Christmas cards are one of the most personal ways to share holiday wishes with family and friends. Whether you want to showcase a favorite family photo, celebrate a milestone from the year, or simply send a festive greeting, creating custom Christmas cards is easier than ever. With the right photos, a design that fits your style, and a heartfelt message, you can create holiday cards that become keepsakes long after the season ends.
How to Make Christmas Cards in 5 Easy Steps
- Choose the photos you want to feature on your card.
- Select a Christmas card design that matches your style.
- Customize your layout, colors, fonts, and text.
- Add your holiday greeting and personal message.
- Review, order, and send your cards to family and friends.
Why Create Christmas Cards with Shutterfly?
Shutterfly makes it easy to turn your favorite photos into personalized Christmas cards. Choose from hundreds of holiday card designs, customize fonts, colors, and layouts, and add extra photos or family updates to the back of your card at no additional cost. Whether you prefer a classic photo card, a modern design, or a festive foil card, there are options for every style.
To make holiday mailing easier, Shutterfly also offers free recipient address printing and Mail for Me, which can address, stamp, and mail your cards directly to recipients for you.
Choose the Best Photos for Your Christmas Cards
The photos you choose set the tone for your Christmas card. A single family portrait can create a timeless look, while a collage design allows you to share highlights from the entire year. Consider photos that feel meaningful, whether that’s a professional family photoshoot, candid moments from everyday life, vacation memories, a new baby, or favorite pictures with your pets.
When selecting images, look for photos that are bright, clear, and high resolution. If you’re using multiple photos, choose images with similar lighting and colors to create a more cohesive design. Horizontal photos often work best for landscape card layouts, while vertical images are ideal for portrait-oriented designs.
Pick a Christmas Card Style
Your card design should reflect your personality and the story you want to tell. Traditional Christmas cards feature classic holiday colors, seasonal artwork, and elegant typography. Modern designs often use clean layouts, simple fonts, and minimal embellishments. Families looking for something playful may prefer colorful designs, multi-photo layouts, or cards with humorous messages.
Popular Christmas card styles include:
- Photo Christmas cards
- Non-photo Christmas cards
- Religious Christmas cards
- Modern Christmas cards
- Funny Christmas cards
- Multi-photo Christmas cards
Customize Your Christmas Card Design
Once you’ve selected a design, personalize it with details that make it your own. Add family names, write a holiday greeting, and adjust fonts, colors, and layouts to match your preferences. You can also add extra photos, messages, or family updates to the back of your card design at no additional cost. Small design choices can make a big difference in creating a card that feels unique.
Many Christmas card designs also offer premium upgrades such as foil accents, decorative trim options, and premium cardstock. These finishing touches can elevate the overall look while keeping the focus on your photos and message.
Write a Meaningful Christmas Card Message
A thoughtful message helps make your Christmas card memorable. Some families prefer a simple greeting, while others include a short update about the past year. Whether your message is heartfelt, religious, humorous, or traditional, it should feel authentic to you.
Popular Christmas card messages include:
- Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
- Sending warm holiday wishes from our family to yours.
- May your holiday season be filled with joy, peace, and happiness.
- Merry Christmas and best wishes for the year ahead.
When to Order and Send Christmas Cards
Ordering your cards early gives you plenty of time to address, mail, and deliver them before the holiday rush. Many families begin creating their Christmas cards in October or November and mail them between late November and mid-December.
To save time, use Shutterfly’s free recipient address printing to have addresses printed directly on your envelopes. If you’d rather skip the mailing process altogether, Mail for Me can address, stamp, and mail your Christmas cards for you. Planning ahead helps ensure your cards arrive before the holiday rush.
Christmas Card Ideas
Need inspiration for your holiday card? Consider highlighting a favorite memory, milestone, or tradition from the past year. Some popular Christmas card ideas include:
- Family photo Christmas cards
- Multi-photo collage cards
- Pet Christmas cards
- Baby’s first Christmas cards
- Newlywed Christmas cards
- Travel-themed Christmas cards
- Religious Christmas cards
- Funny Christmas cards
Related Resources on Making Christmas Cards
Whether you’re creating a photo Christmas card, a traditional holiday greeting, or a festive collage of memories from the year, a personalized card is a meaningful way to stay connected during the holiday season. Explore the resources below for more Christmas card ideas, messages, and holiday inspiration.
Additional Resources:
