What holiday card designs are
Holiday card designs are printed card layouts made for Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year, and general winter greetings. Most are folded cards in A7 (5 x 7 in) or A2 (4.25 x 5.5 in) format, printed on 270 to 350 gsm cardstock, and mailed in a matching envelope. Flat photo cards at 4 x 6 in and 5 x 7 in are the other main format. A design covers four decisions: size, paper, finish, and artwork.
Sizes and formats
- A2: 4.25 x 5.5 in folded. Lowest paper and postage cost. Envelope is A2.
- A7: 5 x 7 in folded. The most common holiday size. Envelope is A7.
- Flat photo card: 4 x 6 in or 5 x 7 in, printed one side or two.
- Square: 5.5 x 5.5 in or 6 x 6 in. Square envelopes are nonmachinable in the US and cost extra postage.
Paper and finish
Cardstock of 100 lb (270 gsm) to 120 lb (325 gsm) cover weight folds without cracking along the spine. Uncoated and matte stocks take handwriting and stamp ink. Gloss stocks hold photo detail. Foil stamping, letterpress, embossing, and die-cutting raise unit cost and add one to two weeks to a print schedule. Photo files need 300 dpi at final print size; a 5 x 7 in image is 1500 x 2100 pixels.
Design directions that sell
- Single photo, full bleed, short greeting in the lower third.
- Photo grid of three to six images from the year.
- Typography-led: one script line, one serif line, wide margins.
- Kraft or recycled stock with a single foil accent.
- Illustrated family portrait or pet portrait.
- Die-cut shape: tree, wreath, or arch top.
Color and type
Red, green, gold, silver, navy, and kraft brown dominate holiday work. Two typefaces are enough: a display face for the greeting and a text face for the message and address block. Keep the greeting under six words. Keep body copy at 9 pt or larger.
Copy and layout
A card message runs in three parts: greeting, two to four sentences of news, and a sign-off with names. Put the return address on the back of the card or use printed envelope addressing. Leave a 0.25 in margin from the trim edge for text.
Timing and mailing
Order custom printing by early November. USPS first-class mail for a 1 oz letter takes 2 to 5 business days in the continental US, and the December rush adds delay. Cards over 1 oz need extra postage. The Greeting Card Association puts US greeting card sales near 6.5 billion units a year, with Christmas the largest category.