Whether you’re wishing someone a happy birthday or congratulating them on a recent achievement, personalised greeting cards are perfect for any special occasion. They allow you to let your creative flair run wild and create a card that will leave a lasting impression on your lucky recipient.
Discover what goes into designing the perfect greeting card and get some helpful design ideas to inspire your next set of cards too.
Setting the designs
There are several design elements that can be customised to create your card, from the heartfelt message to the paper type. Discover how each can be adapted for any occasion below.
The wording
Arguably, the wording is most important element of any personalised card. It’s what your recipient will hold onto most and should be tailored specifically for the occasion.
For thank you cards, express your gratitude and make them feel appreciated. While for birthdays, give them a feeling of joy and warmth when they open your card and see your bubbly message.
The basic meaning of the card should be printed on the front, such as ‘thank you’ or ‘happy birthday’, with the inside free for you to personalise for the individual. The key is, keep it short and sweet, you can add any additional writing later to tailor your message even further.
The graphics and imagery
Accompanied by the ideal choice of wording, the right graphics and imagery can give your greeting card the wow factor.
Keep in mind the meaning of the card, the graphics should be simple and stick to one theme, otherwise it can slightly overshadow your wording, losing the original message.
For example, with post-wedding thank you cards, a simple black and white picture from the day with some floral designs can create an everlasting memory that attendees will cherish. For birthdays, basic graphics such as balloons or cake, accompanied by bold colours, are befitting of the occasion.
The paper type
When it comes to putting the finishing touches to your greeting card, we have a wealth of options available. From luxurious sparkles to natural materials, the perfect paper type can help bring your design to life. Here’s the choices we have on offer:
Silk: One of the most popular greeting card types, silk paper gives you a high-quality finish, without the shine of gloss.
Pulp: Uncoated and understated, this style gives a rough and vintage aesthetic.
Kraft: An eco-friendly paper type, kraft takes on a natural, but stylish, brown tone. This design is best suited to vintage-style cards or outdoor graphic themes.
Textured: Our textured paper comes in two branches, tweed or dot. Both styles use a tactile detailing, which creates ridges on the card for a striking finish.
Matt laminated: Matt paper gives you a smooth and natural surface. While the lamination adds a stronger protection, while still being easy to read and is free from glare.
Gloss laminated: Gloss paper is ideal for making lighter colours pop. With a shiny coating, enhanced by the laminated properties, gloss is sure to catch your recipient’s attention.
Gold iridescent: Our gold paper comes in two types, haze and dust. Haze provides a luxurious finish, adding a pearl coating to the surface. Whereas dust is subtler, introducing a golden shimmer to your card.
Inspirational greeting card ideas
With all these factors in mind, it can be hard to picture how the finished product will look. Needing some inspiration to kickstart your design? Take a look at some of our inspiring ideas for greeting cards below to get started.
Traditional birthday cards
Birthdays are a time for celebration and fun, so reflect this in your artwork.
For traditional cards, choose colourful graphics that make your card stand out and match with a gold iridescent paper finish for a touch of sparkle.
Keep the imagery classic, with plenty of candles, balloons and cakes, and the wording simple, for a timeless and stylish design.
Trendy birthday cards
For something outside the box, trendy birthday cards offer something a little different.
Choose two or three set colours and get creative by designing an abstract pattern. Keep a small area free for your wording and try adding a personalised message that is a little alternative, keeping away from the traditional ‘happy birthday’ text.
Avoid using imagery, keep the card simple, but bold, with contrasting shades. Print the design on gloss-laminated paper for an attractive shine.
Wedding thank you cards
To round-off your dream wedding journey, design thank you cards in the same style as your invitations.
If there was one encompassing theme from the big day, stick with it in your card design to coordinate your message and tie a nice ribbon around your celebrations.
Finalise your design by including an image from the wedding, either of the happy couple or a group photo, and you’ll have a card for your guests to treasure.
Feeling inspired? We have a huge range of templates to help you get started with your design. Or, enlist one of our talented designers to help create the perfect greeting card for you. Throw in free UK delivery as standard and you have the ideal platform to begin making the perfect greeting card at Solopress.
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Thanks for mentioning that wording is probably the most important element of a personalized card. My wife is thinking about getting vintage patent art greeting cards because she’s contemplating giving them to our kid’s teachers at the end of the year. I think it’s a good investment to shop from a reputable store that has great cards if she decides to buy them.