Christmas Card Season
It’s that time of year to begin the process of what you are going to do for your Christmas card. Yes, it comes the same time every year and you swore last year you were going to get it done early, but once again it’s December and the card is yet to be done. Here are a few tips and ideas to help you get the process going.
Organize Your List: Have your recipient list typed in Excel or Google Sheets. I call it my mailer database and throughout the year my husband or I can add their name to the shared document. If you add a sheet to the document for every mailer, you can keep track of who you sent cards to over the years.
I save the Christmas cards we receive for a year and stash them in our Christmas stuff. When I pull out all the decorations I like to reminisce on last years holiday and look at all the different cards. If I got a card from you last year, you’re getting one from me this year.
Manage Your List: Who wants to go tit for tat when it comes to Christmas cards, but if you haven’t got a card back in awhile, it may be time to nix them off your list. It takes two to keep in touch!
Once you’ve got your list down, do a mail merger to labels or if you really want it to be easy on youself, have you local printer address every envelope using variable data printing. They can do it in a fancy typeface that looks much more personal and professional than labels. In my opinion, it’s as nice as handwritten and looks like you really took the extra time.
You can do the same for the return address.
What’s your budget? You can spend a lot of money making a beautiful, really special card and you can also do it on a dime. Be realistic for what you can afford and be up front with the designer/printer so everyone’s expectations are managed.
How many do you need? Make sure you always add on an extra dozen. You want to stash a few in the memory box. And let’s be honest, for when you receive a card from someone you didn’t have on your list, you want to make sure you can shoot one in the mail their way.
And what’s the timeline? Some places have a Swift turnaround, but always ask or check when you can expect your cards to be completed.
Letterpress is everywhere right now and old technology blended with new technology can really make a Christmas card special.
Ideas:
1. Photo Recreation: Find an old favorite Christmas photo and get similar outfits (or if you still have the outfit, I don’t judge) and position yourself the same way. It’s a fun process to recreate the photo and your Christmas card recipients will love to see what you did.
2. Who’s Your Santa?: Dress the kids up in red with santa hats by the tree. It’s a classic, that’s always cute.
3. Elf On The Shelf: The Elf might be getting into a bit of mischief, and the kids could catch him in the act. Could be a very animated photo with lots of detail.
4. Peek-A-Boo Tree: Super cheesy and fun. Have every one pop their heads around the back of the tree, so the faces look like ornaments.
5. A Family Process: Ask everyone to pick their favorite photo from the year of themselves and make a photo collection in quadrants. Everyone will be happy with the finished card, because they picked the photos.
Don’t worry if you don’t get your card done on time, a New Years card is totally acceptable!
For more information, please contact Jessica Slaydon at jes@swiftprinting.com.
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Swift Printing & Communications has been proudly serving the printing and communications needs of companies and organizations in West Michigan and throughout the country for more than 70 years. Walt Gutowski Sr. established Swift Printing and Communications in 1950. The business is operated by son Walt Gutowski Jr. Swift is located at 404 Bridget St.
