Step 1: Organize Your Address List
You will most likely have the addresses of everyone you're going to send a card too, but they may be scattered between your home and office, possibly half in an address book and half stored in your work contact list. Now is the time to consolidate your contacts and their addresses in a consistent format. Depending on your computer skills or affinity for a paper and pencil, here are some suggestions for organizing your contacts:
- Excel spreadsheet
- Online card store
- Address book
If you're missing some addresses, a quick email should suffice. Tell your family and friends you're updating your contacts and would like their latest information. You can also find most people's addresses by searching the Web-sites like switchboard.com and pipl.com are fairly reliable.
TIP: While you're collecting addresses, it's helpful to gather emails, dates of birth and phone numbers at the same time.
Step 2: Choose Your Card
Three things to consider here: cost, tone and time.
- Set your budget and remember that in addition to the cost of the cards, you will also need to pay for postage.
- Decide whether your card should have a religious theme or a more secular one.
- Consider the time you will put into creating, writing out and addressing your cards.
For DIY types, working on a handmade card is a great creative outlet during the holidays. If, like me, you can barely draw a straight line creating your own will add to your stress. Consider purchasing a card or creating one online at one of the following:
- Drugstores and grocery stores have the best prices.
- Target has a great variety of cards.
- Specialty card shops like Papyrus have both beautiful pre-printed cards, or will custom print according to your taste and budget.
- Online card stores like Cardstore and Minted offer the option to create your own card, and they will do the hard work of addressing your cards for you. You can then choose to either have them ship your cards directly, or ship them to you so you can personalize and sign yourself.
- Many Esty sellers offer PDF files in an array of styles and colors that you can print for yourself on card stock.
For the DIY-minded many Esty sellers also stock beautiful card stock and pens. Got kids? They may enjoy creating a few cards themselves, just be prepared for them to lose interest after the first two or three!
TIP: Worried about offending someone on your list with a religious card? Miss Manners recommends sending a New Years card instead. Another great option is a Thanksgiving card.
Step 3: Address and Stuff Envelopes
Many people find this to be the most burdensome part of the holiday card process. Once again, how much time do you have to spend on your cards? How is your handwriting? A handwritten address is the most personal, but a printed address is better than no card at all.
Here are your options in order from least to most time-consuming:
- Print them on labels or directly onto the envelopes using your home printer.
- Use a professional printer (think beautiful black letterpress on a pale envelope).
- Hand address your envelopes.
- Use a typewriter. Dust off the old Underwood and type out your envelopes on-by- one.
TIP: If you decide to hand write or type out the envelopes, I recommend breaking this task down into smaller, more manageable pieces by committing yourself to 5-10 cards per day.
If you prefer to set aside a few hours to tackle your cards in one sitting, these tips will make time go by more quickly and may even get some Grinches into the holiday spirit:
- Create an appropriate setting with good light and sit in your most comfortable chair.
- Make yourself a nice cup of hot chocolate or mulled cider.
- Light a fire in the fireplace.
- Play your favorite holiday music.
- Recruit some help. Your family can help you by stuffing and sealing the envelopes.
- Consider inviting friends over to address their cards at the same time.
Step 4: Send Your Cards
You're almost there! Now it's time to send your good wishes, but use this check list before they hit the mail box:
- Double-check that your return address is present and correct on the envelopes.
- Keep a few extra cards and blank envelopes in case you receive a greeting from someone whom you left off your list.
- Update the address of anyone whose card is returned non-deliverable.
TIP: Send your cards earlier to ensure your contacts receive them on time, and you have a chance to correct any address mistakes.
