No Ordinary Holiday Card – Why I am sending Hallmark Signature cards

This post is sponsored by Hallmark. All opinions are mine alone.

As a crafter, I love a handmade card. Over the years, my Christmas card list grew to well over 100 people. Everyone loves getting a holiday card in the mail, right?! I spent months creating cards to prepare for the holiday season and the stress outweighed the fun of it. There was no way I could write personalized messages to everyone on my list. The cards were no longer special. The messages were not special. And to be totally honest, with over 100 people on my list, only a handful of those relationships were truly special to me.  A few years ago, I started on a path of living with less. I wanted my life to be filled with meaningful, quality experiences and things that helped me to better enjoy the moments, the season, and the relationships that ;are most important to me. That's why this year I am sending Hallmark Signature holiday cards.

As soon as I picked up a Hallmark Signature card, I could feel and see the quality of the workmanship and the detail in the designs. These are the kinds of cards that make someone feel really special when they open them! And to be honest, these are cards that would be challenging to make on my own. I pride myself on being an expert crafter so if I am telling you these are better bought than made yourself, well, I'm pretty serious!

The Hallmark Signature cards that I am sending are going to my inner circle; the people who made the most impact in my life this past year and with whom I want to share stories, ideas, and more. These Hallmark Signature cards are very special. Special people in our lives deserve to get a card that feels weighty in their hand, that has depth and details, and that is created with precision and attention to detail.

Each Hallmark Signature card is packaged with an envelope and a special slip of paper to help protect the beauty of the card during shipping.

Just look at that deep embossing on this foiled card!

And the mix of flocking, rhinestones, and glitter on this nutcracker themed card! I'm calling attention to these details because these are cards that the recipients will gaze at for hours. Cards that they will want to display on their mantels and then keep for years.

If you're going to send a card this special, you've got to write something meaningful on the inside. Let's skip those silly form Christmas letters … I'm so not a fan of those ordinary letters! I'm talking about really saying something meaningful in your cards to the people in your life who are anything but ordinary.

Who's on my “inner circle” holiday card list?

This year has been really special for me as I have built deeper and more meaningful personal relationships with friends. There are several women who I have become even closer with this year. In the craft world, we meet each other because we love crafts and our art. Sometimes, we connect on more than just our love of “making” – we like each other as people too! Is there someone you have worked with who has become more than a coworker?

Well, that's what happened to me. One of the people on my “inner circle” list is fellow artist, crafter, and business owner, Jen Cushman. I met Jen as an acquaintance in the craft industry. You know, “at work” so to speak. I ended up working with Jen on project for a company she co-owned until last year. The end of that business relationship was rocky but we ended up coming out of it as stronger people, better business owners, and closer friends. She also has a pretty cool name too … we Jennifers need to stick together!

Most of our relationship has developed over email, phone, and text since we live 5 hours away from each other. But I know I can pick up the phone any time and she's there. And I am there for her. Last month, I actually flew out to her hometown of Phoenix for a quick business trip, during which I stayed at her home. It felt like being at home with my own family. That level of comfort, to just feel “at home”, well, that's pretty special.

We know everything about each other, the good, the bad, the ugly, and we still love each other. We don't judge each other. We're there no matter what. And that's really special. What do you say to a friend who you're so close to, you've said almost everything already? That's when writing in a holiday card can be challenging.

Jen isn't the only person in my inner circle who will be receiving a special holiday card. These cards need to have a message inside that is just as special as the card on the outside. Hallmark Signature cards are printed with thoughtful, elegant greetings. But I want something personalized and tailored to each person I am sending a card to this year. Have you ever felt challenged when it comes to writing inside a card? You're not alone…

What to write in a holiday card

Need ideas for what to write in your cards? Here's a list of thought-starters to help you write a holiday greeting they'll always remember:

Tell a story about your relationship with them

Whether your story is old or new, remind this special person about how they have made you feel. With our busy lives, it is easy to forget stories and events that happened, even in our own lives. Retell the story in your holiday card and create a keepsake that the recipient will cherish.

Thank them for impacting your life this year

We all have friends who do thoughtful actions to help us throughout the year. Tell that friend that you are grateful for them and that you remember their generosity. Make sure to include details you remember so that their experience as a reader is rich and vibrant. You'll be sure to bring a tear to their eye and help them to remember how important they are to you and to the world.

Write about your hopes and dreams for them

When sending cards to those younger than you or in a different place in life, encourage them and remind them why they are amazing. Your note in the card can reinforce their special traits that you appreciate, call attention to characteristics they might not realize they have, and recall their accomplishments from the year and that lay ahead. Your words packaged in a beautiful card can have a significant impact on their life!

Celebrate their achievements

A graduation, buying a new home, starting a new career, having a baby, going on an adventure, trying something new … celebrate the milestones and successes in the life of someone special. Express how proud you are of their success and what you envision them doing in the future. Everyone loves to hear that their hard work and perseverance has been recognized. And it's even better when it's in writing, in a card.

This holiday season, pick up a Hallmark Signature card for each of the special people in your life. Make an impact visually with the gorgeous, quality designs and then touch their heart with your words inside the card. Because these relationships are extraordinary, honor them with no ordinary cards to let them know how they had an impact on you this year, with help from Hallmark Signature. Hallmark Signature cards are available in the card aisle wherever Hallmark cards are sold.  CLICK HERE to find a store near you.

Who would you send a Hallmark Signature holiday card to this holiday season?

Tag or share who is your extraordinary using #NoOrdinaryCard.