The majority of our cards this year came with simply a signature
or included longish computer printed Christmas letter.

I'm always disappointed with a card that is simply signed. Competely forgettable.
There are some good computer printed letters but they are highly variable and
by their nature, are about the sender.

Do you actually hand write something that's personalized for each recipient or
do one of the above? How do you cope with the greeting card stock?

LDF,
Good questions, this year we sent out in our cards a hand written sentiment inserted in our cards that I wrote in Noodler's Widow Maker using an Esterbrook SJ with a stub nib. I also write an individual greeting or sentiment in every card. The card stock this year was very FP friendly, no feathering and no smearing. I used a Waterman Expert II med nib filled with PR American Blue. It takes time but I thin it's worth it.
PMS

I also managed to find nice cards that did not feather. I received a reply (by e-mail though, but it's the sentiment that counts) from a friend. His message: "Thank you for the card selected with good taste, and the personal message elegantly composed with a fountain pen."

It made my day.

/Tojusi

This year, for season's holidays, I leaved my colleagues giving them my business card handwritten in the backside:



... not a Christmas card, but very appreciated...

Through no conscious effort, the Hallmark cards we sent were all FP friendly.

My wife is a whiz with Photoshop, so she did an 81/2 by 11 insert, with photos of all the kids and grandkids on one side, and a newsletter on the other.

Then we used a Visconti Ragtime with Waterman Carnation Red ink to address and sign our cards. Amazingly, Phyllis also wrote with the FP, and remarked on how it didn't make her hand tired.

I tried to write a personal note/sentiment inside each card. They were longer or shorter depending on when I'd last seen the person, both of us having had our mothers die, old high school friend, etc.

gary

I print my own cards on FP friendly photo glossy card and then write an individual message.

Edit. The non-glossy side is the FP friendly bit just in case you thought I may have had some form of magic pen/ink combination going on...