Card Writing Tips: Thank You, Sympathy, Birthday, Encouragement
This year I set a goal to write & send at least one Naomi Paper Co. card per week, and share which ones I’m sending along with some tips for writing in them! In January I sent a total of 6 cards, ranging from Thank You cards to Sympathy cards.
Here are the cards I sent and some tips that stood out along the way:
Thank You Very Much Card
I sent this one to a family member as a Thank You for a Christmas gift they mailed us.
Here are some points I tried to hit when writing in this Thank You card:
Name the gift and specify how you used it or plan to use it.
Share a quick update on you/your family or some other connection point with the card recipient.
Let them know you are praying for them or how you’ve been blessed by their gift or generosity.
Tip: Being specific always makes your thank you sound more genuine!
All Things New Card
This is a great, Biblical New Years card to send in January, and also works as a general encouragement card throughout the rest of the year if you know someone feeling bogged down by their current circumstances.
I sent this card to a friend from my church that I know had a hard year in 2022 to encourage them at the start of the new year!
Here is what I wrote (only sharing because it reveals no personal details about the recipient):
“I just wanted to send you a note of encouragement after persevering through what I know was a difficult year. I pray you are able to rest in God’s grace + truth that “His mercies are new every morning” and “He is making all things new.” You’re in my prayers + I hope you know how much your church family cares for you!”
As I found myself writing “new every morning” in the card, I thought it was a great opportunity to add one of our stickers with that same verse to the card as a little extra gift.
Tip: Buy a handful of stickers to easily throw into a card without having to pay any extra postage!
Letterpress Thank You Card
I sent this one as business related thank you to a leader in the stationery industry. I knew she would love & appreciate the letterpress printing and luxe quality of this card! If you have a stationery or paper loving friend, this would be a great card to send their way!
My main focus this year is on encouraging friends, family, and church members in the Lord, but I hope to make a better habit at writing & sending Thank You cards for professional purposes as well. If you run any kind of business yourself, Thank You cards are always a good idea to keep on hand to help you easily offer thanks in a timely manner.
Tip: Pre-write your message out on a similar sized piece of paper first. This way you can nail down the exact wording on the card and be sure that it will fit in the space provided!
This tip works for any card, but especially if you’re writing on a “fancier” card like this.
Birthday Blessings Card
I gave this one to my mother-in-law on her 80th birthday. This card is undeniably beautiful with its watercolor background and gold foil lettering, and is perfect to keep on hand for any woman’s birthday. My mother-in-law is an amazing woman of God who I knew would appreciate both the beauty of this card and the “blessings” sentiment as well.
Tip: Try using words or phrases from the front of the card when writing your message on the inside to tie it all together. (i.e. “Many blessings on your 80th birthday! Your example of faith in Jesus is such a blessing to our family.”)
Seen, Supported, & Loved Card
This card is one of my absolute favorites, and has proven to be one of our customers’ favorites too. It’s incredibly meaningful, encouraging, and can work for a variety of hard situations.
The letterpress printing gives the card a tactile quality that I find is extra special to those that are walking through difficult seasons. It’s encouragement that you can see and feel.
I used this card to encourage a friend in the process of leaving an abusive marriage. I’ve known others that have sent this card to others walking through divorce or chronic pain/illness. These are all occasions that can be incredibly hard to find a card for, so I pray this card helps you find the right words to say and offer your support.
Some excerpts from what I wrote inside the card this time:
“You will always have me in your corner…
The Lord is with you…
Praying for you often & trusting that the Lord’s justice will prevail…”
Deep Waters Card
Sympathy cards are often the most difficult to find a quality card for and to know what to write inside. As someone who has walked through grief myself, I can confidently say that we currently have at least four strong cards to send in times of grief or loss. They are beautifully designed, honest, and rooted in Biblical truth.
This Deep Waters card is special because the sentiment can carry a dual meaning. This verse is obviously talking about God being with them in deep waters, but it also can be a way to let them know that you are with them too.
I hope to create a separate blog post with more in depth tips on writing in cards for grief, sympathy, or loss, but for now will just remind you that it is never too late to send someone a card to encourage them in their grief!
I know how quickly one’s grief can seem to be forgotten by those around you. It means so much to receive a card further along in your grief that your grief is still seen, valid, and being prayed for by someone.
With that in mind, I sent this card about one month after the recipient’s loss. Here are a few excerpts from the card:
“You continue to be on our hearts & in our prayers…
I pray you feel the freedom to grieve deeply—our God can take all of it…
God is with you in the deepest waves of your grief, and we will be here with you too…”
The biggest advice: have what you need on-hand
Keep cards for many occasions on hand so you are always ready! Periodically stock up on encouraging stickers, or gift cards to places like Target or Starbucks, to easily slip into cards when the card/situation calls for it. Not having these things on hand in the past has often held me back from sending a card at all!
p.s. I grabbed many of these cards from my “slightly blemished” stash of cards. If you’re wanting to start sending more cards yourself this year, our Mystery Pack of 6 “slightly blemished” cards for just $12 is a great place to start!