Opinions needed: Address Labels on holiday cards?

[Blissful_in_TX]

I have really bad handwriting, so this year I’m kicking around the idea of printing everybody’s address on clear address labels and sticking those on the Christmas cards instead of manually writing out the addresses. (Not to mention the time it would save for upcoming years when all I have to do is press print :) )

Or would that be tacky? I know that I wouldn’t think twice about it if I received a card like that, but would some people think it’s too impersonal?

[tyroleancutie]

I printed all the Adresses right away on the Envelopes. It just saves some time and looks nice too :)

But I add a personal message to every card, we don't just sign them so this should make it personal again. And to be honest, I never really look on the envelope when I get a card.

[Canice]

...would some people think it’s too impersonal?
Well, you can count on that. Maybe I'm showing my age, but I've found that nearly anything can cause mild offense to someone.

Can't say that I would be offended, but to be honest, a part of me does feel like I've rolled out of a data base when I get a card with a pre-printed address on it. I wouldn't care if there were a personal note inside, but if coupled with only, "blissful and DH" scribbled inside, I probably wouldn't feel moved by the spirit of the holiday season.

maybe I should finish my coffee before posting, lol.

[Goin' Coastal]

I think address labels are great. I am another with poor handwriting, so I am sure the post office appreciates labels from some of us! What I think is in very poor taste is printed signatures on the card. Why bother at all if you can't even personally sign the cards.

[Beth]

The clear ones are a little more expensive, but I think they look nicer if you are going to use labels. I dont care as much what is on the envelope as what's inside. Even a few words to personalize make a big difference -- especially if it is not someone you keep in touch with all the time.

[Peggy]

I've always hand addressed my Christmas cards, but that's mainly because my computer skills are not the best and I don't know how to make the address labels on the computer! :o However, this year, I have assigned DH to addressing the Christmas cards and he has created a data base in our computer that will print out the address labels all at once. Very quick, convenient and seems like a great way to be sure no one is missed.

I personally don't think it is impersonal at all. When I receive a computer generated address label on a greeting card, I think it came from a busy, organized person that is friendly with their computer...nothing else! :)

Peggy

[Peggy]

What I think is in very poor taste is printed signatures on the card. Why bother at all if you can't even personally sign the cards.

I can't agree more. This is one of my pet peeves! :mad:

Peggy

[blazedog]

I've never read anything indicating that printed address labels on holiday cards are in bad form. Heck, you are doing the POffice a favor especially since if you use Word, the bar code for the zip code will be printed on the address.

I think people handprint wedding invitations and formal invitations because it is part of the beauty of the invitation. Many people hire calligraphers or others with beautiful handwriting to do it.

I would assume that thank you letters for weddings etc. are to be printed but I think there are so many people with horrible manners who don't even send thank you's that it would take a real hard nose to be offended at a printed label -- isn't life too short to judge people on something as ridiculous as that and/or worry about it?

[jellyben]

I think address labels are great. I am another with poor handwriting, so I am sure the post office appreciates labels from some of us! What I think is in very poor taste is printed signatures on the card. Why bother at all if you can't even personally sign the cards.

Funny you say this. I had cards made up with a pre-printed greeting and our names. I intended to write the recipient's name and a little "Merry Christmas" but I didn't realize when I ordered them that there is nowhere on the front to add anything! I do feel cheesy, will probably add a little note to the back.

[Blissful_in_TX]

Heck, you are doing the POffice a favor especially since if you use Word, the bar code for the zip code will be printed on the address.


Ok, you lost me.....the bar code prints on the label? :confused:

[greatcook]

Not tacky at all in my opinion...sending a card at all is a nice, voluntary thing to do!

[tbb113]

It would notice it, but I don't think it would really bother me. BUT it does bother me on invitations :rolleyes: You can print envelopes in really nice calligraphy with the printer...it takes a couple of tries to get it figured out, but then its a breeze (I did both of my sons' Bar Mitzvah invitations this way.

[mbrogier]

Ok, you lost me.....the bar code prints on the label? :confused:

No, most printers will actually print on the envelopes themselves. I'm thinking that was what she was saying. (correct me if I am wrong) ;)

Word does have an address lable template wizard. It is really easy to use. That irritating little paperclip will walk you through it.

I personally think the Avery label software is better and easier to use. (It used to come in the packs of labels. If it doesn't, you can download it at Avery.com)

**I hand addressed all my wedding invitations and thank you notes. It was "expected". I'm personally so happy to get a thank you, I could care less what it looks like. Life is way too short to get all out of sorts about this stuff. :rolleyes:

[lhall]

What I think is in very poor taste is printed signatures on the card. Why bother at all if you can't even personally sign the cards.

LOL! My dad ordered these one year. He was not very happy when both I and my SIL insisted that he still had to sign his name to them!. :D

He did sign them all in addition to the printed name. I know, I got one. It said "Love, Bob" :rolleyes:

Leigh

[GingerPow]

Thank goodness I'm a fast typist, because my handwriting is terrible. No one would ever get a note from me if not for the computer.
I print out address labels for the envelopes, sometimes even directly onto the inside of the card if it's the right size for the printer, AND I handwrite a little note and sign the name. If they can't read the scrawl, at least they can look at the label on the envelope and say, "OH, it's from Ginger!" ;)

[Terri_A]

I have everything printed...the envelopes, the message, the name...and then I handwrite a note depending on the person. For example, I don't put a note in my parent's card, as I talk to my mother everyday, but in my Aunt's card, I write a note about our holiday plans and an update on my daughter. So, it just depends on how often I see you as to whether or not I handwrite you a note. If it weren't for some things being preprinted, no one would get a note!!!

[gardenmom]

I hope its not tacky, cause I do it. I have a combo photocopier printer hand me down from my husband's office, and I have no manual, and can't be bothered figuring out how to print envelopes.

So I handwrote with my artsy printing everybody's labels on typing paper, and I get those photocopied on "sticky back" clear label sticker paper that comes in 8 1/2" x 11" sheets at my local graphics/ printer place.

I put a line through the moved people, and add them to a new sheet at the end.

It is so low-tech, but it saves me time so I can write a sentence or two or more to my friends.

I wish I had more time, but I don't. And I'm noticing my pile of received cards gets a lot smaller each year, probably because of the time investment everyone has to make to send out piles of cards.

(Or maybe because they are offended by my cheapy impersonal labels, Ha!)

[ChristyMarie]

What I think is in very poor taste is printed signatures on the card. Why bother at all if you can't even personally sign the cards.

Totally agree! I love (note that this is used sarcastically) getting a card with their names all preprinted with a scrawled address written quickly on the front of the envelope. Yeah, I feel special to have received such a thoughtful card.

[BarbaraL]

I think preprinted address labels would be great! I have terrible handwriting, and I'm sure the Post Office would appreciate the labels. I also like to check the return address of cards I receive against the address I have for the person, to see if anything has changed, or they've moved. I've occasionally had a problem, because I couldn't read part of the return address (in one case, a friend had remarried, and I couldn't read the correct spelling of her new last name!).

That being said, I always make sure inside the card to handwrite "Dear Name(s)," a short greeting in addition to the sentiment printed in the card, and sign my name.