Christmas cards -- less labor intesive ideas? hand address or computer labels? or ?

[Grumpy's Gal]

The topic I am thinking about today is Christmas Cards!

OK...
1) Buy the cards
2) make the list of who to send them to
3) divide the list into who gets pictures and who doesn't
4) get the pictures taken (or take them ourselves)
5) pick the pictures up (or get them printed)
6) hand address the cards
7) write the greetings on the insides of the cards
8) put stamps on the USA cards
9) separate the cards that need additional postage for out of the country
10) check the cards against the list to make sure we got them all...

Ok - I am trying to think of a way not only to save on the money budget but also on the time budget.

This takes way longer than the time I have available to me.

Has anyone just STOPPED sending cards? I don't really want to do that. I like to get cards that have been hand addressed but I am seriously thinking about printing the addresses on the computer to save time. Or maybe just send cards and no pictures. Or maybe not send cards but a letter. (But then we'd have to write a letter and I dread that.)

ANY IDEAS? Tell me what you have done that works well. I am considering not sending Christmas cards anymore and maybe sending valentines instead. Or Thanksgiving cards.

 

[maggiew]

Do a photocard. That cuts out a few steps (buying the cards, deciding who gets pictures, etc.). You can even have them print your names on these, so you don't have to sign them if you don't want to.

I don't usually write a greeting on the cards. You could make up a short Christmas letter - that way you don't have to write in each card.

I had DH put the stamps on the cards. I figured that was the least he could do!

I still hand address the envelopes, though. Although I use return address labels.

Good luck! I started Thanksgiving weekend so that they wouldn't be hanging over my head!

Maggie

 

[mtblujeans]

It took me a little while but I made up Disney character address labels. I can either put in the recepient's address or mine....so they can be used to send out on the envelopes or for my return address. Printing those labels out and slapping them on the envelopes cut down on a lot of time and effort for me.

 

[disneygals]

I usually go to JC Penney,
get pic cards done with our names printed, they give you the envelopes in advance,
addresses are kept on the computer, printed on large sheet of sticker paper (could never get label software to work) then cut

slap on a stamp, return address, address label and I'm done.

If I receive a card from somebody I am not offended if they don't
handwrite my address
write me an extra note
don't send a pic...although I really, really LOVE to get pics

But I'm just happy to get a card and don't judge the style or content.

 

[DianaPrincessofWales]

Writing Christmas cards IS extremely time consuming for me too. The only decision I've made is to only do them every second year. Also I start mine in November. Alot of people on my list have international addresses and along with the time spent they are also EXPENSIVE. By the time you add the professional photo and postage it gets to be very pricey. I also did a generic family updated letter for everyone but I didn't take the time to add anything personal to each, (I'm only one person!!). I keep doing it because I also like to recieve them and love looking at my friends and families pictures.

Sorry, I have no magic "EASY" button for you, but that's what I do.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Using preprinted address labels would save some time, you could do that really early in the year to have them ready. When my son was sick I started printing up letters to put in the cards to update all of our family members on his health and I've been doing it ever since. Last year I bought cards with our names already signed in them, but they were so impersonal that I ended up only using them for my Dh's work, although I'm not offended when people send them to me.

Something I do to get them done faster is to pack up all of my supplies for the cards into a tote bag and take them with me whenever I'm somewhere that I can expect a wait like basketball practice.

I also buy my cards on clearance after Christmas so I usually start working on them right after Halloween, at least signing them and making a list of who to send them to.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I use mail labels....If I didn't there's no way I'd ever get the cards out on time. The hard part is the first time, actually entering the names - after that, I just save last year's doc, make a new one for the current year and update/delete as necessary. I got so lucky this year with our photo for the kids, About we already went to see the Rockettes, knowing full well that the lobby was going to beautifully decorated, I dressed the kids in their finest, we got there a bit early and I took about 20 digitial shots. I've had my card for about 3.5 weeks now, just printed the labels and they're outta here. Another time saver for me is to use the return label to "seal" the envelope.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

