It’s that time of year again: the assembling of the annual family newsletter.   It’s a tradition that everybody loves and, if we’re being honest, loathes. We love seeing what our friends and relatives are up to. At the same time, trying to figure out a fun and creative way to talk about the year our own families have had is stressful.

You want to be cute but not cutesy.

You want to be funny but not hokey or crass.

You want to create something that feels more like a gift than a form letter.

It’s a lot of pressure to put on yourself and your annual greeting. Still, there are ways to accomplish all of these goals. Here are some tips that should help you out:

1. Start with the Card

The card itself says a lot about you, your family and the sentiment you want to express. There are lots of places online that allow you to print custom cards. This is a great option, especially for busy people who might not have time to stand in a store considering the dozens of different options that are available. Printing your own photos and sayings on the card itself makes your card unique (and more likely that it will be kept). If you choose to print your family’s photo on the card, this also saves paper, which will make the environmentalists in your family happy.
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