Archive for the ‘A Cause for Stationery’ Category.
6th March 2010, 11:31 am
Sending sympathy cards can be a thing of turmoil in a time of tedious dismay. But you can shine a light of hope on an otherwise unfortunate situation by showing your concern in a sympathy card. Sympathy cards have been around since the dawn of time, more or less, but have evolved just like the rest of us. While it is a difficult thing to be able to pull off a humorous sympathy card, it might be in the best favor of your recipient because it can award some smiles instead of tears.
Sympathy cards are best used in conjunction with funeral attendance and not in its replacement. Act as though the loss is your own. If in the situation of a loss, you would appreciate people’s concern and care, but would rather they not dwell too much on it for it would bring you down again.
Some people are very touchy when it comes to certain deaths or losses. I had a friend who was very emotional over a cat, and sometimes it requires some thinking out of the box. For example, in this case I made a cake shaped like a cat’s head and gave a photo album filled with pictures of the two. She was really touched. Sometime scrapbooks can help to commemorate people’s memories and help survivors to move on in a healthy and beneficial way.
You don’t want to just skim over the sympathy bit, you really want to get right inside of it. Make it hurt for just a second, show them that you feel their pain, too, and that it’s okay. Don’t gloss over the gory details, losing people is hard, it never gets easier, just worse. It’s important that during these times our friends know they can count on us, that we will be there for them no matter how ugly the times may seem, and times won’t get much uglier than the loss of a close relative like a parent, child or sibling.
In addition to the card, it is important to show how much you mean what you say in your card. Follow up with invitations to the movies or to go out shopping for a new wardrobe that will make them feel like a brand new person. Take them to a show to get them smiling again, showing them that life will go on and that they can be happy and do not need to dwell inside in their dismay. This is what good friends are for.
5th March 2010, 11:31 am
When someone loses a close friend or family member, it can be a very difficult time for the person as they grieve. This is why if you send them a sympathy cards, they are likely to feel much better in spite of the fact that they are mourning the loss of someone who was very special to them. If you send a sympathy card with a few kind words, it can make a world of difference to someone who feels very sad and alone as a result of losing someone who played an important role in their life.
If you opt to send someone out a quick e-mail when they’re grieving, this is a very tactless gesture. It will seem like you don’t really have time to express your sympathy for them, and think of their loss as an inconvenience if it means you have to spend time on them. They might think of this gesture as rude because it doesn’t show that you put any thought or time into what you sent.
On the other hand, if you send them a hand written note that shows your sympathy, they’ll realize that you do actually care about them and want them to know that they aren’t alone. They will appreciate this thoughtful deed, and will also remember it for many years to come; you will show that they are important to you, and when you’re grieving, they will also be there for you when you need them.
Sometimes, it’s better to send someone a card when they’re going through a difficult time than to visit them in person. This is because they might already be inundated with people who want to drop by and say hello. Although everyone who wants to see them has the best of intentions, they actually might need some time and space alone in order to get over a traumatic loss.
Another great thing about sending a hand written note is that the person who receives it will most likely save the letter. They might even put it in a scrapbook commemorating the life of the person who passed away. This is important because each time they see the letter, they’ll be reminded of how courteous it was of you to send it, and will appreciate your friendship and kindness even more.
4th March 2010, 11:31 am
It’s so common to feel like you are afloat when your friend loses a loved one. You don’t want to be too pushy, but also want to make sure that they know you care. Sympathy cards are a common way to express concern and care, but it’s hard to know what to write inside the card.
One thing to keep in mind when writing sympathy cards is that it is important and okay to acknowledge the death and loss. It often feels taboo in our society to talk about death openly and to acknowledge that someone is not coming back. To the person grieving, this is all they can think about. They know that their loved one is gone, so if you mention it to them they will not be surprised or hurt. Being open with your concerns and feelings can be a great comfort to someone who is grieving, as they might feel like people are on eggshells around them.
