Personally, I’m a firm believer in the magic of Christmas cards. Sending holiday greetings to friends and family that you may not otherwise talk to is what this season is all about. As much as I love Christmas cards, Maybe it’s just me, but. It doesn’t say “You make a difference to me” it says “I couldn’t be bothered to write more than my name…so here it is”. There is no reason for you to take the time to send a sparkly piece of paper with your signature on it and it seems like more of an insult to receive a completely impersonal card out of obligation rather than to not receive one at all. Write Something  Christmas card ideas don’t go much beyond a hand written sentence or two, in addition to the message on the card, that’s an improvement. One idea, that’s not a bad one at all, is to purchase a box of attractive cards which are blank on the inside. That almost forces you to write something, even if it’s noting more than “Have a Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for the New Year”. Not a terribly original message, but a nice start. Take a digital...Read More
The traditional colors of Christmas are green and red. White, silver and gold are also popular. Red symbolizes the blood of Jesus, which was shed in his crucifixion, while green symbolizes eternal life, and in particular the evergreen tree, which does not lose its leaves in the winter. The Christmas tree is pagan tradition and ritual surrounding the Winter Solstice, which included the use of evergreen boughs, and an adaptation of pagan tree worship;  Saint Boniface, who was a missionary in Germany, took an axe to an oak tree dedicated to Thor and pointed out a fir tree, which he stated was a more fitting object of reverence because it pointed to heaven and it had a triangular shape, which he said was symbolic of the Trinity. The English language phrase “Christmas tree” is first recorded in 1835 and represents an importation from the German language. Holiday Bow Invitations These elegant red invitations look like a beautiful gift. Perfect for announcing your holiday party. Christmas cards are illustrated messages of greeting exchanged between friends and family members during the weeks before Christmas Day. The traditional greeting reads “wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”, much like that of the first commercial Christmas card, produced in London in 1843. The custom of sending them has become popular among a wide cross-section of people with the emergence of the...Read More
It would be easy enough to imagine Christmas as a simple continuum of tradition dating from the birth of Christ. You’d begin with the nativity story, apply the December 25th date to Jesus’ birth, establish the gift-giving precedent of the magi and work from there. Over the centuries, classic Christmas traditions would accumulate: perhaps beginning with the Yule log, followed by the Christmas tree and finally winding up in the present day with giant inflatable snowmen and icicle lights. Candy Cane Square Labels Add flair to your holiday envelopes with these adorable candy cane striped square labels. Size: 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ The history of Christmas, however, is hardly a continuum. It is a varied and riotous story, one that actually predates the birth of Christ. Early Europeans marked the year’s longest night — the winter solstice — as the beginning of longer days and the rebirth of the sun. They slaughtered livestock that could not be kept through the winter and feasted from late December through January. German pagans honored Oden, a frightening god who flew over settlements at night, blessing some people and cursing others. The Norse in Scandinavia celebrated yuletide and each family burnt a giant log and feasted until it turned...Read More
It is often difficult to navigate thru the many customs and traditions of greeting card etiquette, especially in today’s changing society. Here are a few guidelines to help you find your way. Signing Greeting Cards Traditionally, when signing a card from you and your spouse, the woman’s name would appear first and then her husband’s. This also applies if the couple is unmarried or the wife retains her maiden name. When signing Christmas cards or other greeting cards from the entire family, the father’s name should appear first, followed by the mother’s and then the children’s. The children’s names should be in order from oldest to youngest. It is also acceptable to use “John and Mary Smith and Family” or “The Smith Family.” However, it is acceptable today to also have the mother’s name first in family signatures such as “Mary, John, Matthew and Susan Smith.” If there are two different last names and the couple has children, then it would be proper to sign the card as “Mary Jones, John Smith and Family.” Addressing the Envelopes Always use proper titles such as Mr., Mrs. and Dr. The man’s name always appears first when addressing an envelope to a married couple. If a married...Read More
Do you want your party to be fun, exciting and full of great people? Where are you going to have a party? Will it be a big event or a little get together? Will it be for an occasion? Decide on a theme. This will help you decide. If it is a birthday party, most people try to have the party on that date. Also, make sure to pick a date where most of your guests are free. Are you able to spend a lot of money? You’re the host so you ought to mingle with everyone that you invited, if you can. Take into consideration who you want to invite to your party. Not everyone wants to dance, not everyone wants to listen to the music, some people want to talk and relax. Accommodate for different interests and levels of social comfort with space planning if it is possible, and if applicable, different age groups. Only invite guests that you want. Only invite people who respect you. Invite people you would like to get to know better, and if you want your party to be big, tell them to bring their friends. Get as accurate a count as you can before the party so...Read More
