There’s something about the holidays that tends to turn us all into writers. With cleverly worded Christmas letters and thoughtful thank you notes to send after each festive event, it’s the perfect time of year to tell your loved ones how much you care.

When you find the time to sit down with your stationery and pen, you might be wondering where to begin. Don’t fret! We’re here to help. With over 100 years in the stationery business, we’ve written our fair share of thank you notes here at Crane. So pour yourself a cup of tea or cocoa, pull up a chair, and follow these tips for writing the perfect holiday thank you notes. We’ve even included a few samples to spark your inspiration.

The Basics

The best way to get started is to follow this simple formula. In each thank you note, you should include the following five things:

1. A Greeting

Open your note with a simple salutation. When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with “Dear.” Since the tone is personal and informal, if you are writing to a friend or loved one, feel free to use nicknames.

2. Expression of Gratitude

While it is perfectly appropriate to write a standard thank you card, including details about the specific gift you received adds a personal touch and lets the giver know how much you appreciate their gesture.

3. Statement About the Future

Here is your chance to tell your friend or loved one how much you appreciate them and to let them know you can’t wait to see them again. To make your note even more special, mention something you discussed when you received the gift, or the last time you spoke.

4. Reiterate the Thank You

Close on a grateful note and reiterate your gratitude.

5. Regards

There are many ways to end your note; choose one that conveys warmth and is appropriate for your relationship.

Here are some fun examples of ways to sign off that go beyond “sincerely”:

• Love,
• Best wishes,
• Cheers,
• Warmly,
• Fondly,
• Beyond grateful,
• Blessings,
• Feeling spoiled,
• With gratitude,
• Love and thanks,

Need some more inspiration? Here are some holiday thank you note examples to fit a variety of situations.

Monetary Gifts

Gift Card

Dear ____,

Thank you for the generous gift card to [store]. I am so excited to refresh my ski gear before my next trip to Vail. I have a feeling that this season is going to be amazing! I can’t wait to hear about your visit to Spain. Let’s plan to grab a coffee when you get back.

Thanks again. I so appreciate your thoughtfulness and am happy to have you as an aunt.

Love,

Money or Check

Dear ____,

I just used the Christmas gift you sent toward a new pair of boots and I have got to tell you, my feet look fabulous! I’m so excited to wear them. Thanks so much for your generosity. I’m touched beyond words.

I loved looking at pictures of your precious grandkids and cannot wait to see you this Easter. Thanks so much for your generous gift and, of course, your delicious Christmas cookies.

Feeling spoiled,

Gift from a Close Friend

Dear ____,

I cannot thank you enough for the adorable cocktail glasses. They look perfect on my bar cart. You know me so well! I am sipping on a martini as I write this. I can’t wait to have you over for a cocktail sometime soon so we can put them to good use.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful gift and priceless friendship. I am so happy to have you in my life.

Cheers,

Gift from a Distant Relative or Acquaintance

Dear ____,

Thank you so much for the lovely mug and chocolates. The mug will make my days at the office just a bit brighter. How did you know that I had such an insatiable sweet tooth? I can tell that you are such a thoughtful and giving person, and I really enjoyed our conversation over dinner.

Thank you again for your sweet gift. You’ve made my day.

Sincerely,

Office Secret Santa

Dear ____,

I am so lucky to have you as my Secret Santa! I adore candles and can never have too many of them. The scent you chose made my house smell absolutely delightful. Thanks so much for your thoughtful gift and for being such a joy to be around in the office. You always brighten my Mondays.

Thanks again, and I hope you have a wonderful holiday back home in Wisconsin.

Warmly,

Gift from a Colleague or Business Acquaintance

Dear ____,

Thank you so much for your thoughtful holiday gift. My team and I have been enjoying the beautiful holiday treats all week. It’s always a pleasure doing business with you.

Thank you for thinking of me during the holidays. I hope you have a happy and prosperous new year!

Sincerely,

Dinner Party

Dear ____,

What a spectacular party. You really are an incredible host! Thank you for letting us be part of it all. We had a lovely time. My husband and I cannot stop talking about that chocolate cake – we’d love to get the recipe from you next time we see you.

Thanks again for the evening filled with laughter, conversation, and delightful food; I am still smiling just thinking about it.

Love and thanks,

When to Send your Note

The best time to send your note is a few days after receiving your gift or attending a party, but it is never too late to show your gratitude. If a week or two has passed, your recipient will still be delighted to read your kind words.

No matter what the occasion or gift, a handwritten thank you note is the best way to share your gratitude with the ones you love and make a wonderful impression.

