Christmas Printer

Since the early 1800s holiday cards have come in all shapes, sizes and themes.  One genre of holiday card that is guaranteed to widen the smile on the recipients face is a humorous one.

The holiday season is a time of offering loved ones and friends’ happiness and good will.  Why not add to this and send a card that is going to make your recipient laugh?

Comedy cards are available in their masses for browsing in the card shops around the country.  Some will be rude or crude while others witty or clever and some just plain old silly.  Whichever type of comedy makes you and yours chuckle, there is bound to be a card waiting to be sought out.

If you fancy creating your own humour why not research the internet for a site that will enable you to create your own personalised Christmas comedy cards?  There are a few sites that might let you upload pictures into humorous cards.  These can be great fun and well appreciated by the right recipient.  Personalised cards also show that a little bit of effort has gone into the card itself and the recipient will appreciate this above and beyond the humour.

The great thing about a card which makes one chuckle is that it is likely to stand out on the mantle as well as be the most talked about card.  Some people will go to the efforts of sharing the joke with others.  This makes the card so much more worthwhile than if it displayed another robin redbreast sat on a snowy gate. One word of warning; be careful with your choice of humour.  There can sometimes be a fine line between what someone finds funny and that which might be construed as offensive.

If chosen for the right person, a good joke at Christmas will only increase the jovial and jolly moods of the recipient at Christmas.   Why not bring some extra cheer into your Christmas greeting this holiday season.  At a time when everyone is stressed with shopping and playing Santa not to mention turkey basting and baking mince pies, a joke is sure to be welcomed.

We all have our favorite books that we grew up reading at Christmas time.  My favorite, The Night Before Christmas, was read by my dad after dinner every Christmas Eve.  The whole family would gather in a room and my dad would, very animatedly, read the story to us.  It was a special time.  Now that my dad has passed away, we take turns reading the book each year.

In addition to the books we treasure from our own childhood, we also pick up more recently published books when we look for new ones to include for our own children.

There are lists and lists of special Christmas books out there and everyone has a favorite.  Perhaps your favorite is The Polar Express, or Eloise at Christmastime.

One of the best ways to discover wonderful new books is by asking your friends for recommendations.  I recently asked a well-read friend of mine which Christmas books meant a lot to her.  One of the authors she recommended was Patricia Polacco.  She is both an author and illustrator.  Below is a listing of some of Patricia’s Christmas stories:

The Trees of the Dancing Goats

Christmas Tapestry

Welcome Comfort

Babushka’s Doll

The Keeping Quilt

Babushka’s Doll is suitable for both Christmas and Hanukkah reading or for a blending of the two religious traditions.

Check out online reviews of these books to get an idea of the story lines.  Then try one or two and see if you don’t add them to your favorites.

People send cards at Christmastime for all sorts of reasons.  Some send them out of good practice because their mother taught them too, while others send them to friends and family who have supported them as a little thank-you.  Whatever your reason, sending a holiday card is bound to get appreciation.

Think about taking time to send your family a festive yet personal greeting.  Many people take family for granted so this Christmas, go that distance and surprise those great aunts and uncles with holiday cards.  With the onset of email it is so easy to send someone a digital image, it makes a nice change and a little more effort to print out your photo and send it in the post.

What about people who have helped you along the way personally or within your career?  These are people who have taken time out of their schedules to help you out and yet might not normally be on your holiday list.  This year, take the time to thank them personally with a holiday card.  This is a personal and appreciative way to keep in touch with colleagues and peers and they will appreciate the thanks when it drops on their doormat.

Businesses send cards for a similar reason although they are a little less personal and a little more along the lines of a marketing tool.  Either way, they ensure that suppliers and clients know that the firm is looking after them and is thankful for their custom.   I say these are not as personal but if you are a business and can manage to write some cards to your most important clients with a personal message, you are sure to score brownie points on loyalty.

Other people send cards to the same list of people year in year out as an annual catch up.  Although many keep in touch with email and Skype, some still enjoy writing a letter telling friends about news that has taken place in the year before.

We all send cards for different reasons, sometimes it is simply because it is expected or looks good, other times the message is more sincere.

If you think I am about to give you a lecture in saving trees, I’m not.  Christmas cards are a solid tradition which will keep the printers alive even when computers have improved beyond imagination.  They offer a great deal of happiness to those people whom you care about.  However, it is sad that they end up in the recycle bin. Instead, why not put them to other uses?

