Today is Christmas Card Day!

On this day, December 9, 1843, the first Christmas cards were created 

by Sir Henry Cole in London, England! 

Cole found that writing Christmas greetings to his numerous friends and colleagues was much too time-consuming.  So he asked a friend of his, artist John Calcotte Horsley to design a card which could be used by Cole but could also be sold to the public!

The original Christmas card showed three generations of a family raising a toast to the card's recipient. On either side were scenes of charity...with food and clothing being given to the poor. Mr. Horsley designed one thousand lithographs and hand-colored postcards which sold for a shilling each (in those days that was a whole day's pay!)

Early on, cards rarely showed winter or religious themes, instead they featured flowers, fairies and other designs that reminded the recipient of the approach of spring! Children, birds and animals were very popular themes of the day. 

By the 1850's many traditions of Victorian England were featured on Christmas cards including the hanging of the holly and Christmas trees.  These early Victorian Cards are favorites among collectors and paper crafters and are often replicated in today's paper companies such as Graphic 45, Bo Bunny, Carta Bella and others.

In fact, the December "2 Cards/ 2 Tags Kit by FotoBella I used Graphic 45's  "Children's Hour" paper collection which features beautiful Victorian designs.

December 9th is also considered the day to start mailing your Christmas cards!  Have you made them yet? 

If not, check our website for everything you'll need to make beautiful cards your recipient will treasure for years to come!

Happy Christmas Card Day!