5 Ideas to send a heartfelt card
I believe sending a Greeting Card is going to become more important than ever.
With the development of AI It’s starting to feel like the future could start to look like a Sci-fi movie very soon, and after hearing Mo Gawdatt (former CBO of Google) speak at Holly&Co’s congregation of Inspiration last month, I was comforted to understand its only going to emphasise the importance of the human touch.
Mo talked about the future of AI for businesses and how it will be the fringes that will thrive . Either you're fully in AI or you’re fully in Human the mediocre middle will get lost.
Greeting Cards, keep Human connections alive.
Humans unlike bots, have hearts, and emotions, it’s what drives our need to be connected. Nothing beats meeting up in real life, but with busy lives, often happening in different parts of the county, even different parts of the world, it often becomes more of a challenge to do this. Tech is great and helps us instantly feel connected with others, as we can not only hear them but see them too. But sending a Greeting Card has a certain charm that tech can’t touch, the combination of the thought that goes into the card you choose, along with the words you write is hard to beat in the feel good factor for both the sender and receiver.
It really is the thought that counts and sending a Greeting Card is a very heartfelt act.
Sending a Card doesn’t need to be just something you do for a specific occasion sometimes the very best cards to receive are those that arrive out of the blue, and even a simple message to let them know you’ve remembered them on their birthday, anniversary, or when they are staring a new job, goes such a long way.
5 Ideas that add the human touch to the Greeting Cards you send
Include anecdotes, memories & milestones.
One idea to make sending a Birthday Card (or any card) a little more heartfelt could be to include something memorable and specific about that person, it’s most likely only something you associate with them or have experienced with them, maybe it’s a shared joke that known else would understand, or a sweet milestone that gets forgotten. It's these cards when found years later that trigger memories, smiles, and love, they are no longer pieces of paper but actual treasure. Keep them.
A card I made and wrote to my daughter on her first birthday
2. Get out the paper and crayons and go for a wholesome handmade card.
It’s hard to beat a handmade card and it’s even harder to throw these Cards away. Handmade cards are the ultimate for feel good factor and do not require expensive materials or huge artistic skills to create. It’s a fun activity often encouraged in childhood with glue sticks and collage, misspelt words and handmade envelopes, but why does this have to stop when we become adults? Making a card for someone is one of the most thoughtful gestures you can do.
A baked bean card I made for my husband to celebrate our 10th Wedding Anniversary
3. Get Personal.
What could be nicer than receiving a card with your name included within the design? Kids especially love this detail and it’s not usually something you can buy off the shelf. These cards may take a little more thought and planning ahead but receiving a personalised card gives you the sender a big gold star!
4. Write cards for their future years.
This is a lovely idea to start especially for Children. Perhaps it's a card you write to them when they turn one to be saved for their 18th birthday? It will probably be as big a surprise for you as it is for them when it gets opened. It could include maybe a little snippet of what’s happening around them now in their world. A little bit like a time capsule to be discovered in later years. Why not print off and pop in a few photos too?
5. Start a Card Drawer.
Keeping a Card Drawer or a Card Box (if dedicating a whole drawer to Greeting Cards seems a little much!) is a great way to buy ahead when you see the perfect card for someone.
More often than not you’ll spot a card for someone but they’ve just celebrated their birthday or it’s six months away still. The worry is you buy ahead and then misplace the card when you need it which is why having a dedicated storage for them is key!
What becomes of these cards. Are cards really keepsakes of our future?
I believe they are. Having something physical to look back on in future years is pretty special. I had some lovely comments on social media about cards which have meant something and some really wonderful ideas about how these can be kept. Storing in an album, Embroidering handwriting from a first birthday card onto a bridal ribbon to re-discovering cards inside books years later that have been used as bookmarks.
Sometimes the senders of the cards are no longer with us, and finding a handwritten message from them can bring such a comfort.
So keep writing and sending cards, and perhaps you can incorporate one of these ideas for your next one.