One idea is to make hanging ornaments with them.  This is easy and all you need really is a hole punch and some ribbon.  By punching a hole in the top of the card and threading a loop of red ribbon, you can hang your card anywhere and then keep it forever, bringing it out every Christmas.  You could make a garland of all your most precious cards and hang it up every Christmas for old times’ sake!

If this is not for you, how about using the pictures as decorations on other items.  By cutting out the picture on the card and sticking it on a jar, you can make Christmas holly holders or candle pots.  You can make them even more festive by winding tinsel or beads around the rim of the jar.  Stickers or glass paint could be used too, if you are feeling adventurous.

How about a magnet?  You could cut out your card image, laminate it for protection, and attach a magnet to the back.  Similarly, you can make bookmarks, Christmas tree hangings, decoupage a box with the pictures for your keepsakes or use the pretty images in next year’s Christmas card making session.  The opportunities are endless.

Christmas cards need not be destined for the bin.  In fact even if crafting is not your cup of tea, your children will love to get stuck in to cutting and sticking.  They could make all sorts of exciting new Christmas themed projects out of old cards under your supervision. If you are at all stuck for ideas, look on the internet.  You will find all sorts of craft ideas and it will not be long before you hear yourself thinking ‘that’s a good idea’ and reaching for the glue.

What do you give that person who has everything?  You want to come up with a unique holiday gift for someone special, but you don’t know what.  A beautiful custom photo book is a creative and cost efficient gift that anyone would love.

Make a custom photo book for your best friend, using the pictures of the two of you in France.  Create a photo book for your parents and fill it with pictures of the kids, or create a photo book to commemorate your family reunion.  Whatever the theme, your friends and family members will love receiving a quality photo book this holiday season.  These beautiful books are quick and easy to create, too! Simply choose a theme, upload your photos, and enter the text.

Your friends and family will treasure these books for years to come.

Every Christmas there is a stool at the market selling official and non official calendars of all shapes, sizes and qualities.   They tend to make perfect Christmas presents for both relatives and friends.  In choosing your gift, take a look around at the types of calendar that are available.

If you are buying a calendar for a parent of young children keep a look out in the shops for the ‘family organizer’ kind.  Some will accommodate for every family member giving them their own column so on any one day you can clearly differentiate between Johnny’s dentist appointment and Sasha’s first sports day.

In addition, some calendars come with a notes section; either a pad with pages that you can write your shopping list on and (if you remember) tear off before you leave the house, or a surface for notes which comes with an erasable pen much like a white board.  This might be seen by some as a kitchen must-have.

You then get the novelty calendars.  Sometimes the pictures are needlessly big but if the recipient cares more about a torso than remembering a tap class, this may be perfect.

If the person you have in mind is creative then look out for calendars that give you the option of decorating it yourself with photos or craft stuff.   Similarly, choose one that offers recipes or gardening tips for those who like to spend time being creative in the home.

Many photographic websites offer you the option to turn your own photos into a calendar.  This can make a wonderful gift especially for family and friends.  Whether you wish to send the grandparents a calendar with pictures of their grandchildren on it or your sister a version showing twelve adorable pictures of the dog, it is both thoughtful and personal.

Calendars make a wonderful present but they are also fantastic marketing tools.  If you run a business or charity how about creating calendars which will raise money or profile?  There is always room in one’s life for this organisational tool whether it sits on the fridge or by the telephone.

Christmas cards tend to look the same and other than the first few minutes of their life and a further minute when they are taken out of their envelope and read, they find themselves on the mantle or string with fifty other robin red breasts.  How about something a bit different this year?

Adoring aunties, uncles, grandparents and friends would love a holiday picture of the family to stand out among the robins and the Santas and token Rudolfs.  It is somewhat personal, and doubles up as a gift for those distant relatives.  It is also a card that can be kept for decades rather than being dropped into the recycle bin on the 12^th day of Christmas.

Photo cards are also useful if you do not wish to celebrate with any religious element.  Your photo need not be of friends and family but of your annual decorated tree or a pretty country landscape.  These cards might be good if you enjoy turning your hand to the odd photography session or if you fancy making an impression on work colleagues or relatives.

You need not print your own photo cards.  Many websites give you the option to upload your pictures and have them printed as cards.  Alternatively you could buy cards from a good craft shop and attach your photos yourself with photo corners.   If you are feeling creative you could add stickers or ribbon to make your card more festive.

Some stationers sell photo cards designed so you can slip in your pictures with little hassle.  This will help you if you find yourself pushed for time so you can still offer friends and relatives a little bit of personal cheer.

