Page 2 | If someone sent you a (nicely) handmade Christmas card, would you think…

FestiveFruitloop · 2025-12-20T14:27:55+00:00

YABU: that they couldn’t afford to buy ‘real’ cards? YANBU: that they just liked making Christmas cards? Assuming the card has clearly been made by an adult and not a child. Context to follow, just curious. (Regular member, not a journo. 😄)

Slippylittlesuckers · 22/12/2025 06:40

I paint all my cards in watercolour and they are all individual. The paint costs a fortune, as does the paper and they take probably 30 minutes to an hour to do each one.
I like to do it as it shows you’ve put the thought in, it’s definitely not a cheap option. A lot of friends have said they are framing them to have on their wall. If anyone openly said they didn’t like it, I wouldn’t send them one again. PS. I’m not ‘time rich’, I paint from 9 pm to about 11 pm every night.

NotForTheMoneyandNotForTheApplause · 22/12/2025 06:25

Macaroni46 · 20/12/2025 16:24

I’d think they had too much time on their hands. Bah humbug!

Do you think that about all hobbies and pastimes or just card making?

PodMom · 22/12/2025 05:58

I make my own Xmas cards. I enjoy painting and paint little watercolour Xmas cards. My friends seem to really like them. I enjoy making them.

Rippleok · 22/12/2025 05:44

imaginationhasfailedme · 21/12/2025 23:36

Do you know what's weird? When I receive handmade cards my initial reaction is a sneer, like a scoff (internally!). However, I've recently realised that I'm jealous of them. The creativity, the thoughtfulness, the time. So there's a possibility your friend is similar?
I do actually really love a handmade card or gift, just my initial gut reaction is to eye roll, as if they have too much time, think they're fancy pants but it's my lack of creative juices that pisses me off really!
And then I sit, briefly, in a funk of feeling bad because mine are all shop bought boring ones.

Can’t get my head around your first reaction being to sneer / scoff tbh

imaginationhasfailedme · 21/12/2025 23:36

Do you know what's weird? When I receive handmade cards my initial reaction is a sneer, like a scoff (internally!). However, I've recently realised that I'm jealous of them. The creativity, the thoughtfulness, the time. So there's a possibility your friend is similar?
I do actually really love a handmade card or gift, just my initial gut reaction is to eye roll, as if they have too much time, think they're fancy pants but it's my lack of creative juices that pisses me off really!
And then I sit, briefly, in a funk of feeling bad because mine are all shop bought boring ones.

Laurmolonlabe · 21/12/2025 23:23

making cards is not cost saving , but can be more eco if reuse of materials is involved- why would anyone have a problem with it?

SophiaSW1 · 21/12/2025 23:01

I don’t give it any thought

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 21/12/2025 22:58

I have several cards that were homemade by friends that I have framed and put on the wall. I love a homemade card.

Dunnowhatimat · 21/12/2025 22:30

I personally would love to get one. The cards I get are lovely, but are generic and we only have so much room so eventually go in the bin. I've had a few handmade ones - some beautiful and some not so much lol but absolutely will not get rid of them, they're special

echt · 21/12/2025 21:48

I'm not sure what I'd think of handmade Christmas card as I've never received one. However all the ones I send are made by me.

Every year I cut up the nicest ones I've received to make bookmarks. I turn them over and see the handwriting of friends and relations and it's a heartwarming link to them.

Flowersforyourchocolateprettyplease · 21/12/2025 21:33

FestiveFruitloop · 21/12/2025 20:41

No, I don’t ask friends to save their own crackers, I agree that would be a pain. I meant that at the dinner I went to I asked everyone to pass me their cracker paper once they’d pulled them, as it was so nice.

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Oh, wrong end of the stick. I was already stressed out for your friend 😂.

angela1952 · 21/12/2025 21:23

FestiveFruitloop · 21/12/2025 19:09

What are they like? Just curious really.

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Usually just a part of the picture from one old card stuck onto new card

Sbmpp · 21/12/2025 21:22

I have a beautiful one my gf made about 40 yrs ago. It was very simple. I framed it and keep it up all year round.

Theroadt · 21/12/2025 21:19

How horrid to even think the question! If someone goes to the trouble to make something for me I am grateful and touched and appreciative of the effort.

