Christmas Printer

Here are a few more easy-to-follow holiday tips!

Avoid waste at your holiday party- Use washable plates, glasses and silverware instead of plastic cups and utensils.  This is a simple step that makes a big difference.

Use a canvas bag- Take a durable tote bag with you when you do your holiday shopping.  Also, try giving custom tote bags as holiday gifts.

Recycle your tree- Instead of ending up in a landfill; your tree will be turned into mulch or woodchips.

Carpool- Go to a party or holiday gathering as a group.  Encourage your guests to do the same.  Carpooling conserves fuel and cuts down on holiday traffic, which is always a good thing.

Decorating- Maybe less is more this year.  Decorate with fresh greens, flowers or strung pop-corn or cranberries.  Cut down on the use of plastic and other man made materials in your home.

Are you tired of fighting the holiday traffic and crowds at the mall? Forget the big box stores this year and try to support the small businesses in your area. With today’s economy it is important that we support our local patrons. Be creative and see what your area’s specialty stores have to offer.

• Check out the winter’s farmer’s market or organic grocery store for delicious fruit preserves, wines or baked goods.

• Looking for something really special? Do an online search for local artists and get your friends and family members a unique piece of art for their mantle or their Christmas tree.

• Antique shops are great places to buy furniture, jewelry and toys.

• Have a friend with a green thumb? Stop by your local garden center to pick up an indoor plant that will bring joy all year long.

• Shopping at used book stores is a great way to support local businesses and also save some cash. These stores often have a great selection of gently-used books for children and adults at a much lower cost.

• If you’re too stressed to shop, relax! Grab a coffee at your favorite local coffee shop and purchase a few gift certificates while you’re there.

Choosing a card for your boss can be a bit tricky.  You do not want to come across as a cheap skate, nor as an offensive employee and yet you don’t want to appear to your colleagues as if you are sucking up to the big boss.

There are some certain things to remember in looking for the perfect card.  Firstly, think about the content.  It is probably wise to stay away from a holiday card with a religious theme unless you are absolutely sure that your boss attends church every Sunday morning.  Even so, it is probably wise to be wary.

A humorous card may be an option.  Think about your boss’s personality.  As jovial as your boss might be, don’t underestimate the power of a bad joke.  It might be that for a short laugh you’ll find yourself missing out on that promotion or worse, find yourself licking envelopes for a month.  Be sure you are tuned into your boss’s humour if you choose a funny card and if you have even a slight doubt, leave it on the shelf and move along the aisle.  In any event keep your card inoffensive and clean.  It might be funny when you’re in the card shop, but think about who might come across it in the office.

Make sure you keep your card normal in size.  Picking the biggest on the shelf will make you look like you are trying too hard to impress.  Keep the larger than life ones for your loved ones and friends.  Ensure that your card looks good quality and not cheap but at the same time is not three times the size of your colleagues’ efforts.

It might seem like a minefield but just try not to think too much about it and that way it will not make you seem like you are trying too hard.  If you are truly stuck think about a more traditional card.

Finally, have a think about what you might write inside.  Keep it simple and short and try not to be too personal, a simple holiday wish will do.

Advent calendars are a Christmas tradition like Christmas Cards that date back a fair few decades and which have become an icon of December in modern times.  It is thought that they date back to Germany in the 1800s and gradually spread across Europe as their popularity became apparent.  Chocolate calendars are thought to be more of a post world war tradition with their predecessors being calendars made of pictures.

Chocolate has not always been the focus of advent either.  Although candy was used in the calendars occasionally, when they were first introduced many designs incorporated pictures, religious verse or small gifts.

Now of course, each year chocoholics around the globe make that vital decision of which advent calendar to purchase this year.  Some chocolatiers will offer luxury calendars laced in flowing satin ribbon and delicious melt in your mouth chocolate while others will contain your basic milk chocolate moulded into little Christmas shapes.

The latter come in all sorts of themes and you can no doubt choose anything from Minnie Mouse, a country Christmas theme to Brad Pitt’s torso; the choice is yours.  These calendars are often reasonably priced and you can find them lined up in supermarkets ready for the taking.

