Making Homemade Greeting Cards

LOUISE PLACHTA: Choose your words carefully

Lindsey, my friend, confided in me a few weeks ago that she and her sister, Rose (not their real names), were no longer speaking to each other after a lifelong, close, relationship, because of a few comments taken the wrong way – - at least from Lindsey’s standpoint. They were comments – off-the-cuff, joking comments – the kind that I have undoubtedly been guilty of making at one time or another.

I am no Ann Landers, but I think it would take just a short note (it need not even be a Hallmark or an American Greeting card), to mend the rift. All it would have to say is “I’m sorry. I may have overreacted or misunderstood. Let’s be sister-friends again.” Maybe the relationship can be restored. Let’s hope that it happens.

Lindsey, my friend, confided in me a few weeks ago that she and her sister, Rose (not their real names), were no longer speaking to each other after a lifelong, close, relationship, because of a few comments taken the wrong way – - at least from Lindsey’s standpoint. They were comments – off-the-cuff, joking comments – the kind that I have undoubtedly been guilty of making at one time or another. I know Lindsey better than I know her sister, and I know that Lindsey was devastated by Rose’s reactions to undoubtedly innocent comments. I do know, however, that long-festering grudges wear harder on the one who continues to carry them. In this case, the grudge affects not only the sisters, but the nieces and nephews as well. The cousins always have enjoyed seeing and interacting with each other; however, because their mothers aren’t communicating, neither are they. I am no Ann Landers, but I think it would take just a short note (it need not even be a Hallmark or an American Greeting card), to mend the rift. All it would have to say is “I’m sorry. I may have overreacted or misunderstood. Let’s be sister-friends again.” Maybe the relationship can be restored. Let’s hope that it happens. " I was brought up in a family of thirteen and we all get along great. I am amazed sometimes when talking to people and they tell me they have not talked to a certain sibling, or any of them for that matter, in over ten years. There are many others who wouldn't lift a finger to help a family member and that shocks me into thinking how sad it is for them. I am one of the youngest in the family at sixty years of age and I dread the day when one of them may pass away. We have been very fortunate all these years to be able to share each others company in so many ways.

Make Homemade Christmas Cards in Five Easy Steps

We all look forward to Christmas, kids and adults alike. We all love Santa and present opening and the whole festive atmosphere. But one thing that nobody looks forward to is the hefty Christmas bill. Christmas can be quite expensive, so it makes sense to try and save as much money as you can without jeopardizing your holiday experience. One way to save money is to make homemade Christmas cards .

Homemade Christmas cards are so easy to make, and lots of fun too! You and your kids can get a whole batch done in a few hours. Better still, Grandparents will love receiving a personalized card from their favourite grandchild.

So how exactly do you make homemade Christmas cards? Here are our five easy steps to do just that: Here is a list of what you will need:

Step 1: Cut the Cardstock Paper into Shape

First things first, you have to cut your paper into shape. Measure out the dimensions on the 8.5”x11”cardstock paper and begin cutting. Make sure that you use a ruler to trace straight lines to maintain straight cutting. To make things easier, use one cardstock card as a template for all of your other cards. That way you won’t have to measure out the precise dimensions for every card.

Step 2: Fold the Card in Half

Fold your 8.5” x 11” sized card so it is now 8.5” x 5.5”. Make sure that all of the corners are straight and there is no overlapping areas.

Step 3: Decorate the Front of the Card

The front of the Christmas card is the most important side, so make sure your get your decorations right. Use the coloured pens and pencils to sketched out a basic pattern on another sheet of paper first. Then try it on the card. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just a simple colourful ‘Merry Christmas Grandpa!’ will do in most cases!

Step 4: Choose a Christmas Message

All Christmas cards have a lovely and warming message written on the inside of the card. But now that you are making your own cards, you can do away with all of those generic phrases and write something really touching. It would be a really nice touch to personalise each Christmas card message to the person to whom you are sending it.

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