so sloppy, it looked like he misspelled my name. In fact, he called me by a boy’s name!

I showed my mother the offending holiday card, wondering how Santa could possibly address my Christmas card to Lee, and not Dee. Somehow, she explained the “error” all away. I guess moms are good at that.

Whenever I find myself “bah-humbugging” the holidays, I think of Santa and the magic he brings to Christmas. The kid in me still remembers. And, I have to confess, I still look at the table near the tree each year and wonder if he’ll leave me Christmas cards and write me again.

I went to the post office the other day with my personalized Christmas cards in hand to purchase my stamps. Everyone else finally got around to doing their holiday cards too because the line was rather long. The woman in front of me made her way to the front desk and asked the clerk for some stamps. The clerk said “No problem, what denomination?” The woman exclaimed, “My goodness, has it really come to this?” The clerk was quite puzzled but asked again, “What denomination?” The woman said, “Well, I have 30 Catholic, 15 Baptist, 12 Jewish, and 14 Presbyterian.”

OK, so I was simply trying to tell my corny joke, but the point is some people do give a lot of thought to the recipients of their Christmas cards, as well they should. We all want to be sensitive to the fact that different people celebrate (or in some cases, don’t celebrate) different seasons and holidays. You certainly don’t mean to offend anyone but you do want spread some cheer and joy during the holidays (just don’t spread your fruitcakes, please!). Don’t worry so much about it and just send Christmas cards that suit your taste and help you spread that joy. My company has a lot to choose from including holiday cards depicting ornaments, trees, winter scenes, masterpieces, wildlife and patriotic designs. But I have to say, I am partial to the lighter side of things such as design 206CS – Merry Christmas from All of Us or 496CS – Sparkle Bear Greetings. Who could possibly be offended by this polar bear having a ball while rolling around in the snow! How fun!

Choose what greeting cards you prefer and I will try to refrain from making more bad jokes (but I won’t make any promises).