Saying Thanks

It’s been said that a little note goes a long way and we couldn’t agree more. Despite our undying love and obvious attachment to electronic messaging (particularly email newsletters), we still have a great appreciation for the written word.

We’re especially fond of words that are written in ink, by hand, onto paper, our favourite flavour being the thank-you card. You can’t deny the warm and fuzzy feeling you get when you receive a nice one in the mail.

For kids, thank-you notes provide an easy way to encourage the art of appreciation. Teaching them to sit down for more than 10 seconds and write the words ‘thank you’ is more than an etiquette lesson—it reinforces the concept of gratitude. That’s something we could all use a dose of these days.

For a DIY project at home, use a bright and cheery picture the kids drew, fold it to an appropriate card size and sign whatever they are capable of on the inside. It will definitely put a smile on grandma’s face, and it’s an easy alternative to the traditional thank-you card.

If you’re looking for a more upscale option than DIY cards, we have just the place. Before we tell you where it is, we’ll confess to being paper snobs and we’re not afraid to admit it. Dempsey Press, a new printing and custom design studio here in Ottawa that specializes in letterpress printing definitely makes the grade. Not only is the paper quality top notch, but letterpress cards have a satisfying feel to them, giving them a big edge over mass-produced cards.

Dempsey Press has a small but sweet selection of cards in their online shop and they do custom work as well. We like their ‘choose your own card’ package. Their traditional ‘thank you’ style is simple and elegant, and (we hope) the robot design might inspire younger members of our family to write their own.

While you’re there, pick up some small notepapers (monogrammed or mustachioed!). They’re the perfect size for a lunchbox note, or to slip in someone’s pocket just to say “Thank you for being you.”

So write on—we promise you’ll get thanks back.