It’s that time of the year again; time to start frantically planning your Christmas cards for the upcoming holiday season. While it may seem far away, the deadline for getting a custom greeting card out in time for your family and friends to enjoy is coming up fast. But don’t panic! The team at Printing Unlimited is here to help you make the perfect custom Christmas card to send out to all your loved ones, right on schedule. Make your family Christmas card memorable and uniquely yours with our printing services, and follow our tips and tricks to get you started.
Take Your Family Photos Now
If you’re planning on taking a family photo for the front of your Christmas card, you should get that done as early as possible. While it may seem early, if you add up organizing the family for the photo, getting the photo sent to our services for digital copying, formatting the photos for your card, printing them, writing your messages in your card, and mailing them off, time goes fast. Keep in mind that if you’re using a professional photographer, you’ll want to book well in advance in order to stay on track and stress-free. If you don’t have a family photographer in mind, take a look at some of these local Fort McMurray family photographers:
Book your photographer and get it done early so you can check it off your list and not worry about it closer to crunch time.
Family Photo Styles to Try For Your Christmas Card
We’ve all seen the family photos with every family member – from Mom to Baby – dressed up in matching outfits in front of a Christmas themed background. It’s an easy style to do that can make everyone look good, but sometimes trying something different will spark the fun in making a family card. Try going the tacky Christmas Sweater route, or have everyone dress up as their favourite Christmas character, such as the Grinch or Buddy the Elf. You could also go for less “Christmas” oriented photos; for example, have your family members dress up in 1920s Hollywood Glam costumes, or take your photos while doing some fun family activities at Vista Ridge Park. From mini-golfing to exploring the aerial park, or even skiing when the ski runs open up again, taking your family photos here will make it more fun and memorable for the whole family. Don’t be afraid to try something different; it might just be what the family needs to make it a great memory and encourage them to participate if they’re the type to resist.
Offset Printing and Why It’s Perfect For Your Christmas Cards
When you’re in need of a high-quality printing job for your Christmas Cards, offset printing is a great choice. Printing Unlimited uses the Heidelberg printing press for its offset printing. The Heidelberg press is a state-of-the-art printing press that can produce any colour on the spectrum and prints them in vibrant, full-colour on any type of paper. Offset printing techniques are over 120 years old and have stuck around for a reason: offset printing produces impressive, high-quality and long-lasting products. Offset printing is perfect for something as personal and important as your Christmas Cards.
How to Brainstorm Ideas for Your Family Christmas Card
It can be difficult to brainstorm ideas for your family Christmas card, especially if you want to make yours unique. But there are plenty of resources to help inspire you, such as Pinterest, Instagram, or even print magazines. Start by brainstorming a list of what makes you think of the holidays: is it the smell of baking all those holiday desserts? The sound of sleigh bells in your favourite Christmas carol? Or is it the feeling of cosy blankets next to a warm fire with a mug of hot cocoa in hand, surrounded by family? Whatever brings the holidays to mind for you, write it down. Then, you can use those concepts to build an inspiration board on Pinterest. You can also look up others’ inspiration boards on Pinterest for ideas. If you’d rather scrapbook, you could also scour through old Christmas magazines, such as Martha Stewart’s magazine, to make your own inspiration board. Once you’ve got some photos and ideas going, bring in your Pinterest board or physical scrapbook and we’ll help you bring those ideas to life. With custom cards, there’s plenty of ways to go; if you’re ever struggling with ideas or need help with brainstorming, feel free to contact us — we’re here to help with expert advice.
What To Write in Your Custom Christmas Cards
It can be tricky to find the right words for your Christmas Cards, especially for your handwritten notes. This is when you’ll want to consider who you’re sending the cards to. Having a more generic message such as “Happy Holidays!” or “Season’s Greetings” works well when you’re sending the cards to a lot of people, and can easily be printed onto your cards with our printing equipment. But more personalized, handwritten messages can be a little trickier. For some recipients, sending a simple, short message of good wishes is enough. However, taking the time to handwrite a heartfelt message can be incredibly important, and special, this time of year. If you have the time and energy, handwrite a more personalized message for those you’re closer to. If you can’t, however, even a simple message in your card is enough for them to know you’re thinking of them.
When To Send out Your Custom Christmas Cards
You’ve got your beautiful cards all printed out and now it’s time to send them out. Depending on the destination for your cards, delivery times can vary significantly. If you’re sending your cards through Canada Post, check out these timelines for getting your cards sent on time:
- Within Fort McMurray: letter mail will be delivered within 2 business days.
- Within Alberta: letter mail will be delivered within 3 business days.
- Across Canada: letter mail could take 4 business days to deliver.
- International mail: time frames can vary wildly from a week to even a month depending on the location.
And of course, keep in mind that November and December are some of the busiest months of the year for postal services. With the huge volumes of mail and parcels to deliver, it may take even longer. We’d suggest starting your mailing process in mid-November to be on the safe side, and keep a checklist of everyone you’re sending one to so you can keep track.
Whether you’re taking a fun family photo for your custom Christmas cards, or picking a more traditional style, Printing Unlimited has everything you need to bring your vision to life. Our experts are here to help with any questions or advice you may need for making your Christmas cards. If you want to make custom Christmas cards to send out in time for the holidays, come see us in-store or contact us through our website to get started.