First we don't send Christmas cards anymore. I go to SAMS CLUB with a Christmas Photo and we have New Years photo cards made. I find that I am much more relaxed in January and that I have lots more time.We only send them to people who sent us cards and family. I type out the kids name and ages on a label and put it on the back of the card. (Last year the photo was taken in WDW so the label read
DS's name(16) DD's name (15) and DD's name (2) enjoying Christmas in Epcot WDW Florida. Happy 2006!!! I also make our own return address labels and address labels for the persons address. I put the address in the computer as the Christmas Cards come in that way I am not typing out 100's of labels in January. This seems to be the best solution for us. I hope it helps a little bit.Good luck!

 

[nuts4wdw]

Which program does everyone use to make address labels? I use Hallmark for the return and Word and Access for the people I'm sending to. I really don't like access, though. Just my own personal taste.

 

[mtblujeans]

Which program does everyone use to make address labels? I use Hallmark for the return and Word and Access for the people I'm sending to. I really don't like access, though. Just my own personal taste.

I downloaded a template from the Microsoft site. I picked labels that had addresses AND pictures. Then replaced the pictures with other clipart and saved. I can use 'replace all' in Word to change the addresses at any time. There is setup time, but after that, it is quick.

 

[PA Princess]

I truly love getting Christmas cards, and I love to send them! But when baby number 4 arrived 2 years ago five days before Christmas, I learned to streamline the whole process.

So we have gone to the photo cards, but even that was a bit of a stressor last year trying to get a great pic of 4 kids (one being 11 months old). My cousin said my kids looked so serious...hhhmmm maybe because they were all dressed up and we took forever trying to get it perfect?

This year I streamlined even further and I used a good shot of us from Disney in September that was taken by Photopass photogs. It is our whole family in front of the castle and I put on the card...from our castle to yours - Merry Christmas! Used a Disney themed card from Walgreens, and they turned out just awesome with no real stress. Now that is a true gift at this time of year. I think I have a new tradition of making the Christmas card pic from vacation. I just got an email from that same cousin, and she said the kids look SO happy and delighted in this year's card...and so do mom and dad LOL

 

[nbodyhome]

We did photo cards the last couple of years - this year it's a bit more work (I bought cards from Give Kids the World, and am writing in them). I don't mind the time - I can do it while in front of the TV. I don't like using labels except for the return address, not the "to", it seems more impersonal. I am enclosing photos in each card, and it's nice to be able to write something in each again.

 

[3dog2kidmom]

Has anyone just STOPPED sending cards?

Yep! It is a chore and I just quit.

I work full-time, have a part-time business on the side, 2 young kids, 4 dogs, a husband and a house to take care of... I don't feel one bit guilty about stopping that. I quit baking for the holidays and buying gifts for extended family (except the kids) also. Again, no guilt. You should try it!!

Or Thanksgiving cards.

I really like the idea of Thanksgiving cards if you're going to do them at all. Very different!

 

[monorailsilver]

What I did this year was make a 5x7 blank card in PSP, then I made a background, got 2 pictures of my 3 kids together & 1 picture of each of them alone & put borders on each picture & placed them on the card & put some gingerbread people on it & even put our names on it so I didn't have to write any more then I had to.

Then I made my own return address label, like I added some pictures & Merry Christmas with the Christmas lights font.

Then opened my list up & copied each persons name & address into PSP one at a time & changed their name to a Christmas font & put some color on some of them (some I used Mickey's Merry Christmas font) but I kept the addresses with a normal looking font-but for my Disney friends they got Walt Disney font.

Then I printed each one on the envelope vs a sticker & I mailed them today.

If I had more time I would of colored each name a bit more but I guess I can start next years list soon.

Oh I went to Winkflash & got 70 5x7 pictures printed out & it cost me about $21 & I already had the envelopes.

