How Christmas Cards Affect the Printing Industry

Author: Bella Harris

Each day during the Christmas season, many businesses and private individuals turn to printers, asking them for personalised calendars and corporate Christmas cards. Writing Christmas cards became a tradition in the XVIII century, when the British royal family started to use them as a form of congratulation for social acquaintances.



So, Christmas cards became the ideal way to congratulate someone during the holiday season, without having to spend a lot of money on the purchase of gifts and wrapping paper. Furthermore, Christmas cards could be sent by mail without any problem; as the XX century advanced, more and more people turned to Christmas cards as a solution to an increasing social ambiance and to lessen the need to provide tokens or gifts of friendship that overwhelms their entire financial income.



Even so, Christmas cards became a great advertising and marketing opportunity since trade cards started to appear. Trade cards are prints on one single sheet or card, with the business simply wishing the customer a Merry Christmas; but the idea of the 'Christmas card' as we know it started to appear and become more popular in the XX century. In 1961 only 2000 of them were printed, while in 2005 an average of 1.4 million Christmas cards were printed, sent and distributed.



This makes Christmas cards one of the strongest money-makers for the printing industry, not only from the private sector, but also from the commercial sector that seeks to elevate their business higher in the ranking of the target market, in contrast to their competitors.



Frequently, printing workshops linger through the year with a small amount of work, according to the difficulties and economic events that happen in the location where they are found; it might be that all the work they do relates to marketing promotional products. Big printing companies do not worry much about the off season, since they carry on the printing requirements for other companies, however, the small printing business, the one that suffers the changes of the printing business season, suffers the consistent reduction of marketing promoting products.



The Internet, with its online marketing potential, makes it less necessary for advertisers and marketers to use promotional products to enhance the presence of a product, service or business in the target market. Consequently, printing workshops have to subsist as much as possible on alternative means, until the Christmas season. Christmas cards are still popular among private citizens and businesses; however, the appearance of the laser printer and the increasing use of the Internet has modified greatly the way Christmas cards are viewed, printed and even created.



In yester years, Christmas cards were printed on cardboard and decorated with water colours and even glitter; now, even serigraphy is taken off the Christmas cards, making laser printed Christmas cards the new fashion statement; this might end up reducing the printing workshops to a thing of the past.



Despite it all, Christmas cards are still the biggest income source for all printing workshops alongside the printing of catalogues and calendars. Therefore, the effect that Christmas cards have on the printing industry is evident to the naked eye.

About the Author:
Solopress is a UK printing company dedicated to providing you a variety of printing services and products to successfully promote your business.

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Exterior Christmas Decorations

Author: Terry Henman

Decorating the exterior of your home for the Christmas holidays is an essential but criminally overlooked part Yule Tide plans if you have children or you are having guests over for a get-together at any point. the front of the house is the first thing people see when they arrive so setting the tone for fun and excitement from the very beginning will start things off with a real bang and ensure plenty of anticipatory grins before anyone has even stepped foot inside.




Despite the obvious extra safety precautions needed to fit exterior decorations, it is actually a much simpler and less fussy job than decorating the whole interior of a house. It is mainly just a lot of lighting..... and perhaps the odd six foot Santa! Before you head to the nearest garden or DIY centre, take a pen and pad outside your home and sketch a really basic outline of you home's façade. Pay special attention to its linear qualities or the edges of things like windows, the porch roof, the front etc as these are the areas where you will be hanging lights. Use a tape measure to gauge roughly how much lighting you will need. Although this is can be quite an ordeal in the cold weather, you will only ever have to do it once as you then have the measurements for future Christmases. Next, look around your garden for any other features you want to pick out- trees look especially magical with a cluster of lights entwined in them, you could also hang some waterproof baubles for a really pretty finish. If you have enough room, you will probably want a main feature for your front lawn. Blow up Santa's and snowmen are available but you might want to check the weather forecast before you buy, if snow is predicted it would be much better to create your very own feature, this is also a much more appealing and fun option for children.



It is wise to have a clear idea of a colour scheme for your lights before you arrive at the store. This will save you lots of time and make at least one shopping trip at this time of year stress free. A cohesive colour scheme of lights that picks out all of the main features of your house will look really professional and make your home the envy of the street. White or blue or a combination of the two works really well to create a winter wonderland theme, whereas red, gold or green will create a more traditional look.




