When you scour the advice columnists such as Ask Amy or Miss Manners, it seems like one out of every ten questions is a frustrated query from an auntie or grandmother about why the young people in their lives won’t write thank you notes.

It seems to be a widespread problem, and where there’s a problem, there are solutions. If you have young adults in your life who do not express gratitude for the gifts you give them and the things you do for them, then maybe they need some tools. We’ve put together this brief guide to help you.

The Tools of Gratitude

The tools of gratitude are simple and easy to gather: 1. Give them their own stationery. 2. Model for them how to write a proper thank you note.

Giving stationery to member of Generation Z — those who are currently in their late teens or early twenties — may seem counterintuitive: They use their phones for everything right? Snapchat and Instagram and texting are their primary mode of communication. Even email seems hopelessly old-fashioned to the average 20-year-old.

We can all agree that a young person’s first instinct after a birthday party or receiving a beautiful gift in the mail is not to run to the store and buy a package of thank you notes.

So you can do this for them. Create a thank you note toolkit of sorts: a set of beautifully personalized thank you notes, a book of colorful stamps, a smooth-writing pen, and a print-out or digital file of the family addresses they can program into their phone.

Now that young person has the writing tools. We’re almost there…

Go a step further and model for them how to write a thank you note. The rhythm and structure is simple, as you know, being a regular thank you note writer, of course!

Here is collection of blogs we’ve written that explain how easy it is. They cover all the bases, ranging from writing thank you notes for birthdays, weddings, teachers and business occasions. You can send them that link, or you can sit with them in person or over the phone and go over the basics — salutation, name the gift, how you’ll use or enjoy it, hope for a future meeting, close.

Lack of Handwriting Skills?

One barrier you won’t be able to help them with is that many young people may not have learned to properly write in cursive. If they print the thank you note, or render it in a mixture of printing and cursive, who is to judge? Nothing’s perfect in this life, and if it’s the difference between sending a thank you note and not sending one, I’ll take the printed or badly scrawled thank you note any day of the week.

Stationery Choices for Young Adults

Let’s say this first: there is no right or wrong choices for personalized stationery. Some young adults are working in fields, such as the law or the corporate world, where a formal monogram or their name in plain block letters at the top of a folded note would be perfect.

Other young people might love that very same stationery simply for its classic feel. Still others might prefer stationery with a more youthful attitude.

Ultimately, the stationery you choose to give them depends on their personal taste.

You can also simply give them the link to the Gifts In 24 website and let them choose. Good luck and thank you for helping the world be a little kinder and gentler.

Face-to-face time can feel like a luxury in our plugged-in, 24/7, global work environment. Many of us work virtually in a way that embodies the modern, global, tech-fueled workforce. So when we take the time to attend a networking event, take a client out to lunch or hold a brainstorming meeting, how can we use those in-person events to forge stronger working relationships? One way is to acknowledge the other person’s time with a business thank-you note. It may sound quaint, but it’s one of the most powerful ways to follow up with work colleagues and let them know that we value their efforts.

Here are some tips and tricks for writing a business thank-you note for just about any work meeting or event.

A job interview

No matter if you walked away loving the job even more, or if you’ve concluded it’s not for you, thank the person who interviewed you for their time. Let them know you enjoyed the conversation and learned a lot — perhaps list one or two things: “I enjoyed learning about the new editorial process you’re planning.” If you want the job, this is also a chance to reiterate one or two reasons why the job is a terrific match for your skills. Close strongly by telling them you really want it.

A productive meeting

Always be sure to write up minutes, highlights or action lists so that the meeting team’s work can be captured and shared, and that any action items get assigned and followed up on. When sending that summary, thank attendees for their time and for sharing their insights. Remind the attendees of the ultimate goal of the project and let them know their work will help achieve it.

A business lunch

If you’re the client, and your vendor took you out to lunch, write a brief thank-you note: “Thanks again, Elaine, for lunch. We made a lot of headway. I think your work will help us meet our deadline.”

