Tips For Sending The Best Christmas Letter Ever!

Christmas Letter Tips This post contains affiliate links. 

Tips for sending the best Christmas letter EVER!

Do you write an annual Christmas letter or send Christmas cards?  I know that for some people, writing a family Christmas letter feels like a chore and others feel like sending a letter at Christmas is just too old fashioned especially with the use of social media and instant updates.  However, I LOVE sending and receiving Christmas letters and cards!  I've even kept many of the Christmas cards and letters that I've received from family and friends from Christmases past.  Whether you're new to sending Christmas letters or are looking for ways to rejuvenate that same old Christmas letter that goes out every year, here are some tips for sending memorable Christmas letters and cards.

Tips for letters

1.  Take the pressure off of yourself to send the perfect card and letter.  It doesn't have to be fancy or elaborate.  The receiver will appreciate that you thought of them.

2.  Edit, edit, edit!  It's not necessary to mention every single thing you and your family did during the year.  Stick to the highlights, otherwise your letter will sound more like a list or a monologue.  Keep the letter to one page and highlight the main points of the year rather than giving detailed accounts.  Edit your letter for correct spelling and grammar.  Have someone else read it if needed.

3.  Keep it positive.  Keep things light and fun.  Avoid mentioning sensitive topics such as political views.  (Yes, I've received Christmas letters that have included political views and opinions!)

4.  Avoid cliches like "This year has certainly flown by!" or "I can't believe it's this time of year already!" 

5.  Don't use a small or very elaborate font and don't try to squeeze everything onto one page.  Doing so makes the letter difficult to read.  Use an easy to read font in size 12, certainly no smaller than size 10 and edit your letter so that it fits comfortably on one page without being too wordy.

6.  If your letter still has a lot of text, break up the text with pictures.  Use pictures sparingly and make them big enough to see.

This format works well when you want to 
highlight individual family members. 
Tips for sending the best Christmas letter EVER!

7. Be creative with the style of your letter.  Make it look like a real newsletter by creating a title, headlines, and articles about things that have happened during the year.

This format works well if you want to 
highlight specific events.
Tips for sending the best Christmas letter EVER!

8.  Think outside the box.  Your letter doesn't have to be a letter at all.  One of my favorite letters I sent one year was a multiple choice quiz about our family for that year with questions on one side and answers on the back.  You could also do a list format such as "Top Ten Places Traveled" or "Top Ten Best Moments of the Year."  Consider writing from a different perspective.  How would your pet or a new baby describe the year?

9. If writing just isn't your thing, send a few well chosen pictures with a short caption under each one.  You could also send a poem.  Here's one of my favorite Christmas poems:

Tips for sending the best Christmas letter EVER!

10.  Be sure to sign your letter to add a personal touch.


Tips for cards

1. Sending a personalized Christmas card can enhance your letter.  Consider personalizing your card with a favorite travel or family photo.

2.  When taking a family photo, you don't have to spend a lot of time or money on pictures taken at a professional photographer's studio.  You can take pictures of your family at home.  If you have a friend who's good at photography, ask them to help you out.  You can also use favorite pictures that were taken during the year.

3.  Use your pictures to customize your holiday cards at CafePress.  CafePress makes it really easy to send unique and personalized holiday cards. Quickly and easily change color theme, event info and photos on thousands of holiday invitations! Only at CafePress.  Not only does CafePress have custom Christmas cards, they also have party invitations and custom Christmas invitations.  Be sure to check out their personalized gifts that make great holiday presents!

CafePress wants to give one lucky winner a $30.00 gift certificate to spend on  holiday invitations, birthday invitations or anything in their store or on something unique that you design.  Enter below to win.  Winner will be announced in one week.  Good luck!


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Comments

  1. I do this every year, living here in the US sort of obliges me so since I have all my family back in the Philippines and a lot of friends there too, so updates are a must, at least once a year. This year I made a special postcard with all the Facts and stats about my families 2013 highlights.:-)

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    1. I like your idea of doing a postcard with facts and stats! It still keeps everyone informed and lets them know you are thinking of them, but keeps things short and to the point. Easy to do too! Thanks for sharing this good idea!

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  2. If I win, I'd probably choose a t-shirt!

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  3. Excellent giveaway - I LOVE writing an annual Christmas letter and finding the perfect card for someone...adding fun stickers always adds a nice touch...thanks for the great tips! Cheers, Valerie :)

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    1. I agree - stickers are a good idea! Thanks for sharing!

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  4. Awwesome give away my sweet friend. I love cards, letters you name it . I think your tips were awesome. Thanks for sharing this with your readers. YOUR blog is really amazing. I just love it and so glad to have been blessed with following along. HUGS and have a blessed Thanksgiving

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    1. Thanks Sherry! Thanks for stopping by and a very happy Thanksgiving to you as well!

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  5. I would probably let one of my kids pick a t-shirt, but maybe I'd get one just for me! Thanks for the Christmas letter tips!

