The Fastest Way to Send Christmas Cards + Giveaway

November 23, 2015



Hallmark Christmas Cards


When I moved from Virginia to Maryland, I began sending out Christmas cards each year. Mail can be such a day-brightener when it isn't bills or spam!

Each year since, I've noticed something interesting. I get the same feedback each year from at least one (different) person:

"Thanks for the card! I wish I had the time to send out cards. Maybe next year."


I'm certainly not offended at not receiving cards from everyone, but I am concerned at the idea that cards take a long time to send. I personally spend more time selecting Christmas cards than I do sending them. I set up a process the first year (that granted, is an time investment that pays off in future years) that has made sending cards each year after a breeze!

How to send Christmas cards quickly

My secret? I have a hard time calling it a secret, but still, people are surprised:

Microsoft Office.

It really is that easy. If you can carve out some extra time one year to plop all your contacts into an Excel spreadsheet, mail merge does all the work for you in the years after. Just follow these steps, and you'll have cards ready to be send in no time:
  1. Gather your contacts. I create a document in excel with the names and addresses of everyone I want to send cards to (make sure you set up fields; I use last name, first name, address, and city/state/zip, so that it can read properly in mail merge). The first time you do this, it will take some time, but in future years, this becomes a super short step of "scan your list of contacts for anyone who's moved, married, etc., and update their information"
  2. Choose your cards. This is my favorite step and for me, often the longest. There are so many choices! I have done photo cards, but most years, I choose a variety of pretty boxed cards (like the pictured mini assortment I picked up at the Hallmark Store this year). Since you have all your contacts in the Excel file, you can easily see how many you need! I always allow for a few extras for any forgotten recipients or cards returned-to-sender (I catch most people who move, but always seem to miss at least one!)
  3. Sign your cards. I usually keep this simple with a quick "Dear mom and dad," at the beginning then a "love, Sean and Bekah" at the end. 
  4. Make your labels. This is the real time saver. I buy some blank mailing labels and do a mail merge into Word with the excel file (the software walks you through this, and I have a tutorial video below!). This sets up all your names and addresses in a format that you can print right on to the labels. I jazz it up with a pretty (but readable) font, and hit print! All those addresses that would have taken you a full morning to write on to envelopes will now take minutes. As a bonus, if you have your own return address stamp or labels, you've just cut down even more time!
  5. Seal, stamp, and send. You're done! Seal those cards, put a stamp on each, and they're ready to send!

How easy was that? With all the time you've saved, you can get a head start on wrapping those gifts (good news: Hallmark Gold Crown has adorable gift wrap, too! When I was buying the cards, gift wrap rolls were buy one, get one for $1!)

To help get you started, I'm giving away a $10 Hallmark Gold Crown gift card to select your own Holiday goods. Enter below!
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85 comments

  1. Replies
    1. Me too! And the stores are so on trend this year! They had a lot of awesome gifts.

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  2. I mail out probably 30-40 Christmas cards every year and unfortunately get back maybe half of that. It's sad that people say they don't have the time for them. And I agree, mail merge is awesome!

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    1. It's the best. I honestly have no idea what I get back, it just makes me sad when someone thinks it's really hard and time consuming. I admit the first year takes some time with putting the addresses in, but year after year since, it takes less than an hour!

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  3. I have never mailed Christmas cards but I have always wanted to! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  4. I'm a bit behind this year but I've got my list together, I think, but this post has certainly ignited a fire under my butt to get cracking!! :)

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  5. This is a great post. I love getting (and sending!) mail! I usually buy return labels from Etsy and purchase stamps through Amazon. Lately I've started experimenting with homemade cards using watercolors and ink pens - so fun! www.youngwildandtidy.com

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  6. I say, even if they take time, Christmas cards are worth it! We mail out homemade cards every year, mostly because I think it's a great excuse for papercrafting, and I usually make Mom and Dad's cards every year, too. Our cards are easy, but mom and Dad send out about 150 cards every year, all handmade. Dad is super organized with his addresses, though! And with so many people working, it gets done fairly quickly.

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  7. Yes I mailed out Christmas Cards, they are boxed cards. I love to mail cards and love to get cards in the mail.

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  8. We send out about 60 cards every year. Sometimes I do photo cards and sometimes boxed cards, depending on how I feel.

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  9. I send a few cards out each year. I make my own cards and send them.

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  10. Every year seems to be different for me! I like sending cards with photos. If I don't do that, then I send a newsletter! I haven't even thought of what we're going this year.

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  11. I love sending photo Christmas cards of my grandchildren to relatives and close friends. I love using Hallmark cards, and printing out address labels to save time, for very one else on my list.

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  12. Hallmark is great for cards and gifts!!

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  13. I love sending out cards. I usually buy a few different packs of boxed cards.

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  14. I love to send cards and usually send out photo cards!

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  15. I have boxes of christmas cards I get on clearance every year after christmas. I usually just grab a handful from each box and send out.

