How to create holiday cards that capture the magic of the season–and 6 places to print them

The holiday season is undoubtedly the most enchanting time of the year. There is nothing quite like witnessing the sheer delight in your child’s eyes as they marvel at holiday decorations or savoring the nostalgic aroma of freshly baked cookies. However, amidst the hustle of decking the halls, fulfilling wish lists, and orchestrating nightly escapades for a michevious little elf, the elaborate process of creating and sending holiday cards can be overwhelming. Still the joy of discovering season’s greetings from loved ones near and far and proudly displaying them in your home is one of December’s most delightful pleasures.  

If you happen to be the designated family member entrusted with the task of managing holiday cards this year, we’re here to offer some tips that can help make the entire process a touch merrier.

Choose the perfect photo(s).

Selecting a photo (or photos) for your family’s holiday cards is no easy task. Capturing that elusive shot where everyone is looking and smiling at the camera can be quite the challenge, especially when little kids and pets are involved. Nevertheless, this should be a fun and memorable process, and in the end, your friends and family will love seeing how your family has grown since last year, and you’ll cherish these cards for years to come. Here’s a bit of guidance to make the task merrier:

• Plan ahead. Prepare for success by gathering inspiration for magical and fun Christmas photo ideas. Cooordinate outfits ahead of time to ensure a cohesive look, and consider having a few props on hand for the youngsters to hold, which can help keep them engaged during the photo session.
• Showcase the whole family. While it can be tempting to just showcase your adorable children, choose at least one photo that features the entire family. Your loved ones will be overjoyed to see all family members together in this once-a-year memento.
• Face visibility. This may seem obvious, but ensure that every family member’s face is clearly visible in the selected photo. Clear and joyful expressions will make your holiday card shine.
• Keep it simple. You don’t need to hire a professional photographer to capture a holiday-card-worthy photo. A tri-pod, self-timer and good lighting can do wonders!
• Candid moments. Don’t forget to consider candid shots that capture your family’s authentic personalities and the love you share. These spontaneous moments often radiate warmth and genuine connection.

Once you’ve captured and selected the perfect photo for your holiday cards, it’s time to dig into the messaging and design!

Craft a meaningful message.

There are many ways to send a warm message with your holiday cards. Whether you opt for a lengthy family update or short and sweet greetings, there are numerous ways to convey meaningful sentiments alongside your treasured family photo this year.

• If religious observance holds significance for your family, don’t hesitate to incorporate it into your card. “Merry Christmas from the Marches” or “Happy Hannukah from the Cohens” would both clearly express your faith-based celebration.
• For a more non-denominational approach, opt for well-wishing messages such as, “Wishing you peace, love and joy this holiday season” or the light-hearted “Merry Everything!” which embrace the universal spirit of the season and resonate with a broader audience.
• If you’re unsure if your holiday cards will make it by a certain deadline, consider sending New Year’s wishes instead. Messages like, “Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy new year!” convey your well wishes while taking off the pressure of holiday mail delivery. It also allows you to extend the festive spirit beyond December and into the new year (can you believe it’s almost 2024?!).

So you’ve picked the perfect photo and a meaningful message, all that’s left to do is sign your holiday card and address the envelopes. Sounds easy, right? Not so fast.

Properly pluralize last names.

When it comes to signing or addressing your holiday cards, you might find yourself puzzled about how to properly pluralize your family name or that of some of your recipients. Here are some rules of thumb to help you out:

• First and foremost, no apostrophes are needed. Ever.
• For most families, simply adding an -s will do the trick. Happiest Holidays from the Nolans.
• Families whose last names end in -s add an -es. The Brookses wish you a happy new year!
• Names ending in -x, -z, -ch or -sh follow the same -es rule. Warmest holiday wishes from the Gutierrezes and Branches.
• If family members have several different last names, you have two options: the formal way where each last name gets its own line, or the more casual approach using first names only.

If you’re still unsure about pluralizing, you can always use something like The Smith Family. Remember, the ultimate goal is to make your holiday card recipients feel the warmth of your family during this time of year, so choose the pluralization that feels most comfortable and appropriate for your family name.

Now you’re ready to design! This can be one of the most fun but daunting parts of the holiday card process. There are so many places to order cards from and thousands of options on each site. Avoid analysis paralysis by shopping some of our favorite picks below.

The best places to order your photo holiday cards this year.

Artifact Uprising

Squiggle Portrait Holiday Card

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$100 for 50 cards ($2 each)

Stand out in a sea of photo holiday cards with this modern and playful die-cut paper shape—part of Artifact Uprising’s new Contour Cuts Collection. Get creative and customize your cards with real foil or dazzling custom color print options. Top off your order with Holiday Envelope Seals to give your festive greetings an elevated finishing touch.

SHOP ARTIFACT UPRISING

Minted

Crazy Wonderful Life Multi-Image Holiday Card

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$119 for 50 cards ($2.38 each)

When you have adorable kids, it can be next to impossible to pick just one photo for your holiday cards. With a massive collection multi-image designs from independent artists around the world, you can display all your favorite photos from the year on one 5”x7” holiday card. Because when it comes to photos, the more the merrier! Enjoy free recipient address printing on all designs!

SHOP MINTED

Paper Culture

Boldly Peaceful Personalized Eco-Holiday Cards

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$67.20 for 50 cards ($1.34 each) $112 for 50 cards ($2.24 each)

Enviromentally-conscious mamas will adore these eco-friendly options, featuring photo holiday cards crafted from 100% recycled paper to bamboo. Paper Culture also offers a service of stamping, addressing, and mailing your cards for you—it’s like having a holiday card fairy godmother!

SHOP PAPER CULTURE

Papier

Year In Review Card

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$37 for 20 cards ($1.73 each)

Even with the best intentions, getting your cards out the door on time can be a feat of strength. Pro-tip: If you make it year-in-review/Happy New Year theme, you can buy yourself an extra week. (We see you.) This style from Papier makes it super simple to fill in the blanks with your family’s highlights and can be customized with just simple sentiments and up to two photos on the back.

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Tiny Prints

Elegant Exhibit Tri-Fold Holiday Card

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$209.50 for 50 cards ($4.19 each)

Spread the cheer with these premium holiday cards! These gems give you more room to showcase your favorite photos and share heartwarming messages. If you’re looking to share family updates or multiple memorable moments from the year, a tri-fold card can help you achieve that. It’s like a mini-photo album that fits right in an envelope!

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Zazzle

Mostly Silent Nights Birth Announcement Holiday Card

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$11.95 for one instant download template

For new parents juggling the joyful chaos of a newborn, crafting and sending holiday cards can be quite a feat. Thankfully, Zazzle offers a hassle-free solution, allowing you to combine your birth announcement with a heartfelt holiday greeting. Opt for the Instant Download feature, granting you access to an editable template that can be customized and sent to your loved ones via email or text. We especially adore this option as it effortlessly takes the stress out of updating your address list.

SHOP ZAZZLE

A version of this article was originally published on October 13, 2023. It has been updated.