Page 9 | If someone sent you a (nicely) handmade Christmas card, would you think…

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.

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

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 😂.

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.

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

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.

SophiaSW1 · 21/12/2025 23:01

I don’t give it any thought

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?

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.

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

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.

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?

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.

Shetrieshard · 22/12/2025 07:41

CraftyPlayer · 20/12/2025 15:01

I make mine myself. It never occurred to me that people might think it’s because I’m poor 😂 now I’m wondering if they do!

I receivec a beautiful home made card from a friend everyvyear. I have kept tgem all and look forward to receiving it every year. Never once did I think they couldn't afford bought cards. Its s gift!

Rippleok · 22/12/2025 08:40

Macaroni46 · 20/12/2025 16:24

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

Says a very regular mumsnet poster 😆

mindutopia · 22/12/2025 08:41

I would feel bad because I’m just going to end up recycling it!

I wouldn’t see it as a negative thing though, or think they couldn’t afford cards. Who can’t afford cards?! Cards are cheap. Posting them is the expensive bit.

rowanrome · 22/12/2025 09:15

I would love a homemade card and would probably keep it rather than recycle it.

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FestiveFruitloop · 22/12/2025 09:35

Flowersforyourchocolateprettyplease · 21/12/2025 21:33

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

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😄😄

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naemates · 22/12/2025 09:38

I do understand that it is costly and time consuming to hand make cards, but as the recipient, it’s not really for my benefit is it? If you like making cards, then that’s lovely, but you’ve made that for you and then conveniently had me to be able to give it to. It’s not ‘better’ than any of the other cards I’ve been given, and you picking one out of the pile of cards you’ve made is potentially less thoughtful than someone spending a couple of mins in card factory to pick the one I’d like most from their selection.

Rednotdead · 22/12/2025 09:40

I’d love to receive a hand made card, however it turned out. More thought has gone into the making of it than just picking one from a generic pack of cards.

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FestiveFruitloop · 22/12/2025 11:29

naemates · 22/12/2025 09:38

I do understand that it is costly and time consuming to hand make cards, but as the recipient, it’s not really for my benefit is it? If you like making cards, then that’s lovely, but you’ve made that for you and then conveniently had me to be able to give it to. It’s not ‘better’ than any of the other cards I’ve been given, and you picking one out of the pile of cards you’ve made is potentially less thoughtful than someone spending a couple of mins in card factory to pick the one I’d like most from their selection.

Hmm. I don't view it this way myself, partly because each time I start to make a specific card I have its intended recipient in mind, e.g. favourite colours, whether they've ever said they like a specific style of motif (cats, penguins, angels), etc. Obviously it's not possible to do that for everyone, but I do always know who I'm going to send the card to, so for me it is very much about making the card for a specific recipient as well as for my own enjoyment. And those I give them to do often tell me they enjoy receiving them, so that too makes it about the intended recipient imo.

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HandmadeNanna · 22/12/2025 12:37

FestiveFruitloop · 20/12/2025 14:27

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. 😄)

We have just received a beautiful handmade card from our friend. We gave her a second hand concrete bird table and bird bath which she has wanted for some time. She was absolutely thrilled with them. She has gone to the effort to watercolour, pencil and crayon a beautiful picture of birds using the bird table in her garden. I will be putting it into a frame as it is too nice to hide away.

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FestiveFruitloop · 22/12/2025 13:56

HandmadeNanna · 22/12/2025 12:37

We have just received a beautiful handmade card from our friend. We gave her a second hand concrete bird table and bird bath which she has wanted for some time. She was absolutely thrilled with them. She has gone to the effort to watercolour, pencil and crayon a beautiful picture of birds using the bird table in her garden. I will be putting it into a frame as it is too nice to hide away.

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That's lovely! I'm in awe of people who can paint/draw their Christmas cards, I'd love to be able to do that.

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Thatcannotberight · 22/12/2025 14:13

FestiveFruitloop · 22/12/2025 13:56

That's lovely! I'm in awe of people who can paint/draw their Christmas cards, I'd love to be able to do that.

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Our card and my son's card from our artist friend. Beautiful hand written messages inside too.

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

Muddyevil · 22/12/2025 14:26

As someone who used to make cards, they actually work out more expensive than buying..sometimes by a good few pounds per card depending on techniques and supplies used. Someone took time out of their day to make them rather than pick a pack up from the supermarket. I'd be chuffed. Only reason I don't do now is cos craft supplies were hogging space!