Helpful Tips for Writing a Christmas Newsletter

We've been writing a Christmas newsletter every year since 1995 when we went out on the road as missionaries. We didn't do it to raise funds or to make contacts. We did it because it was the only way we could figure out how to make sure that everyone got all of their questions answered without tearing our hair out
because I really dislike writing letters and handwriting all of those Christmas cards. Yes, I was one of those who was constantly lectured on their lack of letter writing when I was growing up, even though I loved to write. This was also a way to remember all of our partners and mentors for their support of what we do.

Base Letter With Individual Personalizations

Since we got our first computer in 1998, the process has become a lot less painful and more enjoyable. I write one base letter and then personalize it for each of the recipients, adding and subtracting parts, depending upon what they want to know and what they already know, since we regularly report to our partners and mentors during the year on the trips and projects, during the year.

We include information about our family, about the weather since this is Florida, about what we've done in the past year, what our future plans are if we know and answers to specific questions. This experience has also come in handy for the letters we send to the soldiers we help to support in either Iraq or Afghanistan. I write one base letter then add and subtract depending upon the relationship we have with the soldier. In case you're wondering, before the computer, I used carbon sheets between my letters. No joke.

Use of Store Bought Cards/Handmade Cards/Artwork

I print off the copies I need of the newsletter and enclose them in hand-signed cards. Sometimes the cards are store bought, sometimes they're handmade cards or pieces of artwork instead of cards. We mail the custom made cards in varying sizes of clasp envelopes, which come in both manila and white.

To make the handmade cards I've used special blank cards, plain stationary cards or card-stock. Usually, I've used decorative handwriting with simple line drawings in decorative gel ink. The artwork was made the same way, but on a flat piece of paper. My cousin uses a card software program. A good program is the Printmaster series by Broderbund.
http://www.michaels.com/art/online/displayproductlist?categoryid=171271
http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?ref=+125875.365944&ic=96_96&tc=0&search_constraint=0&tab_value=1623_All&search_query=paper
http://www.staples.com/Paper-Pads-Office-Supplies/cat_CG10
http://www.broderbund.com/store/broder/DisplayHomePage

Christmas Hanging As Card #1

When our son was young, one of his Christmas projects for school was to make a special gift to be sent as a Christmas card. One year, we ironed crayon shavings between two pieces of wax paper, then trimming the edges we glued them between two pieces of construction paper which had been cutout to display the melted crayon like a stained-glass window. Using decorative printing and ink we wrote one of two Christmas scriptures on one side then signed our names and a Christmas greeting on the other side along with Christmas stickers. Then we finished this off with a sketched metallic ink star at the top of the "stained-glass window" on the scripture side and tied a metallic cord at both top corners, through small holes making the card into a hanging gift. You could use artist paper or nice stationary paper instead of the construction paper. This was included with the newsletter.

Christmas Hanging As Card #2

Another year, we cut out black construction paper in rectangular shapes. Then we cut out various designs within the shape to form another type of stained-glass window effect. We cut green and red tissue paper to fit the rectangle, the shape split between the two colors and glued them between two pieces of the construction paper. Then we finished it with a metallic cord attached through small holes at the top two corners so that it could be a hanging. This was included with the newsletter.

Embossed and Stenciled Artwork

In other years, I've used embossing templates or brass stencils to place a design on the top of an 8x11 piece of quality stationary paper. Then I've used another type of stencil to add another design that went with the embossing. Then I painted the background in opaque watercolors and finished off the piece with Christmas scriptures and greetings in decorative writing in colored gel inks. I also filled in the embossing and stencil
outlines with the ink. This was used instead of a card.
http://www.plaidonline.com/productSearchResults.asp?keywords=brass+stencils
http://www.plaidonline.com/Stenciling.asp
http://www.thestencilcollection.com/stencils.html

Reports on Trips or Special Projects

When our son was still in school, every trip he went on with me, was treated as a field trip and he was required to write a report on them for a grade. He was expected to make a cover with a title and his byline as the front page. Copies of these reports were made and printed on the computer, then stapled into clear report covers. They were sent out at Christmas to family members and partners. I got the clear report covers from Walmart. They're also available at Staples.
http://www.staples.com/Binders-Presentation-Office-Supplies/cat_CG2

Special Cards and Reports Done by Your Children

One year, our son got on my computer and using the card program he created his own cards. He didn't use the program the way it's intended. He just used the fonts and clip-art to create his own personalized cards and messages. He also made his own envelopes. He was 12 or 13, so the effort wasn't professional. But the recipients were delighted. I still have the ones he gave me.

We've also included our son's special hand drawn artwork in the newsletters over the years.

Miniature Magnetic or Hanging Calendars/Decorative or Specialty Note Pads

We also have included small, nostalgic magnetic calendars or small calendars with small pitons attached to them for hanging, with the newsletters. We've also been able on several occasions to include small specialty or decorative note pads. Michael's and Target have a dollar to $2.50 section (Michael's is only $1.00) where you can find fun small stuff to include with your newsletter. Another surprising place is Cracker Barrel's gift shop. These items aren't on-line. They're only available in-store. Another good place to look is Dollar Tree.

Family Trip Photos or Project Photos

Every year, we've tried to have a new family portrait, which we've also included with the newsletter along with trip or project photos. Sometimes they've been just tucked in with the letter and card. Other times they've been sent in special photo frame cards. One year, we sent them out in small albums for our son's wedding, along with the newsletter. I still use film. We take several photos of the family so that we have enough to choose from. When I get the film developed I have double prints made so that I have enough to give away. If not, I keep photo paper on hand so that I can make more copies.

Plain Paper or Decorative Paper

Most years, the newsletter has been printed on plain paper so not to detract from the item that it is being sent with. Some years, if there's some special event that's being reported, we've printed them on special decorative paper if we were able to find something suitable. Sometimes we've also used solid colors for the newsletter
just to jazz things up a bit.

I usually buy my paper supplies from Walmart because that's where I shop. But I've also gotten them from Michael's and Staples.

Part of the reason I've done newsletters this way is because I remember the year in grade school when I first received a valentine card with a small, special gift in it. Even though the gift was inexpensive, it was special to me because the sender took the extra effort to enclose something that said that they had done some thinking
and considering about their cards. I've remembered that and want to give the same message. It's important to tell others that they're special. It's also important to give others the opportunity to get in on the giving. It's a good way for them to be included.

Sources:

http://www.michaels.com/art/online/displayproductlist?categoryid=171271

http://www.michaels.com/art/online/home

http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?ref=+125875.365944&ic=96_96&tc=0&search_constraint=0&tab_value=1623_All&search_query=paper

http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_query=paper&search_constraint=0&tc=0&ic=96_0&ref=+125875.365944+125875.422879&tab_value=1623_All

http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_query=paper&search_constraint=0&tc=0&ic=96_0&ref=+125874.419283&tab_value=1623_All

http://www.staples.com/Paper-Pads-Office-Supplies/cat_CG10

http://www.staples.com/Binders-Presentation-Office-Supplies/cat_CG2

http://www.plaidonline.com/productSearchResults.asp?keywords=brass+stencils

http://www.thestencilcollection.com/stencils.html

http://www.broderbund.com/store/broder/DisplayHomePage