Beach Themed
Christmas Photo Cards
What Are Christmas Photo Cards?
Christmas photo cards are holiday greeting cards that typically feature pictures of families, kids, couples, or even pets. There are different styles of Christmas photo cards ranging from a single photo with a simple holiday greeting to more elaborate photo collages of family members or meaningful events. Because people love seeing photos of their friends and relatives during the holiday season, Christmas photo cards are a great way to share and connect.
This beach Christmas photo card magically transforms your family pictures into a painterly free-form watercolor using painted masks and overlays “behind the scenes.” Just upload your photo an watch the the magic happen automatically!
What to Look for When Buying Christmas Photo Cards
When you're shopping for Christmas photo cards, there are a few things you'll want to keep in mind. First, think about the style of the card. Do you want something retro or modern? Simple and minimalistic or bright and festive? Funny or sophisticated? Once you decide on a style, you can focus on finding the perfect fit, color, and design elements for your family Christmas photos.
Here’s an example of a single image family beach Christmas photo shoot with a modern festive greeting. The focus is on the picture of the family, with a dark overlay on the bottom to accent the super cute greeting “Merry and Bright— and Sunny!” It’s a template holiday photo card, so it includes an area for the family name and year, if you choose.
Where Can You Buy Beach Themed Christmas Photo Cards?
Beach Christmas cards are fun, and kind of a niche market. But, as more people are choosing cards that reflect their personal interests and hobbies, they are much easier to find. Purchasing beach themed photo Christmas cards online is super easy, allows you to personalize names, customize the coastal design, add your own family photos, and even add a personal printed message. What a great way to share your family's beach pictures with everyone in your circle! Our personal favorite for holiday photo cards (as you probably guessed) is Zazzle. We love their 100% money-back guarantee, the high quality of the printing, and the complete control of customization. You can also purchase family photo cards in person at large chain stores like Target, CVS, and Walmart.
With so many different styles to choose from now, it can be tough to decide which one perfectly matches the feel of your beach photo shoot or those beautiful sun-kissed pictures from your family vacation. Here is a quick guide to help you choose the perfect beach themed Christmas photo card for your family this holiday season.
Here’s an example of a simple modern minimalist beach Christmas photo card with one family image. The translucent beachy blue watercolor frame automatically blends with your photo to create an artistic beach painting feel.
A Guide to Buying Christmas Photo Cards for Your Beach Pictures
Do you want a traditional Christmas card design, or something more unique? Consider the overall look you want to achieve. There are tons of great beach themed Christmas photo cards available, so take some time to browse through your options before making a final decision. We highly recommend shopping online, where you’ll be able to see exactly how your photos look embedded in the overall layout of the card. Sometimes a card that looks great with the example photo doesn’t fit as well as the pictures we want to use.
Another clean and minimal photo card example for the holidays— perfect for introducing a new baby! This type of framing will work best with a simple photo that’s not overly bright or busy. See how the frame highlights and accents the beauty of the baby’s face without being distracting.
What beachy style best matches your family's personality?
If you're a family that lives near the coast, then a beach themed card is the perfect way to show off your personality and spread some holiday cheer at the same time! But there are many variations of beach themes including nautical, vintage or retro, simple, modern, minimal, ocean conservation-minded, sailing and boating, and so forth. So choose the beach aesthetic that suits you to a tee!
This couple’s beach portrait is so striking and lovely that it works great with a super clean and simple Christmas photo card design to completely focus on the couple and their facial expressions, which are priceless. The silver foil printing gives the card a super modern feel as well.
Now, compare this card to the one above— same photo, same holiday greeting, and same exact design. But, the gold foil warms up the card, giving it a more traditional Christmas-y feel. Small variations like this can have a large impact on the overall look and feel of the card. This holiday photo card is quite versatile and appropriate for many types of family beach pictures.
Should you add a handwritten note on your Christmas photo card?
People LOVE to receive handwritten notes because it shows you cared enough to write to them individually. This makes your card even more special and memorable for your friends and loved ones.
What if you don't have time for handwritten Christmas messages?
If you're short on time or if your handwriting isn't the best, then you can always include a printed message on your card. Most printers have an option to add a personalized message on the card, but not all of them do, and not all holiday photo cards have designs that will accommodate this feature. But if you do add a customized Christmas verse or message, be sure to proofread it carefully before you print out your cards!
Here’s an example of a printed note on the back of a card. If you choose a good font, it gives the look of handwriting that makes the holiday greeting or newsy message even more personal. If you have a lot to say, this is a great way to share your family news without having your hand cramp!
How good is the quality of the design and printing?
Once you've decided on the overall style, take a look at the design elements on the card. Does it include a place for your photo (or photos)? Is the layout attractive and well-balanced? And finally, consider the quality of the paper and printing. Will your photos print nicely or look flat and dull? Consider the type of paper you want to use. Many printers offer a variety of paper stocks, from glossy photo paper to heavyweight cardstock. Make sure to select a paper that will give your cards a professional look and feel. You want your cards to look beautiful when they arrive in your loved ones' mailboxes, so make sure you're selecting a high-quality option.
Here’s an example of a “Merry Christmas” family photo card that can be printed on a variety of paper types, including matte (which is great for watercolor or painterly effects), semi-gloss (for a real pop to the photos), kraft (not always the best for standard types of family photos), ultra-thick, and even pearl shimmer for the most sophisticated and elegant of choices.
Is the Christmas card printer reputable?