Sartre · 21/12/2025 20:59

It costs more to make them. I made them with DC for close relatives and teachers this year. Had to buy new paints that were autumnal colours for the trees, more white card and some special sharpies for the nice letters on the front. Ours weren’t elaborate, I’m sure some people will buy more things to make them plus not everyone has the paintbrushes and glue stick so that too.

You can buy a pack of cards from the shop for a couple of quid in contrast.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 21/12/2025 20:56

CatsnCoffee · 21/12/2025 19:36

I and some others I know are quite germphobic and wouldn’t like to imagine someone’s greasy, post-dinner fingers handling the materials used for our cards! I would keep those details to yourself!

@CurlewKate, it took a few hours, but your prediction proved right.

Original poster

FestiveFruitloop · 21/12/2025 20:44

CatsnCoffee · 21/12/2025 19:36

I and some others I know are quite germphobic and wouldn’t like to imagine someone’s greasy, post-dinner fingers handling the materials used for our cards! I would keep those details to yourself!

Why would their fingers be greasy though, assuming dinner wasn’t KFC? Not meaning to be snidey there, just don’t get why anyone’s fingers would be greasy after eating a knife-and-fork meal…

OP posts:

Original poster

FestiveFruitloop · 21/12/2025 20:41

Flowersforyourchocolateprettyplease · 21/12/2025 20:16

I'd imagine this was more about having to save them for you.
There's enough going on around Christmas to be thinking about yet another thing.
Seems a little request but I'd then be overthinking if my crackers are good enough quality to keep, not to forget to bin them, having somewhere to store them till I meet see you etc.

I realise this isn't normal thinking but he could be similar.

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No, I don’t ask friends to save their own crackers, I agree that would be a pain. I meant that at the dinner I went to I asked everyone to pass me their cracker paper once they’d pulled them, as it was so nice.

OP posts:

Mardyybum · 21/12/2025 20:20

One of my super artsy friends sent us a (very lovely) shop bought card and I was a bit disappointed to have not received a homemade one - she’s a working mum to 2 little ones so I will let her off this time 😂

Flowersforyourchocolateprettyplease · 21/12/2025 20:16

FestiveFruitloop · 20/12/2025 16:09

It was a thoughtful look and a sort of 'Oh, right...' followed by something like 'Well, waste not, want not...' It's come up twice as DH was joking about the cracker paper on another occasion and friend seemed to look a bit thoughtful again and didn't seem to have a ready reply to trot out, which is very unlike him. I have a feeling it was about the cracker paper in some way, as in 'blimey, times must be hard' maybe, but I could be wrong. Not trying to overthink things here (although I will say, the friend in question has a tendency to), it just made me mildly curious if he thought I was down on my uppers or something. Not that it's going to stop me making cards and using whatever works well to make them. I might stop talking about the provenance of the materials, though. 😄

I once read an agony column letter in which, if it was real, someone who took a great deal of pleasure and care in making cards, was sent a cheque from a friend, with their Christmas card, for a small amount of money 'so you can buy some cards to send next year'. 😧I've always hoped someone had made that up as it's so depressing!

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I'd imagine this was more about having to save them for you.
There's enough going on around Christmas to be thinking about yet another thing.
Seems a little request but I'd then be overthinking if my crackers are good enough quality to keep, not to forget to bin them, having somewhere to store them till I meet see you etc.

I realise this isn't normal thinking but he could be similar.

PluckyChancer · 21/12/2025 20:08

I made a few handmade cards this year but only sent them to a few people who I know will appreciate the creativity and effort that went into it. 😊

PollyBell · 21/12/2025 20:00

I would think it is a nice Christmas card it feels only on here people have to make some back story to every little thing in life

BeddieT · 21/12/2025 19:47

I know an older lady (90 this year) who just loves to make them. They must coat her significantly more than buying the equivalent so it’s not a cheapness thing.

PrettyPickle · 21/12/2025 19:46

It would make my day if I got a handmade day, it is so much more thoughtful and personal.

Princessfluffy · 21/12/2025 19:44

I think if you want to save money you don’t send any cards at all, that’s perfectly socially acceptable nowadays. I think making cards is lovely, especially as an antidote to these online digital times.
Some people will treasure the cards, others won’t. Our society as a whole doesn’t currently place a high value on handmade things. Machine made in China is often preferred. It’s a shame and I hope things are changing.