You may say, and I’m sure you would be right, that stores are trotting out their Christmas sales and decorations earlier every year. To me, that seems more nagging than festive. Why am I seeing Christmas decorations everywhere before we’ve even reached Halloween? Each of us actually sees the world differently from anyone else; I’m more of a last minute shopper, but it’s ok to have some of your Christmas gifts in mind or even have someone else’s stashed away in a closet. If it’s really that time of year, that means one thing, time to start thinking about your holiday greetings. I know that I have to think about ordering my custom-made, personalized Christmas cards well before Christmas. For friends and family, that might be as simple as shooting off a mass text message or using a “social network”. While adding standard best wishes to a greeting card or electronic message sounds simple enough, a few questions about how to write them properly often come up. A good quality greeting card can help show that you value your friends, family and business colleagues and skimping on your selection can be interpreted in a number of ways. Well the same holds...Read More
The only thing cooler for a kid than having a party, is having a party that is personalized with her name and other important information. This guide will help you order personalized kids’ party supplies for that special event. Bugs Galore Invitations Colorful bugs cover this personalized invitation which is sure to catch that attention of anyone invited. Set includes 20 invitations and 20 plain White envelopes Stickers, Address Labels and Notes sold separately. Fire Engine Return Address Label Two red fire hats decorate these classic White address labels. Perfect for firefighting aficionados. You have two basic options when purchasing personalized items for your child’s party. By using one or both options, you will be able to create a wonderful atmosphere. The options are: Purchasing individual personalized party items: Order a personalized party banner in a birthday, surprise or congratulations theme. Many suppliers will be able to add your child’s name to the banner.  Have custom personalized labels made to cover the labels of everyday items you will have at your child’s party. Kids’ Critter Labels Kids will love these whimsical, vividly colored sticker sets personalized just for them! Set #1: Pink Lamb, Yellow Kitten, and Orange Ladybug Set #2: Purple Worm,...Read More
I still get a small thrill from walking to my mailbox hoping to discover piles of red, green and sparkly envelopes waiting for me. Some say that the best way to spread Christmas cheer is by sending Christmas cards. Out-of-the-ordinary Christmas card ideas can mean a lot to the recipient, and can be lots of fun to send as well. We at times get in a bit of a rut, sending every one the same card from a box of 50, signing each card, then grumbling a bit about the time taken to address the envelopes and the cost of postage. We’ve sent cards like that, and received them too. At one point, holiday greeting cards were an easy way to signal to more distant friends and family that you’re living in a new city, got a new job or just provide some sort of hint that you’re alive. It’s the most non-awkward way to let your loved ones know that you didn’t forget about them or reach out to your favorite high school teacher. It’s about acknowledging people who have had an impact on your life, and allowing them to know that they matter to you. Even if you...Read More
Grandparents For holidays like Christmas, finding the right gift for each family member can get quite stressful. You want to find something that they will really love or actually put to good use. For your grandparents, take into account their personality and hobbies. Think of the relationship you share as well and personalize the gifts accordingly. Select a picture of your grandfather or grandmother with all the grandchildren or just of you and them. You can then have the picture turned into a puzzle for them to put together. When you give him the present, keep the picture on the front of the box covered so that they cannot see what the picture is of. Challenge them to try to figure it out as they put the pieces together and watch them smile as the picture starts to form. Wooden Photo Puzzles – 30 Piece Horizontal Turn your favorite picture into a puzzle – the perfect way to share that new photo of the kids with the grandparents. Available in 30 or 60 piece wooden puzzles, both measure 7″ x 10″ when put together. Wooden Photo Puzzles – 60 Piece Vertical Turn your favorite picture into a puzzle – the...Read More
Giving Christmas gifts that have a personal touch about them not only makes the recipient feel important but also special. Christmas is that special time when we look forward to having a great time with friends and family, eating mouth watering dishes and exchanging gifts with each other. The gifts that stay the longest in the memory of the recipients are those that send a direct message to the recipient telling them that they are loved and cherished. Children often like seeing items with their names printed on them, so when you are choosing a gift for a child in your life, consider selecting something that is personalized. Whether you have an item made with the name embroidered or painted onto it or personalize the item yourself, there are lots of different items that are perfect for children. Giving a personalized gift is a wonderful thing. A piggy bank or a piece of baby furniture turns into an instant treasure, once the child’s name is added. Princess Castle Melamine Personalized Plate Every princess deserves a castle. She’ll love this Castle plate personalized with her first name. Melamine is dishwasher safe; not microwavable. Personalization: Maximum 12 characters and spaces Slight variations in pattern placement reflect...Read More
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