Jewellery News and Reviews

Receiving a greeting card gives you that warm, fuzzy feeling inside, just like mom’s hot apple pie or the hug of a warm sweater fresh from the dryer. To keep in touch with someone or let them know you’re thinking of them, postcards, letters and greeting cards are the best. However, for special occasions or very special friends, there are balloon bouquets and other specialty gifts available too.

Audio greeting card choices have been around for decades, but they’re starting to catch on even more now. “We sold more cards with higher content-related costs, such as music, lights, and embellishments this year,” said American Greetings Chief Executive Zev Weiss. This past April, Hallmark released a line of audio greeting cards that combined the traditional greeting card with an embedded computer chip good for a 10-second message that can be listened to 220 times and can also be re-recorded. The cards also play a 15-second music clip following the message. “It’s an emotional value,” said Sarah Gronberg, Hallmark publicity manager. “We found the strongest reaction from parents. When they see this sort of thing exists, it (resonates) because if you can capture your kid’s voice when they’re little or when they’re not around you, that’s when you see the largest emotional connection.”

“Lenticular” cards are another option using the new technologies for greeting cards by offering a visual treat. Using holographic technology, images appear to move. LED light cards are also appearing, which adds “bling” to any card experience so that every card is a party. Card makers are looking into creating more cards using motion-sensitive LED screens, much like a cell phone or digital camera, which would allow consumers to send a paper card with a video clip!

Greeting cards have been traded since the 1400s, so they’re not likely to disappear entirely, despite burgeoning specialty gifts and e-card sales. Most people will confess that there is just nothing like a real letter or a real card in the mail. “Innovative technology is allowing greeting card publishers to be much more creative and is allowing card senders to become more involved in developing exactly the card they imagined,” says Valerie Cooper, executive vice president of the Greeting Card Association. “What hasn’t changed is the special me-to-you connection of cards and their continued popularity with Americans of all ages.”

This year, greeting cards may be the last thing on your mind as you stress over budgeting Christmas gifts for the kids. However, for as little as $13, you can show 25 of your closest family members and friends that you care about them this Christmas. A mailed sentiment can really brighten someone’s day, much more than an e-card or a phone call. The thoughtfulness and kindness of a holiday card is a timeless expression of appreciation that radiates throughout the whole holiday season.

One type of Christmas greeting card to consider is the charitable donation card. At www.cardsforcauses.com, you can choose from a huge selection of causes, including the American Red Cross, Children’s Miracle Network, Doctors Without Borders, Environmental Defense Fund, Feed the Children, American Cancer Society, American Stroke Foundation, the ASPCA, Teach For America and many more. Choose from 56 designs, with prices running around $14.95 for 18 cards, with no minimum order mandate, like most other donation sites. Choose from over 250 vivid-color designs at www.goodcausegreetings.com and donate to the National Foundation For Cancer Research, Doctors of the World, the Global Health Council, the Breast Cancer Fund, the Wildlife Trust and others. Donate as little as $14.20 for 10 cards, $71 for 50 or as much as $12,298 for 10,000.

If you don’t plan on sending a ton of greeting cards this year but you want the coolest and most innovative, then there are some Christmas season goodies. There are cards that play music at www.americangreetings.com or www.hallmark.com. There are also cards that smell nice at www.scentsational-greetings.com. If you’re into holographic or lenticular effects, then try some of the latest cards from www.3dstereo.com. Chatterbox Greetings based out of the UK also has an impressive assortment of musical and lenticular light show greetings.

Business greeting cards are incredibly popular to thank high-rolling clients, build morale among employees or build stronger relationships. Some of the classiest holiday season cards can be found this Christmas season at www.thegallerycollection.com. The more you order at these sites, the more you save. For instance, you can buy 25 premium cards for $49.74 or 500 cards for $474. Choose from snowflakes, winter scenes and other tasteful art gifts. Box sets with 35 cards and 16 designs are available for $51.50. At www.artlinegreetings.com, and you can also find artistic greetings. At Artline, you can customize your own text and signature, ordering 25 cards for $58.75 or 100 for $162. You can choose cityscape, traditional holiday cards, recycled or charity cards as well.