Custom Holiday Card Showdown

Why I got my jollies at two sites in 2011.

Sending holiday cards is a tradition I’m proud to continue. Now that I have a few under my belt, it’s really cool to line them up and see how Aidan’s grown. This year we’ve also added little brother Rylan to the mix. Choosing where to create our cards was the tough part. Richly colored catalogs for Snapfish, Shutterly, and Tiny Prints (now owned by Shutterfly) arrived in my mailbox almost simultaneously. At the same time, my inbox was flooded with holiday offers from each company. All promised to help me create custom holiday cards to celebrate the season better than the others. So who won my business? Not one, but two sites.

Folded Greeting Cards Winner: Snapfish

For years, I’ve shared family photos and created photo books with Snapfish. Full disclosure: I’m also currently working with the fabulous marketing team in downtown San Francisco. My desk is right across from a lot of the folks in customer support. (Convenient, right?) I got a code for 40% off plus free shipping — an offer that was available to everyone — and quickly created unique personalized folded greeting cards for my kids’ teachers as well as a few family members. Sturdy cardstock stationery and a sophisticated matte finish make them look amazing. They really are the perfect way to say thanks and deliver monetary holiday cheer.

Paper tip: Snapfish lets you choose stationery cardstock (100 lb or 130 lb) or glossy photo paper. I always choose the lovely, substantial cardstock unless I'm really pressed for time and need to pick up my order at Walgreens. (FYI: Pick up is also available at Walmart, Meijer, and Duane Reade.)

The real deciding factor was design. Aidan and Rylan look awesome on the front of their cards. I swear, one card — the one at the top of this post — could be a catalog cover. (Yes, I think my kids are cute. Get over it.) I added custom messages and a few extra photos to the inside and back of the cards, and I was done.

Rylan

Aidan

Flat Photo Cards Winner: Tiny Prints

For the 2009 and 2010 holiday seasons, I had the pleasure of working with the Tiny Prints marketing team and created my holiday cards with the site both years. It once again gets my business for flat photo cards to send to the family. The reasons are simple: I found a design I liked that also fit my photos and Tiny Prints will mail my cards for me.

Again, it comes down to design. For the most part, I think holiday cards should showcase the entire family, and the family photo I wanted to feature is a portrait (vs. landscape orientation). Believe it or not, it’s really hard to find a flat card layout that doesn’t cut off someone’s head or slap a design element over a family member. (Who needs that baby in the picture anyway? Wait, I do.)

I ended up going with a square card on stationery cardstock. The collage layout fit my photos (the biggest plus) and lovely grey color palette lets us shine. The design continues onto the back, too, so the card looks really special. Hubby wanted the squared corners, but I could’ve rounded them off for 10¢ per card.

Avoid the mad dash to the Post Office. Balancing work, two kids, holiday events, and shopping is not easy. I honestly don’t know if I’d have time to send holiday cards without the Tiny Prints mailing service. When placing my order, I chose to pre-print my return address, pay for stamps, and have Tiny Prints address and mail my cards. My address book on Tiny Prints is full of honest to goodness physical mailing addresses for the folks I send cards to throughout the year. All I had to do was select addresses and I was done. The remainder of my order was sent to me (with a free shipping deal) so hubby can bring a few cards to work. Easy.

Postage tip: Square envelopes require extra postage. I chose rectangular envelopes shaped to secure my square cards. They’re no extra charge at Tiny Prints and mail with standard postage.

Bottom line is that I love all of my holiday cards, but I’m still surprised I’m not down to one site. Which card do you like best? Where did you decide to shop this year? Leave a comment and let me know.