Month: August 2011

My Holiday Cards Tradition

As a child growing up in the 70’s I always associated the exchange of holiday cards with Christmas. I can remember the excitement of Christmas preparation and with that the picking and choosing of our family’s holiday card. My Mom would look forward to the holiday for weeks in advance. Carefully choosing our family card, my Mother would then meticulously develop the card list, and beautifully personalize everything with all of our names, even the family dog.

Although it is indeed better to give than to receive, we all excitedly anticipated receiving our cards in the mail. It was a race to see who got the first look at the incoming cards. Some personalized holiday cards were signed with just names, while others had paragraphs of stories. Friends we talked to every day and cousins we hadn’t seen for years. All incoming cards were displayed for all to see hanging from the archway into our living room. Every year we counted them all to see how many we received. When family and friends would visit during the season you could see them looking for their card on display.

Now that I am all grown up with children of my own, I continue the tradition started by my mother. Every year we choose our family holiday card and mail it to family and friends. My kids enjoy reading the cards and displaying them in our living room just as much as I did.

More Customer Reviews of Gallery Collection Greeting Cards – Wow!

Personalized Christmas cards are our business.  We take great pride in providing a quality product to our customers. From the time an order is taken and each step it goes through in between, we take great care to ensure that the product that we ship out is of the highest quality.  Every person that handles an order truly cares about the end result.

We also offer All Occasion Greeting cards. No matter what type of card you are looking to purchase, we will do our best to make sure that our customers get a great quality product in the timeliest manner possible.

Once the order leaves our facility, we don’t always get to hear or see our customers’ reaction. Getting to see reviews such as the ones shown below lets us know that the time and effort that we put forth is well worth it.

Tamikaallen200
5 out of 5 stars
Posted Jul-06-2011

“My experience with the Gallery collection has been exceptional. My order was shipped very quickly and the item itself is of very good quality. There were no errors on my selection and I will be ordering from them again. Thank you so much for providing exceptional service. ”

Gallery Collection – Thank you! We are happy that you had a great experience. We look forward to serving you again!
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krschreiner
5 out of 5 stars
Posted Jul-05-2011

“It was easy to order online. We received the cards in great condition within 4 business days. Just as we ordered. Excellent turn around time even with a holiday weekend inbetween. The cards are of very nice card stock and very good quality. This nice of a quality card can make a wonderful impression.”

Gallery Collection – Thank you for your feedback. We are constantly working on improving our website and are glad to hear that you found it easy to order. We work very hard to ensure that our customers get our high quality product in a timely fashion.
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lgardner
5 out of 5 stars
Posted Jun-28-2011

“This is the sixth year we have purchased our Christmas cards from the Gallery Collection. The cards are beautiful. The paper stock is first class. The service and delivery are excellent. Of all the catalogs we receive, the Gallery Collection offers the best value for our money.”

Gallery Collection – Thank you for being a loyal customer and for putting your trust in us for six years. We appreciate your comments and are glad that we have been able to provide you with the quality and service that you have come to expect. We hope to serve you for many years to come!

Sending Business Christmas Cards Can Be Contagious

While family and friends were visiting with me over the holidays, my cousin Jean noticed the beautiful Christmas card that I had received from The Gallery Collection which, along with the many holiday cards I received, was displayed on my credenza. When I told her the card was from my employer, she commented on what she felt was a very thoughtful gesture, that an employer would take the time to remember employees and associates, and being the owner of a small company herself, she decided she would like to send business Christmas cards to her associates and employees in the future.

Jean was impressed with the quality and design of the card I received and wanted to know how she could view an assortment of company holiday cards for her associates.  I suggested she log on to The Gallery Collection to view the wide assortment of designs and styles available.

After having thoroughly enjoyed browsing through the large selection of Christmas cards offered, Jean chose Design 585CS – City Snowfall. Chain reaction?  Yes, indeed. She now has her colleagues complementing her on the beautiful card and would like to know how they could order similar cards. Season’s Greetings!

