Everyone sends and receives holiday cards. But as DIYers, we love being a little different. Adding a small touch to showcase your style makes everything you do a little more personal. It only takes one simple tweak to stand out. And we’re here to help you find what that ‘tweak’ is. There’s a lot of holiday cards we sift through every year, let’s ensure yours stands out!

Update Your Mailing List

Before we get to the fun stuff, let’s address that elephant in the room: budget. We’ve all got one, and you kind of need one for things like holiday cards. One way to streamline your budget is to review who you are sending cards to every year. Your mailing list does not need to be long, but it should include the important people in your life. Once you determine WHO you are sending your cards to, you’ll know how much you can allot per holiday card.

What is Your Card?

In order to make your holiday cards a little more special this year, we need to determine what you are doing for the actual card. After all, this might be the only tweak you need. Ask yourself some questions:

• Do you like what you’ve done in the past?
• Is there anyone’s card from last year that stood out to you?
• Are you ordering your cards or handmaking them?

Gather some ideas together. Consider changing the paper and design, whether you include a picture and how you would include that picture.

Choose Unique Packaging

At Barnstorming Designs and Tubulations, everything we do makes our client stand out against the rest. The easiest way we do this? Unique Packaging. Nowadays, we not only use tubes but boxes, bubble envelopes, and-dare I say-soda cans. Get creative here. You’d be surprised what types of packaging you can use without breaking the bank.

Include Something Unexpected

What do you usually get with your holiday cards? The card usually. Consider adding a little fun with it. Mailing in an envelope? Throw some snow or confetti in with the card. Mailing in packaging that has some more room? Try using paper shred, candy, or maybe a holiday ornament. These little things remind your loved ones that you’re thinking of them throughout the season.

Consider a Handwritten Note

Maybe you missed the boat on ordering your holiday cards and are toying with the idea of even sending some out at all. An easy solution: a handwritten card. Picking up a unique paper and pen from the craft store to handwrite a note is as personal as you can get. Its pretty cost effective too!

Leave some of your suggestions for more personalized holidays cards. What have you done that was unique and different?