I PAID for them this year. Haha ... let me explain. For the past several years, I've always partnered with a stationery company for Christmas cards. And I've gotten them 100% free. It's awesome. Whatever card I wanted, gold foil, scalloped edges, printed return addresses on the envelopes, you name it! But here are the stipulations: 1) you have to be on the ball, get your family photos done super early, select/design/order your cards early, address and mail them early, so you can do your sponsored post early enough to still drive holiday card traffic to the company for card orders! Then you make your post, submit it for approval, publish it, and if you're really a great blogger, you'll write your company contact again with a link to the post, tell them how it was received (pageviews, comments, interacton, social media touts, etc), thank them profusely and say you'd love to collaborate again for upcoming events.
WELL let's just call a spade a spade. Ain't nobody got time. Or at least, not ME. Not this year. I decided it was well worth my own money to just remove all of that stress from myself and just order the dang things like normal people do.
I read so many great reviews about the quality of the Staples holiday card deal on Groupon and decided to give it a shot. For $25 I ordered 100 cards, paid $15 additional to have them printed on premium cardstock, mailed to my home, EXPEDITED, and come with printed return addresses on the back of the envelopes.
Selecting the card design was the hardest part because Staples shockingly had some really adorable designs! And we had really GREAT photos that we had taken recently using my friend Katlyn again, so that part was easy. These photos are adorable but aren't any of the ones that will be on our card. Although now I'm looking at the one below wishing I'd just done a single image like this with a big "Merry Christmas" at top. Classic and pretty!
Who did you use this year for your Christmas cards? And, because I know we are all a little nosy, care to share what you paid and how many you got?
I used MPIX. I always use them to print pictures for my house because they are the best quality! Anyways I got 65 cards for $45 (half price) with free shipping on Black Friday. They sent an early email advertising the deal so I had the card waiting in my cart that day. It was perfect!
ReplyDeleteThose pictures are precious! Y'all are such a beautiful family!
ReplyDeleteI didn't even know Staples did Christmas cards! I usually fork over an arm and a leg on Shutterfly or Tiny Prints or Minted, but this year I paid $35 (with free shipping because I have Prime and my return address labels printed) on Amazon Photos! They were having a Black Friday 50% off sale and my girlfriend is a photographer and told me she used them...so if Amazon Photos is good enough for a photog, they're good enough for me! :)
We used the $25 Groupon from staples too!! So pleased with my cards as well! Definitely use them again!
ReplyDeleteI am OBSESSED with that family picture!!! What an absolutely stunning photo...and perfectly depicts your precious family.
ReplyDeleteI got my Christmas cards from Shutterfly this year...paid $60 for 80 cards (upgraded to good cardstock) and return labels on the envelopes.
I wasn’t thrilled with the quality- but the customer service was excellent and they wired with me to get me another set of cards I was happy with. I usually get my cards from Walmart and I should have just stuck with them! Oh well...live and learn 😊
I had no idea Staples had cards! What a good deal! I was totally lazy and just ordered with first style card I liked on Tiny Prints, I did have a 40% off coupon but still paid over $100 for 100 cards. I also have no time for sponsored cards anymore, as nice as free would be I'm just too lazy haha.
ReplyDeleteI've used Costco for the past 4 years, and have been VERY pleased! It's about $35 for 50 cards, and they're printed on a premium cardstock. Plus, their turn-around time is very quick, and you just pick them up at the local store when they're ready!
ReplyDeleteWhat a deal! I have done Zazzle in the past and really liked them because there are no logos on the back, they are cheap, and they have some beautiful designs. This year I went with Minted because I'm trying to make this holiday as stress free as possible and I wanted the free recipient addressing. I did a front and back design for $120 for 60 cards.
ReplyDeleteI used Snapfish on cyber Monday. Got 100 cards and paid $48 (on cardstock, with return address added). For work, I got a great deal at Vistaprint for 100 glossy postcards, for $24 (no pics just our logo). There are deals to be had!
ReplyDeleteI have always used Vistaprint for my cards! They have a huge selection and tons of ways to customize and "upgrade" features depending on your budget! There is usually a coupon code for everything too which is always a win in my book!
ReplyDeleteI used Tiny Prints and was so bummed this year. I have used them in the past, but they were purchased by Shutterfly in the fall. I thought I'd try them again and it was significantly more expensive than the last few years. When the cards came they were packaged poorly and a lot of the corners were bent. Tiny Prints used to have the best packaging. Definitely will be doing something different next year and this might be a good option.
ReplyDeleteUgh same. I think the quality/color of the picture didn't come out that great ... especially for how expensive it was. Won't be using TP next year.
DeleteGreat deal! And I hear you!! We've used Costco's the last few years & love the quality. We make them on our home computer, print locally & pick-up. $14.99 for sets of 50 and we have a house stamp that my husband does, so I write the address & we can enjoy the process together with some 'special' hot cocoa!
ReplyDeleteAnd ADORABLE family photo!! Frame it ;)
ReplyDeleteI tried Vistaprint this year also! They were $30 for 40 cards (using a 60% code) and upgraded to matte paper. Two sided, color printing. They had some really simple, classic designs. We went with a simple blue buffalo check. I just ordered them yesterday, so can't comment on quality just yet. Fingers crossed!