So, you’ve found the perfect card and it looks great online— Congratulations! Now there’s one more critical step, printing the cards, and you need to find a reputable printer. With so many printing companies to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you search for the perfect printer for your Christmas cards. First, make sure that your printer has high quality paper (preferably with eco-friendly and recycled selections). Second, pay attention to turnaround time. Most printers will have a standard turnaround time of 5-7 business days. However, if you need your cards sooner, look for a printer that offers rush shipping. Finally, make certain that the printer has a good return policy— preferably a no-questions-asked money-back guarantee. For instance, when you order cards on Zazzle, they have a 100% guarantee return policy for full refund or replacement within 30 days if you’re not satisfied for any reason. By keeping these factors in mind, you'll be sure to find a reputable printer that can help make your Christmas cards extra special.
This simple watercolor framed Merry Christmas greeting offers an updated but understated stylistic twist on the typical family beach photo shoot. The look is candid and engaging, almost certainly bringing a smile to the receiver. This a nice cross between the painterly free-form watercolor family photo card and the modern, minimal Christmas card photo designs featured above.
One more important note for printing family photo cards…
One very important thing to keep in mind is that computer, tablet, and phone screens are lit, meaning that the images can look much brighter and more vibrant than they will when printed with ink on paper— even with the highest quality materials and printers. Another variable is the color calibration of monitor and the printing system used by the printer, so you may notice slight (or even significant) color shifts from what you see on the screen to the card that you actually hold in your hand. But, none of that really matters so long as the end product, your family beach Christmas photo card, looks good to the people you’re sending it to. They’re not going to be comparing the card to your monitor, they’re going to be looking at your wonderful family and smiling! So as long as the overall look is good— send those cards and make your people happy!
OK… one last example! Remember the great beach couples photo from above? This is the same photograph, but it’s placed in a watercolor frame style of Christmas card. See how the picture of the couple is softened so much by the framing of the watercolor design, which lends such an artistic beach aesthetic to the card?
In Summary
Christmas photo cards are greeting cards that typically feature pictures of families or friends and can be personalized with a message.
When shopping for Christmas photo cards, first decide on the style and then find a card that fits the family photos.
Photo Christmas cards are a fun way to share your favorite pictures with friends and family.
A handwritten note on a Christmas photo card makes the card more special and memorable.
If you're short on time or your handwriting isn't the best, you can always include a printed message on your holiday card.
Select a style for your card and make sure that the design includes elements that you like, includes space for photos, and features high quality paper and printing.
As you search for a reputable printer to print your Christmas cards, pay attention to paper quality, turnaround time, and return policy.
Keep in mind that computer screens show images differently than printed cards, but as long as the card looks good to the recipient, it doesn't matter! Now go ahead and make people smile!
The Bottom Line
Christmas photo cards are a wonderful way to share your family's beach vacation photos with friends and relatives. Holiday photo cards are also a great way to show off your family's beach photos or tropical vacation shots this Christmas season! When shopping for photo cards, keep in mind the style of the card, the design elements, and the quality of paper and printing. By keeping a few things in mind when choosing your card, you can be sure to find the perfect fit for your family and interests. So get out there and start spreading some holiday cheer today! Merry Christmas!
P.S. If you’re a beach lover, you might also be interested in our collections of Tropical Christmas Cards and Florida Christmas cards as well!
P.P.S. We’ve included some of our best selling and personal favorites below— take a look! :)
Coastal Beach | Peace Love Joy
BEACH PHOTO FLAT CARD
Personalize this modern and elegant Christmas photo card with a coastal inspired blue watercolor frame on a simple white background with your name and greeting, and you have your own customized family photo Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year, or birth announcement holiday card! Watch your photo magically blend into the elegant watercolor frame! A fun way to send greetings for the holidays for ocean lovers everywhere!
It's made and printed in the USA and the light white, uncoated matte finish paper has an eggshell texture that is easy to write on and won't smudge.
Christmas Card Watercolor Photo Frame
FAMILY BEACH PICTURE TEMPLATE
Looking for a perfect holiday showcase for your beach Christmas card photos? Want a family photo card for the holidays that's simple, artistic, and elegant? This silver foil modern minimalist watercolor design is perfect for family Christmas cards, holiday birth announcements, Christmas party invitations, and New Year's wishes. Just upload your family pictures and watch the built in frame and overlay magically turn into a modern free-form watercolor portrait! Our versatile card works from Florida to Hawaii since you can customize both the greetings and the personalized names printed in silver foil. Whether you live in a coastal tropical area or a winter wonderland, you can personalize this card so easily for a unique holiday greeting!
Single Family Beach Picture
MERRY AND BRIGHT (and sunny!)
From Florida to Hawaii, coastal residents and vacationers will enjoy sending this merry and bright Christmas beach photo card with its whimsical tropical holiday greeting. It’s perfect for those who live by the ocean or want to share their great travel memories. Simply personalize with your own photo and family name to create a truly unique Christmas card!
Dimensions are 7" x 5" (landscape) with high quality, full-color, full-bleed printing on both sides. Best of all, you can add photos on both sides, or a custom printed personal message on the back, for no additional charge!
The artwork from Silver Spiral Arts Inc. featured in our Zazzle store, Ocean Arts, can personalized as home beach decor, wall art, pillows, photographic prints, large canvas prints, posters, blankets and more! Our earnings from these sales help to fund marine conservation projects run or supported by Dear Ocean, an environmental nonprofit organization. You can learn more about the way we operate on our About Ocean Arts page.