Seasonal Stationery Ideas

Celebrate any season with a selection of great seasonal stationery ideas.  A quick trip to a local stationery store or on the internet will uncover hundreds of unique designs to personalize your letters.  Read on to learn more holiday stationery ideas.

At the stationery store

Many holiday stationery needs are readily available at any stationery store.  Christmas stationery is always easy to find.  More obscure holiday stationery might take some searching, but rest assured it's out there.  If not, check online. 

Or DIY

Computer operating systems usually have some type of painting or design program.  For the serious holiday stationery designer, consider specialized graphics programs to make the process smooth.  With a little practice, conjuring up holiday stationery is a snap.  The abbreviated list of common graphics programs also has uses beyond holiday stationery creation:

Microsoft Paint:  A standard program on Microsoft operating systems.  Beginners will appreciate the easy navigation and numerous applications.

ArtRage 2:  Fun and easy, this graphics program from Ambient Design is an inexpensive and versatile tool.  Take a peak at www.ambientdesign.com/artrage.html. 

Adobe Illustrator CS2:  Graphics, photos, and text are all easy to manipulate.  Takes more practice than Microsoft Paint, but the extra power pays off.  Check it out at www.adobe.com/products/illustrator/main.html.

There are hundreds of image editing programs available.  Browse the web and find one that matches your level of expertise.  If you have any doubt about a particular program's suitability, download the trial version and give it a test drive.

The internet

Take a spin on the web to find some fast solutions to holiday stationery needs.  If designing holiday stationery isn't your forte, download some free printable stationery from a variety of websites.  Here are two great starter sites to visit:

Cat Lovers:  Browse through the fun cards at www.hairballs.com for kitty-themed free printable stationery.

Kid Friendly:  With lots of games and learning activities, www.primarygames.com is a great site for kids to explore.  Click on The Print Zone to access the free stationery selections.

Another option is to visit commercial greeting card sites and browse for holiday stationery ready for downloading.  Some sites are free, others charge a nominal fee.  Keep in mind that once you download a holiday stationery image, it's yours to keep.  Sent to one or a hundred people, the price does not change.

From Hallmark stores to private living rooms, finding magnificent holiday stationery is barely a chore.  With so many outlets delivering so many images, it's easy to put your special signature on this year's holiday stationery collection.

More information on stationery