Teaching Gratitude with Hugs and Ladybugs

Guest Blogger Michelle Kelley is a marketing specialist advisor at FedEx Services and has been with the company for almost eight years. She lives in the Seattle area with her husband and two daughters and loves to plan parties down to the very last detail.  

When planning my daughter Anna's first birthday party, I searched for ways to make her party special. More than that, ways to make her guests feel special. See, it doesn't end with great invitations and a fun theme. Once the party is over, we try to always say thanks for the gifts that people have given. Remember that expression, "It's not over until the fat lady sings”? Well at our house, it's not over until the thank-you notes have been sent!

I want my daughters to know that thank-you note writing is important. Some may think that this tradition has fallen by the wayside and is old-fashioned, but actively practicing gratitude and showing appreciation is a timeless tradition that I want my girls to practice. I'm trying to teach them how easy it is to say thanks. The notes don't have to be overly elaborate, just a quick couple of sentences with a signature. These little cards (pictured above) are a great first step - we can fill in the recipient's name and add a personal note. Even better, these cards come from Anna, not me as her mom. 

When I was searching for themes for her party, I actually started with the FedEx Office Design & Print Center and got my inspiration for her party once I saw these precious ladybug cards. I sat down to make them late on a Saturday night when the house was quiet. I designed the invitations first, then used the ladybug graphic to make matching personalized thank you notes. I even found matching party supplies at another retailer online. I started with nothing, but quickly found an idea and was done in an evening! The thank you cards were around $25 for 20 with free seven-day delivery to my house. I had them printed on the front and the back, which you can see here:

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