It is one thing to say that you are there for someone, but another thing to actually be there. Too often in sympathy cards a person says to let them know what they can do. Often someone who is grieving doesn’t even know what he or she want or need to do. If you are going to write the words, follow it up with action. Bring food to their house, take out their trash, do their dishes, and help them deal with some of the everyday things that they have to deal with. You might not want to feel pushy, but just show up. If they want to refuse your help, they can do that. Your grieving friend might not want to call anyone up to ask for help, but they probably would still like some assistance.
Sending cards to mark the 6 month and yearly anniversary of their passing is another great idea. Often we expect grieving to take place in a neat timeframe, but it can go on for months or years. We never really get over losing someone close to us, and although we all might know it, we might refuse to acknowledge it. Take the same steps you did before – bring over food, offer to give some help around the house. Let them talk if they want to, and understand that while it might seem strange that they are still upset after months or even years, this is normal. We get to mourn right after a funeral, but within a few months we are expected to be past the stage of crying and anger. Try not to fall into that mindset and your friend will appreciate it.
14th February 2010, 10:48 am
No matter how small the message, personalized notes are great for all occasions, even if there is no occasion.
It is important to personalize notes so that there is no confusion as to who the note is for. While it may seem like a neat idea to make a generic note and pass it around, and have everyone continue to pass it around, so that it may reach the whole entire world, it would probably get dumb and annoying. Everyone would hate whoever started it. So people do not do things like that. Instead, they make notes for each other with the other person’s name spelled out in glitter. This way, everyone knows how special they are because they got their very own note.
Personalized notes can make a birthday morning special and unique. If someone leaves a note on the coffee pot for his or her mother to find when she awakens on her special day, she will think of her child warmly all day long (in addition to her own thoughts), and may not make him or her do the dishes at dinner time. This could be the highlight of someone’s week.
Rewind to kindergarten real quick where the mom is adding personalized notes into the kids’ bagged lunches. The entire lunch itself becomes a metaphor for a personalized note. From the addressee’s name on the front in a black Sharpie’s marker, to the written sweet love scribbled on half of a paper towel, one half of a bologna and mustard sandwich, to four carrot sticks a quarter for milk and some cookies, which obviously translate into some character, discipline, trust and a little bit of fun. Love, Mom.
They would get her back years later with secret mirror and window messages left in the fog I <3 Mom in the car. Had they not written who it was for, she would have had no way of knowing who it was from. This kept her, and many other mothers like her, from losing her mind. So not only is it important to say who the note is for, but it is also equally important to also leave some kind of indication as to who it is from. That is the best way to deliver a message.
With Valentines Day so near, an anonymous note containing a valentine poem hits the heart of the receiver. Secret admirers have been doing this for years.
13th February 2010, 10:48 am
Many people opt to send e-mails or make phone calls to communicate with one another; however, in some cases, it’s still best to write a hand written note on some personalized stationery in order to convey a message to someone. When you send someone a letter on some personalized stationery, it will mean much more to the recipient than if you simply type out a few sentences when you have spare time at work. It will show that you really put some thought into what you wrote them, and that you took the time to pick out some excellent stationery for the occasion.
It’s a good idea to always have some stationery on hand in case something comes up that calls for you to write a note. You’ll be more inclined to write hand written letters if you know that it will only entail opening a drawer to take out stationery that is perfect for the occasion. It’s particularly helpful to have some stationery on hand if you happen to work in an office and you know that your colleagues may have some events coming up that require for you to use your stationery.
If someone you know has a birthday or anniversary coming up, you should definitely write them a letter. It will make them feel much more special to open a letter that’s been sent in the mail than if they simply get an e-mail from you that may be soon disregarded. They might not even notice if you e-mail them if their inbox if flooded with other important messages.
You also might want to send a hand written letter to someone who has achieved a notable accomplishment. For instance, if someone in your family has graduated from high school or college, you should send them a letter that lets them know how proud you are of their hard work. You also might want to send a note out to a friend whom has gotten a new job or has been promoted to a new position.
When someone does a kind gesture towards you, you should express your gratitude with a thank you note. The note doesn’t have to be extravagant or necessarily long, but you should write a few short sentences that let the person know that you truly appreciate the fact that they took some time out of their busy day just to make yours a little bit easier. You should also send out thank you notes to anyone who has happened to buy you a gift.