ReplyDeleteThey also had sheets of "envelope stickers" to match. I just added our address so I won't have to write the return address on all of them. I'm kind of a stickler in having some part of the envelope/card hand written, but the return address is my least fave. I'll grab a good pen and write an individual note on the backs of the cards.
this is the third year I've done the staples groupon and it's a steal!!!! Great quality. Only complaint is the last few years you could crop pics easily to fit the slots for photos, but this year it was a little harder. Still worth the $14 for 50 cards though!
ReplyDeleteMinted. We ordered 100 cards (they are also addressed by them because I do NOT enjoy that task) and it was about $132 w/ shipping. More $$ than I would like but I love the minted cards and it's a 1x/year expensive so I justify it that way.
ReplyDeleteI did the Staples Groupon too! $15 for 50 5x7 matte- yes please! Picked them up last Friday and am dropping them in the mail tomorrow- woohoo! I did it a few years ago and am again very happy with the product. Admittedly, I did need a few extra (crazy huge families!!) so I did a Walgreens quickie using a 50% off code for 20 more, then went to pick them up and had points to redeem so paid $5 instead of $10. That's a beautiful family photo!
ReplyDeleteomgggg... $25 for 100?!?!?!?!?!??! and i was a sucker for minted this year! no collab either hahaha! way to go, mama!!!! your photos of your sweet fam are GORGEOUS!!!
ReplyDeleteI use Shutterfly every single year and I was totally stoked that I was able to do a sponsored post with them this year and mine were free! I only work with brands I love and Shutterfly has always been my fave for paper goods!
ReplyDeleteI need to remember Groupon for next year!
ReplyDeleteI did Snapfish - around $50 for 125 cards. A girlfriend told me 'the earlier you do your cards the cheaper they are' and I need to remember that for next year!
Totally unrelated- a while back you had posted various products you love from Aldi and had talked about their steak seasoning. Thank you so much for recommending this! I know it's silly but I just love this seasoning and use it all the time and would not have thought to try it if you hadn't mentioned it!
Love your family picture❤️! I've always used Shutterfly and this year I just couldn't swallow paying a fortune for them!?!? So I used Walmart and ordered with the cardstock option. I ordered on November 26th and it said they wouldn't come till December 7th (because I opted for the card stock and extras). Anyways, I was SHOCKED when they were delivered on November 28th and I LOVE them! I paid $38 for 70 cards... score!!!!
ReplyDeleteThese images are beautiful! I used Shutterfly and Paper Culture this year, taking advantage of the "free cards" promotions, so I ordered 10 cards at a time and got 50 cards for $25 when you calculate all the shipping costs. I think next year I might do Walgreens. I helped my mom with her card, and it was very inexpensive and they were ready that afternoon!
ReplyDeleteI use Walgreens. :) They're super easy, cheap, and actually cute! And I pick them up the same day (although they will deliver them as well). I usually use a coupon. This year I think I got 40 cards for $14 (with a coupon code....which they always seem to have).
ReplyDeleteI used to always use Minted for my cards, but I just didn't want to spend that kind of money this year so I decided to give Shutterfly a try and I was very pleased with them! I ordered when they were doing 50% off and got about 30 cards for $50 which included front/back printing and envelope return and receipent addressing. Definitely will use them again.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome they were so cheap and yet, so good! We used Amazon photo this year and paid about $27 for 75 cards - not too bad! I'm sharing how they turned out tomorrow :)
ReplyDeletewe did minted- got 75 cards with front and back pics for 180. We used the recipient addressing which is the main reason I used Minted- it made it so much easier!
ReplyDeleteI got a Groupon too this year, for the first time ever! I used Photo Affections I think and got 60ish cards for $25ish -- definitely the best deal I ever got on holiday cards. We have used Simply to Impress, Photo Affections, Minted, and Tiny Prints in the past.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous pics. I love the one with your family all seated.
ReplyDeleteI thought about doing holiday cards but didn't get around to it. I'm a single lady so it's not the same appeal for me.
I have been using Vistaprint for all my printing stuff lately- invites, announcements, etc and decided to use them this year for Christmas cards instead of spending a fortune on the other sites. I decided to take a chance and went with the cheapest option and was sooo happy with the results. They had 50% off cards forever so I snagged them then. I got 50 cards and with shipping and tax, I'm thinking I paid maybe $23??? I did the longer style (can't remember exact dimensions ha) and the photo glossy finish and seriously, the quality was amazing. I spent more on stamps than the cards!!! They also had tons of options. Vistaprint is seriously the way to go!
ReplyDeleteWow that’s a crazy good deal! I used Minted and paid about $130 for 115 cards which is expensive but they have the best customer service, recipient addressing (no time to hand address them all) and I just love the quality of them
ReplyDeleteI just ordered mine yesterday! SAMs club...100 cards for $26 and change. I got a return address stamp from my parents for Christmas two years ago, so I LOVE sitting down to send out mail now. :)
ReplyDeleteSam's Club on Thanksgiving weekend has 100 cards for $15. So many cute designs and easy. I've used them the last 5 years. Great quality. You can upgrade to card stock there as well. I have my card built and ready to go and log in Thanksgiving night to place the order.
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