Cards

n · Cards

For the last four years I have only sent handmade cards to about twenty people, but I always end up doing it at the last minute, exasperating my husband. This year I want them made by the first of December!

At work I haven't sent any cards for five years, but as a team we were up front about it and told everyone by email in November (before any cards arrived for us) that we would buy three chickens or an apple tree from Oxfam instead. We still got a few cards, but last year the whole place did the same thing and we collectively "Bought a Bog" ... a toilet! I worked in healthcare, so this was very appropriate. There wasn't a minimum donation, it was just a tin in Reception.

I need ideas for this years cards though.

n

Glynis

I got given a "bog" on my fiftieth Laughing

Cathie

I don't like cards, I see them as pointless and wastefull, not all cards though I think for a special occasion like a newbaby, wedding and such they make lovely keepsakes, but I won't be sending cards this year.

I had thought about buying a goat and just writing a little family letter and saying that this is what we have done instead. DH isn't keen on this idea, his family litterally have kittens if they don't get cards on their birthdays, I would rather spend extra on the present. I never buy cards fo rmy family and they totally understand the reasons why, and have slowly stopped sending them as well.

Cathie

ClaireUK

I send 2 cards - 1 to MIL & FIL and 1 to BIL. Thats it!!. They are usually cross-stitched and they put them in frames to keep for the walls etc.

I think they are a waste of time and effort as a rule. DH sends about 12 out and everyone else gets told 'we dont do card, put the money in a charity box'.

Claire UK

melody yarns

I second the opinion on cards - this year at the boys' school I bought all the staff safe drinking water for fifty people instead of thank you gifts. Hopefully it was more appreciated, I know at least one member of staff who almost cried at the thought of kids not having safe drinking water Sad

carolinne

i agree re cards too. i thinkit is nice to send a special card for very special occasions to special people or as notes tolet people know you are thinking of them or to buy if they are very inspirational ....yes i have a card stash............... but as rule i dont agree with sending loads of cards at christmas espacially when most of the people you give them to are people you see often.

i remember at school it was like a popularity contest...who got the most cards......never me. and i also remember that students used to get jobs as posties and there would be an almost endless cycle of post arriving. but now i realise that it is very wasteful. having said all that i really love handmade cards and if someone has taken the time to make something it is much valued.

Piglottie

I have quite a different view (although granted I am about to open a handmade cardmaking shop so do have a bit of a vested interest Very Happy

). I love sending and receiving Christmas cards. I dont work and most of my friends dont live anywhere near me, so the cards I received on the whole are from people I dont see very often and its great to hear from them, often catch up on their news. I like to send cards too, especially to people I might not have spoken to for a while as its like a little "hello and I'm thinking of you" in an envelope. I dont have a big family, but I know that my mum for example would rather receive a lovely card than get a present.

I think its sad that people think cards are wasteful as I get so much positive feedback from people who have received my cards, and how much joy they have brought. I often send them to people on the forum, who are either feeling down or having a birthday, and people are always cheered up and touched when receiving cards. I think there are much more wasteful things in the world - but as I say, its just my humble opinion, I haven't had a second cup of coffee and I do have a bit of a personal interest in this Smile

n

Piglottie, your cards are beautiful and I love them. I'm not talking about the handmade ones (I have some of yours here), I'm talking about the mass produced ones. Perhaps I should have been clearer in what I meant, sorry.

I love getting a handmade card (and I keep them all in a large box!!!).

Are you going to be selling equipment as well as the cards themselves? I might be along for supplies for the hand made ones I do make....
n

janice

Food for thought this. I think I will have a discussion with my DH about getting chickens or llamas or something equally as welcome and letting everyone know that they won't get a card Very Happy

I too feel it is a waste of time Rolling Eyes

Though I believe my dad has already started and completed several cross stitch cards who get sent to appreciative people , like me, who frame them and hang them up Very Happy

I have noticed in recent years a lot of my cards are 'charity' cards but I don't think they see much of the money as in cards cost £3 and charity gets 5p sort of thing Sad

Off to check out the Oxfam site Very Happy

Piglottie

pjmck

I'm with Piglottie. Whilst I understand that people feel cards can be wasteful, I love to make and send lots every year. I do have a friend that uses old cards to make christmas scrapbooks and decorations so I collect up the cards that friends and family get and those that I can't use to make something, get sent to her. The handmade ones I get, I keep.

Paula

KnittingLadybird

I think if someone makes the effort to make me card I see it as more of a present and would prefer the card to an actual present....however buying bargain bumper packs of cheapo cards is a turn off and i'd rather people saved their money or use it more wisely.
I have a select few members of family who get cards at crimbo cos they live away but that's it really...I try to visit people instead Very Happy

melody yarns

Sorry, I should clarify too Embarassed

I meant sending cards that can be bought for peanuts from the supermarket and given out in the playground. The type of cards that would be recycled!
I gave the teachers at school the water as they are inundated with choccies and pampering gifts at the end of the school year - in a way I wanted my gift to them to be a bit different.

I always keep handmade cards and especially ones that have been made by the boys for us - they're extra, extra special Wink

n

The year before last's cards...
Quite a few people still have the peg in their Christmas box holding the list of next years card recipients!

n

Piglottie

Stunning card n! Smile

carolinne

that card is cool n, and would be gratefully recieved by any one with any sense ...i agree with linz re the mass produced variety

n

It was the one I am probably least happy with but it was really last minute.
The year before I made miniature origami mice, and perched them on the corner of a card printed with "Twas the night before Christmas!"
This was pre digital camera though, so no picture.

n

knitty, witty, woo

My hubby laughs at me as I hate putting up cards....and I used to sell hand-made ones.

I do love hand made cards but I tend to hate Christmas and birthday cards. They clutter up the house.

We got married last year. The cards went up before we went on honeymoon and were down an hour after we got back. We were gone 4 days and I think thats the longest any cards have been up.

I like to look at them but then tend to put them in a pile, unless they are handmade or immediate family.

I do like the idea of buying something from oxfam and letting people know we aren't sending any.
Last year we bought the kids 100 school dinners for a 3rd world country through oxfam and they all thought that was a great idea.

ETA...n I do think that card is lovely. That would be a stand up one in our house.

jessica

I send 50-60 cards and handmake all of them. I get a lot of pleasure from doing this and i know that a lot of my cards are kept. Re mass bought supermarket ones yuk!! but i don think charity cards are good.