Get Busy on Those Christmas Cards!

Fercryinoutloud, folks, what are you waiting for? Christmas? That would certainly be a foolish thing to do . . . because by the time Christmas gets here, and it isn’t that far away, you’ll be way too late.

Too late for what? If you have not even addressed—excuse the pun—the idea of your Christmas card list yet for this year, you’d better get on the stick and get busy. There is still time to do something special, like use a family photo on your card, or select unique designs not used by almost every other person sending out cards later-rather-than-earlier, or even put together your very own personalized Christmas card.

It really isn’t too late. Yet . . . but it’s getting there so you need to move on it immediately. If you haven’t figured out what you’d like to do for your special greeting to all those folks on your yearly card list, consider going online and, from the comfort of your own office chair, pick and choose graphics, fonts, font colors, even papers. You can decide what you want to say to ensure that smile when the card is first opened, and you can add your own favorite sentiment on the inside, if you are so inclined.

The process is really quite easy, and you can have it all done in less time than it’ll take you to make a chocolate sheet cake for the office holiday party. Here’s the deal:

1. Do you want to put your family photo on your card? Or would you rather use a pre-designed graphic? Maybe you want to design the entire card yourself from beginning to end. First thing is to make this decision.

2. Next, find a good, reputable, and reliable online printer, based on what sort of card you want to send. This is crucial to your success. Make sure they have everything you’ll need for you to be completely happy with your end product . . . what you decided on during step #1.

3. Once you have your printer selected, familiarize yourself with their options. You’ve already looked them over and know they can do what you want them to do. Give yourself a little bit of time to review their procedures.

4. When you’re comfortable with the printer’s beginning-to-end process, get busy.

5. We’re going to assume you’re creating your card using an existing print company design. You’ve roamed the printer’s site and selected a lovely graphic, and a design called “Serene Snowscape.” The front shows a white-bottomed card, with a blue top and simulated snowflakes and small trees on the white hills. The greeting says simply, “Merry Christmas.”

6. You check the inside. Their sentiment says, “Hope your holidays are filled with peace and serenity” and the graphic is the same as on the front. Does this work, or do you want something more, or something altered?

7. Let’s say you’re going with the general outline of this card but want to change the inside sentiment. You’ve always admired Norman Vincent Peale and are fond of his quote, “Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” It fits perfectly with the serene snowy scene on the front. Of course, you want to include your family names, too.

8. How do you do all this? Click on the Serene Snowscape “customize” button which opens into another page with step-by-step directions to add your favorite quote. You will find a box in which you type your quote and names. At the top of the page, you’re shown different font options, and you choose your favorite, along with the color[s] you want to use.

9. When you’re satisfied that your card looks exactly as you want, click “Preview” to make sure, and “Approve” when you’re ready to have it, literally, go to the printer!

10. What next? Well, you do have to pay for your beautiful newly created Christmas card, which is another easy-step procedure. After that, your order is put together and you only wait a short time for your cards to get to you. If you placed your order online by 5 PM EST, your cards are expected to be shipped to you by ground transportation on the next business day. Other shipping or expediting procedures can be utilized.

So really, folks, how easy it that? Once you get them in your hands, the timing is all up to you. What are you waiting for?!