If you plan on making a snow man with your children, a good idea is to keep a small roll of discount fabric at the ready. That way you can create a big scarf for your work of art then tie it into your scheme by creating bows of the same material for your trees, bushes and front door wreath.



It may be cold out there but I'm sure you will agree that a fun winter garden that really gets the festivities of to a flyer is certainly worth one two sniffles. You may even get an extra present or two for your efforts!

About the Author:
Terrys Fabrics retail in a wide range of curtains and fabrics.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/exterior-christmas-decorations-784371.html

How To Give Gifts To Women On Christmas?

People always say that it is easier to give gifts to men because men are easy going. However, it turns out that women are easier with gifts because you have tons of ideas for gifts for women. If you are dating a girl, you can consult this article for gifts to give her as Christmas present.


First of all, women always love shampoo and body products. You can pick tons of kinds of these products at stores. However, you have to find out which kind she is using, and what her favorite is. Most of women will be surprised when you give her the type of bath and shower products which she likes the most. They will wonder that you know everything about her that means you care about her very much. Also, if you can make your own it will be great. Here is a small tip for you to make her bath product. You can buy roses and leave them in the sun for about a week. Once they are dry, you can buy a good and beautiful box to put them into the box. Remember to put a piece of paper with sweet words inside the box so that she can read it every time she takes bath she will think of you.


Secondly, you can think of jewelry. Women love jewelry. Remember that you should not buy the very expensive jewelry because some women think that you try to buy her with all the good and expensive products and they will tend to reject you. Therefore, buy the good stuff but not too luxurious. You can also think of something special you can make to your jewelry. For example, if you can ask people at jewelry shops to make a smiley face on the jewelry or her name on it, she will love it for sure. Also, you can also make your own jewelry if you like. She will love it when she finds out that you make that kind of jewelry for her only. You can buy some colored stones at the jewelry shops and buy some necklace chain to put them all together. They will look good if you are crafty or even they look ok, she will be very moved if they know you spend time doing this for her.

For some type of women meaningful gifts will be the most important to them. For these types of women, you have to think out of the box. Do not try to spend lots of money for a waste or do not buy her jewelry because she will be returning it. You can make something out of your own. A song sung by you in a CD will sweet words will work for these women. A tape of all the pictures you have she have been taking together will move her a lot. Also, something surprising will make her moved as well. For example, you can cover her eyes, and then take her to the special place and say something very sweet to her. These things will definitely help you to knock her down.
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Presents For Men On Christmas?

Men are easy with gifts. However, it is not quite easy when you want to give them a meaningful present. It may end up in a trash bin or they may leave them there and never touch them again. Therefore, if you want to impress a man, or show how much you love him, you have to spend more time on the presents.


Flowers are not a bad idea for a romantic guy. Flowers suit really well if you want to show him how lovely and gentle you are when you give him your flowers. However, there are some points you have to remember when you give them flowers. They must look beautiful but manly. You cannot give guys pink flowers because it is more a gay thing than ever. Also, you should pay attention to the packing. The packing must not be too small or something girly. They must look strong and show the strength of a man.


Also, a pack of flowers will be not complete without a card. Many people nowadays forget to give cards when they send flowers. However, flowers are as much important as cards. The cards will be the places that you can share your thoughts and your love to the person you are sending flowers to. So, never forget the cards even when you send flowers, especially men because they tend to loot at the cards more than look at the flowers.

If that man is your father, things will be different. You should definitely pick up something thoughtful and to show that you are always beside him and care about him. A picture of you and him in a good phrame would be a good idea. The book that he always wants to read but he cannot find it anywhere and now he receives it as a present. Will it be good for him? I am sure that he will love it when he sees the present. If you are a girl giving the gift to your father, there will be more ways to give him presents as well. You can sing? Let's sing for him and record it in a DVD, then you has a wonderful present for him. If you have some kids, and you want to give him a special gift, why don't you collect some funny pictures of you and your kids or even with him , and then make a photo album and even ask the kids to say 'I love you' to him on the DVD. I am sure that any grandparent will be much moved when they see this present.

