Do you have your holiday cards yet?

Greeting cards with a punch of sass

Times are tight, but they don't have to cramp your style

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Pep Greetings today released its holiday run of greeting cards for 2008. Both unique designs feature award-winning art in full color, with a healthy kick of sass and tasty drink recipes to add to the cheer of the season.

The cards and matching envelopes come individually packaged or in packs of five, are printed on medium card stock and are suitable for gifting.

Both designs are available for purchase via the company Web site at http://www.pepgreetings.com or via the artist community etsy.com.

"After years of brainstorming over wine and writing and sketching fun designs and sayings for our friends and families, it's good to have something fun to share with the world," said Co-founder and Head Scribbler, Jessica Strelitz.

"It's great to see a friendship that has been going strong for 12 years and counting be represented in the cards we now make. Both of our personalities, likes and dislikes come together to form Pep Greetings, a very exciting venture for both of us!" said Co-founder and Head Doodler, Doreen Mulryan Marts.

Pep also provides custom card work and soon will be adding birthday and Valentine's offerings.

About Pep Greetings: Doreen Mulryan Marts and Jessica Strelitz founded Pep Greetings in 2006. Marts is a freelance illustrator with a global client base, specializing in spot illustration and children's book artwork as well as product and toy design. Strelitz is a professional writer and editor, specializing in food and drink, business and sports writing. The pair met in 1996 as students at Carnegie Mellon University and their friendship has taken them from drinking daiquiris at Mardi Gras in New Orleans, to beers in the bars of D.C. and NYC and cocktails after ice hockey games in every tiny rink in western Pennsylvania.

Sign up for blog updates at http://feeds.feedburner.com/PepGreetings or drop us a note at pepgreetings@gmail.com for the latest on the greeting card world, updates on new Pep designs and glimpses inside of our warped minds.

Saying thank you

I just added another year to my very rich, often scandalous and never boring life and have just finished my thank you cards. This is something my parents encouraged me to do when I was young, and after 25 years, I never grow tired of putting them in the mail. If someone goes out of their way to recognize you on your birthday, your anniversary, your wedding, a holiday -- whatever prompts people that like you enough to give you a present -- you should say thank you. Whether it be via Facebook, e-mail, or a note -- expressing how you are grateful in writing makes you happier.

"We are all walking around with an amazing resource: gratitude ... It helps us express and enjoy, appreciate, be thankful and satisfied with a little effort. We all have it, and we need to use it to improve our quality of life," said Kent State University's Dr. Steven Toepfer, who conducted research on the subject and found that students who wrote letters of gratitude felt better about themselves.

"The most powerful thing in our lives is our social network. It doesn't have to be large, and you don't always need to be the life of the party, but just having one or two significant connections in your life has shown to have terrific psychological and physical benefits," Toepfer added.

So wait a few weeks and buy our soon-to-be-released thank you cards. And use them. I can guarantee it'll do you good. It's a scientific fact.

Paper cards -- they can't steal your identity (or your wallet)

Happy holidays -- among the myriad things to be afraid of this time of year (purse snatchers, people breaking into your house when you go on vacation ala "Home Alone," beer goggles at the corporate holiday party and eggnog hangovers come to mind) please add e-greeting card identity theft.

Yet another reason why paper greeting cards are superior to their e-cousins.

Glitter and the Patriot Act

If you have seen an e-mail encouraging you to write to soldiers at Walter Reed this holiday season, it appears to be a hoax:

"Millions of people are receiving an e-mail that suggests sending cards to "wounded soldier" at Walter Reed Army Hospital. Unfortunately, due to security reasons, your card will be thrown away unopened."

Generic cards don't fly anymore with the Pentagon. All mail needs to be addressed to specific soldiers. But don't let the technicality stop you from reaching out to fighting men and women this year. The Red Cross sponsors a program that facilitates getting cards to soldiers in combat zones and military hospitals in the U.S. and overseas.

