Christmas Card Designs

Have you ever thought about how many things are designed, and how many designs are created each year? We have a design for just about everything and anything in our lives. In particular, artistic graphic designs are used for virtually every sort of communication we utilize in our day-to-day expressions, and certainly in various holiday missives.

The Greeting Card Association conducted a survey right after Christmas in 2004. That survey, called “The Emotional State of the Union,” was held to determine American’s emotional connections and plans for communication. It showed that the majority of Americans feel that the more traditional forms of communication, especially the greeting card, make people feel more special than other ways of touching base—e-mail, text messaging, even phone calls.

They really didn’t have to do a survey to figure this out. Cards show that you care, they make you feel happy, they lift the spirits. Christmas cards account for more than 60% of all seasonal holiday cards sold in the United States. It’s a big corporate, and one in which most Americans partake in some way or another—either sending, receiving, or both. If you’re one of those people who can’t conceive of the holidays without sending out Christmas cards, consider how much fun it is to search out different designs for your cards this year.

A single card has such power to touch its recipient. Think of how special just the right design will make your Aunt Martha feel, and your best friend, Jane, and your brother, Bernie. Every year, there’s something new and just about each season, there are specialty designs, created for that year alone. It’s up to us to find our favorite Christmas card designs and then—send those cards out to make everyone happy!

Should you go with a photo card of your family? Or a traditional Christmas card design of the tree next to the fireplace, lights and decorations twinkling from both? Or a scene of Santa and his reindeer flying through the snow on their mission to bring presents to all the children? Or maybe you’re into humor and you want to send out cards with a holiday cartoon on the front. So many choices.

And that’s what it boils down to . . . choices. If you don’t find what you’re looking for in the store, why not decide yourself what you want your card to look like? Christmas card designs are limited only to the imaginations of those sending them. You may have a favorite piece of artwork created by your child. Why not take a good picture of it and have that put on your cards? Or maybe you’re rather artistic yourself. You can put together your own Christmas card design and go to a printer—in your neighborhood or online—and have them help you make it into a very personal card to share with all those people important to you.

A new type of card, one that has been gaining in popularity, is the musical card. Companies are now including tiny sound boxes inside the card and when it is opened, the music sounds. This card isn’t usually sold in bulk but, rather, in single cards off the rack. Still, many love to send this Christmas card design when they are picking out a special card for a special person.
Another usually single-purchase card is a card that includes an option inside to record a 10-second message . . . “Merry Christmas, Bernie!” This design will cost a bit more than any sort of bulk cards but, again, for that very special someone it’s a great Christmas card design and a way to make sure your recipient knows how important they are to you.

Do you like to give back while sending your holiday cards? Go for a Christmas card design which has been created for a charity which you support. Maybe you are an animal lover and you want to donate to an organization that gives a portion of all its Christmas card sales to adopted pets. Or you want your card effort this year to benefit breast cancer awareness. There are new charity Christmas card designs put out each season by any number of organizations and you can pick and choose your personal favorite.

There’s an African American line of cards called Mahogany, and a Hispanic line called Sinceramente Hallmark. Christmas card designs are included at this time of year and you can utilize their designs to put your own personal signature on the cards you distribute.

If you’re one of those people who love to share new family photos every year, why not buy frame cards with Christmas card designs? These are usually in sets, often boxes, of maybe 10 or 12 per box. On the outside, they are a frame with a Christmas scene, and the middle is an opening for you to add your own photo. This sends an actual photograph out with each card, and the inside gives your holiday sentiment, along with your family signature.

What are your favorite scenes? What type of artwork do you like? Do you have a thing for flowers or still life or cute babies or trees or even dogs? It’s quite possible that your town has a local arts organization. Visit them, either in person or online, and see if they are selling Christmas cards designed by local artists. This is a great way to support your local arts community while, at the same time, getting unique Christmas card designs which will be enjoyed and appreciated by all to whom you send.

Christmas is a very personal holiday. While each of us may celebrate it in our own individual way, most of us tend to want to put our own stamp on our celebrations. Sending out Christmas cards with designs chosen by you, to be sent out to your loved ones, is one of the many ways to ensure everyone knows you care to send them the best you can send.