Christmas cards & envelopes -- handwritten or computer printed?

[SplshMtn99]

I'm sitting here printing out my Christmas cards & envelopes on the computer. Wondering if most folks still do them by hand.... or do you computer print them?

I guess I switched to printing them years ago because I do about 60 per year.

I always print the envelopes on the computer; complete with return address & some sort of clipart that matches the card.

Some years, I buy Christmas cards with blank insides & design our own. Other years, I buy store bought cards & use the computer to "sign" our name inside.

So what do you do?

How do you feel when you receive a computer made (signed) card -- rather than hand signed?

I put ALOT of time into designing my cards. But sometimes I don't think the receipient always knows that, and thinks they got JUST a computer card. Funny how they don't think that when they received a store bought card. ?????

 

[Pam]

I sent out our first round of family Christmas cards on Friday, both the cards and envelopes were hand written.

I've been working on our business cards, first round of 90 - and they are both handwritten as well.

I never thought of the computer vs. handwritten.

Pam

 

[SplshMtn99]

Pam, a few years ago, DH convinced me to put my address book into the computer. Every year I update anyone who has moved or phone #'s.... it includes kid's names & birthdays & anniversaries & email addresses..........what ever you want.

I hate to have a messy book with cross-outs. LOL During the year, if something changes, I simply hand write the change in the book. But at the beginning of the year, I start with new clean re-printed pages for those that have changes.

So anyway, once I got all that in the computer, I simply use it for my cards & envelopes. It sure makes each year easier.

 

[Pam]

I am embarrassed to say that my personal address book fell apart about 10 years ago and I never made another one! I just stick the envelopes with the return addresses in a mail holder in the credenza!

But - I do have all the client addresses on the computer - and I did use that to look up their addresses last night while addressing the cards........

Pam

 

[Lynn CC]

So there you are
I was just thinking about you, did you come to the Cape for the Holiday?

I hand write mine....someday, when I become organized I would love to do them the way you do. I spend all my free time DISing instead of doing what I'm supposed to be doing.
Good thing I don't have too much spare time!

 

[Kermit]

I usually handwrite the addresses (not the return address, though), but not this year. I was about to, then I realized that I'm going to need to send out baby announcements in February. So sometime soon, I need to get my address book into Excel. I'll print out labels for my Christmas cards and birth announcements. I don't think it's approved by Miss Manners, but she's not on my Christmas card list anyway.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Hi Lynn! I'm still here. No didn't go to the Cape. We go to RI each yr for Thanksgiving (brother & SIL). Everyone here for Christmas. Anyway, it was quite a job getting all the info in the computer, but I only had to do it once.


LOL Kermit! Miss Manners? No, she won't be getting one from me either.

 

[JESW]

I handwrite all the envelopes since I also rubber stamp them. I used to rubber stamp the cards until we had kids. Now I get the photo cards made.

I always prefer to get handwritten cards & envelopes because I feel they are more personal, but I understand how it is easier to do everything by computer. We send out about 50 cards so I really need to get going. Many of them require a personal note and I also do those by hand.

Jill

 

[SplshMtn99]

Wow, you used to rubber stamp all your cards? I'm impressed. I thought about making my cards this yr (but not on the computer this time -- I also scrapbook), but then I talked myself RIGHT out of that one. LOL Good for you!

The only relatives that get a personal letter are the ones that live in Arizona & Missouri & Georgia. And, hate to say it, that's done on the computer too. I guess I'm just a product of the times I grew up in. Computer age.

At least I don't send e-mail Christmas cards. LOL Mine still go by snail mail.

 

[Kaa]

The signature in my cards are handwritten. I do the envelopes on the computer.

 

[C.Ann]

All handwritten.. I like to write..

I know - weird.. LOL

 

[CamColt]

We get the CVS-made photo cards of the kids and have them imprinted with one of their sayings, so I just sign"Love,..." with our names. As for the envelopes, Ive been debating this year whether to print them out. I dont mind writing and it would probably take the same amount of time, but I just have awful handwriting and I know typing, I wont make any mistakes.

 

[Kaa]

The signature in my cards are handwritten. I do the envelopes on the computer.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font face="Comic Sans MS"><font color=#006400>I get Christmas cards from Office Depot and from Disneyland. The ones from Office Depot have a design on them, and the inside is blank. I have a little Christmas poem, and I print out a greeting with pictures of the kids. I used to write a note on stuff we did during the year, but after reading here on the DIS how many people think that they are 'brag notes' I stopped doing that. I found out that the Disneyland cards are really absorbent, and the pics come out awful, so I print the pics on glossy paper & stick them in there. I also print out all the envelopes. I do about 80 cards a year, so this helps a lot. I do hand sign them, and depending on the time I have, I also write a little personal note.

 

[KaraKW]

I handwrite envelopes and messages. I don't like receiving computer-printed cards/envelopes. It's like the sender couldn't take the time to make my card more personal. The point of sending holiday cards is to take the time to think about the person you're sending them to!

 

[browneyes]

I handwrite the inside message, handwrite the addressee's address, if I put my address on it, I use a printer label. Sometimes I just handwrite my name only as the return address.

I have awful penpersonship.

 

[SplshMtn99]

I can see your point, but I am making it personal by MAKING the card (clipart designs & my own personal greeting inside). I've spent as much as a whole weekend just DESIGNING my cards one year.

But I can certainly see how it may come across as mass-produced. But not anymore mass-produced than a store-bought card.

I accept all cards equally. They all show the sender took the time to think about me. Whether it was 15 minutes to run to the store to buy the cards or 2 days to design/print the cards.

 

[KaraKW]

That's really cool how you design the cards, SplashMtn99. I didn't mean to offend you. I was just honestly responding as to how I perceive computerized cards "in general". I do think that signing it by hand is a crucial touch in making any card personal, though.

 

[PKK/MJK]

I guess I'm "old fashioned" but I hand-write everything on our cards--the signatures, the inside "notes" and the outside address. This is the way I was taught when I was younger--but I feel like I'm the last of a vanishing breed. When I get a card with a machine printed signature and a computer generated address label, I feel that the sender really wanted to get his cards done FAST!! I think it is a very impersonal way to do things--I wonder why they even bother. Unfortunately, people are so busy that the "personal touch" is disappearing from so many things.

Splash Mountain--your situation is a little different in that you actually are designing your cards. Unfortunately, people who are not "computer savvy" will not truly appreciate the amount of time you spent on the design process.

 

[KimRaye]

I use pre-printed, self adhesive return labels and, self-adhesive stamps. The rest is handwritten and signed by me.

It doesn't matter to me if the cards are store bought or computer generated/created/designed but, I really dislike the computer address labels. That to me seems impersonal. Junk mail comes that way!

jmo