Christmas Card Organization

It is a wonderful gesture to send a Christmas card to the people you care about. It's a way to let them know that you are thinking of them during the holiday season.

Sending cards is also a great way to inform your loved ones of the important milestones your family has reached over the past year.

Receiving greeting cards in the mail reminds you of how many people are thinking of you during the holiday season.

All of these wonderful feelings aside, sending all of those cards can be a chore and what do you do with all of the cards you receive so that they don't wind up becoming clutter? Let's talk about Christmas card organization.

Create a Christmas Card List

The first step in getting organized to mail out your cards is to create a list than can be used from year to year.

If you prefer to hand write your envelopes you will need to create a mailing list. A holiday list book is a great place to record your Christmas card list. If you already have this information in an address book that you use on a daily basis, simply place a red checkmark next to each person you send a Christmas card to. The red will stand out and enable you to see quickly who gets a card.

If you prefer to use your computer for mailing labels, create a form using a standard mailing label template. Type the name and address of each card recipient in to the form and save it to be used year after year. You can even get creative and add some fun holiday graphics to your mailing labels to make them a little more unique.

If you receive a card from somebody who is not already included on your mailing list and you would like to add them, do so immediately. Likewise, if somebody moves throughout the year, change their address on your Christmas card list as soon as you have the new information. Don't re-invent the wheel every year. Maintain your mailing list throughout the year and use it year after year. You will really enjoy the time you save.

Create a Family Newsletter

Including a family newsletter in your Christmas cards is a great way to keep your loved ones informed of the important events your family has experienced throughout the year. If you choose to include a newsletter in your cards, there are a few things you should keep in mind:

1. Maintain the newsletter throughout the year. Each time an exciting event occurs, take a few minutes to sit down at your computer and type it up. Your writing will be more compelling because the event will be fresh in your mind and, if you maintain your newsletter throughout the year it will be done and set to go when you are ready to mail your Christmas cards.
2. Keep it short and sweet. Remember that the holidays are a busy time for everyone. Not everybody has the time to read the details of every single goal that Johnnie scored in his soccer games and every solo that Jenny sang in choir. Your newsletter should be no more than one page. Keep paragraphs to a maximum of four to five lines and double space between paragraphs. Use colored text to highlight important information, and be sure the final product is pleasing to the eye.
3. If you print your newsletter on holiday paper, be sure to watch for clearance sales after Christmas. Stock up this year on the paper you will use for next year. You will be ready to go without having to run out and buy paper and you will save money by getting the paper at a discount.

Christmas Card Clutter

It is always nice to display your cards so you can enjoy them throughout the holiday season. Don't just let them pile up on the counter. Instead, use a decorative card holder like this Dual Arch Card Holder to turn them into part of your holiday decor.

If you enjoy saving the greeting cards that you receive, even after the holiday season is over, here are some ways that you can turn those saved cards from clutter to clever:

1. Make holiday placemats. Cut out the photo from the front and/or the signatures from inside the cards and glue them to a piece of poster board cut to the size of a placemat. Overlap the photos so the entire poster board is covered. Once you have finished, laminate the poster boards to create re-usable holiday placemats.
2. Make a collage. Cut a piece of poster board to fit inside a piece of hanging art that you already have in your home. Make a collage by gluing old Christmas cards onto the poster board. Store the collage behind the art, inside the frame. Each year at Christmas time, simply remove the backing from the art, place the collage in front of the art and you have instantly transformed your every day art into holiday decor. When the holidays are over, simply remove the backing again and place the poster board behind the art for instant storage.
3. Turn them into scrapbooks. If you scrapbook, Christmas cards make excellent decor for your holiday scrapbook pages.
4. If you have some cards that are too special to cut up and re-purpose, place them in a photo album. Purchase a photo album with slots large enough for the cards to fit into. Choosing an album with a holiday them or decorating one yourself makes this project even more fun. Place those special cards in the photo album and store it with your Christmas decorations. Every year when you pull out your decorations, you can display your photo album on your coffee table. Whenever you are feeling sentimental, flip through your card album to remember the people who sent you those special cards.

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