If the man is your friend or coworker, you can think of something consumable. A bath or shampoo product will be good for a normal present. Or think of what they may like or always want to have to buy for them. A disk of music which is their favorite will rock. Or a movie which they always want to see will work as well.
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Holiday Decorating Safety

Many families and homes in the United States do some type of home decorating during the months of November and December. Christmas is, by far, the most decorated holiday in this country. However, decorating accidents and injuries are also quite common around the holidays. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), approximately 10,000 people visit emergency rooms each year due to accidents related to holiday decorating. When decorating your home, it's important to follow good safety procedures to protect yourself and your property.

First and foremost is Christmas tree safety. Some people believe that real trees are fire hazards. For the most part, this is untrue, provided that they are kept watered. A well-hydrated real Christmas tree is no more of a fire hazard than a fire-retardant artificial tree. There are automated Christmas tree waterers on the market today that make the task of watering your tree much easier. Instead of having to remember to water the tree every day, just fill up the tree waterer's reservoir, and it will do the work for you for several days or up to a week.

It's also important to check your holiday lights before using them. Strings of lights should be checked for frayed cords, broken bulbs, or other signs of damage. Don't take any chances with old lights! If they look like they've outlived their useful life, discard them. There are many organizations that now recycle holiday lights; check online for a location near you.

Be sure not to plug too many strings of lights into one outlet or extension cord. You should carefully read and follow all safety instructions that come with your lights. A good rule of thumb is no more than 3 strings of lights plugged together into one outlet. Extension cord safety is also important. Be sure not to run extension cords under rugs, as this can cause wear over time. When decorating outdoors, you should also take care not to run extension cords across driveways or sidewalks where they might be a tripping hazard for pedestrians.

Of all the dangers of holiday decorations, candles play the largest role in holiday accidents and injuries. According to the CPSC, as many as 14,000 house fires occur each year due to burning candles, and those fires result in approximately 170 deaths. The best way to play it safe with candles is simply not to use them at all. If you must burn candles, be sure to keep them far away from children and pets. You should never leave a burning candle unattended. It's also important to keep open flame away from anything that might be flammable such as curtains and drapes, wrapped package and other paper, and live and/or artificial trees and greenery.

Candles are not the only source of open flame around the holidays. When the weather turns cold, many families like to have fires in their fireplaces or wood burning stoves. It's important to take precautions with these types of fires, too. Remember to keep young children and pets far away from fireplaces and stoves to avoid burns. Also, it's important to have a good safety screen in front of a fire so that popping sparks don't ignite carpet or other nearby objects. If you like to hang stockings on your fireplace, be sure they are far enough away that the heat or popping sparks won't catch them on fire, either. Special salts used to produce colorful flames should also be kept away from children and pets, as they can be poisonous when ingested.

Remember, 'tis the season to deck the halls safely and soundly. No family enjoys a holiday spent in the emergency room! With some good common sense and basic safety rules, you can make the holidays a safe and pleasant time for yourself and your family.

Find more great holiday tips and ideas at The Christmas Tree Storage Bag Shop, including safe holiday storage products. Or visit Home Products 'n' More for an automatic Christmas tree waterer.
Article Source: http://www.articleset.com

Four Foul Foods To Avoid During the Holidays

Levittown, NJ- Time off from work, out of your daily routine, coupled with an endless buffet of holiday feasts and treats can leave people starting the new year unhealthy and unfit. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. Dr. David Ostreicher, author of Brush Your Teeth and Other Simple Ways to Stay Young and Healthy from Wheatmark Publishing (www.brushyourteethbook.com), has a list of ways to keep people from looking like Santa after the holidays.

His message is simple: Air and water are polluted. Diet is loaded with artificial ingredients and hormones. Americans are fat and do not exercise. Yet we are living longer, far longer, than our grandparents did. Why? This is the American Paradox. The answer is simple: Hygiene, from improved sewerage to personal hygiene. How do we beat the paradox? There are simple and easy ways to stay young and healthy, focusing on the principals of health: good hygiene. That includes mental hygiene, sleep hygiene, physical hygiene, brushing your teeth, and avoiding the “foul four” foods that hijack your health.

“The American diet is one of excesses,” Ostreicher said. “We eat too much, too many calories, too much fat, too much salt and too much sugar. And those elements make up the ‘Foul Four’ dietary villains.”

