With Christmas just around the corner, millions of Brits are once again getting to grips with the more ‘administrative’ aspect of the season. By which, we mean the important job of sorting out those Christmas cards, gift tags and the rest of the stationery needed at this time of year.
For most, it’s a pretty standard process. You head out to a local store (or place you order online) and take home the usual generic items. Conventional cards and gift tags may be cute, colourful and convenient, but they can also be less than inspiring. Even if they look the part, they’re not exactly what you’d call personal sentiments.
By contrast, make and print your own seasonal stationery this year and it’s a different story entirely. Even if you’ve limited time available and you’re far from artistically talented, it’s an option that’s well worth considering for Christmas 2019.
Sending Something Special
Christmas is supposed to be a time of generous gestures and special sentiment. Writing a personal greeting in a store-bought card is one thing, but rarely invokes the true spirit of the season. Making your own Christmas cards from scratch may seem like a daunting task, but can nonetheless be surprisingly simple.
Not to mention, way more enjoyable than you might expect.
So for those who still need a little more convincing, here are six reasons why making and printing your own custom cards and tags this Christmas really is the way to go:
- It Means so Much More
However artistically challenged you may be, it’s the thought that counts. Your homemade cards do not have to be a masterpiece worthy of a place in the National Portrait Gallery. Simply by being homemade, they immediately carry so much more meaning and sentiment than all the store-bought cards in the world ever could. Even if you don’t intend on sending DIY cards to everyone on your Christmas list, it’s at least worth considering the homemade option for your nearest and dearest.
- It’s Surprisingly Affordable
It costs absolutely nothing to invest a few hours or so creating a bunch of creative Christmas cards from scratch. After which, it’s simply a case of passing the files over to a professional printing house and having your cards custom-made. Professional printing services in Kent, like for example well known Digilab, can be surprisingly affordable, particularly when looking to run off plenty of copies in one batch order. Given how it’s not uncommon to pay upwards of £2 for even a single decent Christmas card these days, you could find making and printing your own a more affordable option.
- It’s Also Surprisingly Easy
If you consider yourself to be artistically inept, you needn’t count yourself out of the running. There are literally thousands of free Christmas card and gift tag templates available online, which can be downloaded and customised with ease. Rather than designing them from scratch, you simply add a few personal touches to them to make them unique. A process which from start to finish should take you no more than a few minutes.
- It’s Highly Therapeutic
Contrary to popular belief, arts and crafts in general aren’t exclusively about producing bespoke goods. It’s also about the relaxation and therapeutic benefits of the pursuit itself. You’d be surprised just how relaxing and enjoyable it can be to sit down for an hour or two and come up with something that’s 100% unique to you and you alone.
- It’s Fabulously Festive
Making your own Christmas cards (or seasonal stationery in general) is by far one of the best ways of getting into the Christmas spirit. By contrast, heading out to a packed store and fighting through the crowds to buy a bunch of bog-standard cards can be quite the opposite. Fire up the Christmas tunes, pour yourself a well-deserved mug of mulled wine and embrace the magic of the season.
- It’s a Chance to Be Cheeky
Last but not least, making your own Christmas cards and tags means taking advantage of the opportunity to be just a little bit cheeky. Injecting a little good-natured humour into the whole thing really can make all the difference. Dig out the most embarrassing photos of family and friends you can find, come up with your own tongue-in-cheek Christmas greetings and whip up some stationery that’s both meaningful and entertaining. Far better than the same tired-old messages sent by millions of Brits each year.