Through Dec. 10, send your greeting cards -- with adequate postage and a return address -- to Holiday Mail for Heroes, P.O. Box 5456, Capitol Heights, Md. 20791-5456. But please, no glitter.

The importance of audience & art

The Bush White House's (next-to) final Hanukkah reception invitations are out ... featuring an image of the White House **Christmas** tree "being pulled by a horse-drawn cart with a Christmas wreath tacked on to the White House in the background."

The First Lady says the "intended" ones will be in the mail next week. Let's hope they remember to leave out the image of the holiday ham this time around.

Drinking with Santa

I have seen snow, found the Christmas music station and spotted my first sets of lights, so clearly we are deep in the holiday season. I actually don't know how this happened, but apparently time advances in some sort of a lunar cycle. Or so they tell me. In any case, to celebrate, Doreen and I have created a festive holiday card for you. We SHOULD have it online next week. It features a drink recipe that I have been dying to share since the stranger who shared it with me 6 years ago told me not to. It also has a deer on it. Get excited.

But if you MUST purchase cards from others, The Onion reminds you of the perils of pissing off Santa and our boys at Bald Guys invite you to celebrate Hannukah with Morty.

Save your money, buy a greeting card

Who isn't watching their wallet a little closer these days? Even my CEO was telling me (proudly) this week how he and our CFO ordered pizza -- and even walked to pick it up -- instead of doing dinners out during budget meetings.

My birthday is in two weeks and I've rented out part of my favorite bar and invited a ton of friends to celebrate with me. Presents not accepted, presence is enough. But I do hope I get some fun, creative cards. I really appreciate the time and effort someone puts into their choice, especially if it makes me think, or smile or tear up. And I save them all. (Dad, this no-gift policy does not apply to you -- I still want that wine fridge).

Of course, a couple glasses of whiskey are also welcome. I'm never one to turn down booze.

I'm glad I never moved to Akron

In a previous life, I considered it. But, quickly, on to Shaky Lady Art.

I am completely happy to tout the greeting card venture of an 80-year-old nursing home resident from the Cleveland area. Especially because all of the proceeds go to a national nonprofit project that fulfills the late-in-life wishes or dreams of nursing home residents. Both very good things.

But, as a professional writer, I cannot accept seeing this in print: "They're missing out on the real gift, which is this — she rocks!"

I'm without words...

Business cards, new cards and a kid nearly 20 years younger than me who is 20 steps ahead

We now have a holiday card and a birthday card nearly ready for the printers, with new drink and baking recipes and beautiful, original art. The business cards are printed, the raffia is ready to be tied and we're almost, almost, almost 100% open for business.

But this is where I turn into John McCain during the Oct. 15 debate -- a crotchety, old lady (man): We have to compete for ink with this Colorado kid who thinks running her own greeting card company is "just fun." Shouldn't she be watching HSM3 or something? And whose dreams come true before they go through puberty?! And those flowers are stupid.

I'm going to go settle in front of 20/20 reruns with a bottle of Metamucil now.


PS - Don't bother telling me. I am well aware that I am already going to Hell for hating on a little girl. Jealousy is an evil thing.

Good wood

Doreen sent me this link when we were meeting in N.J. the week before last. Night Owl (and I used to be one before my days of 4 a.m. training sessions and 6 a.m. workouts) has a unique line of cards made of actual wood. The letterpress card company is also a two-person shop and a dream turned real. I love those stories.

Exciting!!!

Our first batch of cards has arrived from the printer!! Wee! Things are starting to come together :) Be on the lookout for out Etsy shop to be opening up soon so you too can own your very own Pep Greetings cards!

New Find!

I love all things retro! Especially retro illustration from the 50's and 60's. Very inspiring to me. So here is an old 1957 New York state map that I found at an antique shop this past July, enjoy!

Do we look lazy?

On the contrary! Our first card is printed and we are started to show our baby around to family and friends. Doreen and I are getting together on Thursday to do packaging, drink wine and brainstorm until we either pass out or end up watching a Dawson's Creek marathon. Either way -- good times.

