Guest Author - Lori Phillips
Sending Christmas cards is the one holiday task that has become truly a chore. Yet, lest any one of your family, friends or colleagues feel slighted, you plunge on, with cramping fingers. More and more people today are paring down their lists due to the rising cost of postage stamps and lack of time, but I found a great solution to both.
Electronic holiday cards allow you to keep in touch with friends and family without the senseless use of paper, the cost of stamps or the overuse of your hands. They take little time to personalize and cost little to nothing. And the sentiments, graphics and even motion and sound make them very entertaining to view.
For the past three years, we’ve sent out Elf Yourself e-cards by Office Max. They’re absolutely free to send to unlimited email addresses or post on Facebook and Twitter. If you want to download a copy for your permanent files, it costs only $4.99. Seeing my family’s faces atop dancing elves made people laugh, especially when my husband “elf” broke out in some hip hop moves last year. This year, we’ve gone with an adorable traditional song but “our” dancing…well, people can’t help but giggle. What a great way to spread holiday cheer!
Here are some e-card sites to consider. Most offer a few free cards with a wider assortment with a small membership fee. I think the membership fees are well worth the ability to send out greeting cards all year long. They also provide a reminder service so you won’t forget upcoming birthdays and anniversaries.
I must say that I love making handmade cards, but I still rely on electronic cards year ’round. While everyone likes to be remembered, it isn’t true that a hard copy card will be more treasured than an e-card. Sometimes, a thoughtful email that can be conveniently clicked upon and read will be savored just as much as a physical card. How many cards sent to you by others have you kept? Unless you’re a crafter or scrapbooker, chances are, all of those well-meant cards get tossed out.
But it is a generational matter. Consider sending out electronic cards to people on your list who are computer savvy. My mother loves them because she’s constantly on her computer; my aunt thinks e-cards are tacky but that’s because she doesn’t own a computer and hasn’t acclimated to contemporary culture. I send physical cards to those who I know appreciates them over electronic cards.
I say, help save the planet, save a tree. Save yourself from an antiquated holiday tradition. By the way, even Hallmark has! Check out their website for their electronic greeting cards! And, if you’d like to see our family’s e-card this year, here’s the link: http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/fQFhuy59rXhnMtWa
Elf Yourself by Office Max
http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/
Blue Mountain Cards
www.bluemountain.com
123 Greeting Cards
www.123greetings.com
Regards.com
www.regards.com
Hallmark
www.hallmark.com
Jacquie Lawson (stunningly beautiful, touching)
www.jacquielawson.com
Zazzle
www.zazzle.com
