With the holiday season around the corner, many of us like to make
our own greeting cards or party invitations. But you don't have to be
the crafty type to create your own personalized cards. All it takes is a
few materials, a little imagination and a bunch of family and friends
who could use some holiday cheer. Here are some tips for making your
own festive greetings.
BALLOON IN A BOX
Surprise your friends with a fun-filled balloon-in-a-box greeting! Buy
large square boxes from the container or postal store and line them
with sheets of tissue paper in a color to match your party theme or
holiday. Then use a Balloon Time Helium Balloon Kit to inflate the
balloons with helium. Write your message on the balloons with
permanent color markers, add festive stickers and tie them off with
curly ribbon. Place one balloon in each box, cover with tissue and tape
the box closed. Wrap the box with holiday paper, then with plain
brown paper and mail to those close to you!
DO-IT-YOURSELF BALLOON CARD
Let your family and friends make their own Balloon Cards! Inflate a
helium balloon and write your special message on the back. In a small
box, place the now deflated balloon, some pens and stickers to
decorate it with, and a ribbon to tie it off. Instruct the recipients to
blow up the balloon, embellish it with the enclosed goodies and enjoy
it as a colorful centerpiece, invitation or holiday greeting. If you're
having a party, ask the guests to bring their creative balloons along to
share with everyone.
12 DAYS OF BALLOONS
Here's a fun way to celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas with your
loved ones. For each recipient, buy 12 balloons in red, green and
white. On small pieces of red, green and white paper, write 12
suggested activities, such as "Bake Sugar Cookies," "Visit Santa,"
"Decorate the Tree" and "Make Clay Ornaments." Roll the papers up
and insert one into each balloon. Place all 12 balloons in a small gift
box, wrapped in tissue with instructions to "Blow up balloons" (you
could suggest they purchase a Balloon Time Helium Balloon Kit to
make it quick and easy.) Then direct them to Pop one balloon each of
the 12 Days before Christmas and follow the instructions inside. They'll
have something fun to do every day until Santa comes! For added fun,
enclose a tiny toy in each balloon they can enjoy when the balloon is
popped.
HOLIDAY COOKIE INVITATION
Make your invitations or holiday cards out of cookie dough for special
people on your list. Roll out sugar cookie dough and cut it into trees,
wreaths or snowmen. Poke a small hole at the top to run ribbon or
string through, bake according to package directions, and decorate
with tubes of frosting and tiny candies. Write your party or holiday
greeting on the cookie with the writing tip of a tube of frosting and
include the rest of the details on a small card. Tie the card to the
cookie with ribbon or string and hand deliver, or pad the cookie in a
box and mail.
ORNAMENTAL GREETING
Send your friends a greeting they can use as an ornament! Make
Baker's Clay (4 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 3/4 cups water) or buy clay that
hardens, roll it out and cut into circles. Poke a hole into circles to add
string later. Bake the dough or allow the clay to harden and decorate it
to look like a fancy ornament. Attach ribbon through the hole and mail
in a padded box along with a holiday greeting. For added fun, make
the ornaments looks like mini-balloons. And make yourself a few
dozen to hang on your own tree!
Penny Warner has more than 25 years of experience as an author
and party planner. She has published more than 50 books, including 16
specific to parties. Additionally, Warner writes a weekly newspaper
column on family life, penned a column for Sesame Street Parents
magazine and has appeared on several regional and national TV morning
programs. Her latest book, HOW TO HOST A KILLER PARTY, debuted in
February 2010 from NAL/Penguin.
Balloon Time is the leading brand of consumer helium balloon kits
in North America. Balloon Time kits feature a helium-filled tank, latex
or foil balloons and ribbon, and are available at national retail
chains, party goods and grocery stores nationwide.