12th February 2010, 10:48 am
If you want to make a good impression on your friends or business colleagues, you should send them personalized notes whenever an appropriate occasion comes up. Sending personalized notes rather than writing an e-mail or making a phone cal is much more thoughtful. If you send these kinds of notes, you will seem like a caring and kind person; everyone who receives them is sure to appreciate the fact that you took time out of your schedule to write them a note.
It’s a good idea to make sure you always have some personalized notes in your home or office in case an unexpected event comes up that calls for you to write a note. You should also have these notes on hand because you won’t want to get stuck sending out stationery you find last minute at a convenience store just because you didn’t have enough time to properly pick out some that reflects your style.
Shopping for this kind of stationery can be fun. You can opt to go to a nice stationery store if there happens to be one in your vicinity. You could even take a friend along with you if you think you might need help picking out the right kind of stationery for a certain event. The friend can advise you on what styles might be appropriate for either a business or personal occasion.
Or, you can opt to do the majority of your shopping for stationery needs online. There are many different online stores that offer a wide variety of stationery. You’ll be impressed when you see the selection that’s available; you can buy thank you cards, sympathy cards and even monogrammed stationery by shopping on the Internet from the comfort of your home.
Another great thing about purchasing your personalized stationery online is that you might be able to find some deals or discounts that are not available to customers in retail stores. You also may be able to find some online stores that offer free shipping if you spend a certain amount of money, and can even have your stationery shipped in less than 24 hours if you know you’re going to need it right away.
11th February 2010, 10:51 am
Too many times a day goes by and is only remembered after its passing for it’s significance. There are tons of ways to mark special occasions – through a phone call, personalized notes or a small gift of remembrance. Besides birthdays, there are so many occasions to remember and mark. Having a system in place is the best way to make sure that an important day doesn’t get forgotten.
One of the easiest ways to make sure you send out the proper birthday cards and personalized notes is to make sure that you have a proper calendar with all of the important dates marked down. Take the time to make sure you have everything marked down. This goes beyond just birthdays and anniversaries. When someone important dies, make sure you also include that on your calendar. While many people remember when their loved one dies, it can often go unmarked by the world. Sending a short note of condolence and remembrance is a great way to give a friend or relative extra support in a difficult time.
Another important event that can be marked is anniversaries of weddings. Personalized notes sent on anniversaries are a touching way to let the couple know that you have been thinking of their first year together and wish them further happiness and success as a pair. When a couple gets married, make a note on your calendar of this as soon as you can. Make sure you have one master calendar, so that you don’t have to rewrite these events every year you get a new calendar.
Finally, there are many events that crop up all the time, and they as well deserve some recognition. Perhaps you have a friend that beat cancer in September. A yearly card around that time will be appreciated. It shows that this event had an impact on you and you are wishing for their continued success and health. Knowing the days and events that have meaning to a person is a way to show your love and affection.
There are many online tools that can help you coordinate all of these different events and anniversaries on one convenient calendar. You can even set up alerts that will remind you of what event is coming up so that you can get a card out in the mail on time or a letter posted so that it arrives for the event or anniversary. Your thoughtfulness will be remembered.
10th February 2010, 10:48 am
One thing that most teachers will agree on is the plethora of gifts they receive from their students. No teacher is ever annoyed by receiving a thoughtful gift from a family or parent, but around the holidays and the end of the year, it can become a little overwhelming. One gift that is sure to be used and appreciated is the gift of stationary or cards that teachers can use for personalized notes.
Every teacher needs to send personalized notes from time to time. From a quick note of appreciation to a parent that helps out in the classroom to a reminder to a student that they need to be working harder on their homework, letters are a common way for teachers to communicate with their students and families. Even in this day of email and cell phones, cards and letters are still in common use by teachers. Giving a gift of monogrammed note cards or stationary with the teacher’s name on top is a way to show your appreciation for their hard work while ensuring that you give them something they can actually use.