After NJ, I head up the East Coast to meet with friends, drink, fish, sleep on the dock, eat lobster and drink some more. And my new magazine piece comes out that week too -- hopefully it will cause a stir.

I like my martinis very dirty, with as many olives as you can fit in the glass

Card purchased for a bachelorette party this weekend in Vegas:

"Honey, I like my martinis the way I like my men ... the stiffer the better."

Also, the best/worst cupcake topper -- ever.

Hallmark, proving a wee bit more progressive than its rivals

The greeting card giant has launched a line of same-sex "union" cards, featuring "two tuxedos, overlapping hearts or intertwined flowers, with best wishes inside." The cards don't make any specific reference to weddings or marriage, which makes them appropriate for commitment ceremonies, as well as the more than 100,000 gay weddings that are expected to fill the aisles in Calif. in the next three years. It also means that Hallmark isn't 100% jumping into the pool. But it's a step, and certainly better than its largest rival -- American Greetings -- whose statement on the issue is just to "its current offerings are general enough to speak to a lot of different relationships."

Pussies.

May I someday be Phyllis Stocking

I am sure she is a lovely person, bakes the world's sweetest cakes, gives great hugs and has a throng of adoring grandchildren, and despite the fact that my own holiday/birthday card list is already long enough, thank you, I think I love Phyllis Stocking.

The Wyoming woman sends 90 to 100 cards a month and spends $1,000 a year (paid out of her Social Security check) on stamps to mail them to folks -- some of which she clearly doesn't know that well, or else this story would have never been written. But who doesn't love a card? Even from a stranger. Who wouldn't love a note from Phyllis?

She works to keep addresses current ("I figure they'll be looking for their card") and her husband reads the obits to help keep the list ... alive, and though she seems fond of media folks -- the 73-year-old says she works hard not to look "like I'm a stalker."

No one wants that.

The proof is ... on my counter

And it's good! Now, on to the hangtags and other marketing materials. Anyone want to buy a card?

How's that for marketing?

On the way

The proofs are coming from the printer this week on Card #1. We don't know whether to be scared, excited, or a little bit of both. But they're on their way, and I'm choosing not to flip out. Yet.

Green trees, less trees

Hallmark this week announced that it will unveil a line of enviro-friendly greeting cards, "for businesses to minimize environmental impact while building relationships with customers and employees." There will be nine cards with pro-environment or traditional holiday greetings, made of a mix of sugar cane pulp and recycled paper.

After having spent several months looking for an affordable green printer, I hope that this becomes more of the norm in the larger printing and publishing world for cards, to help smaller shops like us and dedicated green printers across the country. It's a small margin business, but we should be unified in our efforts to produce quality, smart products.

Weekend fun!

Went to Michael's today and picked up two magazines for inspiration and to keep up with current trends: Artful Blogging and Just Cards! They seem like fun magazines, and I'm a sucker for impulse buying. There should be a picture of me at their board meetings with the words "Target Customer" written under it ha ha.
In other PEP news, we think we have finally found a printer we like! Woo hoo! I am sending out our first card for proofs this weekend. So be on the look out for our shop to be open soon! Have a happy and safe 4th of July weekend everyone!

Blended families

As a child of several versions of blended families, I was excited to hear about the thestepcardcollection. This should make mother's and father's days a lot easier moving forward. Considering how many marriages end in divorce, I wonder why they aren't rolling it out to more regions of the U.S. Fear of conservative backlash?

And since when is Delaware a test market?

Everything's A-OK

Sunny days at American Greetings, which has renewed its licensing agreement with Sesame Workshop. Strange that they never specify the actual length of the contract, though.

Even jerks should know that we are thinking of them

I am a huge fan of this idea, proposed by Illinois comedy club owner Dave Sinker:

This could be a multimillion-dollar business for greeting card companies. The same people who gave us such made-up holidays as Sweetest Day, Grandparents Day and Secretary's Day need to expand. How about Meddling Mother-in-Law Day, Smelly Co-Worker Day, Cheating Husband and his Tramp Day, and Ex-Girlfriend with the Restraining Order Day?