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  16. A combination of boxed and photo - depending on who I am sending them to!!

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  17. I prefer photo cards, but sometimes send boxed.
    Dianna

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  18. I love getting Christmas cards! I am going to send them out this year. Thanks for the reminder.

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  19. Christmas cards are the best! It depends on who I send too. I have a LOT of family in the Netherlands, so I like to do photos for them!

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  20. I love sending and receiving Christmas cards. I send out a lot and it is a lot of work but I still love it!!!

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  21. I usually just make my own cards, but I wouldn't mind sending them out :)

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  22. I do send out Christmas cards. I prefer boxed cards.

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  23. yes i mail my christmas cards cause all my family is in florida while im in ohio

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  24. most years I mail our boxed cards. I love getting photo and boxed cards from people.

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  25. Yes I mail out Christmas cards, I just use pre-made ones.

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  26. I always mail out Christmas cards annually. We typically order about 10 photo cards for close family and friends and then get 1-2 boxes to send to extended family, friends, and coworkers we keep in touch with. It takes me about 1-2 hours a year and I always kick off the holiday season watching a movie and mailing my cards

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  27. I try to mail christmas cards every year! I prefer photo cards but they are typically too expensive.

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  28. I usually mail my Christmas cards. I like photo ones but usually buy the boxed ones to send out.

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  29. I like the photo cards the most but I don't always send them.

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  30. I mail out cards. I used to make them myself, but nobody has time for that anymore. I like to mail cards with photos.

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  31. I send cards, usually photo cards. We send out about 70 every year.

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  32. I send out cards from an assorted box

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  33. So helpful! I always screw this up. I think the "fields" part was tripping me up.

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  34. Fantastic!! I love sending out cards!

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  35. We always send out cards. I love the boxed sets for most...but love to pick out individual cards for close family!

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  36. I haven't sent out a Christmas card in years. When I do I get boxed cards.

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  37. I mail out my kids towards the end of November and I like boxed cards or picking out separate cards for each person.

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  38. Great giveaway! i love the special edition singing ornaments they put out yearly. SO cute!

    Lisa

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  39. Hallmark has the bests cards!

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  40. We mail picture ones but also by special hallmark ones :)

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  41. This year I'm not sending any....but most years I send photo cards.

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  42. I don't usually mail out Christmas cards

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  43. I really prefer photo cards but I haven't gotten my act together this year yet!

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  44. I do send out Christmas cards! My Mom is a professional photographer so normally I make Picture Cards :) Thanks so much for the chance!

    babydjs_mom@yahoo.com

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  45. I prefer boxed cards please. Just did mine tonight as a matter of fact. *LOL* kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.

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  46. I don't send out cards, but am thinking of starting to do it.

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  47. I usually send out cards, but don't think I'm getting around to it this year.

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  48. I send them out! Especially to the older folks!

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  49. I do! I usually go with boxeed cards.

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  50. I haven't sent cards in a few years but I used to love sending photo cards.

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  51. I actually bought Charlie Brown Hallmark cards for this year but normally I use photo cards:)
    Lindy D

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  52. I like to use photo cards when I can, but like boxed cards too!

    kimberlybreid at hotmail dot com

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  53. I prefer handmade as these add more personalization to them.

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  54. I mean to send them out every year and end up waiting to late!!!

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  55. I like to send out photo cards :)

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  56. I do mail out Christmas cards each year. I prefer photo cards. Occasionally I use boxed cards and stick a picture in the card.

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  57. We mail out boxed Christmas cards. :)

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  58. I love mailing at cards. I love photo cards but getting my entire family together is always a challenge so boxed it is.

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  59. I do send out cards I usually just get the boxed ones
    Sarah Cool
    crazyweirdo33@yahoo.com

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  60. We haven't mailed Christmas Cards out since our kids were little. They are 27 and 17 now. Guess we should start again soon. I do kind of miss it.

    Samantha (samdaleo)
    jamesmadison1974@gmail.com

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  61. I am making my cards out tomorrow. I mail about 50 every year. I enjoy doing it.

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  62. I send out different cards each year last year I mailed cards with a cd that had Christmas music on it

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  63. Every year is different. Some years I forget to send out cards, other years we go with photo cards. This year we picked up a box of cards =).

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  64. I haven't sent out christmas cards in a long time!

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  65. I send a cards out each year some pictures some boxed cards.

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  66. I mail out cards to friends and family :)

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  67. I prefer to mail out home made cards.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  68. I don't make cards every year, but I always enjoy receiving them.

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  69. I do send out Christmas Cards and I prefer boxed cards and photo cards.
    vikki.billings@yahoo.com

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  70. I mail cards to family and friends who live farther away and we don't get to see for the holidays. I prefer boxed cards.
    Thank you!

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  71. no I don't mail out giftcards. I purchase a box of assorted cards to hand deliver to family members and friends.

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  72. I mail cards every year and I do a variety--some boxed ones and then a few photo cards.

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