You’ve Got Birthday Cards

Another year has gone by and your birthday is approaching. It could be a milestone year or just another year. You might be thinking that no one will remember you and then the U.S. Postal service makes a delivery. To your surprise your chiropractor; the chiropractor that was referred to you by your neighbor, sent you a birthday card.  These small surprises in life can bring a lot of joy. How thoughtful it is to get birthday cards from someone other than your mother.

Personalized greeting cards are a wonderful gift to give. It might be a small token from a business owner, but it certainly leaves a lasting impression to their clients. It could be your dentist, accountant, lawyer or financial advisor. It is a way of staying in touch with clients who will remember you when they are in need of a special service. To operate a small business isn’t easy these days; to stand out amongst the competition is an important part of your success. Sending personalized birthday cards adds a special touch that is appreciated by all.

Corporations who remember their employee’s birthdays by sending a card also let their workers know they are more than a number. Everyone has a birthday to be celebrated and being remembered with a birthday card is a comforting feeling. I know when I receive one I display it on my desk for a while. Lots of times there are notes from my coworkers, wishing me well plus little remarks that brighten up my day.

Remembering people and letting them know they are thought of in a positive way will bring a smile to their face. It is a good tradition to send birthday cards, as it is usually better to send then to receive!

Creating Custom Christmas Cards – Holiday Toy Shoppe

The holiday cards that we offer at the Gallery Collection are more than just cards…they are works of art. Each piece of art goes through a creative process from design to actual custom Christmas cards. These cards are some of the finest, high quality cards available. Below highlights the creative process for the very popular Design 157CW, Holiday Toy Shoppe Christmas Card. We’ll show you how this card went from an original design to a beautiful masterpiece.

The original sketch for Holiday Toy Shoppe is a black and white line drawing of what will eventually become a playful, vibrant, colorful card that brings back fond childhood memories of the holiday toy store.

Design 157CW - Holiday Toy Shoppe Christmas Card Original Sketch

The artwork appears framed here, showcasing what the final design may look like after production, encased in a lovely border with a joyful holiday sentiment.

Design 157CW - Holiday Toy Shoppe Christmas Card Stage 2

Design 157CW - Holiday Toy Shoppe Christmas Card Final

And here is Design 157CW, Holiday Toy Shoppe Christmas Card in the complete and final form. The black and white line sketch has made it’s transformation into a colorful winter wonderland, complete with border and holiday wishes. The Creative Team at the Gallery Collection is responsible for this holiday magic, making sure that all of the artwork we use for our personalized Christmas cards is made to be beautiful enough to hang on your wall.

How Unique Are Your Holiday Greeting Cards?

Every year, starting around Thanksgiving, our mailbox starts filling up with lots and lots of holiday greeting cards. Several of our friends also send ecards but somehow it’s just not the same as getting one in person. It’s always fun to open them and see what delightful design our friends and family have picked out this year. I like to guess who sent it by looking at the card itself, so I try to not look at the return address. Sometimes it’s easy to tell who sent it – a festive Christmas tree is the customary choice of one of our favorite neighbors. My husband’s business partner often sends a very distinctive winter scene while his secretary almost always chooses a beautiful ornament. I’m constantly amazed at the variety we receive. There are casual, light-hearted, fun cards as well as beautiful, time-honored traditional designs. Of course, there are always surprises when someone picks out something totally out of the ordinary.

My sister’s card is usually the most colorful and glitzy of all and she has her six kids’ names, along with their ages, printed inside. Over the past few years, we’ve received more and more imprinted holiday cards and we’ve decided we’re going to be smart this year and have ours imprinted too. Now, if I could just decide on which design! We actually have it narrowed down to five or six – we’re getting there!

The Gallery Collection Now Features QR Codes For Your Mobile Devices

It seems like smart phones and various other mobile devices are taking over the world. Everyone seems to have one. These phones and devices are for so much more than making simple calls. Between texting, facebook, photos, games and apps, there is nothing you can’t do when you are on the go, or just sitting at home on your couch! And now, this technology is making it easier than ever to get the greeting cards you want, directly from The Gallery Collection. How so, you might ask. The Gallery Collection is proud to introduce QR Codes for your mobile devices.