Calendars can also come in a more permanent form.  Some consist of wooden drawers which hide little gifts for the recipient or decorations which you can put on the tree each day.  You can start a family tradition with one of these by purchasing one from a good Christmas craft fair or decoration store (failing that the internet).

Some families turn their hands to making advent calendars.  These can be as simple as stringing up candy which is taken each day until Christmas Eve or with the help of the internet you could find more adventurous crafting ideas.  This makes a lovely activity to get you into the Christmas spirit.

Advent calendars are definitely icons of advent and whether you choose to have one with the traditional 24 doors, or whether you feel you are cheated by this and find one with 25, everyone loves the excitement of a countdown.

Advent calendars are a Christmas tradition that date back a fair few decades and which have become an icon of December in modern times.  It is thought that they date back to Germany in the 1800s and gradually spread across Europe as their popularity became apparent.  Chocolate calendars are thought to be more of a post world war tradition with their predecessors being calendars made of pictures.

Chocolate has not always been the focus of advent either.  Although candy was used in the calendars occasionally, when they were first introduced many designs incorporated pictures, religious verse or small gifts.

Now of course, each year chocoholics around the globe make that vital decision of which advent calendar to purchase this year.  Some chocolatiers will offer luxury calendars laced in flowing satin ribbon and delicious melt in your mouth chocolate while others will contain your basic milk chocolate moulded into little Christmas shapes.

The latter come in all sorts of themes and you can no doubt choose anything from Minnie Mouse, a country Christmas theme to Brad Pitt’s torso; the choice is yours.  These calendars are often reasonably priced and you can find them lined up in supermarkets ready for the taking.

Calendars can also come in a more permanent form.  Some consist of wooden drawers which hide little gifts for the recipient or decorations which you can put on the tree each day.  You can start a family tradition with one of these by purchasing one from a good Christmas craft fair or decoration store (failing that the Internet).

Some families turn their hands to making advent calendars.  These can be as simple as stringing up candy which is taken each day until Christmas Eve or with the help of the internet you could find more adventurous crafting ideas.  This makes a lovely activity to get you into the Christmas spirit.

Advent calendars are definitely icons of advent and whether you choose to have one with the traditional 24 doors, or whether you feel you are cheated by this and find one with 25, everyone loves the excitement of a countdown.

This year you have decided to send out a holiday photo card.  Not only will it keep the aunties and uncles happy but it will sit well on the mantle in the houses of your friends and family.  These are particularly popular if you are sending them to those you have not caught up with in a while; seeing the new baby, or how much the children have grown will bring more than your normal Christmas cheer upon the recipient.

You have a camera, check; a family, check; a token Christmas prop; check.  Now how to create the perfect snap… firstly, try not to panic., if you start early enough there will be time to shoot and reshoot as many times as you wish.

Decide where you want to take your picture.  It might be that you take your camera on a day out or walk in fresh outdoors and the shot just forms itself.  On the other hand you may wish to pose your subjects and try to get some festive theme incorporated by using a prop (a Christmas hat) or simply using a wintery setting.  If the outdoors is a little adventurous, you might want to get your family to pose in front of this year’s Christmas tree.

Your picture might look nice in black and white or a sepia hue to add to the sentimental Christmas theme.  You can change the look of your photo quite easily using software (such programs usually come with the camera) alternatively some cameras have a setting for such arty effects.  Similarly, take time to figure out the settings on your camera before you take it out and about.  It might be that it works best on a certain setting.

There are no rules about what you should take a holiday photo of or what it should look like.  Choose a subject that will be of interest to the recipient, it might be that you prefer to take a picture of a Christmas city scape or the family dog – whatever takes your fancy. Just be sure to print it on good quality paper!

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.

E-cards were born out of email.  They are animated cards which can be sent across the internet to friends and family.   In addition they can be personalized not to mention humorous, witty and fun.  Remember though that to some people they scream lazy or that you are forgetful.