Because, at the end of the day, everyone deserves to get a card in the mail. Or nailed to their doorjam.

Toast

Here's a good card for making one. Created by SF design group Chewing the Cud.

E-cards' impact rising

American Greetings' download site Kiwee.com last year had more than half a billion downloads - and its own subscription sites ( BlueMountain.com and Americangreetings.com) have nearly 4 million customers -- totalling $100 million a year. The cards-to-cell idea however, not so much.

Which is scarier -- this press release or the card?

I would be more upset if she WASN'T being made fun of, just like the boys. Hillary can take it.

Inspiration, procrastination

The surface pattern design site print & pattern is bursting with ideas. Time to get to work in the studio.

Father's Day backlash

Dads of the world, unite against stereotypes -- you snoring, lazy outdoorsmen. Not longer will you be pigeonholed to a land of cards featuring empty beer bottles, ugly recliners, bad pants and even worse parenting skills. At least one Washington group (I tread lightly here) has decried the "dumb, dangerous or disaffected" label, requesting the value of fatherhood be treated with more respect.

I bought two mushy-type cards this year. Neither of my father folks are of the mold that mainstream-card USA trends toward. Send me your "loves to take walks in the woods and drink good Scotch Dad" and "is obsessed with all earth sciences and awesome martinis Dad" cards, and you'll get me. You'll also probably understand a bit more about where I came from.

Paper Cravings

Paper Crave is a nicely put together, regularly updated site exploring the paper and gift industry. And Im a sucker for a fellow sticker lover. There is no way to explain how much I regressed to being 10 upon seeing the Mrs. Grossman's booth at the NSS two years ago. I was such a visibly freakish wreck, that one of the kind booth boys gave me a bag full of swag, upon which I immediately bolted to the bathroom and tore it open. It was awesome.

A great artist passes

Alton Kelley, along with Stanley Miller, created some of the first pieces of art that I recognized as art beyond museums, galleries and what I learned in school. He created the skull and roses poster that millions of people associated with the Grateful Dead, as well as poster art for Hendrix, The Beatles and Journey. I look forward to paying homage to him in San Francisco in a few weeks.

"I don't know, it must have been the roses
The roses or the ribbons in her long brown hair
I don't know maybe it was the roses
All I know was I could not leave her there... "

The economy hits the industry ... hard

Hallmark this week announced it consolidate its manufacturing operations, culling greeting card production operations at plants in Toronto, Arkansas and Indiana in the coming months, and outsourcing some of the work to Asia and Mexico.

It's a tough time for everyone, people. Go buy some cards.

Logo

Look up.

We are playing with our final logo so it may look different over the coming week or so.

Do you like it?

Blank hedgies

I am in love with these hedgehogs. Robot Candy's cards are "printed one at a time, using hand carved blocks." Name is cool. Technique is cool. Two girls starting a company together -- always cool.

They say it doesn't smell

I am all for saving wildlife... but do they have to call it Poo Poo Paper?

Apple scoops me. Again

Somebody call my patent lawyer. I need to get this model I have for alcoholic greeting cards into legalese.

More on how Apple continues to revolutionize how we get basically everything.

Design spin

Things that have caught our eyes in the last few weeks ...

• OhJoy! blogs from the Stationery Show in NYC this week. Next year for PEP. Next year...
• Mollaspace features pretty, delicate things and lots of weird ashtrays
• Irene Hoofs features the "beauty of things created and happy" from artists around the world at Bloesem
• Print and Pattern is a U.K. blog focused on surface pattern design. Looking at this page is like looking at the walls of Doreen's studio.
• And last, but not least, HONK IF YOU LIKE CHEESE
  

Calif., Mass. wedding guests rejoice

There is a new line of same-sex, all occasion cards -- celebrating everything from adoption to Jewish holidays and anniversaries -- which are being billed as "family friendly." The approach is a good one for this underserved market, which is mostly dominated by, well -- NOT so family-friendly tone. OpenCloset celebrates families and love "with gay regards" -- in all shapes and sizes.

