Nearly everyone loves to receive personalized holiday cards from friends and family, but writing, addressing and sending out cards can often be a daunting proposition, especially when year-end time budgets get squeezed. To simplify this annual task and turn from a chore to a joy, follow a few simple tips from an expert.
After graduating from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, Lara Greenberg moved to Los Angeles where she worked in the film and television industry for 12 years. Today Greenberg is the director of Streamline, a specialized service she founded to help clients refine their home and work environments and simplify their lives. Here she offers some ideas for sending out your holiday cards:
- Update address book.
The best way to set out with the task of holiday cards, says Greenberg, is to start with your address book. Make a small notation next to the name of each person or family you'd like to send a card to, and then make sure that all of your addresses are current.
- Cross-check return addresses.
When you receive a holiday card from a friend or loved one, check the return address against the entry in your address book so you can make changes if necessary. Once your address list is updated, finishing your holiday cards will be a breeze.
- Consider making cards.
You might consider making your own holiday cards, as this can add a much-appreciated personal touch. Greenberg recommends planning this far in advance so that your cards are completed and ready to mail in plenty of time to arrive before the holiday.
- Mail by December 1st.
Whether you buy your cards or make them, they should go into the mailbox by December 1st. Hanukkah cards may have to be posted even earlier, depending on when the holiday falls in a given year (in 2003, Hanukkah begins on December 20th).
- Get the family involved.
Sending out holiday cards can be a great family activity. You might give your kids the job of stamping envelopes while your spouse checks addresses and you write a special personalized message in each card. This way, you'll get it done quickly and have a lot of fun as a family.
For more holiday gift wrapping ideas, check out the following organizations or websites:
Streamline
www.streamline-la.com
HGTV: Holiday Cards
www.hgtv.com
United States Postal Service: Holiday 2003
www.usps.com
Hallmark.com
www.hallmark.com
American Greetings
www.americangreetings.com
About.com Painting Project: Create Your Own Christmas Cards
painting.about.com
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