Gratitude is a memory on the heart. Discover how to make and write ideal heart felt thank you notes. Saying thanks with clear hobby rubber stamp designs and hand made cards emanate warmth & sincerity. Find fun card making craft ideas or try saying thanks with a gracious thank you scrapbook art page. Each clear stamp image pictured belongs to a set of clear hobby rubber stamps. Just click on the icon to see the whole stamp set. Scroll down further to learn the art of how to write a thank you note, when to write it, why, what on, and who to write a thank you note to.

Who, What, When, Where, Why and How to Write a Thank You Note

If you have ever received a thank you note for something you did in your routine day, you’ll understand why thank you notes are so important. An otherwise dull, typical day was suddenly transformed into a day full of meaning and life.  Gratitude expressed is like rays of sunshine coming through the clouds. In this article I will discuss the answers to Who, What, When, Where, Why and How to write a Thank you note.

Why should you write a thank you note?  There are a couple of main reasons for sending a thank you note. The main reason is that thank you notes are a simple way of showing sincere gratitude toward someone who has taken a part of themselves and given it to you – whether in the form of money or time or assets – the fact remains that they have given a part of themselves. Some people do this without even realizing it and a thank you note lets them know how much you appreciate your association with them. Another reason for writing thank you notes is to keep lines of communication open between yourself and the giver.  It is noted that those who send sincere thank you notes often improve the frequency and quality of gifts they receive from the giver.  That said, be sure you never write a thank you note just to get a bigger better present next year.  People like to be appreciated. Never lie, but never include negative thoughts about a gift.  There is something positive in everything, you can find it and express gratitude for it even if you hate the gift and will never use it.  Thank you notes also put your name on the mind of the giver, and can keep you in their memory longer. This simple fact will improve relationships and communication to a great degree. People generally don’t hold negative thoughts toward those who appreciate them, so by expressing appreciation, you foster healthy relationships. In a nutshell, there is never a reason to not express gratitude.

Who should you write a thank you note to? It is my firm opinion that a thank you note is always appropriate though there are those who would disagree. Thank you notes should always be sent to people who have given of themselves to you but do not necessarily live with you.  Personally, I think it is very nice to receive little thank you notes from those you live with as well, but they could be more in the form of a sticky note or a message on the whiteboard. In short, exercise your gratitude muscle and send thank you notes to anyone who has taken the time to make you important in their life.

When should you write a thank you note?  Always write your thank you note within 10 to 14 days after the gift or service is received.  This will ensure you don’t forget to write the note.  Often, once two weeks have passed, despite the best intentions, we will forget to send our thanks. Be sure to mail thank you notes promptly. You don’t want to find them sitting around a couple of months later still waiting to be posted. The best rule of thumb in this is to not procrastinate.

What should you never do in a thank you note?  You should never send preprinted thank you cards.  They are very impersonal and lack sincerity.  Thank you notes must be warm, personal and hand written – then they emanate earnestness. Never write your thank you note in quirky colors.  Though colored pens are fun to use and widely available a dark blue or black pen is still the easiest to read. Never turn a thank you note into a newsy text.  Remember the purpose of a thank you note is to give thanks, not to update the recipient on your current job status or love life. Never directly mention money in a thank you note. When you receive a cash gift, you are thankful for generosity or kindness. Never lie about a gift that you hate.  First find something you can appreciate about it, then sincerely express gratitude for it.  “I loved the color of the bunny slippers you sent me.” “The abstract statue you gave us for Christmas is a good conversation piece.”

Where do you find thank you notes?  Thank you notes can be purchased easily, however, it adds a little bit of special to a thank you note when you make it yourself. This can easily be done with a little bit of card stock, clear rubber stamps, ink, and a little bit of colored or patterned paper.  There are lots of card making templates available to choose from, even for beginner stampers. Design the card with the words “Thank You” on the front and once constructed, you are ready to write your thank you note.

How should you write a thank you note? The biggest rule of thumb is to think sincere.  If you can’t feel it don’t write it.  There are 8 basic steps to writing a thank you note.

1. Salutation.  Greet the giver by name. You may use “Dear” or “To” if you like. People love to hear their name, and there can be no doubt the note is for them when their name is written at the beginning. Remember, even if your handwriting is poor, you must handwrite your thank you note.
2. Write in present tense so that your thank you note doesn’t sound like a late expression of thanks. Write as if everything you say is happening right now!
3. Express your gratitude specifically. When you receive a gift or service express it in detail. “Thanks so much for shoveling my walk so carefully last week when I was away.”  “We deeply appreciate your generous gift this Christmas.” Add descriptive words to further express your sincere feelings of gratitude.
4. Mention the usefulness of the gift. “I had been dreading coming home and having to shovel my way into my house.”  “Thanks to your kindness Justin will get his trombone lessons this year.”
5. Refer to the future. To do this you must consider why that gift was chosen for you. “You are in our thoughts and hearts often and may you be blessed abundantly.” 
6. Say it again.  Remember this is a thank you note.  You cannot say it too many times.  “We deeply appreciate your thoughtfulness.”  “Thanks again for your heartfelt kindness.”  “I am so grateful for your touching service”
7. Sign your name personally. In other words don’t just sign your name sign it ‘Sincerely’, ‘With Love’, With thanks’, ‘Very Truly Yours’, etc.  Choose a sentiment that works best for you. 
8. Address, stamp and mail your thank you note. This may be the most important step, because if your thank you note never reaches its recipient they will never know how thankful you are.

Thank you notes can not only express your gratitude but can also enrich your life and the lives of others. Gratitude is a memory of the heart, deeply felt, and warmly remembered.