I finally got our tree up today. It’s been quite the comedy of errors all day process. Quite a frustrating time to tell the truth. The re-arranging of the furniture but I would love to put the tree somewhere else. However, it only fits one place currently. Maybe next year. We’re slowly updating our living room so there’s hope.
Then, you know the most “convenient” thing about those pre-lit trees? When the lights only work on parts of them. SIGH. So, off to Home Depot to get some white lights. Took a picture of the tree to share and it’s blatantly obvious to the camera’s eye where the light’s differ. Looks like a two-tone tree. Not so pretty. Here’s just a glimpse (the color came out so strange!) of part of the branches. 
On a more positive note, I bought a box of battery operated candle lights for the tree a few weeks ago. They were a bit of a splurge but I absolutely love them! Need to get one more box to even things out.
Today’s blogging topic is all about Christmas cards.
Christmas Cards: A Lost Tradition
When my husband and I were first married, 20 something years ago, I used the Christmas cards that came to the house as part of my holiday decorations. We received enough for me to display them all around the entrance to our kitchen. And stick them on the coat and linen closet doors.
We had quite a few friends, relatives, and acquaintances back then (big family on my side remember?). However, sadly, many of our older relatives have since passed away. And as is natural, we’ve lost touch with a few friends through the years.
As much as I love getting the cards, we get far fewer now. And in fairness, I’m not great at sending them out. Not from lack of want. Sometimes time simply gets away from me. Or stamps. One year I did great at sending them out by signing and preparing all the cards in January! Then, they were ready to go in December.
Of course, that doesn’t work for those who like to do the whole Christmas newsletter thing. I did that a couple times when the boys were a lot younger but for the most part I’m a sign our names kind of card sender. Hoping it’s enough to just know that I’m thinking of your family.
Homemade or Store Bought? Or Virtual?
I haven’t sent or received an e-card in so long. Are they still a thing? I think they probably cost now and I’m too cheap for that. If I’m spending money on a card, it needs to be a physical hold in my hand kind of thing. Crafts and I don’t seem to agree so cards from here are store bought. I’ve fallen in the habit of just grabbing cards at the grocery store or Target.
However, my preference is to go to Hallmark when I can manage it. I have my loyalty card that usually comes in handy getting me a few dollars back to spend at this time of year. And they do have beautiful cards there. I like to buy the boxed cards mostly. Last time I bought a variety box (oh my, I’m becoming my late mother!). However, one year I bought cards that depicted the Country Club Plaza, a local shopping district noted for being modeled after the city of Seville, Spain as well as its Christmas lights on the buildings.
Recycling the Christmas Cards
Of course, the paper waste is one of the arguments against getting actual Christmas cards in the mail. My mom always made tags out of our Christmas cards and then, used the same tags year after year as well.
Funny story: The first year I went to my husband’s family for Christmas and took presents: I made all the tags just the way my mom did. Cutting up old Christmas cards, punching the hole in the card design part, writing the to/from on the back, and stringing the ribbon through before putting it under the bow. They were all so confused. How come none of these packages have tags? His family always used the sticker tags (or sometimes just wrote on the paper). Ha! Of course, they were a bad influence and now I use the simple sticker tags as well.
One year in elementary school, we cut a shape out various cards and then glued them together to make ornaments. I can recall doing that.
The other thing I did with the discarded Christmas cards was to make boxes. I found this fun and relaxing though my boxes didn’t always fit together perfectly.
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It’s still up in the air if I’m going to get cards sent out this year although I hope I do. I find them to be such a day brightener during the holiday season. So, I hope I can share a little joy that way myself. If I don’t manage though, I also don’t beat myself up about it too much. Some years just work out better than others.
Are you a Christmas card person?
*Joining in with Tamy over at Chasing My Life for Blogmas 2022.
I LOVE this post! I’d LOVE to see some of those boxes you made from old cards too. I have a friend who doesn’t use ANY tags so doesn’t understand my love of cards. I hope you get your cards out.
Thank you! I’ll have to see if I come across any while I’m digging into our gift wrap tub. I hope I get some cards sent out this year as well.
And I forgot to say I’d LOVE to see the plaza again one day. My great uncle and grandfather had a restaurant on the plaza before I was born, (not that I can remember the name now though Millemann’s Country Kitchen was one of his 😀 ) and then my dad and granddad had a restaurant at 63rd and Brookside. Hubby and I ate there about 15 years ago and it looked exactly the same as the pictures I have of a Thanksgiving Buffet from when I was 2 😀
Oh, how exciting! Let me know if you remember the names. Of course, the plaza has changed so much in recent years. A lot more chain stores now than I remember ever being there even when I worked down there in my 20’s. I’ve not been to the Brookside area in quite a few years either. I should get back over to that area sometime to check it out.
Love your tree! And I hear you on the lights! How can they all work when you put it away, and then half are out when you put it up?!?!
Thank you! It was pretty frustrating but now I have more lights, never too many lights on a tree, right? 🙂
I love Christmas cards, both sending and receiving them!! It’s an old tradition that I refuse to give up. It makes me so sad that people just can’t be bothered these days. Ohhhh, I could go on and on, but I think I’ll save it for a post of its own on my blog. In short though, YES TO CHRISTMAS CARDS!!!!!
I do love Christmas cards but I’m not sure it’s so much that people can’t be bothered as much as it is the cost. With a large family and wanting to include/remember many friends, it can get costly as I factor in the number of cards/postage. Finding time can get tricky for me, the past two weeks went from me thinking I’d have lots of time to being super busy with work (lots of sickness floating around in this area, ugh!). Hope you get lots of Christmas cards this year! 🙂
I understand sending cards is not for everyone, and that some just don’t have the extra money to spend on it. I just feel sad about the people who blow it all off as something weird. I am #TeamChristmasCards until I have no one left to send them to. lol
I’m definitely a Christmas card person, Jean! I love sending and receiving them and usually send out a much larger number of them than I receive, but I don’t mind. 🙂 As for recycling them, I make baskets out of them. I will share photos of them with you and a link to the pattern.
Thanks for sharing the idea for the Christmas card baskets!