The post How to Write the Perfect Post-Christmas Thank You Card appeared first on Crane Post Script.

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TIPS FOR HOSTING A WONDERFUL FRIENDSGIVING

• Consider what kind of gathering you want to have. Would an intimate evening of conversation be more your speed, or an evening of lively music, bustling guests, and large dinner portions be more appropriate? This will set the mood for the evening and invitations you share. Don’t forget to consider the size of your space.
• Create your guest list. Think of all the amazing friends in your life that you’re thankful for, then stick to either your dearest companions for a small dinner or a “more-the-merrier” approach for a lively feast. Don’t forget to consider new friends or friends who won’t be able to travel back home to their family’s Thanksgiving meal, as they will greatly appreciate a Friendsgiving invitation.
• Create the menu. Keeping in mind any dietary restrictions and preferences that your friends may have, creating the menu is where you can truly put a personal touch on your Friendsgiving event. This is the perfect time to share your family traditions with friends who may not have experienced them before or bring out a recipe for a new dish you’re dying to try. The menu should be balanced across all food groups. A wide selection will make sure that all your friends will be able to completely fill their plates.

• Send out invitations. Notifying your friends of the event in advance is always a good idea and the best way to make your event truly feel special and warm is through a physical invitation. Make sure to include an RSVP date and the list of dishes and drinks needed so that guests can RSVP with their preferred choice. You’ll likely have to contact some of the guests to tell them their preferred dish has already been claimed, but that will also encourage your friends to RSVP early!
• Deliver instructions for dishes guests should bring. Friendsgiving is all about friends coming together, and thus the tradition dictates that each friend should bring a dish to the event, potluck-style. As turkey (or an alternative main dish depending on preference) is typically the most work, the host should be responsible for cooking it. Beyond the turkey and gravy, ask your confirmed friends to bring a variety of side dishes, appetizers, and desserts.
• Gather supplies and prepare. Consider the items that you may need extras of: plates, side plates, napkins, silverware, cups, and even items like paper towels. Try to stay away from cheap-looking paper or plastic plates and go with higher quality options, like silverware if you have enough. This can elevate a gathering from a casual meal to an exquisite event.
• Don’t forget extra drinks (and ice). While most of the alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages should be covered from the menu, it never hurts to have extra on-hand just in case. Don’t wait until the last minute to request someone pick up a bag of ice on the way to the dinner! Prepping one fancy cocktail for everyone is a fantastic way to welcome them in.
• Start setting up in the morning. You will be busy in the kitchen all day, so before that happens, set the table with care. By doing so, you will be able to identify if there are any items missing that you may need your friends to bring last minute!

• Keep the decorations simple and elegant. Friendsgiving is all about spending time with people you are grateful for and those people will feel the same way. Don’t stress over the decorations; choose simple, subdued colors for all napkins and plates, only add a few small decorative items to the dinner table, and use votive candles in the surrounding area to make the setting feel warm and calm. For an extra personal touch, table place cards are ideal way to take the guesswork out of where everyone will sit at the table while also adding a touch of elegance.
• Find a unique way for people to share what they are grateful for. Going around the table and asking everyone to say what they are thankful for is a classic tradition, putting a fun twist on this can make it more fun and heartwarming. One option is to have everyone anonymously write down what they are thankful for on a notecard and put it into a bowl. The host can then pull these notes out one by one and have everyone guess who wrote it. Another option is to create a keepsake to remember the event by. You can pick out an item, like a decorative pumpkin or a large printed group photo, on which everyone can write what they are thankful for.
• Include Friendsgiving games. Adding games to the event is an easy way to make sure your guests are entertained throughout the day. Simple games and activities work best, as your friends will likely want to spend time chatting and catching up and may be too distracted to focus on a complex game.

• Thank you cards. Within the week after your Friendsgiving, send out thank you cards to all your attendees to show them exactly how much it meant to you for them to spend a fun day together. They’ll certainly appreciate the thought you put into the event up until this final touch.

By now, you’ve made it. Friendsgiving was a success! Next on your schedule is your holiday party! Find out how to choose a holiday party theme with these tips from Crane.

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While your presence may be all they’ve ever wanted, bringing along a host or hostess gift is always appreciated and house stationery might just be your new go-to.

House stationery can be found in lake, mountain, or beach homes and it may be used by any resident of the house or by any guest during their stay. It’s typically personalized with the name or address of the house, but can also be designed to fit the mood of the location or the personalities of its residents. If you’re short on time a set of boxed cards featuring a graphic of a sun, palm tree, or dragonfly are all nice ways to convey the feeling of a warm weather retreat.