E-cards are great to receive especially if you are chained to a desk and a keyboard, they can certainly brighten up a friend or colleague’s day.  Be careful though in December when everyone is exchanging envelopes, unless you are absolutely sure that your colleagues or friends will happily receive your glorified email, you best pop to the supermarket and buy a pack of charity cards, after all you do not want to look cheap or lazy.  However, if you do opt for the E-card ensures you personalize them well and ensure the recipient’s computer will live up to the graphics.

E-cards are fantastic for friends and family who live abroad.  They are more personal than a Facebook message or a regular email. In this respect they come out tops because when regular mail might fail you, you can be assured that your Christmas wish will reach your recipient the other side of the world if you send them an E-card.  If you know someone who is traveling, or who has simply moved away from the area, the internet is a lifeline to keeping in touch.  Imagine how pleased your recipient will be to see that you have taken the effort to personalize a card on the internet rather than risk it never arriving in the post.  If the more traditional you says send post the card, think about sending an E-card as a back-up just in case the hard copy never gets to its destination.

E-cards are certainly clever and very efficient but people still enjoy the traditional element of Christmas cards and appreciate receiving them through the internal mail or the post.  Not everyone is ready to go twenty first century on their holiday cards as they are on their regular letters which have been made almost obsolete by email.

Christmas is a busy time, not only are you frantically shopping for gifts, trying to socialise with colleagues, attempting to fit into your little black dress in time for New Year and remember to order the turkey or goose, but you have to send your Christmas cards.

Make it easy for yourself.  There is no crime in updating your address book in November.  Make it easy for yourself and get the addresses that you don’t have before you are battling with the dates for last posting.  Not only will this save you time in December, it will also give you an indication as to how many cards you are likely to need.

Buy your cards early too.  By being organised you get to pick the best ones and therefore will not be stung for buying all the luxury cards because you left it too late.  This will only be annoying when they are reduced in January.  (Incidentally if you are extra organised, you can buy them in the sales the year before)

You are at your leisure to begin writing them now.   You need not send them until December but make it more enjoyable and less of a chore. Sit down with a nice hot toddy and enjoy the process of writing cards rather than rushing it the day before they must be posted.

If you make your own cards you will probably be aware that it is wise to start thinking about them before the summer is out.  Of course this depends how many you intend to make.  It might be that you only intend to make one or two for select people – either way remember that this will take more time than cracking open a box so be prepared.

Ensure that you get your stamps in good time too.  You can even order them online making there no excuses for missing the last post before Christmas.

The key to keeping stress away is definitely organisation.  Make sure you are all ready to send those cards as soon as it is acceptable to do so – that way you have time to make good any you forget, or which get lost in the post.

Christmas cards are attractive, decorative and meaningful for the 12 days that they spend on the mantle. However, the Christmas card is doomed to fatality once January comes knocking on the door. What do you do with yours?
It seems that our social responsibility before Christmas is far more at the forefront of people’s minds before Christmas than the environment is after. Unfortunately many people tend to forget the problems with deforestation and melting glaciers while then waddle to the bin, full from eating a wealth of food, to dump in this year’s Christmas card selection.
Have a think about all the paper that we use at Christmas time. Many shops, supermarkets or councils will offer schemes where cards, paper and trees can be recycled for the good of Mother Nature. Contributing to such schemes will help the environment and set a good example for younger generations, whom it is hoped, will grow up with an innate awareness of the world we live in.
It might be that you could think about the implications of the cards you use and the paper you tear apart in the run up to Christmas. Some wrapping papers are not recyclable and this is heartbreaking when you think of the tonnes that are destined for the bin before it has even reached the checkout. Think of alternative ideas to using this paper. Brown paper can be decorated using stamps, ribbons and tags and can end its life in the recycle bin. It will also make your present stand out and look arty. Similarly, newspaper can look effective if used as wrapping paper so long as you beware of the print that could rub off.
If you or your family are sentimental it might be possible to give a card that doubles up as a present. This may consist of a photo, a painting or even double up as a Christmas tree gift. This is particularly possible if you make your own cards. The result is that your greeting can be added to the Christmas decoration collection or at the very least a box of treasures.