Keeping Christmas Cards

How I Have Been Keeping Christmas Cards

A couple days ago I pulled out our Christmas decorations for the season. I shared on my Instagram stories how I have been keeping Christmas cards over the past ten years. I keep the photo cards sent to us from friends and family all over the country and turn them into little memory books with a few clicks of a hole punch and a binder ring.

So many people responded to tell me that they loved this simple idea! I have partnered with Mixbook to share about holiday cards this year, and thought it would be fun to share this Christmas Card idea here on the blog so it can be referenced, pinned for later, and easily shared with friends and family. Plus, if you haven’t yet ordered your own holiday cards, you can take a full 50% off of your card order with the code ‘LIVEFREEHOLIDAY’ now through Dec 31 (New Years Cards, anyone?!)

A Few Reasons To Keep Christmas Cards

They Are Seasonal

I am a minimalist, and naturally shy away from keeping a lot of extra things. One of the reasons that keeping Christmas cards works so well is because they are seasonal and can serve as holiday decor. The card rings can be easily stored with the other Christmas decor and just come out for the holiday season to be enjoyed over and over.

This year when I set the card rings out, my three kids immediately each took a book and sat down to see photos of their friends, cousins, and neighbors from the three different cities we have lived in over the past ten years.

They Are Sentimental

There is something extra special about holiday cards. The tradition reaches back hundreds of years, to before we had the ability to communicate instantly 24/7/365 like we do now.

I remember sitting with my own mom while she cut and taped printed family photos into a collage to have copied for our own family Christmas card before the digital age. While designing and printing our holiday cards has gotten a lot easier, the classic sentiment of sending mailed correspondence is so special.

I have used Mixbook for our family Christmas card for the years, both because the designs are beautiful and the quality is great, and even more importantly because the company is generous and kind. I have loved getting to know the real people behind the brand and appreciate the creativity with which they work. There are hundreds of beautiful card options, all customizable to fit your style, family, and message. It’s not too late to place an order, even just for special cards to send to family and close friends to remind them of your love this season.

They Capture A Moment

Another reason I love saving Christmas cards is because they are like a slice of time. I know that for our own family, choosing family photos to use on our annual card is special. I can look through the cards that come to my own mailbox and then end up in my card rings and see all of these other families frozen in time as well.

In this digital world, it is unusual to have stacks of printed photos around. There is something so fun about flipping back through years worth of relationships and watching as families grow and change, people announce big life opportunities, and our own circle of friends grows. I love that year over year our stack of received Christmas cards has grown (we accumulate friends as we move around the country!)

They Invite Reflection And Gratitude

I can’t help but feel all filled up each year as I handwrite addresses for hundreds of friends and family who we love, and who we feel supported by. (Yes, I still handwrite the addresses, although Mixbook has an incredible software that prints addresses for you, if you’d like!)

Similarly, when I look through cards from years past, I remember the relationships, experiences, and stories that have woven together with our own. Our life has had it’s ups and downs, as have our friends, and being able to see the tangible expression of our friendship and love.

While I don’t keep much, keeping Christmas cards has been somewhat of an exercise in gratitude over the past ten years, and I plan to continue the tradition. I was thrilled to hear that so many of you are excited to begin keeping Christmas cards that you receive this year and in years to come, as well!