Hungry?

I did some blogging over at Maine Food & Lifestyle last weekend as part of a story I am writing on classic Maine eateries. I drove more than 800 miles over five days -- some

highlights: Blueberry pie from Maine Diner; strawberry pie with cream from Helens; fresh local burger with hand cut fries from A-1; pancakes at Moody's; and a granddaddy lobster roll from Red's. Yes, that's an entire tail, plus a lot of claw meat. Those were just a fraction of things we ate along the way. Read more at Plating Up.

Freeee Coffeeee of the iced variety!!

The summer season is officially in full swing! I bought my first iced coffee the other day and took my flip flops out of the closet.
And to add to my glee Dunkin Donuts has made today FREE ICED COFFEE DAY!! From 10 am- 10 pm you can get a free 16 oz. iced coffeee. Weee! My mind is so excited for the free caffeine buzz, I must go get one now! Ooops it just came to my attention that I left the "D" out of "iced" in my illo ha ha, that's why I'm not the writer :)

The scary aisle

My brother needed some Mother's Day reinforcements the other night, so we took a quick trip to the frightening mecca that is SuperWalmart. We went to the card section -- after passing the brilliantly placed "quick grab" gifts of ice tea makers, candles, flowers and candy -- and were faced with a sight that probably only has its match on Christmas eve in a stocking stuffer aisle: men, and men with their young children, grabbing at every heavy-card stock, flowered, singing, script-emblazoned greeting card they could find an envelope for. Art to follow as soon as I get back to Virginia.

For the record, I purchased all of my cards 2 weeks ago -- when the getting was still good.

For the boys --- and girls -- in harm's way

A Nebraska woman is campaigning to get 1 million greeting cards to troops. Her initiative is called "Make Two Tell Two" -- and it doesn't matter if the cards are purchased or hand made, the idea is to get them there. Here's how to help: Send cards to Make2 Tell2, 991 Road 325, Harvard, NE 68944 or go online. The deadline is June 1.

Waiting

Have e-vites made us ruder? The NYT explores how folks deal with electronic invitations of all kinds. It takes a lot to plan a party these days. I like to send invitations at least a few weeks in advance for any gathering of more than 10 -- but the last time I did a written, hand addressed invite set, I got the worst response ever. Of course it was for a 60th birthday party. It seems the older you get, the busier you become.

Time to stock up on sin

New Hampshire alarmist Cyndi Desrosiers has apparently decided that a Hallmark card touting wine as "liquid clothes remover" (which, frankly, I think would be an excellent marketing campaign for all wine) is inciting local teens to cavort in the streets.

You know what is MUCH more likely to lead to teen sex in seacoast New Hampshire and other parts of northern New England: Allen's Coffee Brandy. Don't worry Cyndi, they check IDs pretty closely at the state liquor store. Even mine ... and oh look, wine is on sale.

Bringing culture to the cards

Robert Jeffers' card company, Lyrics Personals, is working to keep it real. Lyrics strives to reach out to the younger, urban market in a way few of the giants are.

"You have a lot of cultures that aren't represented in the greeting card industry. They have to go buy what they can find," said Jeffers, 31, who also writes and takes pictures for his line. "You're not going to see a picture of the projects on a Hallmark or American Greetings card."

Angel kisses someecards

Someecards has raised a $350,000 seed round from Google’s former "Head of Special Initiatives" and generally brilliant guy Chris Sacca. Smart move. The site is now averaging 1.5 million unique visitors a month. And it remains funny as hell.

Tasty things were meant to be licked

I missed Ben & Jerry's cone day. It stopped last night at 8 p.m. last night -- and I even saw a participating shop and walked on by... Oh, and I have an "issue" with lactose. This, however, has not stopped me in the past.

Tonight (run out right now, readers) is Baskin-Robbins' 31 Cent Scoop Night to benefit the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. So, go eat some soft serve, even if it gives you a stomach ache.

Is it Mother's Day again, already?