A networking event

Networking events and mixers can sometimes bring you home with a pocket full of business cards and lots of new energy and ideas. It’s not necessary to thank speakers and panelists (unless you actually organized the event), unless you specifically would like to connect with them on a business idea or to continue the conversation. As to the other attendees, look back at the evening and think about who you’d like to stay in touch with. Inviting them to connect via LinkedIn is very effective. Or try a quick email, or a folded note with your business card tucked in. “It was so fun getting to know you at the Chamber of Commerce event Tuesday evening. Good luck with your business expansion. Here’s that PR firm I mentioned to you. I’ve had good results with them. I’d love to take you up on the offer to grab some coffee in the next month to brainstorm branding ideas for my new company. Let’s make a date soon.”

A business referral

Did someone refer a new client or customer to you? That’s pure gold. Don’t hesitate to write a thank-you note. Word of mouth marketing is powerful, indeed. Your prompt and warm acknowledgment may help encourage more future referrals as well.

End-of-year holidays

The end of the year is the perfect time to thank people — coworkers, clients, bosses and other work colleagues — for a rewarding and successful year together. A simple “Thank you for a wonderful year — we hit it out of the park,” can do wonders. If you want to get specific and point to certain achievements or projects the person worked on that caught your notice, that’s effective too.

For some of these situations, an email or text might be sufficient. But if you really want to knock their socks off, use beautifully crafted business stationery, with your name, title, company and address. Here are two of our favorites.

Your Logo Folding Note – Raised Ink. Print your company logo, personal artwork or design in one of our 11 raised ink colors. A classic look featuring your design on thick, folded notes and color-matched envelopes

Your Logo Knightsbridge Frame Note – Embossed. Boost your professional image with an elegant embossed border on double-thick paper at a price that fits your budget. Choose an optional return address or hand-inserted envelope lining paper to create impressive stationery.

Thank you notes have long been part of standard etiquette, yet they are going out of style in our modern world. Make no mistake: it’s as important as ever to acknowledge someone’s kindness with a thank you note. Handwritten notes are still best, especially since they stand out in a time of digital communication.

The Importance of Handwritten Notes

A handwritten thank you note lets the recipient know that you took the time to focus on him or her. You went to the effort of finding stationery, sitting down and writing a note by hand, and then placing the note in the envelope and writing the address. It takes a lot more time and effort to do this by hand than to quickly send a text, voicemail or email. You also personalize the note by having it in your handwriting rather than sending impersonal typed fonts.

When to Send a Thank You Note

Certain occasions call for thank you notes. Handwritten thank you notes provide an ideal way to thank someone after he or she gives you a gift — whether it’s for your birthday, a holiday, a baby shower or any occasion. You can also send one after you attend an event, as a way to thank someone for contributing to your charitable cause or to acknowledge a professional for giving you a job interview. These are only examples, as you can give a thank you note as a response to any act of kindness or as a courtesy.

How to Write an Effective Thank You Note

Use these tips to create your personalized card:

• Start with the correct greeting. Make sure you spell the person’s name correctly. Determine whether you can write a casual or formal greeting depending on the person and reason you are addressing.
• Immediately thank the person and acknowledge why you’re sending a thank you note. For example, write, “Thank you so much for the birthday gift” or “I appreciate that you took the time to interview me for the position.” If it has been longer than a month since you received the gift or attended the event, include a simple apology for the lateness. A thank you for a job interview should be sent immediately.
• Include details in your note. Personalize the note by listing the gifts, explaining why you’re thankful and/or describing how you will use the gift. For example, you could write, “I really wanted that book and am so thankful you got it for me!” or “I’m excited to use your gift card to get the pair of earrings I was hoping for.”
• End the note politely, adjusting it to how formal or informal it can be. Add a closing line talking about the future, such as how you look forward to touching base with the person again. Thank the person a final time. Then, end the note with your favorite phrase of regards such as, “Sincerely” or “With much love.”

Follow the above tips to send the perfect handwritten thank you note. Anytime you want to acknowledge someone for his or her action or thoughtfulness, writing a note will add a personal touch to show your appreciation.

Discover our collection of personalized thank you notes.

Correspondence or flat card

You would never walk out of the house without at least a quick thought to your appearance. The same goes for sending correspondence out into the world. The best and easiest way to be sure your messages make your best impression is to create a social stationery wardrobe.