Last year I used Winkflash too but I used their photo cards but I still made my own card & put 3 pictures on it, one from Disney with me, one from Thomas the train with dh (my kids were in those pictures too) & one of just my kids from the fall.

 

[mlwear]

It is such a chore, but one I feel obligated to perform. I hand adress every card and do not use labels. I do write a family "newsletter" only because my mother insists. My brother thinks it is tacky, but I don't have time to write more than one or two sentences on each card. Most people seem to like reading it, so they say. (The Christmas letter episode of Everybody Loves Raymond comes to mind--very funny.)
I started keeping track of who sent me cards and if someone hasn't sent a card in two years, I take them off my list (unless I know there is some issue).

Is it just my family or have others noticed a slight decline in the number of cards they receive?

 

[SplshMtn99]

I have a Christmas Card List on the computer -- Word document. I check off as I send a card...and as I get one. We used to send out over 75 cards. As cards & postage has gotten more expensive, I've decided that if you don't send us a card for 3 yrs in a row, you no longer get a card from us. lol My list is MUCH shorter now.

I used to print addresses on the envelopes (easier for me & post office)...but different printer giving me issues lately with envelopes. So, this year I hand addressed them. ugh. I think I like the idea of printing labels in advance. I'll do that next year for sure.

Most years in the past, I've even made our own Christmas cards by computer. This year I made 12 cards with scrapbooking supplies & bought cheap ones for the rest. We also had photos taken. Only some people will be getting photos. I still need to do the letter for my cousins that live cross country & don't keep in touch with by email through-out the year.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

Another member of the printed address label club. I do hand sign all cards and include pictures of the kids in some of the cards - people that don't get to see us as often as they/I would like get the pics. 2 reasons I do printed labels is 1 I know everyone on my list gets a card & 2 they will get to the destination instead of returned/lost because the mailman couldn't read it. The pictures I send tend to be something I took of both kids in the fall, not necessarily Christmassy so that I can upload them to someone - usually winkflash because they tend to be cheapest - and get wallet size prints or postcards. Plus the pictures are done beginning of November so I can get them in the cards and cards in the mail early. December 8th already and I haven't gotten a single card yet

 

[disykat]

I send about 40 cards. I wrote out the addresses today during my son's trumpet lesson. I took a picture of the kids a few weeks ago, and I can pick up the reprints tomorrow. I'll write up a generic letter in the next day or two so I can just pop one or two personal lines on each card and off they'll go. (I've considered not doing it because of all the negative things people say here, but I really don't want to write 40 letters and we don't send local cards. The cards we send go to family and friends, most of whom we haven't seen all year and we use the cards as a way of "keeping up". I'm always disappointed when I don't get a letter in their card, so I'll assume they feel the same)

I enjoy doing cards in the middle of December. Earlier just stresses me out. If I wait until later when I'm really craving an excuse to just sit with some Christmas music playing, the tree lit, and a cup of hot chocolate by my side - then I actually enjoy it.

 

[TinkerBess_SnowTori]

Someone had a link to a really neat free Christmas letter site last year - does anyone know it? I used it last year and would like to again but can't find it anywhere

(I know it is a little OT - - sorry)

 

[bellarella]

We flag all of our holiday card recipients in our mail program and then run a mail merge to labels. If you don't have a database of names, you can just set up the labels one year (takes some time) but then you can use the same list each year. Once you print the labels, you don't need to worry about cross referencing to make sure you got everyone, just put the label on the envelope as you write the card.

I use a photo card company that allows me to use multiple pictures on my cards. This is great because I don't need to worry about getting "the perfect shot". I can use photos throughout the year, or just close-ups of each child. This takes the stress out of getting the photo. Years where I have them printed on photo paper I don't end up signing them. Years where I have them printed to cardstock, I do.

I also print out return address labels for the cards. Remember, the job of an envelope is to get the mail most efficiently from point A to point B -- computer labels serve that purpose best, so I don't waste time on handwriting envelopes. If I have the time to handwrite something, it's a note on the card itself