They can use these cards to send along a quick hello to their summertime neighbors or, after pressing the reset button with your weekend away, you can use them to post a note of gratitude to your friends for hosting you. If luck would have it, they’ll invite you back next weekend.

The post Summer Gift Idea: House Stationery appeared first on Crane Post Script.

Out of the gates, we knew Gina Hamadey’s Thank You Year was a story worth passing along. The premise is simple: Write one thank you note for every day of the year. But what Gina discovered as her pen hit paper, is that the act of considering even one reason why she’s thankful for a person and then taking a few minutes to communicate that in a thoughtful way, had an effect she wasn’t quite anticipating.

Here’s her story.

It’s no small feat, Gina—an entire year of thank you letters! What compelled you to start?

The idea came from a very true place of solving a problem. I was riding the train to work every day and filling that small bit of free time toying with social media feeds. I was either scrolling Instagram admiring other people’s stuff or on Facebook feeling enraged. Nothing good was coming out of it. I wanted to change that. I wanted to find an antidote. So instead of spending my limited free time admiring other people’s lives on social media, I get to honor what I do have. And the memories I have.

You’ve described writing these letters as therapeutic. How does saying “thank you” do that depth of work?

There’s a kind of thank you note people are familiar with—thanking someone for a gift they gave you. A confirmation of gift receipt, really. What I’m trying to do is something different: it’s revisiting a memory. Thanking someone for something they’ve said or done. This comes from a very different place, and it’s a lot more interesting to write and read. I find it to be therapeutic because it’s a purely positive experience. Writing a thank you, focusing on another person instead of myself, and making a sincere human connection puts me in a better mood—and that mood will carry me through the day!

Could you give us some tips on how to write a good thank you?

Being specific is what makes a good letter work. For example, my son just turned two and I wanted to thank our doctor who delivered him. Instead of a generic, “Thanks, you’re the best!” I told him it was Charlie’s second birthday and then thanked him for being so utterly excited in the delivery room that day—and how his personality made our whole experience better. Generally, I recommend you start by thinking of just one thing to thank a person for. One thing they said. One thing a person did…or an experience you two shared…and that’s what you hang your hat on. Focus for a few minutes and remind yourself it doesn’t need to be perfect or eloquent, just sincere. Then go for it.

Sounds like there’s an aspect of vulnerability.

It’s one of my favorite parts—overcoming that squirmy feeling and coming out brave on the other side.

So, who are you writing these 365 letters to?

Every month, I give myself a theme of recipients. For example, “neighbors who have gone above and beyond,” “health professionals,” “food and restaurants I love.” I’ve thanked doulas, career mentors, banana bread makers, my husband. I use these themes to create parameters so I’m not overwhelmed by a stack of blank cards.

Have you ever gotten stuck?

Yes…When I chose “friends” as my monthly theme, it was hard to find a place to start. What friends should I choose and what specific thing could I thank them for? I ended up pulling out a shoebox of old photographs and had the idea to use those photos as postcards—thanking the friends captured in the images for what we shared at the time. It was so much fun to write those.

After nearly a year of writing letters, do any stand out?

You know, one that stands out was writing to my childhood best friend’s dad. Her family took me with them on vacations to Lake Tahoe. Even though I have a wonderful father, my friend’s dad was such a positive role model and, really, a second dad figure in my life. It felt important to thank him for those experiences and as I wrote it, they were such good memories to relive. He wrote back with the sweetest response and a funny p.s. saying it was OK if I started calling him by his first name, no more “Mr. ____.” It still surprises me how much it means to someone to be thanked.

It must really stand out these days: a handwritten “thank you” found in your actual mailbox.

It really does. I think people overestimate the awkwardness of expressing gratitude and underestimate its impact.

Do you have any tricks for starting this “thank you” practice and sticking with it?

Definitely! I set it up to be a pleasurable experience so I enjoy coming back to it. I love having a beautiful address book…instead of just a list of names…and a stack of pretty stationery is so motivating. A great pen, too, and a space set aside for writing. There’s a bit of ritual to it, and I like that. As for sticking with it, I have a “no agonizing” rule! I cannot overthink what I’m saying or make it bigger than it is. You’ve got to keep it easy and doable. And it’ll be worth it.

We hope, like us, you’ll give Gina’s Thank You Year a try—even if that’s just one letter every month this year. And maybe you, too, will experience the simple joy that comes with a heartfelt “thank you.”