• Salt – “Salt raises your blood pressure and can lead to heart attacks and strokes,” Ostreicher said. “It has also been linked to cancers of the stomach and esophagus. Throw out your salt shaker. You don’t need to add any salt to your food. Salt is not the only spice. We should all make much better use of pepper or other spices. When cooking, leave out the salt, or cut the amount in half. After a period of time, your sensitivity to salt will change. Your taste buds will accommodate to the normal salt diet, and soon you will find you don’t need it anymore.”

• Sugar -- Sugar is Ostreicher’s next target. He believes we eat way too much of it, and the wrong kinds of it. “Whether it’s in the form of table sugar (from sugar cane or sugar beets), or high fructose corn syrup, the average American eats about three pounds of sugar a week,” Ostreicher said.

• Calories – Those three pounds of sugar is equal to 3,312 empty calories per week. “No vitamins, minerals, fiber… just 3,212 calories,” he said. “That will convert to 4 pounds of fat per month. No wonder obesity in America is epidemic.”

• Fat – The last of the Foul Four on Ostreicher’s hit list is fat. “Fat is another endless supply of calories,” he said. “USDA “Dietary guidelines for Americans” says we should limit total fat to 20% to 35% of our RDA for calories. Most Americans get more than that. Fat, especially the “bad” fats (saturated and trans) are linked to obesity, heart attacks and cancer.”

One major fallacy to avoid this holiday season is the idea that any member of the Foul Four is somehow made healthy because it’s organic.

“It seems intuitive that ‘organic’ is healthier,” Ostreicher said. “Given the choice, I would rather eat an organically grown tomato than one grown in a field with pesticides and artificial fertilizers. However, there is very little true scientific evidence to show that eating ‘non-organic’ foods cause serious illness. There is a ton of evidence that shows that eating sugar, salt, and high fat/high calorie diets cause all kinds of health problems and increase risk for disease. At the end of the day, with all the choices we have with our diets today, clearly we can all agree that avoiding these Foul Four foods is a good start.”



About the Author
Dr. David Ostreicher, author of Brush Your Teeth and Other Simple Ways to Stay Young and Healthy from Wheatmark Publishing (www.brushyourteethbook.com), is a graduate of Columbia University where he earned his Doctorate of Dental Surgery, Certificate in Orthodontics and Masters in Public Health. He also holds a Masters of Science in Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport, where he served as a professor of nutrition. A sought-after guest for top media programs, Dr. Ostreicher has lectured worldwide, and has authored scores of articles about dentistry, orthodontics, nutrition and health. Dr. David (as his patients call him) has appeared on over 25 local and national shows, including The Morning Show, Independent Network News, Today, Regis Philbin Lifestyle, Geraldo, and Sally Jesse Raphael.

Pine Cone Crafts - Homemade Christmas Decorations

Author: A.C. West

If you are decorating your home for the holidays on a budget, there are so many possibilities to make your home look gorgeous and festive using inexpensive items. One great items to use to spruce up your home for Christmas is pines cones. In many places, you can get pine cones for free right from your own back yard. If you do not live near an area where you would have access to free pine cones, they can be purchased inexpensively from most any craft store. Decorating your home with holiday crafts made from pine cones are very simple to do and are even an easy enough project for children to participate.

Pine cones can be used for ornaments for the Christmas tree. One simple project for children and adults alike is to decorate the pine cone with glue and glitter. Tie a string to the cone and hang on the tree.

Another beautiful project is to paint the pine cone with a brush or spray paint in holiday colors. Glitter can also be sprinkled on the cone before the paint dries to give it a frosted, sparkly look. The painted cones can be used for tree ornaments with string or ribbon added to hang on the tree. Another way to use the painted cones is as a centerpiece on your coffee table or dining room table. Place the painted cones in a bowl or basket and add some greenery too, if desired.

Decorated or natural, plain pine cones can also be added to wreaths for a wonderful look. Pine cones added to garland and ribbons on a fireplace mantle give a simple but elegant look to your holiday decor.

Christmas decorating on a budget does not need to be skimpy, cheap or unflattering. By using your creativity and a small amount of inexpensive supplies, you can decorate your home beautifully and receive many compliments from your family and holiday guests.

About the Author:

Needs great ideas for Home Made Christmas Decorations? Get Little Kids Christmas Crafts and The Christmas Crafts Collection.

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