Birthday Cards for a Year
By Carol O'Dell, Caring.com contributing editor
Sending cards is a good way to stay in touch with family and friends near and far. Creating a card caddy can help you stay organized and not forget anyone -- and it makes a satisfying project for you and your loved one.
What you'll need:
A wicker basket, box, or plastic bin to hold all your cards
Dividers for the months
A calendar
A box of birthday cards
Pens, stickers, other card embellishments
Other cards: thank you, thinking of you, get well, and even your year's-end holiday cards
Your address book
Stamps -- don't forget you can buy them at many stores (no extra trip to the post office)
Why it's great:
There's nothing like getting a card in the mail -- it makes your day! Every time you send a card, you spread a little joy.
Getting organized all at once saves time.
It's good for exercising your memory -- remembering dates, addresses, and creating thoughtful notes takes a little time, but it's worth it.
Finding some of those address can be a bit of a scavenger hunt. You might have to make a few calls or do a search online, which can be fun -- it's like working out a puzzle.
A card can be a bridge to soften misunderstandings.
You can get artsy and make your own cards. Decorating your cards with stickers, stamps, or a recent photo can be a way to express your creativity.
You'll start receiving cards back in the mail -- or even get a visit from a long-lost friend.
How to do it:
Choose a container that will provide ample room for cards of various sizes. Collect pens, stickers, stamps, confetti, photos, and other items you might like to include with your cards.
Get a calendar you can write on to keep track of birthdates, anniversaries, and other key dates (you can also do this on your computer).
Start a list of people you'd like to send cards to and go month by month, putting names on dates. Make a list of names you have without birthdates, names without addresses, etc., so that you can contact them and get the necessary information.
Buy a box of birthday, thinking-of-you, and thank-you cards, and decide which are special enough to spend a little more on. Card stores, big-box stores, and even dollar stores have boxes of cards.
Enjoy making your own cards, using a stencil, working freehand, or cutting up old card fronts and adding new backs. Don't forget postcards -- they can be fun, too.
Want to get super-organized? Make a month-by-month file and choose cards ahead of time, so they're ready to go.
Computer savvy? Send e-cards. Many sites, such as American Greetings and Jacqui Lawson, will send interactive cards via e-mail.
The art of writing is weaker with the era of electronics and technology. So, when I retired I made the effort to take care of all the roses in my garden of friends through cards, notes, phone-calls and letters. I have done all of the above. It really works! But I have gone one more step ahead. I have already stamped (Forever Stamps) and addressed envelopes (Letter and Legal size) and decorated papers. So when I want to write a letter I simply write it, write the recipient aaand finished! It is fun, very important for both, the sender and the receiver.Emphasizing this effort is the fact that society needs that sense of caring, love and friendship in order to be healthier spiritually. God bless you all.
For many years I have already been getting cards ready per annum, not just for us, but also for my mother (92 and going strong). idocki1, you are quite right: prepped envelopes are a lot easier. Mum's cards with large stickers on them stating name and date, are in a very pretty box next to her phone, lest she forget. But I went one better due to a previous marriage where money was plentiful but in extremely short supply for the household, the children and me. In order to survive this situation I made buying things at greatly reduced prices into a "sport". In our region we have sales only twice a year. I make up a list of things we need, but which are not needed immediately. This list includes all sorts of cards for as birthdays (with list of names for whom so I can theme the cards for the person), get well, condolences etc... but also names of various people who get a Christmas present, birthday, Easter choccy eggs or whatever for kids whose parents don't like them to have too many sweets - even cute toothbrushes feature on the list, who's pregnant and due birth (but usually I get things which can be used any time such as a little loo seat, anti-slip step to be able to clean kiddies' teeth, night light...) What I cannot buy in the January sale the item remains on the list for the June sale. My great "escape" for anything difficult comes from a book fair (it travels from city to city so I have several opportunities to get what I want )where surplus books are sold at extremely low prices. Their selection is second to none. These are also my days out when I organize for someone to look after hubby. I look forward to them for weeks before and I have fun planning them meticulously when I go to bed. It lets me fall asleep with happy thoughts and reduces my nightmares. I know it sounds a little far fetched but I see it as a hobby like any other.
If you REALLY want to be efficient... write the name/address on the envelop, put your return address sticker on the front, and write the date to MAIL the card where the stamp will go. Put them in monthly order in your box/file. When you look at the card you will know when exactly to write/mail it and you will never be late and never forget to send a card. Fewer and fewer people are bothering to write cards anymore, so you will really stand out as the 'thoughtful' one!
Over time I have come to send birthday cards late & even later !!!. This is a great project & one I plan to do a.s.a.p. Another step to being more organized . Thank you for this wonderful idea