Build a social stationery wardrobe with pieces that you love. After all, just like your clothing wardrobe, your stationery represents you in the world, so you should feel proud of the way it fits your unique style. And remember, quality stationery stands the test of time. While many of your missives will be discarded, some will be kept for years, maybe decades or even centuries!

So what’s in a social stationery wardrobe? These are the basic pieces that provide the tools you need for any occasion that pops up. We recommend four must-have pieces in your stationery wardrobe:

Flat card or correspondence card

If you need to write just a couple of lines, a flat card is the perfect tool. Need to send your father-in-law the belt he left at his last visit? Slip in a flat card with a quick hello. Want to send a memorial donation in the name of a friend’s sister? Write your instructions to the charity on a flat card and include the check. Anytime you need to send a casual,  brief missive, the flat card works beautifully.

How to use: Write  your brief message on the side of the card that shows your name or monogram.

Folded note

Folded note or foldover note

A folded note is slightly more formal. It’s perfect for one of the most common social tasks we perform (or should be performing, ahem! ): the thank you note. Folded notes give plenty of space to express gratitude for a wedding, birthday, Christmas, anniversary or baby shower gift. Folded notes are also perfect for acknowledging the nice things that people do for you. It could be that referral that a client made on your behalf. Or the wonderful dinner party you got invited to.  Ask yourself: “Did someone spend time and effort to do something just for me?” Return their energy by writing a thank you note on a folded note.

And using polished and professionally made thank you notes can be rewarding in other ways: If you are on the job hunt, doing job interviews or attending sales calls, that embossed folded note could make or break a potential employer or client’s impression of you.

How to use: Start on the lower inside panel. If you need more space, move to the upper inside panel.

Letter sheet

Writing papers or letter sheets

If you are writing a message of a few paragraphs or more, use writing papers, also called letter sheets. Whether you are channeling your inner Jane Austen or simply telling your college bound daughter how much you love her, writing sheets emblazoned with your name or monogram are the perfect touch.  Accompany the paper with matching envelopes and a pretty stamp, and you will create correspondence worthy of being handed down through the ages… or at least saved for a little while.

How to use: Write on the front of the paper only. Use a blank sheet for the second page and find your best pen filled with blue or black ink.

Gift enclosure

Gift enclosures

Whether you are giving a bottle of wine for getting that big sale or offering a gift to your evening’s host, a gift enclosure is your tool. Keeping a well-stocked stash of these around will help you avoid a last-minute scramble to the drug store. A well-crafted enclosure ensures that every gift is presented beautifully.

How to use: Brevity is your friend here. Sign your name under a brief greeting: “Thank you!” “I love you” “Happy Birthday,” etc.

Assembling your social stationery wardrobe 

You can put together a beautiful stationery wardrobe using individual cards, notes , writing papers  and enclosures that you love on their own. Buying individually gives you more flexibility and design choices. You can select pieces that are on trend, traditional designs or a mix of both.

Or you can purchase a coordinating set. Giftsin24 offers a number of wardrobes and ensembles that represent terrific values. Especially if you love a particular lettering style or monogram, purchasing a wardrobe is an easy way to get what you need quickly. Here are a few of our favorites:

Henley Monogram Wardrobe. This graceful assortment of embossed papers gives you many options to fit any occasion. Featuring your beautifully embossed monogram on high quality paper. Includes choice of monogram. Each Monogram Wardrobe set includes 50 letter sheets, 50 folded notes, and 50 enclosures with 150 paper-matched envelopes. Choose a return address or hand-inserted lining to make this set complete. Supplement with the Delavan Monogram Card to complete your monogrammed, embossed wardrobe.

Cove Wardrobe. An amazing value. The Cove Wardrobe has you covered. Be prepared for all of life’s occasions with a letter sheet, folded note and gift enclosure. Beautifully embossed in a bold, pleasing lettering style. 150 pieces, total, with 150 color-matched envelopes. Choose a return address or hand-inserted lining to make this an extra special gift. Add the Corridor Card to complete the set.

Somerset Wardrobe. The Somerset Wardrobe features three sizes of single panel cards (Apex, Correspondence and Enclosure) in your choice of ink color and lettering style. Containing 150 pieces, plus 150 matching envelopes, this set will cover all your casual stationery needs. Optional hand-inserted lining and return address on the envelopes. Supplement with the Somerset Letter Sheet to complete your raised-ink wardrobe.