QR Codes are like bar codes for your smart phones and other devices. You simply install a QR Code reader app, which are generally available on the website of your service provider. Then you simply take a photo of the QR code wherever you find it, be it in a catalog, a mailing, or even a poster. Once you’ve scanned the code this will take you directly to the destination set by the QR Code.

The Gallery Collection QR Code

 

The Gallery Collection is proud to be on the forefront of this technology. When you receive a mailing that has this code, just scan away and you’ll be linked up with the most beautiful greeting cards around. Just imagine, personalized Christmas cards, business birthday cards, thank you cards and much more, all available at the click of your device. Isn’t technology grand!

How To Write Calligraphy – A Lost Art

There is something romantic about taking the time to write out a card in calligraphy. The defining characteristics of calligraphy are beautiful handwriting, elegant penmanship, style of handwriting and beauty of a line. But it is more than just a combination of all those things. It is an art and skill that involves touch, pressure, hand movement and flow. Both beauty and grace can become a mastery of work to be proud of. It is also an excellent way to add a special touch to your business greeting cards. With a little practice you can form delicate lettering for an elegant touch.

With a few tools, practice and patience you can create your very own work of art. Open up your creative juices and follow these easy steps. Think of all the cards, invitations and heartfelt letters you can compose. Before you get started you will need the following items.

Felt tip pen/calligraphy pen– convenient, disposable, does not need to be dipped in ink. The tip is broad and flat instead of round.
Fountain pen – refillable, long lasting, dipped in ink. The nib grade fits into slot and holds the ink.
Steel point pen – inked with dropper, creates fine detail, tip needs replacement.
Old Fashioned Quill pen – cut off end to an angle, dipped in ink.

You will notice the calligraphy pen/felt tip pen is slanted at an angle. This allows for narrow or thick lines. As we flatten the angle, the lines get wider. This is the basis of Calligraphy. Choose what you are comfortable with and try different ones as you feel more confident. Use different ink colors to fit what you are working on. These items are available at your local craft/art store.

You will also need fair quality paper. To practice any paper will do. As you progress you might want to go for a thicker quality of paper. Try even using a lined or graph paper to make use of a straight line and height. Good lighting is also important. Have a desk lamp on to make sure you are well lighted. If available, a slanted desk seems to work best. If not, any flat surface will do. Now you are ready to begin.

Calligraphy for Business Greeting Cards

Get used to the pen you are working with. Practice different angles without touching the pen to paper yet. Hold the pen at a 45 degree angle. Use your arm not your fingers to apply pressure. Keep the pen at a constant angle. Lead the tip making sure not to press too hard into the paper. Point the tip in the same direction unchanging the angle diagonally away from you. Start with the letters A-D paying attention to height and spacing. Practice lower and upper case. Feel the flow and angle of the pen lightly touching the paper. Sharpen straight up and down strokes, vertical and horizontally. With a bit of repetition anyone can add that special touch to a simple piece of paper. Just give it a try and find the artist in you.  Remember all it takes is practice and patience.

Welcome Cards Help Ease First Day Jitters

I work for a greeting card company. We sell all types of cards, but our main seller is Christmas cards. Because of this, in addition to our regular employees, we also hire seasonal workers. They are only with us for a few months out of the year, but are an extremely vital part of our team. Without them we wouldn’t be able to get the job done. Using welcome cards is a big part of how we make our seasonal employees feel like part of our family.

Remembering my first day on the job, and how I had the “new kid on the block” jitters, I always try to welcome our new employees. I just give a smile, a quick hello and a welcome aboard. There is nothing like a smile and a friendly word to ease the nerves. It was one of the first things I looked for when I started this job nine years ago. A friendly smile and a kind word can go a very long way in making a stressful situation just a little less so. It certainly made it easier for me.

What also helped make my first day jitters disappear was the lovely welcome card that greeted me upon my arrival. I knew I was working for a company that valued me right away. The signatures from all the people that worked in my department also put me at ease, because I knew they had taken time out of their busy schedules to welcome me.

Business welcome cards are also often sent by companies to new customers as a way to show them that their patronage is appreciated. So why not send them to new employees? So whether it is a seasonal worker or not, a new client or a new customer, any little (or big) show of appreciation and support is welcome.