As Oprah says, Live Your Best Life – let your loved ones know how much you love them with your own words next to your own adorable picture.

RedStamp tip :: Make your cards more personal by penning a handwritten note and/or signature. Or tuck in a photo or some other fun little momento from your fabulous year.

Luxe Boxed Cards

With an air of sophistication, these cards make a statement.  Featuring letterpress printing, ornate design, fine paper, and/or hand-crafted details.

Top Designers: Snow & Graham, Anna Griffin, Elum, Unique Artistry, Waste Not Paper,

Funny Boxed Cards

There is a lot to laugh about during the holidays. These cards bring about the very best in sassy + sophisticated humor.

Top Designers: Anne Taintor and Seltzer

Eco-Friendly Boxed Cards

Good for the environment AND good for the season. Today’s eco-friendly cards are printed with soy-based inks, made with sustainable energy, and/or printed on luxe recycled materials like fine paper + wood.

Top Designers: Caroline Gardner, Smudge Ink, Night Owl Paper Goods, Anne Taintor

Business Appropriate Boxed Cards

Suitable for the workplace, show your appreciation with greetings that can be enjoyed by people of all faiths + beliefs.

Top Designers: KOKO NY, Thomas Paul, George Stanley, Prentiss Douthit, Snow & Graham, Smudge Ink

Photo Boxed Cards

Most often sent by families with children {pets count!} or people who have celebrated big life events {wedding, graduation, retirement, travel}. Photo cards are a great way of visually keeping in touch with long-distance friends + relatives.

Top Designers: Page Stationery, paper*ink studio, Prentiss Douthit, Roger la Borde

There are a lot of holiday card options out there. We are often asked how we choose what type of card we send.

Rules of Thumb

• Timing:  Acceptable sends start the day after Thanksgiving up to December 20th for domestic to guarantee delivery by December 25th.  For a full list of dates and international cutoff dates, see the USPS Shipping Cutoff Dates.
• Quantity: Everyone loves a card, so if you’re wavering put them on your list.  If there’s one occasion all year to extend your list, holiday is the time.
  
• Add-ons: Family update letter, hand-written notes, loose photos, gift cards.  But consider a kind sentiment gift enough.

Which to Choose?

When it comes to holiday cards, there are really five options.  Below is a grid that defines each type and weighs them across various criteria.

Our back loading dock.

1. Computer produced adhesive labels
2. Printed envelopes
3. Handwritten

Technically, computer produced adhesive labels are acceptable for large mailings but printed envelopes are a little more elegant. When possible, handwritten addresses are the most personal and polite. Let the situation dictate the route you take.

Ink Color

Formal Uses (condolences and invitations, for example)

You can never go wrong with black ink. Technically, dark blue is okay, but black always works. Just look at your wardrobe, if you need proof.

Fun and Informal Correspondence

Colored ink is great.

Envelopes

Color just gets in the way. Blue and black ink are best because these colors don’t hamper the automated mailing equipment at your post office.

Pens

We may obsess about stationery, but we’re not snobs—you don’t need a Mont Blanc pen. Just avoid ballpoint pens.

Acceptance

• Formal invitations should be accepted or regretted in the third person
• They should always be handwritten with blue or black ink and should be addressed to the host
• The old etiquette regime dictates you respond on formal, personal stationery
• Consider who you are responding to and use your best judgment
• Including the date and time in your response is a polite way to let your host/hostess know you have the correct date and time of their event

Basic formal acceptance example

Mr. and Mrs. William Joyner
accept with pleasure
the kind invitation of
Dr. and Mrs. Christopher Walter
to dinner
on Saturday, the twentieth of August
at half past seven o’clock

Wedding Acceptance Example

Dr. and Mrs. Katherine McCormack
accept with pleasure
the kind invitation of
Mr. and Mrs. William Joyner
for Saturday, the fifteenth of June
at half past five o’clock

Regrets

• When you’re forced to send your regrets, you’re not required to explain why you can’t attend, but we think a truthful and brief explanation is considerate
• If replying to multiple parties, list all their names on separate lines. This format works for almost any occasion, from dinner parties to black-tie weddings

Basic formal regret example

Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Villa
regret that
due to a previous engagement
they are unable to accept
the kind invitation of
Mr. and Mrs. William Joyner
For Saturday, the twentieth of August