For some people, writing wedding thank you cards feels intimidating. Especially if you have a large wedding with lots of guests, the task of writing dozens or even hundreds of thank you notes can Freak. You. Out.

It’s easy to procrastinate. There are several steps: Choosing the right stationery. Locating mailing addresses. Buying the stamps. Crafting the perfect message of gratitude to everyone.  Any one of these can trip you up. But it’s that last step, writing a warm and gracious message, that seems the most difficult.

We know you feel gratitude in your heart. That is not up for debate. It’s the worry that you won’t be able to express your gratitude in an eloquent and mindful way that’s stopping you. Plus, your handwriting! Will anyone be able to read it? It can feel like a lot of pressure.

Rosedale Monogram Note features your couple’s monogram and your name.

We feel you! And we are also here to say that with a bit of planning and an easy template to follow, you can crank out those wedding thank you cards in no time. Here is the who, what, when and how of thank you card writing etiquette, plus templates for writing the most common types of messages.

Who

Be sure to thank …

• Guests who came to your wedding, including parents who helped pay for the wedding and your wedding party.
• People who gave you a gift (If you received a group gift from people who don’t live with one another, write separate wedding thank you cards to each person in the group)
• Anyone who helped with the wedding planning or day-of festivities
• Wedding planners and vendors

What

Be sure to write…

• An acknowledgement of their presence or absence at the wedding
• What you intend to do with or how you will enjoy the gift
• A warm sentence of gratitude for their friendship and love
• Most importantly, don’t have to reinvent the wheel with your wedding thank you cards, especially if you have hundreds to write. If you come up with a nice turn of phrase that you like (“Sheila and I so appreciate the generous check you sent, and we look forward to using it as a down payment on our home.”), then by all means, reuse it. The most important thing is to convey sincere gratitude and warmth.
• See our sample wedding thank you note templates below.

When

Be sure to send it…

• Optimally, within 2 weeks after receiving a gift. If you receive gifts before the wedding, it’s fine to send thank you notes before the event.
• At most, within 3 months of the wedding.

How

Be sure to get the right tools…

• Keep a detailed gift log that lists the gift, giver, date received and whether you’ve sent the thank you note. This will help tremendously in sending out thank you notes.
• Use a nice pen that flows easily and doesn’t smear or leak. Give the pen a practice run before you write.
• Folded notes are perfect for wedding thank you cards. The style doesn’t have to be an exact match of your invitations, but can reflect their general flavor. Write on the inside bottom section of a folded note, and if you need more space, move to the inside top.

Impression Oversized Note ships in 1 business day.

Many Giftsin24 folded notes can accommodate more than one name. Here are some of our favorites:

Colonial Note    A crowd favorite, the Colonial Note offers a choice of lettering style and ink color, plus two borders that give it distinction.

Infinity Note   This folded note offers an elegant gold foil design and several lettering styles that can appeal to both of you.

One-Line Note  Offering a cool, “Mad men” vibe, this embossed note channels a Mid-Century Modern feel.

Montevideo Note  Impress your family and friends with this exuberantly styled lettering style in a choice of raised-ink color.

Impression Note  This is our go-to couple’s note, offering plenty of room for two names in raised ink on the front and lots of room to write inside of this oversized folded note.

La Tour Note Couples with room in their budgets can splurge on luxury notes from our Silver Leaf Collection. La Tour features an elegant gold edge with rounded corners.

Templates for Wedding Thank You Cards

For a wedding guest who gave a gift:

Dear Melanie, Thank you so much for attending our wedding! We were so happy to be able to connect with you and be surrounded by all our friends and family on this most special day. Your gift was so very generous! Anthony and I will put it to great use as part of the down payment on our condo. With great appreciation and love, Sam and Esperanza

For a person who gave a gift but did not attend the wedding:

Dear Uncle Van, We missed you at the wedding, but completely understand that it’s a long ways to travel. Thank you so much for your very generous gift of the bread maker. It was so sweet of you to think of us on our special day. Every time we make fresh homemade bread, we will think of you! We love you, Susan and Todd

For a person that attended the wedding but did not give a gift:

Dear Aunt Martha, Thank you so much for coming all the way from California to be at our wedding. It meant so much that you were there to be with us on this most special day! Our family reunion photo wouldn’t have been the same without you. We’ve enclosed a photo of you dancing with Dad — you can tell you are brother and sister because you have the same dance moves! With great love, Melanie and Reggie

Looking for more wedding thank you note card ideas? See all of our beautiful folded notes here.

Add sparkle to your thank you notes with our new foil-pressed, hand-lettered line of stationery. Impress your friends and please yourself.

We hear the email vs. paper snail mail debate all the time. Just this month, Time Magazine asked, “Can Email Replace Thank You Notes?”

The answer was a resounding “NO.” But you, wonderful and smart Giftsin24 customer, already knew that, didn’t you?

The Time writer wrote, “An email is better than nothing, but sending some old-fashioned snail mail is ideal.”

Because thank you notes are so important, we are giving you even more choices with beautiful new designs, including a number of foil-pressed papers that you will be proud to send to your most style-conscious friends.

These snail mail thank you notes are precisely crafted from the finest papers and foils, and reflect our 40 years of expertise in the stationery business. The typesetting is beautifully spaced, the letters expertly designed. And, the foil is spectacular.

New Choices in Packs of 8

Thank You Script Note An elegant hand lettered design in gold foil makes the Thank You Script Gold Foil Note perfect for expressing your most heartfelt thoughts. Triple-thick, ivory paper. Includes 8 Pinnacle, pointed flap envelopes. Arrives in a clear plastic package bundled with a white elastic band.

Thanks a Million Note Convey your heartiest thanks with the hand lettered Thanks a Million Gold Foil Notes. These folded notes feature a chic, hand drawn, design in gold foil and triple-thick, ivory paper. Includes 8 Pinnacle, pointed flap envelopes. Arrives in a clear plastic package bundled with a white elastic band.

New Designs in Sets of 50

Our Montauk Note comes in your choice of silver or gold foil. The personalization is in raised-ink.

Montauk Note Chevron patterns are hot, and so is our Montauk Note. The zigzag design is foil-pressed in your choice of gold or silver, and the raised-ink personalization ups the glamour factor. Comes with 50 Pinnacle pointed-flap envelopes. Opt for the hand-inserted lining to create a luxurious gift.

Centric Card Enjoy the art deco design of the Centric Card. The foil design in your choice of gold or silver adds a touch of elegance. Raised-ink personalization. Choice of typestyle. Comes with 50 Pinnacle pointed-flap envelopes. Opt for the hand-inserted lining to create a very special gift.

Infinity Note The Infinity Note features a distinctive diamond pattern in a gold or silver foil tone. The triple-thick paper is also embellished with a raised-ink personalization in your choice of colors. Comes with 50 Pinnacle pointed-flap envelopes. Opt for the hand-inserted lining to create a luxurious gift.

Anthem Card Shimmer and shine. The Anthem Card features a vertical orientation, three foil stripes in your choice of silver or gold, and a raised-ink personalization. Comes with our Pinnacle pointed-flap envelopes. Opt for the hand-inserted lining to create a very special gift.

Contour Card Zigzag stripes are wonderfully eye-catching. Printed on the Contour Card in shimmery gold or silver foil, zigzags convey your classic style, along with your love for a bit of pizzazz. Raised-ink personalization in your choice of typestyle. Comes with 50 Pinnacle pointed-flap envelopes. Opt for the hand-inserted lining to create a very special gift.

For even more new product designs, follow this link: https://www.giftsin24.com/New-Selections/1

Create stationery with a look that’s original to you with our newest stationery you can customize with lettering styles, ink colors, borders and more.

It pays to be choosy. Giftsin24 is pleased to announce our newest stationery you can customize. Many of our products now offer a choice of lettering style and ink color from our most popular options.

We also offer a range of sizes, from standard, to Apex to Chesapeake. Specify your choices from available options, and we’ll create stationery just for you.

Love borders? We’ll add them. Embossing? Done. Or maybe you’re a raised ink type of person? Perfect, we’ve got that too. Cotton paper? Excellent choice–it’s our most luxurious stationery. Whatever you desire, you can create a style that’s all your own.

Beautiful Stationery You Can Customize

Delavan Monogram Note Life is always more fun when you have choices. The Delavan Monogram Note offers you a range of exclusive new monograms as well as perennial favorites. Select one that reflects the real you. The end result is sure to impress. Embossed. Folded note. Choice of white or ivory paper. Opt for the hand-inserted lining, optional border, 100% cotton paper or return address to create a luxurious set of stationery.

Highland Card  The Highland Card is all about choices. Make this single panel correspondence card into what you want it to be. Whether you’re bold, brainy, traditional or sweet, craft two lines of personalization and find a lettering style and thermography ink color that reflect the true you. Comes with 50 Pinnacle pointed-flap envelopes. Opt for the hand-inserted lining or 100% cotton paper to create a very special gift.

Montreal Chesapeake Card  Our Chesapeake line of personalized stationery features many of our most popular designs in an even more generous 4.5″ x 8.5″ size. A treat for the senses, the Montreal Chesapeake Card – Embossed gives you lots of options. Select a lettering style and we’ll emboss your name in triple-thick paper. Includes 50 Pinnacle pointed-flap envelopes. Opt for a border, 100% cotton paper, hand-inserted lining and return address for even more luxury.

You’re an original, so let your stationery be, too. Check out our line of new stationery today.

Gratitude is in. Thank you note writing has been circulating around in pop culture lately.

Gratitude is hip. In the news just this week, Nascar driver Daniel Hemric  penned thank you notes to American servicemen and women. They keep our country safe.

Thanking supporters

Taylor Swift is writing thank you notes to DJs, radio hosts and others who help support her musical career.

Writing of your gratitude

And, Regis Philbin helped late night talk show host Jimmy Fallon complete his regular thank you note writing bit last Friday night.

These celebrities demonstrate the power of thank you notes. They help strengthen relationships and are a main way to express your love. Plus, they may even help you in your career.

Thank you notes are powerful because people yearn to feel appreciated and acknowledged.

But you knew that already, didn’t you?

Part of the fun of sending a letter is finding beautiful stamps for the envelope. Stationery from giftsin24 takes just a single first class stamp.

How much does it cost to send one of our cards or notes to a friend? Just the care and time to write it, plus one single first class stamp.

A Giftsin24 card or note, including the envelope, weighs about one ounce. Sending one through the United States Postal Service (USPS) requires just a single stamp (standard first class postage).

To keep things even more simple, purchase a sheet of “Forever” stamps at the post office, and you won’t have to worry about adding make-up postage when the rates change in a year or two.

In addition, our cards and notes, including our oversized Cheseapeake line, fit within USPS maximum dimensions for standard first class postage.

One Exception

The one exception is our Gift Enclosures, which measure less than the 3.5 inch by 5 inch minimum dimensions that the USPS requires. If you try to send a Gift Enclosure through the mail system, it will be rejected. Learn more here.

See USPS’s handy postage calculator for domestic and international letters: http://postcalc.usps.gov

Looking for Giftsin24 shipping rates and delivery information? Please visit this page: http://www.giftsin24.com/content/help-shipping

Empathy, compassion and gratitude are some of the beautiful qualities shared by Giftsin24 customers. Be a kind person.

Here at Giftsin24, we sell personalized stationery. But that’s not all. When you purchase our product, you are doing more than simply buying stationery. You are ultimately acting on being a kind person. A polite person. A thoughtful person.

On the heals of commencement speech season, many speakers choose to focus on the importance of character and kindness. Yes, academic achievements are important, but when push comes to shove, being kind might just get you farther in life. Here are two speakers and their speeches that explore this topic and are generally judged among the best commencement addresses:

George Saunders  2013 at Syracuse University

David McCullough Jr. 2012 at Wellesley High School

Acknowledging the generosity of others keeps that positive vibe flowing. The concept of “paying it forward” has become very popular in recent years. And there’s a great reason why: Connecting with others makes life more happy, more meaningful.

Kindness is King

Writing a note in your own handwriting is a small yet powerful way to share your gratitude with those around you. From the basic thank you for a birthday gift, to the expression of your deep gratefulness to someone who changed your life, penning thoughts on paper is a wonderful, simple way to act on your best impulses, and bring more love and connection into your life.

So, we thank you, dear customer, for being the kind person you are.