If you are a teacher and don’t have cards or stationary that you use for your personalized notes, it might be a good investment. While a lot of communication can be done through email, a note home to a misbehaving student or a thank you to a classroom helper is a simple and clear way to get a message across. Working with families and students requires a lot of communication between all sides to make sure that the school and the household meet all of the needs of the learner. Using the right stationary or cards isn’t going to make this any easier, but it will help make the tasks a little more pleasant.
Next time you are considering a gift for the teacher in your life, avoid the mugs and food. Your gift might be appreciated, but not in the way you intended. Everyone likes to be recognized for his or her work, but it would be nice to do it in a way that actually gets put to use. Many teachers have a part of their storage dedicated to the numerous teacher gifts given to them over the year. Make sure that your gift doesn’t end up in this pile by giving a gift that can be put to use every day, inside the classroom and out.
9th February 2010, 10:48 am
It used to be that letters were the only way to communicate, and were therefore gender-neutral. The letters of famous men fill books, often with romantic sentiment dousing a large part of the texts. These days, since email, phone calls and text messages can fill the communication needs of most people, letter writing is beginning to seem passé. The idea of a man writing on personalized stationary not only seems out of date, but also perhaps a bit dainty.
Letter writing is important for everyone – it’s a way to show someone that you really care. Whether you are a man or a woman, writing a note on personalized stationary might seem anachronistic, but in the best possible way. We all need to send letters from time to time, and sending them on note cards with a personal mark is a great way to do that.
Whether it is for thank you notes for gifts, a card of appreciation for an interview, or a letter to an elderly relative in another part of the country, personalized stationary is a necessary tool for any modern man. Like all of the great men that came before, letters can help mark yourself on the world and keep a bit of history. This is especially true when it comes to the history of your romance. No one prints out email love letters and tucks them away, but a card or note containing your deepest thoughts and purest adoration is sure to be kept for a lifetime.
So it comes down to the matter of finding the right kind of paper for a man. Too often, the note cards on the market might seem too girly. Flowers and fancy flourishes abound, which is way too much for a man who takes himself seriously. There are options out there for a man who wants to have a personal set of note cards or paper on which he can write notes.
Look for paper and ink in masculine colors. White and blue are safe colors to choose, as well as grays and blacks. These are readily available from many different paper stores online. Often, making a note card more masculine just means choosing the right font. Nothing is going to look masculine on pink paper, but if you have some neutral colors, then choose a bolder font with fewer flourishes. A san serif font can also be a masculine and modern choice.
8th February 2010, 10:48 am
When Melissa’s daughter turned 10, she bought her a very important gift. Now that her daughter could write, she planned on teaching her good manners by helping her write thank you notes on her personalized stationary. She allowed her daughter to pick out some great papers with her name on the top and told her daughter it was time to start sending out thank you notes.
Melissa’s daughter didn’t jump at the opportunity, so Melissa had her start writing just regular letters. In this age of emails and texts, she wanted to make sure her daughter would know the value of the written word and a personalized letter. Once a week, Melissa would break out the personalized stationary and sit down with her daughter. At the same time, she would also bring out note cards and send of quick thank yous to friends and family.
This weekly activity soon wore down the daughter – after a few months of sending out her notes on personalized stationary, she started to get some letters back from friends and family that lived in other areas. The daughter was shocked! She never expected that a piece of mail could be any better than the emails she got regularly, but the letters were better. She felt like a little adult, sitting down at her writing desk to crank out a few letters.
Come Christmas time, it was a breeze for Melissa to get her daughter to send out thank you notes. In the years that passed, Melissa didn’t even need to remind her daughter to send out the notes – they were done within days of getting presents or celebrating a holiday. Melissa herself also getting in the habit – the act of sending out cards became routine for her, and she found herself also sitting down with her daughter to send out cards of her own.
Melissa says that the simple routine of sending out thank you notes in fact impacted her everyday life. The act of thanking people and acknowledging their help became a big part of her life, as she found it not only made the other person feel appreciated, but made her feel good as well. She says that she suspects her daughter feels the same way. Now in her teens, it’s hard to get the daughter to admit to as much, as she is often sulky and moody. But, Melissa says, she’s still sending out cards, several years later.