We Wish You A Merry Christmas
November 9, 2008
Holiday greetings have become a fun tradition. As I was working on my Christmas card this weekend, I was interested in who started the whole card exchange craze. According to Wikipedia:
The first commercial Christmas cards were commissioned by Sir Henry Cole in London, 1843, and featured an illustration by John Callcott Horsley. The picture, of a family with a small child drinking wine together, proved controversial, but the idea was shrewd: Cole had helped introduce the Penny Post three years earlier. Two batches totaling 2050 cards were printed and sold that year for a shilling each
“Official” Christmas cards began with Queen Victoria in the 1840s. The British royal family’s cards are generally portraits reflecting significant personal events of the year. In 1953, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first official White House card. The cards usually depict White House scenes as rendered by prominent American artists. The number of recipients has snowballed over the decades, from just 2000 in 1961 to 1.4 million in 2005.
I love getting Holiday cards each year. I love that those who do not celebrate Christmas will send cards. For those friends far and near, the picture card is a great way to see how children have grown. To see how creative people were in their choice is exciting for me.
The down side to sending cards is the time and money it takes to send them. If you are sending a photo card, deciding what picture to use can be a challenge in itself. Also, getting the children to cooperate for a picture can sometimes be downright miserable. If you are using a professional photographer for family shots, coordinating schedules can be frustrating. Early planning is the best way to go. You can even pick a fun photo from a family vacation or event and save the frustration.
This year in looking for photo cards, I have found that there are beautiful choices available at reasonable prices. Four sites I like are:
and www.americangreetings.com/photogifts
Once you have chosen your favorite picture, you can upload your picture, create a card and place your order in a snap. I took my kids picture, created a card, personalized the greeting, and ordered the cards in less than an hour. Photo cards have come a long way and the selection is incredible. The prices are affordable and currently most are offering great coupons for savings on shipping and larger orders. The ease, efficiency and savings will allow you to send a fabulous card with out losing time with your family or breaking the bank.
If you would like more tips on organizing, visit my website at: www.afreshstartorganizing.net/tips. Also, you can subscribe to my newsletter “Fresh Ideas for A Fresh Start” . Subscribe Now