Gina’s Top Tips for a Practice in Appreciation

1. Prep your space.

Does lighting a candle instantly bring you a sense of calm? Or maybe you find words flow best when you’re using your favorite pen. Find the trigger that will put you in a mindful mood and make sure it’s easily accessible. Oh, and don’t forget that handy stack of pretty stationery!

2. Start with a theme.

From favorite authors to career mentors beginning with a theme of recipients helps to create parameters and removes the overwhelming feeling a blank card can hold. If those groups seem too far-reaching bring it back home by writing to your significant other or neighbors who have gone above and beyond.

3. Get specific.

Being specific is what makes a good letter work according to Gina. Start by thinking of just one thing to thank a person for. One thing they said or did or an experience you two shared. It gives you a good jumping off point and makes writing those first words a little less daunting.

4. Show your soft side.

There’s an aspect of vulnerability to letter writing and Gina encourages us to embrace that. In fact, overcoming that squirmy feeling and coming out brave on the other side is one of her favorite parts of this project.

5. Go for it!

“It still surprises me how much it means to someone to be thanked.” Gina reminds us it doesn’t have to be perfect or eloquent, just sincere. Trade a few minutes admiring other people’s lives on social media for a handwritten thank you note honoring what it is you do have.

You can follow along with Gina @THANKYOUYEAR and if you decide to give this practice a try tag us @CRANEANDCO —we’d love to encourage you on your journey.

The post A Conversation with Gina Hamadey of “Thank You Year” appeared first on Crane Post Script.

There are people in our lives that make things run smoothly and efficiently. But with them so engrained in our day-to-day, their efforts tend to get lost in the fray. Teachers, for instance, who work around the clock, are pillars to their family and communities, and who often work outside of the home, too, have likely been deprived of a proper “thank you.” Today, make it a point to let them know they’re seen and they matter.

As the big chill begins to set in, get ready to start warming hearts. We’ve called out a few important people who may get overlooked this time of year. Be it a note written in crayon on construction paper by your child, an unexpected hug, or a note jotted on the mirror, make sure they know you appreciate them and all they do – no matter what form it takes.

Teachers
They don’t just give knowledge, they also teach our children to be functioning citizens of the world at large. Upgrade the traditional apple and suggest you child expresses his or her thanks with a special crafts project or a simple note.

Babysitters + Pet Sitters
They stand in when we’re unable to be there, giving our babies and fur babies alike the love and attention they need. Enclose their next paycheck within a “thank you” card that expresses your sincerest appreciation.

Neighborhood Post Office Staff
They deal with the mail all day, but when was the last time anything was personally addressed to them? This season, deliver an unexpected message.

Your Local Haunt
They know you by name, and they know that you like your red wine slightly chilled and your filet mignon somewhere between well done and medium. Give them your biggest “thank you” this holiday season – even if it’s on the cocktail napkin that came with your drink.

Work Family
You’re with them more than your family, so it’s only natural that you offer thanks to those that make a 40-hour week worth working. IT will appreciate the switch-up – give them something analog on their desk, and not their inbox.

Want to elevate your thank you? Shop our thank you notes here.

image via jonathan willis

The post Showing Gratitude appeared first on Crane Post Script.

Here are our etiquette tips on how to craft the perfect Thank You Note.

Say it with style

Your Thank You Notes should reflect your aesthetic, whether it’s classic, romantic, minimalist or modern. The recipient of said note should know who it’s from even before he/she reads a word.

Be gracious in a timely manner

Thank You Notes should be sent out as soon as possible after you receive the gift. One to two weeks is the sweet spot. Your note should be a thoughtful gesture, not a reminder for the gift.

Give credit where credit is due

Make sure to address your Thank You Note to the person or persons who gave you the gift. If the gift is from your friend and her husband, your note should address both individuals (even if you know she “did all the work”). Everyone likes to feel appreciated, after all.

Name drop

Mention the gift you received by name. It may seem like a small detail, but in an era of generic, automated emails, it’s nice to receive something that is personalized just for you.

Go the extra descriptive mile

Everyone hopes that the gift they give isn’t going to collect dust, destined for the Goodwill bag when spring cleaning comes around. Prevent such worry with a sentence or two about how/when/where you might use the gift and how excited you are to do so.

Let’s practice, shall we?

Dear Lindsay, Jeff and Gabriel,

Thank you so much for the gorgeous silk Hermes scarf. You know my taste so well! I can’t wait to wear it out to dinner with Barrett; it’s really the perfect accessory for a lovely night out in the city. I hope all is well, much love to you all.

Truly,
Olivia

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