Nearly every married woman I know over the age of 27 is either 1) trying to get pregnant, 2) pregnant or 3) just had a baby -- so I can't possibly give them ALL cards this year, as much as I would love to. Instead, I will focus on a card for MY Mom. Lover of the Beatles, walks in the woods, sweets, premium dipping oil and overflowing Christmas stockings. Former competitive skier, bread baker and sometime model. And a great giver of cards herself.

I'll be home for Mother's Day this year. I'm working on a food piece for Maine Food and Lifestyle (my most recent piece was on vodka...) and after a few days of driving around the state eating chowder, blueberry pie, mac-n-cheese with hot dogs and lots of beans, we'll settle in for a nice meal -- and the presentation of many cards.

Some contenders:

-- First there were the music cards (I now own several) -- and now Hallmark has RECORDABLE music cards. Confused? Watch a (really lame) demo online.

-- She does finally check e-mail nearly every day ... so perhaps a little sock puppet opera.

Or .... what else? Is Mother's Day so sacred that there are no fun greeting cards out there?

Honk if you love cheese

You probably didn't know that April is Grilled Cheese month. And you probably didn't know how much Doreen and I love cheese. In fact, if we didn't already have a mascot (aka Baxter), we would probably have a mascot that was a grilled cheese sandwich with legs ... or something (this is why I'm not the designer).

So, if you love cheese as much as the ladies at PEPCards do, then let us know. Oh, and let Kraft know too. They may reward you with FREE FROMAGE. We'll probably just rejoice by sharing our favorite recipes for fondue.

Damn, this posting makes me crave Mt. Tam and a box of lactaid.

Something special, when gas costs $3.30 a gallon

As part of their efforts to stimulate the economy, greeting card makers are encouraging folks to BUY CARDS. Officials say that the industry hasn't been affected by recession issues in the past, in fact, as folks cut back, they may be more likely to send a card than a gift. And considering how expensive some cards are these days, that isn't always a cheap prospect.

Birthdays with The King

When BK, maker of my dirty-secret breakfast sandwich that I only get when things are really REALLY bad, launched its King ad campaign a few years ago, The King was everywhere. His plaster smiling head, perfect hair and shining crown. It was glorious and always made me want cheesy tots (strangely, even before there WERE cheesy tots). And now "special occasions will be even more memorable thanks to the King."

Jail Mail

I often have card ideas when I am looking to mark a somewhat unusual occasion, like "it's your birthday, and even though Im mad at you, I want to be the bigger person and let you know I remembered. Dammit."

A California lawyer's experience has led her to write a line for folks "who can't come home from prison" and established Three Squares Greetings. You know, for the meals you get every day. In jail.

Also, an audio interview with NPR.

Happy Green Beer Day!

A new sketch from PEP -- drink up!

Starting early

The Carty sisters, of Piscataway, N.J., may only be teens, but they already have several years of philanthropic business under their belts. Their greeting-card company, Tea Party and Things, supports a local nonprofit organization that supplies clothing to women and children in shelters.

In Chicago

The Chicago Trib recently profiled several local card artists and letterpress folks -- including Julie Morelli, 27 and the graphic design company she and her bf started, Letterform. Cards for foodies. Still a small, untapped market with a lot of potential.

Also mentioned, Ezra Daniels, a rare male entrant to the biz, and his Loaded Blanks concept -- where "They provide the pictures (and the blank spaces) but you provide the words."

More from Sandra Boynton

The New York Times takes a look at her "unconventional approach to business" -- from her early interest in finance, entrepreneurial activity and the arts -- to the work that allowed her to combine all three. At 21, she made a shrewed decision to demand royalties from her first professional card design gig. That job -- for Recycled Paper -- grew into her designing 4,000 different cards for the company, which saw its own revenues from $1 million to $100 million "largely because of the popularity of Boynton cards."

