If you haven't done Christmas cards yet, it's time to do it.  Out - thank goodness are done, printed and in the post.  One 'mistake' more of that later.

A poor card is easy.  Write a greeting in Word.  Cut and paste a picture, add some word art text for 'Happy Christmas' and print on your inkjet printer on heavier weight paper from Staples.   Then do a greeting on the reverse side.  (If you can print on it).   The quality of the output - especially the photo - will be poor, but it will have one major advantage.  It will be clear that you did it - and  the recipient will know that you spent some time thinking of them.

So let's start

Who are the Audiences? 

Usually your life has several groups with shared interests - family, church, clubs, local interests, business contacts including old colleagues and then the rest - friends, tradespeople,  neighbours etc. 

What Photo? 

As I say many times your card reflects you.    For many your family is a good one - round a group or an event - the only contact with people from the past is the Christmas cards - so the recipient will see that 6 year old child they remember now graduating from university.  With old colleagues or business the contact is more individual.  They are not interested in your grandchildren, but you doing a parachute jump - that would be something!  Many people like to have the family  by the Christmas tree.  Unless the children are young use one of last year's photos.  Who would know?

What Message(s)  

Have several  round the areas of interest.    Be interesting and not too long.  Don't bore people with too much family stuff.  Anecdotes and even controversial views , preselected without offence,  will show your values - and 'you'.  As most will know I am an evangelical Christian. 

What Design?

 A scrapbook like approach festooned with balloons and the like would never reflect me.  But some good framing and possibly a mask - that would be ideal with any good software (see below)

How produced? 

One would think that with a veste d interests in print-your-own supplies I would never advocate having a factory printed card.  But putting several hundred cards through your inkjet printer will be time consuming and quite expensive in terms of ink (less of cause if you have a bulk feed continuous ink system).  If you vary the card according to the audience to you have a good enough run?

Outside Printing In favour of outside printing at places like Photobox, Jessops, Snapfish etc. - The easiest way is to make Christmas cards online through a site that offers card-making software. Many offer offer card-making programs and templates that are easy to use, and can accommodate short runs.. In addition, most online Christmas photo cards come complete with matching envelopes. And often you can select a non standard size.  But it is clearly a factory product - on factory paper.

Do it yourself? - That's the rest of this blog.

What software?  What additional support material?

 A lot depends of the style.  Greeting Card Factory gives a lot of scrapbook type templates, if that is what you want.  I prefer working with dg Foto Art - more formal.  Another is to use a normal package such as Photoshop Elements and incorporate Christmas items.  A good source for these is Printable Heaven- in Southend Essex.

 What Paper?

Ordinary printer paper is not usually good enough quality and will look like exactly what it is. You cabn show the difference by using a slightly textured card or paper or a good quality matte.   If you are showing oif the photo then use a gloss or satin paper.  But make sure that you can print the greeting on the reverse.  For example our Olmec  satin and gloss is not suitable.  That is why we recommend the Tetenal Gloss/Matte.

Also make sure that the paper feeds easily through your machine.  That was my mistake (I guess I knew anyway) - but we had a frustrated order last for 315gsm textured A6 - so I was using them.  Feeding 400 by hand through the printer which is printing in high quality was tedious.  And I have an Epson 2880.  Although OPUSalbums.com sells a some very nice high quality papers don't use them if you have a lot to produce.  Of course if you want something really exclusive then the extra effort will be worthwhile.

What Size and Style?

I was looking at the Photobox site and everything was A6.  I think they are working down to a cost!  Be distinctive and have something different from everybody else.  Have a look at the work that I have done on greeting card sizes - My Blog "Greeting Cards - It's an Outrage"

How to set it off

If you feel that way inclined add some tape or a stamp from a good scrapbooking supplier.  Again - it adds individuality - but don't overdo it.

And finally the envelope

Unless you are doing something really special when a box - not an envelope would be appropriate, just remember that, particularly at Christmas or birthdays people are getting a lot of cards through the post.  They are opened and the envelope is trashed immediately.  So a good white envelope from Staples or Viking is adequate.  However if you want to get an envelope matching your card in quality try Simply Envelopes or Ideal Envelopes.

But Remember

There must be something personal with the card.  Otherwise to be frank you might as well send an e-card.  Are you a friend I remember - or somebody on the list we send to because they send to us.  People are real.  A little handwritten note on the card.  "How's Jim getting on at school?",  "How did the operation go?".  Maybe that will re-engage them - by letter, e-mail or even Facebook.

God bless - and I hope you have a good run up to Christmas.  You will get my message later.

Kind regards

Daniel Roberts

OPUSalbums.com

PS - Things are getting back to normal.  UPS has been pretty good; and DHL assure us that they will recommence normal service next week.  Royal Mail is OK now - and their collections have resumed.