Have a think about the photo you would like your card to display. You might like to set up your own picture and have a session with the parents sat in front of the Christmas tree.  Alternatively, you could send out an office holiday card with your colleagues posed wearing Christmas hats for a little fun.  The opportunities are endless and you can create a personal photo that your recipient will find funny or sentimental.

A photo card is a great way to keep in touch with friends and family however far away they may be!  With digital technology at your fingertips you can create a homemade Christmas card that radiates professionalism and personalisation in no time at all.

Forget sticky tape and glitter; turn on your camera and start snapping. If you do not have a recent photo of your family, the family dog, or the Christmas tree take some time out to get happy snapping.  It won’t be long before you take a picture that you are proud of.

Once you have that perfect picture, the first step is to load it onto your computer.    Now click on that rotating globe and get yourself dialled up to the net.   Using a good search engine find a website that offers you the option of creating your own card.  Websites such as these will incorporate software that will enable you to upload your chosen photo and create your card.  You might find that your site also gives you the option of buying a matching envelope.

If you are less confident with the computer and more savvy with shopping, take your memory stick or card to a photo shop or good chemist.  You can use a photo kiosk to have a card created on your behalf quickly and professionally. Remember, however, that doing this will mean that you will not be very wise to download a photo off the internet thanks to copyright laws.

The photo is going to be the focus of your card but think about making it festive.  Maybe you fancy a pretty Christmas border, take a look at your options offered by the software you are using.   In addition don’t be afraid to tamper with your picture.  It might look best in a monochrome or sepia tint.  Similarly if you are confident with imaging software you could use filters and lift specific colours out.

Creating a photo card can be easy or complex.  You might find after practising you become a professional and before you know it everyone in the family is the recipient of a personalised photo card of the family dog in a Santa hat.  Opportunities are endless.

Holidays are special times for many reasons.  What makes the holidays special for me is simply having the family together, and observing annual traditions together.  Traditions bring continuity, warm memories of past Christmases, and knowledge that some things remain the same.

Every family has its own traditions.  There are many activities that we all cherish in my family.  First, we go to a Christmas tree farm, all bundled up so we can really enjoy being outside.  It is a very special feeling when you are surrounded by thousands of Christmas trees and you are deciding, with your loved ones, which tree is the very best.  Cutting it down yourself has more meaning to me than simply buying one that someone else has cut.  In addition, the kids have so much fun out in the snow.  Even the dog has a great time.

Every year, groups of children from our town go door to door caroling.

I have such fond memories of standing by the front door listening to their rendition of traditional Christmas songs.

Decorating cookies is one of my children’s most happily anticipated traditions.  We bake “jelly dimples” and traditional frosted cookies.  This is fun for children of all ages.  Even 2-3 yr. olds can be involved in baking jelly dimples (with help).  They love rolling the dough into marble sized balls, rolling the balls in sugar, and then sticking their thumb in the middle to make a hole for the jelly.  A warm kitchen, sticky hands and laughter make for a cozy time.

We also read The Night Before Christmas every Christmas Eve.  It really gets us in the Christmas spirit and ensures a pleasant end to Christmas Eve before bedtime.

What are your treasured traditions?

Given that the age of the printed calendar took hold just after the war, it comes as no surprise that there are some people in the world who have become collectors of the item.  The older calendars can be very exquisite and as they have always been intended as a temporary Christmas whim, it seems few people hold them back after their purpose has been fulfilled meaning there are very few to be had.

The age of calendars will matter greatly to a collector.  The older it is generally correlates to the amount it will be valued at.  Of course other factors need to be taken into account; namely the number of calendars available in that particular design, who it was made by and whether it is indeed genuine.   As with any antique there are originals and there are copies.

Vintage calendars are a lovely way to celebrate advent.  If you are lucky enough to have your very own piece of history, it should be treasured by every family member.  They are not easy to find because of their nature as well as popularity.

If you would like to find yourself an antique calendar however, keep your eyes peeled on internet auctions and antique fairs.  They date from around the 1850s in Germany and tend to be made of fabric or card.  There is plenty of information to be found on the internet about the history of the calendar and the people responsible for the craze, so start researching.

If you cannot manage to pin up an original Vintage calendar think about making your own family tradition and investing in a permanent calendar such as one which is made of a series of numbered drawers.  If it takes your fancy you could make the decorations to go inside or you could purchase chocolate coins.  Mix the two ideas if you are a creative chocoholic. These will give children a great sense of enjoyment and no doubt become a bit of a family tradition, maybe an heirloom.   It will feature fondly in the memories of everyone and add some sentiment to the month of December.