Custom Cards
Get personal this holiday season with greetings designed by you
By Robin Roberts
When you not only care to send the very best, but care to send anything at all, why not make it personal? Following are five sites to help you design your own customized Christmas cards and calendars.
1) Vista Print
10 cards starting at $10; wall, desk or poster calendars from $7
Pick from thousands of design templates or create your own. Add up to 12 photos, write a tailor-made cheer and/or company logo, upload and approve your design, then check out. Your cards, with matching envelopes (personalized address labels and tags are also available), printed on premium glossy, matte, linen or recycled paper, arrive within two weeks with Economy shipping ($7.99), and within three business days with Express delivery ($19.99).
2) Snapfish
http://www.snapfish.ca/snapfishca/cardsapps/upc=5×7+folded+cards+rev2
$3.95 for 1 to 4 cards, to $1.45 for 50+; customized calendars start at $19.99
A variety of fast upload options (100 photos at a time), such as web, mobile and email, make these cards quick and easy. Browse over 200 designs, or customize your own. PictureMover software lets you move your photos off your camera to your computer and into your Snapfish account every time. Organize your photos into albums, write captions, and ask your friends to write festive comments in your own Guest Book. Ships in 3-5 days for as low as $1.49
3) Cafe Press
http://www.cafepress.ca/make/custom-greeting-cards
Package of 10, including envelopes, $25.50; wall calendar, $19.99
Use the easy online design tool to personalize your photos, greeting, size and paper options and have your cards in less than a week. No set-up fees, no minimum order but there’s a discount on bulk orders. Create a calendar with faces (furry or flesh), art or travel pix, or just one image for the whole year (or 18 months). Ships within a week from $13.
4) Zazzle
http://www.zazzle.ca/greeting+cards
$3.35 per card
These high-end cards use ultra-heavyweight 120-lb stock with gloss finish, ideal for multiple overlapping images such as bordered designs, or shapes with non-rectangular edges. Shipping costs $4.59 for delivery within two business days.
5) Canada Post
$3.25 per card, including envelope, to $1.70 for 50 cards
Canada Post will not only deliver your Christmas cards (it’s in the Santa clause) they’ll print and address them too. Just upload your photos and message, choose an envelope (blank, addressed, postage paid) and they do the rest. No more losing your Yule cool standing in line at the post office.
Robin Roberts 