But what Sandra really did was become a pioneer for quirky design -- something many contemporary card designers now try to push the limits of to find their own niche within a niche. “It’s a lot easier to start in this business today than it was when Sandra Boynton got started,” Patti Stracher, manager of the National Stationery Show. “She fueled a trend in what were then called alternative greeting cards. Alternative cards helped people communicate about topics that were really hard to address or that you could poke fun at.”

And after 30 years of work in the card world -- and beyond it into music, books and other design forays -- Ms. Boynton has done what many of us are looking for -- continued to find joy in her work.

“I love what I do, I love the people I work with, I care very much about the value of the work I create, and I don’t need more money than I have. This is not revolutionary philosophy. It’s just common sense,” Boynton told the NYT.

That's more enviable than being the one of the best-selling card creators of all time by any measure.

A spin around

New finds for PEP -- design studio Girl Metro in Chicago ... she specializes in weddings and is an etiquette expert ... on the flip side of high-brow, 16 sparrows ... a shop that specializes in sarcasm and offers free downloads. Everybody loves that.

HVTD

And kudos to PEP (mostly Doreen!) for selling our first design at an art show in New York (White Plains, but it's NEAR the city). PEP hopes that everyone's LOVE holiday is full of champagne dreams and caviar kisses.

It's never too late for pancakes

Doreen's famous line from Mardi Gras 1998 was "I ate a pancake." I'll never forget it. I think I was drinking a beer at 9 a.m. at the time.

Hope you all got some tres yum free buttermilk pancakes on 2/12.

Fun facts about one of PEP's artistic genius' fave foods ...

-- IHOP served 1.1 million free pancakes on National Pancake Day last year.

-- All of the free pancakes served on National Pancake Day would create a stack more than eight miles high.

Can you imagine the amount of BUTTER and syrup that would necessitate? Delicious.

Letterpress me

It's expensive and time consuming, but it also leads to some beautiful art. Albertine Press has found success with it, and with a studio cluttered with history and smelling of chocolate, it would be hard not to get caught up in the uniqueness of what Shelley Barandes is producing each day in Somerville.

Many hippo returns

The year I was born, Sandra Boynton drew a picture of a hippo, a bird and 2 female sheep. Ten million birthday greetings later, you have a card has been redrawn five times because the printing plates keep running out. She was 21. I think I'm having a BTR moment.

Greetings from Bethlehem

Each year, hundreds of people (I assume in my area) who think their Christmas card receivers are really going to notice, travel to Bethlehem, Md., to make sure that their postmark is even more authentic. The postmaster of the town of 150 estimates she processed more than 50,000 cards during the holiday, and that people really, REALLY want to make sure that folks know the lengths they went through making that arduous trip to the Eastern Shore, to get the blessed stamp.

"Postmaster Karen Durham said she has seen her share of interesting people stream through the lobby every Christmas. "Then there are people who send cards and their people don't even notice, and they get really annoyed. So this one lady made stickers that she put on the back of her envelopes saying, 'I mailed this from Bethlehem.' "

Merry Christmas, dammit.

Eye Write 4 U

I was standing in line at a store once, and the man in front of me was laboring over what the write in an enclosure card. He was holding up the line. While the cashier looked at those of us behind "Lost for Words" sympathetically, I leaned forward and offered him two simple lines, and waited for him to finish. He did, and as I put whatever it was I was buying on the counter, he asked me how I "did that so fast." I think the jist of my response was -- "What you write shouldn't be hard if you mean it. And if you don't -- keep it short and it won't look forced."

I am amazed that people struggle writing cards -- especially thank yous and birthday cards -- but I am not surprised that some companies just run out of time (or don't plan well enough) to handle them efficiently during the holidays. Here is where the company that that businessman likely went out and helped found (or fund) after our conversation in Easton, Pa., while I likely went back to my tiny desk to update basketball stats for the next 10 hours with a cup of ramen soup at my side: Red Stamp.

Don't have time to thank Grampa for the $50 this holiday? Outsource it. Etiquette experts may think it's uncouth, but let's face it -- not everyone has the time, or patience, for sitting down and writing out 250 holiday cards every December. And if you have the money, the least you can do it make sure it is personalized.