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  6. All of my friends and family lives close by so I often opt for a Card with a poem or joke in it. I love a good Christmas letter though and think that someday I will have to marry someone with family not in the same town just so I can send Christmas Letters ;)

    Thanks for the great tips

    Ricki @ The Questionable Homesteader

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  7. Super tips. Thanks so much for linking to Inspire Me. I hope you and your family have a very Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving. Hugs, Marty

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    1. Thanks Marty! Wishing you a very happy Thanksgiving as well!

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  8. Thanks for these wonderful tips ~ I can certainly use them! BTW, I'm addicted to Pinterest, too! Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

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    1. Another Pin Junkie! You've come to the right place Anne! Thanks for stopping by!

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  9. Thanks for the tips! I always write Christmas letters. The rest of the year I keep in touch in other ways, but I love sending and receiving Christmas letters! To me, it seems more personal. Plus, we have a lot of older relatives that really appreciate getting a letter and they tell me all the time how much they love our letters. This year I'm going to help my daughter write her first Christmas letter to her pen pals :) I'm looking forward to getting her started on her own Christmas letter tradition :)

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    1. That's true Missy. Many of the older people in my family don't use computers or social media networks like Facebook and really appreciate old fashioned letters.

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  10. Some fantastic tips here! Love your visuals too. I am a huge advocate of sending 'real' Christmas Cards and I was thrilled to see I am not alone. I am 'tweeting' this post. I have a "Holiday Post" Series going right now that your readers might enjoy over at www.ritewhileucan.com (off to follow you on pinterest)

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  11. Oh, thanks so much! I've been really overwhelmed this holiday season, and havent even started thinking about christmas picture, card & letter...this helps oh so much! I love the Christmas Letter idea! I really like Helen Keller Rices poems too!

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  12. These are great ideas - thanks!

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  13. Thanks for the great tips. And I love sending christmas letters and cards

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  14. I would definitely get some Christmas cards! I just started sending cards out last year, but wrote a personal letter to each person. This year I am going to try the Christmas letter approach and a pretty card might distract from my poorly written letter!

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  15. I often send family newsletters at Christmas and people tell me they miss them if I don't do one that year! I would get a laptop skin

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  16. This is such a great post! I have never been that great at trying to write a unique card for individual family members and still I felt somehow wrong for sending a generic one. I think the newsletter and question ideas are wonderful options. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  17. Were I to win, I would choose the Dachshund Christmas Kiss Square Cocktail Plate to give to my brother and for myself I would choose the Sexy Flamingo Rectangular Cocktail Plate to use when we entertain in the summer at our pool. Nice giveaway.

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  18. This is a great time of year for this giveaway! You gave some great points that I didn't even think of concerning cards and letters. Thank you for sharing this one on Countdown in Style too! xo

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  19. Great advice. Thank you so much for sharing with Wednesday's Adorned From Above Link Party. Have a great week.
    Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above
    http://www.adornedfromabove.com

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  20. Great tips for holiday letter writing! Thanks for sharing :)

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  21. There are a lot of great ideas in this post!

    Thanks for joining the Link Up this week!

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  22. My hubby would shoot me if I ever did a Christmas letter. lol! Not really, but he hates them. Just got our first one in the mail today. I really don't mind reading them. Especially if they are just fun and cute and not a brag fest. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  23. I've never sent a Christmas letter but I'll be sure to use your suggestions when I do.

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  24. Stopping by to let you know you will be featured tomorrow on Made in a Day and all my Social Media Sites! Congrats! Thanks so much for linking up!
    Kim

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  25. This is a great idea! I will be pinning for sure! I don't mind cliches but my husband hates them! Haha! Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing on Family Friday Link Up Party!

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  26. Great ideas! All our family is long distance so pictures and letters are always a big deal. Thanks for the tips!

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  27. I send out a photo Christmas card every year! A couple of simple pictures and I'm done. I always considered sending the letter, but I'm not sure how many people read it. Thanks for sharing and linking up with Countdown in Style! Don't forget to come back on Friday to see if you were featured!

    ~~April~~
    100lbCountdown.com

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  28. Thank you so much for linking up to The Weekend re-Treat Link Party this week on The Best Blog Recipes! Wanted to stop by and "Pin" your post to our Link Party Boards (Recipes or Crafts) while I was here !

    Shauna @ The Best Blog Recipes

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  29. We just do a cute picture lately... with 8 kiddos it just gets too long no matter how much you edit! Plus, anyone who is that interested in the details already knows most of them!

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  30. I wish I would have know about the entry--I would have done it! I still need to do my letter; but I just got my cards in! Great tips--there are a couple of things that I need to stop doing. I'm going to pin this! I found this post from Family Friday link-up.

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  31. Love the idea of making it look like an actual newsletter! Stopping by from Family Friday linky. :)

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  32. These are such wonderful ideas! I don't write them so much anymore, sadly. Sometimes, though, I will make something up through Microsoft Office or Power Point and email it as a picture. Thank you so much for sharing with This Momma's Meandering Mondays! Have a great week!

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  33. Great tips and ideas! Thanks for sharing at the Twirl & Take a Bow Party! So glad to have you join in the fun!
    Leslie
    House on the Way

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  34. Thanks so much for sharing with Adorned From Above’s Link Party. Have a great week.
    Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above
    http://www.adornedfromabove.com

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