There’s no better way to spread festive cheer than by sending out some wonderful Christmas Cards! This holiday tradition dates all the way back to the 19th century, and is still treasured by many. In the digital age, receiving physical greeting cards may have become a rarity for some people, so sending your loved one a Christmas card can make them feel extra special! Christmas cards are also often displayed proudly in homes during this season, making great, nostalgia-inducing decorations.
While it’s easy to find basic Christmas card designs in most stores, making and sending out your own unique cards can feel much more rewarding. That’s why we’d like to share this handy custom Christmas card making guide with you! Continue reading to uncover our top tips for creating out-of-the-ordinary and customized Christmas cards that will bring a smile to every recipient’s face.
Choosing a Template Christmas Card Design
At Zazzle, we offer thousands of fabulous Christmas cards lovingly crafted by our community of Independent Creators. Whether you’re looking for a classic colorful Christmas design, an elegant and minimalist look, or a funny motif of Santa climbing down a chimney, you’ll be sure to find a product that soots your needs! Take your pick from our wide selection of different Christmas card themes including our ever-popular photo Christmas cards, rustic Christmas cards, religious Christmas cards, and pet Christmas cards.
Our holiday cards come in all shapes and sizes, so you can choose a flat card, a postcard, a folded card, or even a trifold card for your design! Once you find the ideal template design, it’s now time to customize it. Click the blue ‘Personalize’ button to add your choice of text, and upload your own pictures, if applicable.
Creating a Christmas Card Design on Zazzle
Time needed: 10 minutes
Although we offer an array of template designs, it’s also possible to start with a totally blank canvas and make your own Christmas card from scratch! Read on to find a step-by-step tutorial that will teach you exactly how to create a fully customized Christmas card using the magic of our design tool.
- Choose a blank custom card template
First, head to our custom cards page and click on the style of card you’d like to start working on.
- Go to ‘Edit Design’
Next, click on the blue ‘Edit Design’ button to open up the design tool.
- Upload your own design elements
Here, you can upload your own imagery or logos, add different shapes, choose a fun font style for your text, edit the background, and much more. Our state-of-the-art design tool allows you to express your creative side effortlessly!
- Finalize your design & click ‘Done’
Once you’re satisfied with your design, click ‘Done’ in the top right-hand corner. For more design tool tips and amazing DIY ideas for your holiday cards this year, be on the lookout for our upcoming YouTube video!
What to Write in Your Christmas Cards
Wondering what to write in your Christmas card? We’re here to help! Many people decide to open with a traditional seasonal greeting like ‘Happy Holidays,’ ‘Merry Christmas,’ ‘Wishing You a Happy New Year,’ ‘Here’s to a season filled with warmth, comfort and good cheer,’ ‘Merriest Christmas to you from us!,’ or ‘Warmest wishes for a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!’ You could also opt for a more sentimental message thanking your recipients for the love and kindness they show you, and how lucky you are to have had them in your life for another year. Or, use your favorite funny Christmas pun on your card to ensure that the receiver will chuckle. Some also prefer to include a religious saying to open the card.
Other notable inclusions to consider are your family name and the current year. If you’re sending out the cards to family and friends, people often choose to include some life updates or recent achievements they or their families have made.
If you’re sending out a Christmas card to employees in your business, you could include a thank-you message for all of their hard work during the year. Christmas cards can also be a great way to promote a small business, and serve as a way to thank customers for their support. Finally, make sure to provide a closing on your card to sign it off. Ideas for closing lines for cards bound for family or friends include “‘With Love Always,’ or ‘See you soon,’ whereas, if you’re sending this card out to employees or colleagues, you could write ‘Thanks for another Great Year at (company name),’’ or ‘Sincerely’.
Above all else, when writing your Christmas cards, just remember to be your elf! To read a more in-depth guide on what exactly to write in your Christmas card, check out our article “What to Write in a Christmas Card”.
Choosing the Perfect Paper Type and Style of Card
Here at Zazzle, you can customize every aspect of your Christmas card, from the design itself all the way down to the type of paper and the corner style! On the product page, you can view your finalized card design in a variety of different sizes and paper types, to help you decide on which option you like the best. Press ‘Compare Papers’ to see our entire selection of paper choices available for the particular style of card you have selected.
Choose a fun corner style like our ‘Tag’ or ‘Scalloped’ options, or, keep it classic and go for the ‘Squared’ or ‘Rounded’ corner style. You can also decide whether you’d like to have your cards printed using our ‘Standard’ or our ‘High Definition’ printing process. Our real foil cards are also a popular choice for the holiday season, and with good reason! Featuring gorgeous shimmering foil in either gold, silver, or rose gold, these cards are absolutely mesmerizing.
DIY Add-ons
But wait, there’s myrrh! While we handle the printing of your designs, you can take the task of festively accessorizing your cards into your own hands! Opt for a stunning wax seal kit to completely elevate your Christmas mailings. Or, why not design a custom rubber stamp to mark your return address? Creating some Christmas labels is also a stylish and easy way to save time writing out your recipient’s addresses.
You could even use a ribbon to add a 3-D texture to your cards! Design some custom envelopes in a lovely color that complements your cards! Another awesome idea is to spray your cards with a scent associated with the Christmas season – think eucalyptus, cinnamon, or cloves! You could also add some glitter or stick adhesive gems to your cards to make them even more whimsical! If you’d like to discover even more top tips for creating totally distinctive cards this year, head over to our post entitled “How to Make Your Holiday Card Stand Out.”
We’ve had a jolly good time writing this Christmas card-making guide, just for you! We truly hope that it’ll help you on your merry way to creating show-stopping customized Christmas cards that’ll wow each recipient. Here at Zazzle, we firmly believe it’s never too early to start planning for the holiday season. If you’re already feeling the magical Christmas spirit, take a look at our custom Christmas gift section, too! If you’ve got any more marvelous ideas for Christmas card designs, please share them in the comments below this post.
Ella is a content specialist from Cork, Ireland. Her passions include spending time with her two energetic dogs, fashion, photography, and trying new vegan food!
