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A Timeline and Guide For Holiday Cards

Set up for success

Holiday cards bring extra cheer this time of year. Whether sending or receiving, they add a little spark of joy to the season. To ensure your greetings reach your loved ones right on schedule, we've crafted a timeline for when to send holiday cards that includes some of our top tips and tricks — guaranteeing the best holiday card experience yet.

Today

Choose Your Card

Begin browsing our custom Holiday Card Collection to find the perfect one for you. Have an idea of the number of photos or the greeting you want to share? Narrow down the search by using the filters to find your favorites.

If you prefer to let design lead you, we recommend starting your search with our new 2024 Holiday Card Collection — we’re certain you’ll find one that fits just right.

October

Select Photos & Gather Addresses

Selecting the right photos can be tricky. We recommend taking a quick scroll through the photos you’ve taken this year. Are there any that fit the bill? If not, it’s time to schedule a session with a local photographer or set up your own photoshoot.

It’s also wise to start compiling your list of recipients. We recommend building a list in Google Sheets that you can add to year after year and easily upload to your Artifact Uprising account. To add your recipient addresses, go to your account page and click on “Address Lists” in the left side navigation. Under “Contact Groups,” click on “add new group” and create a name for the group. Use our template to upload your contacts or add new contacts manually into the address module.

Early November

Design & Order

By now, you should have your card selected and addresses gathered — it’s go time. Finish designing your card in our editor by selecting your greeting, adding your photo (or photos), and customizing the message on the back. Some of our favorite ways to personalize cards are by recapping the year in a few typed sentences or by adding a handwritten note upon arrival. Next step: addressing. Simply create your contact list, hit checkout, and wait for a happy mail day.

While waiting for your cards to arrive, stop by the post office and pick up some stamps or order them online. It's important to note that if you ordered a square card or a postcard, you will need specific postage. It’s best to check with your local post office for how much additional postage is needed per card.

Late November

Stuff & Stamp

Your cards have arrived, hooray! It’s time to stuff and stamp (and address if they aren’t already). It's the perfect time to throw on your favorite holiday tunes, pour some hot chocolate, and set up a cozy assembly station. Quick tip: Don’t like licking the envelopes? Get a small bowl of water and a sponge or a small paintbrush to dab the adhesive.

Early December

Mail Them Off

All the hard work is done — now you just have to drop your happy holiday messages in the mail. Sending in late November or early December is a sure way to guarantee your Christmas card is one of the first your recipient opens. We're big fans of spreading holiday cheer early!

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

That’s it! Now you get to spread joy to loved ones near and far with no stress. For more details and tips to make the process seamless, explore our essential guide to holiday cards.