Printing your own holiday and greeting cards
A printed card still lands differently from a message on a screen. It arrives in the post, it gets propped up on a shelf, and it stays there long after the notification would have been swiped away. That is why so many people go back to printed holiday and greeting cards each year. If you are thinking about making your own this season, a little planning turns a nice idea into a card people actually keep.
The best part is that you do not need to be a designer. With a good photo, a warm message and a few sensible choices about paper and format, you can create something that feels personal and looks properly made rather than thrown together.
Choosing a format that suits the occasion
Greeting cards come in a few familiar shapes, and the right one depends on what you want to say and show:
- A flat single-sided card is simple and photo-led, ideal for a family holiday photo with a short greeting.
- A folded card gives you a cover image and space inside for a longer, handwritten message.
- A landscape layout suits wide group photos, while portrait works well for a single subject.
Think about how the card will be used. If you are sending a warm note to relatives, a folded card leaves room for personal words. If you mainly want to share a lovely picture, a flat photo card puts the image first. The same photo-first thinking applies to other keepsakes, such as the ones covered in our guide to turning photos into personalised gifts.
Getting the photo and text right
A holiday card lives or dies on its photo. Use the highest quality image you have, ideally one taken in good light and not cropped too tightly, so there is room for the design to breathe. Leave some calm space where the greeting can sit without fighting the picture. For the words themselves, keep it short and genuine. A simple warm line reads better than a crowded paragraph.
- Pick one strong photo rather than crowding in several small ones.
- Keep text away from the very edge so nothing important is trimmed off.
- Proofread names and the year before you approve the print.
Ordering in time for the season
The one mistake that catches people out every year is timing. Holiday post gets busy, and a card that prints beautifully is no use if it arrives in January. Work backwards from when you want cards in hand. Allow time to choose and approve a proof, time for printing and finishing, and time for delivery. Ordering a week or two earlier than feels necessary takes all the stress out of it. If you send cards every year, a photo calendar makes a lovely companion gift, as our guide to photo calendars explains.
Make something worth keeping
A well-made greeting card is a small thing that carries real warmth. Choose a format that fits your message, lead with a strong photo, keep the words sincere, and order in good time. Do that and your card becomes the one that stays on the shelf. If you would like help choosing a format or preparing your photo, we are glad to assist. Explore our custom online printing options or reach us through the contact page, and we will help you make something worth keeping. You can also see our custom invitation printing for other occasions.
