Although most families send Christmas cards for the holidays, a more affordable option is to send postcards. Below are some reasons to consider this option and some great ideas that will help make your holiday season even more special.

Benefits of Christmas Postcards

One of the best reasons to opt for postcards is that they are more affordable. You can send them for less than a standard card – postcard postage is cheaper. Plus, you can save on paper because you won’t need an envelope. You can also more easily create them at home using either postcard-cut paper or standard card stock paper sheets that you divide into the appropriate size pieces.

Ideas for Postcards

If you are interested in creating holiday postcards, below are a few ideas to help you create them:

• Use clip art designs
• Add family photos
• Let kids color in the pictures
• Include a fun holiday game
• Write a personal message
• Include a URL to the family web site
• Choose copyright-free images from the Internet
• Have children help with the designing
• Include a map to your home for holiday visitors
• Create a countdown to Christmas calendar

Tips for Finishing the Postcards

After you’ve created your postcards using some of the fun ideas above, you may want some tips for printing them.

• Remember that you should only print on one side. Leave the other side blank so you can write a short message and add the address.
• Have plenty of printer ink cartridge ready for printing. You don’t want to get part of the way through the project only to end up running out of the ink you need and being unable to finish.
• Let postcards dry. Even if you are using a laser jet printer, you should give your postcards a chance to dry before writing the messages on the reverse side. You don’t want to smudge the printing on the other side.
• Have a list ready. Be sure to know how many recipients you have before you get started so you’ll know what supplies you’ll need before you start printing.
• Start early. Remember that being creative and getting the cards ready can be more time-consuming than you might imagine. Don’t wait until the last minute. Start your project early so you have plenty of time and can get them in the mail a few weeks before the rush. The Thanksgiving weekend is one of the best times to start since most of the family will be off from work.

Have Fun with the Project

While you’re working on the holiday postcards, be sure to include the whole family and consider the project a fun activity. Consider enjoying some gingerbread cookies and warm apple cider or hot cocoa while you’re working on the postcards. To put you in the holiday spirit, make sure you’ve already decorated your work area for the holiday. The more fun you have the better the postcards will turn out.

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