Trying to avoid the typical store-bought holiday cards and generic messages? Knowing how to put together a customized holiday card and personalized message can help facilitate communicating your sincere affection to friends and loved ones.

atlantagraphicsandprinting.com gathered the following information, history, ideas, and tips on designing the perfect personalized holiday card.

Holiday Card Origins

The first commercially produced holiday card was commissioned by Sir Henry Cole and designed by John Callcott Horsley in London in 1843. The central picture showed three generations of a family toasting the card’s recipient (on either side were scenes of charity, with food and clothing being donated to the poor).

The first Christmas card designed by John Callcott in 1843

Photo Credit: smithsonianmag.com

Note: Horsle wanted a timesaving solution to answer holiday correspondence that was piling up.

Holiday Card Message Ideas

When referring to cards for the Christmas season, there are many ways to express your sentiments other than the typical “Merry Christmas.” Generally, “Happy Holidays” is accepted as the broadest and most inclusive greeting during this season. If you are certain that someone celebrates Christmas, you can settle with “Merry Christmas,” but you may be inclined to offer more of a greeting. Consider the following messages for your personalized holiday card:

  • May your home be filled with all the joys of the season
  • May the New Year bring you new light
  • May your New Year be filled with love, health, and happiness
  • May your holiday season be filled with hot cocoa, warm cookies, and laughter
  • Whatever is beautiful, whatever is meaningful, whatever brings you happiness
  • Now we can finally catch that drink we have been talking about all year. Happy Holidays!
  • I’m so grateful to have you in my life
  • Wishing you all of the Hope, Wonder, and Joy that the season can bring!
  • Wishing you a season filled with warm moments and cherished memories
  • Wishing you a Happy Holiday and a joyful New Year
  • Wishing Joy and Peace during this holiday season
  • Good wishes to you and your family
  • Warmest wishes of the season from our family to yours
  • Let us cherish family and friends this Holiday Season
  • The gift of love, the gift of peace, the gift of happiness
  • Season’s Greetings and a Happy New Year
  • Peace, Joy, and Love to you and your family
  • Hope your holiday is filled with nothing but joy

Tip: Leave blank space for writing. Sending handwritten messages in your holiday cards is essential. The gesture conveys warm sentiments and demonstrates that you care about the recipient. By taking the time to handwrite a portion of or the entire message, you show people that they matter to you and that you significantly value the relationship.

Holiday Card Photo Tips

Holiday card design includes warm messages and photos

If there’s a single, good-quality family photo that you’re going to capture all year, it will be the one that you select for your holiday card. This might be the only piece of mail you send out to your loved ones all year, and this is one of the few opportunities to get everyone (pets included) in the same frame. Consider the following tips to help you capture the perfect holiday card image:

  1. Dress in clothes and colors that highlight your personality.
  2. Coordinate your clothes without mirroring each other.
  3. Select a meaningful location for your backdrop.
  4. Give yourself options – Shoot formal (everyone looking at the camera) and informal (interacting with each other) images.
  5. Capture images while doing something like baking cookies, frosting a cake, wrapping gifts, etc.
  6. Only use props that you are actually going to use. Don’t just hold a book; read one.
  7. Frame your images so that 70% of the picture is of your family and pets. The other 30% should showcase the location, activity, or imagery.
  8. Get everyone smiling, singing, telling a story, or whispering a secret (everyone should appear natural and happy).
  9. Capture images in black and white as well (these images can turn out spectacular).

The more fun you have taking pictures for a holiday card, the better options you will have when selecting the winning image.

If time or circumstances are not in your favor, you can search pixabay.com for thousands of free themed images or go to Photoshop and make a collage of images taken throughout the year.

Note: Wardrobe selections do not have to be “Christmas-centered.” Dress appropriately for the climate and location.

Tip: Work with a graphic artist at your local print shop to assemble the perfect image, artwork, or drawing with the most appropriate message for your holiday card.

Why Send Holiday Cards?

Sending personalized holiday cards is so important because it conveys warm, caring sentiments, showing that you are interested in the recipient’s well-being. By taking the time to handwrite a card, you show people that they matter to you.

Holiday Card Tips

In this article, you discovered information, history, ideas, and tips on designing and assembling the perfect holiday card.

Knowing how to capture the perfect image for a holiday-themed card and combining it with the most appropriate (heart-felt) message will help you show your friends and loved ones the sincerest care for them and their well-being.

Relying on store-bought holiday cards can leave you feeling awkward and embarrassed, repetitively sending out the same “cookie-cutter” message.

Sources:
greetingcard.org/industry-resources/history/
sloganshub.org/holiday-card-sayings/
thepioneerwoman.com/holidays-celebrations/g37791990/christmas-card-photo-ideas/

Photo Credit: smithsonianmag.com/history/history-christmas-card-180957487/