Writealetter.org

Let's start writing letters again!

  • Home
  • About
  • Go The Write Way
  • Posts
  • Resources
  • Contact

Carol’s Tips and Greeting Cards!

October 17, 2010 By Carol

October 17, 2010

“A blank canvas can be intimidating,” – a painting student once told me.   The blank sheet of stationary (with or without an imprint) can be just as scary.  However, in my opinion, nothing displays our written words better than a clean sheet of stationery.  I get scared too, so let me share with you some of Carol’s tips…

Collage with stamps, maps and portrait of an Asian beauty
Untitled © 1995 by Daniella Woolf

  • Make an outline of the points you want to cover in your letter.  Jot phrases or sentences.
  • Better yet, write a draft for clarity and greater confidence for the final letter.
  • Next check your spelling.
  • For help with keeping your script horizontal, place a pad of lined paper behind your stationery so you can  see the lines on the sheet below or have them as guidelines at both edges of your letter.
  • Be confident about your pen.  Be sure it is the one you want to write this letter with, and it is well inked.
  • The lighting is good.
  • The chair is comfortable.  Your posture is good.
  • Attempt to minimize distractions.
  • Create an atmosphere with your favorite music.
  • Stretch , breathe, write!

If I still need inspiration for an occasion,  I’ll buy a greeting card.  There are sooooo many to choose from.  Greeting cards are a multi-billion dollar business.  Some come with a printed sentiment and some are blank inside.  Don’t let the printed words rob you of the opportunity to express yourself.  Be sure the card has enough blank space for you to write at least 3 sentences!  At least!  “I’ve ruined so many cards,”  a friend bemoaned.  To avoid that situation, organize your thoughts ahead on scrape paper. Personalize you note. Write something.  People save a greeting card, especially if you wrote on it. It is your written words people want to see!

If you are are at a loss for words, look for something- a phrase or a word within the printed text to inspire you. Perhaps a “thinking of you” could easily lead into a thought about a good time you shared together.  Or,” if you where here”…what fun things would you do together. Dream!  Allow the card to become an opportunity to share a pleasant memory or create one.  Have fun!

My favorite greeting cards are blank inside. They are like a “folded note with stretch room.”  Slightly larger than a note card, they give me space to expand on a thought or two.  Just one tip for these cards, be sure the surface is “pen friendly'” especially the back which might have a heavier coat of sizing.  This might make the ink smudge or crawl.  Check how your pen agrees with the surface in a corner on the back of the card.

Greeting card illustration used with permission from Daniella Woolf  www.daniellawoolf.com

Filed Under: Greeting Cards Tagged With: blank cards, breathe, Daniella Woolf, draft, Greeting cards, horizontal script, lighting, outline, pens, posture, spelling, stretch

Subscribe

Subscribe to our mailing list for occasional newsletters and notices of new posts




Archives

  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • September 2021
  • July 2021
  • April 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • January 2020
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010

Copyright © 2025 · Carol Christmas · website by Hardenbergh Design · Log in