Battle of the Christmas Cards: Your Go-To Guide for Printing Any Holiday Card

Fa la la la! Our team gets really excited around the holidays – it’s all twinkly lights, Christmas classics on repeat in the office, and a slew of Christmas and Holiday card orders coming in from our clients. Whether it’s to recognize Christmas, Hanukkah, the New Year, or a simple “happy holidays,” these seasonal cards are some of our favorite pieces to print because they can really make an impression on your clients and customers. 

If you are ready to start planning your holiday card for your family or your business (or your family business, like ours!), here are some things to consider.

STYLE & DESIGN

Should I choose a flat or foldover card?

A flat card is just that – it’s flat. It can be a variety of sizes, but most often would be something around five inches wide by seven inches tall. A foldover card is anything with a fold. This style card could be your traditional greeting card size, or something more elaborate with multiple folds (think accordion-style!) or could also fold lengthwise. If you can remember to grade school this would be called “hot dog-style.” 

So, how do you know what style is right for you? Beyond just personal preference, you can consider where your card will most likely be displayed. Business offices may not have a cute place to hang cards, so a formal foldover card could be ideal to rest on a cabinet or someone's desk.

A personal card will likely be hung on someone's doorway or clipped on Christmas garland, so the most practical choice here is typically a flat card of standard size. You could also consider a postcard – but more on that later!

Swift Says (a tip, from us to you) – order extras, there will always be someone you forgot about and adding 10-25 cards extra added to your initial order will be much less expensive than placing a reorder. And don’t forget a couple extras for you to keep, too!

Should I design my own card or hire a professional graphic designer?

No matter what you do – just make sure you submit a hi-res file for printing. It’s possible to create your own holiday card using a free online platform like Canva, but there is also a big value in working with a talented graphic designer that can make something that is memorable and true to your brand.

If you choose the DIY route, you’ll want to make sure that you use high-quality images and logos and prepare the file for print properly. Here’s our guide to making your files print-ready!

Swift Says – If you’re using an template found online, make sure you have correct permissions to use and print it!

MAILING

Should I use an envelope or mail as a postcard?

While a postcard is fun and unique, an envelope will add a level of protection (literally) to your card and ensure there is no damage in transit, or if there is a jam in the post office sorting machines. Envelopes also offer additional options to personalize and add style to your card – think: a gold-lined envelope or a contoured flap with a personalized sticker or wax seal. 

Want more envelope talk? We got you – check out our blog all about envelope types and sizes, too!

Should I use stamps or a mail permit?

Personal cards are typically sent with stamps – and our suggestion here is always to get the USPS seasonal holiday collection ones, because why not? Be festive! Plus, you can order them online or pick them up from your local post office. If you need a large amount of stamps, we suggest ordering online and ordering early!

For business cards, the answer depends on your budget. Stamps can be a really beautiful detail, but there is a lower cost in mailing cards without physical stamps. We can help guide you through this process if it’s something you’d like to explore! To start, you can read our tips on making a mailer list.

Should I address them by hand, print labels, or have them printed on the envelope?

There are a lot of options for addressing your cards! If you’re sending with a mail permit via presort, the print shop will have to print the addresses.

If you’re not sending via a mail permit, the options are unlimited! You can host your team for an afternoon of address-writing, card-stuffing, card-licking, and stamp-sticking. Put on some holiday classics and make an afternoon of it, and be sure to reward them with hot cocoa or eggnog and holiday cookies.

Or, you can have your print shop print the addresses directly on the envelopes. At Swift Printing, we can do this in black, white, or any color ink, and it’ll look 10x better than a printed label address.

For personal holiday cards, we recommend printing addresses for ease and efficiency. However, we wouldn’t ever tell you no if you wanted to break out your ink and nibs for calligraphy. The world is your oyster! 

Swift Says – You can add a design element to the envelope, like decorative holly or “Postal Service Please Deliver To” in big, swoopy letters. If you do this, be sure you follow the post office guidelines for where you can put content and where you can not.

Should I use foil or other special finishings?

This is where the real fun begins! Gold or silver foil, soft touch, embossing, debossing, letterpressing, laminating are all going to elevate your style. When planning your budget and timeline, be sure to incorporate these finishing touches because they will change the cost and printing times. Depending on your quantity, the cost per card can change drastically because most of the expense is built into the setup. As a general guideline, if you’re ordering less than 200 cards, it might not make sense for your budget to do special finishes. If you’ve got the printing budget, we’re happy to do whatever quantity you would like.

Swift Says – If you want to maximize your holiday card impact, hand-deliver them with a sweet treat and a smile (extra bonus points if you bring Santa or a furry friend turned reindeer along!).

Sending a holiday card at the end of the year can be a really nice way to thank your clients and customers or connect with loved ones. Personal Christmas & holiday cards are a delight to give and receive! 

Ready to spread some holiday cheer? Click here to request a quote or give us a call at (616) 459-4263. We’d love to help you make magic for your team, clients, and customers this year.

What are your opinions on the best practices for Christmas and holiday cards?

Swift Printing is a family-owned print shop in Grand Rapids, Michigan. At Swift, our blood runs ink and we live to make your work shine. We print for people, businesses, and organizations – and even have a walk-up copy center on our beloved Bridge Street.