Christmas cards are one of the few paper traditions that have grown more meaningful as the world has moved online. A card designed by an independent artist, personalised with your photo and message, and posted through the letterbox before Christmas says something no text message can. At Paperlust, every card is crafted in our Melbourne studio: 500+ exclusive designs by Australian and international artists, available in digital, foil and metallic finishes, with free overnight Startrack Express delivery across Australia.
- 500+ exclusive designs from independent Australian and international artists
- Print methods: Digital, Flat Foil (incl. custom foil text over photos) and Metallic
- Photo cards, design cards, folded, flat printed and postcards all available
- Free overnight Startrack Express delivery to all Australian capital cities
- Designer proof in 1β2 business days; two rounds of revisions at no extra cost
- $5 sample pack (wedding designs, identical paper stocks and print methods) to feel the foil and paper quality before you commit; custom Christmas samples available on request
As featured in Vogue Australia, Marie Claire Australia, The Sydney Morning Herald, and Harper's Bazaar Bride (print edition).
Choose Your Christmas Card Format
Not every Christmas card serves the same purpose, and the format you choose shapes how personal, practical and impressive the result feels. A photo card puts your family's face front and centre, optionally with custom foil text layered over the image; a design card becomes a small piece of art someone keeps in a drawer; a postcard skips the envelope entirely and arrives crisp and clear in the letterbox. Here is a plain comparison of every format available at Paperlust so you can match your choice to your Christmas list.
| Format | Price (from) | Personalisation | Turnaround | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photo Card | From AUD $3.50 | Very high β your photo on the front, your message inside | 5β7 business days | Annual family update, milestone year, pet photos |
| Design Card | From AUD $3.50 | High β artist design, personalised message and names | 5β7 BD (digital), 3β5 BD (flat foil) | Design-forward senders, keepsake-quality card |
| Flat Printed | From AUD $3.50 | Medium β high. Full design and text customisation | 5β7 BD (digital) to 20 BD (premium methods) | Classic, clean look; most versatile format |
| Folded Card | From AUD $3.50 | High β greeting-card fold with inside space for a personal note | 5β7 business days (digital, flat foil) | Longer personal messages, gift card insert, greeting card feel |
| Postcard | From AUD $3.50 | Medium β card front design plus message space on reverse | 5β7 business days | No envelope needed, easy to post in volume, budget-friendly |
Prices start from AUD $3.50/card with digital print. Flat foil from AUD $5.50/card (with optional custom foil text overlay on photo cards). Prices vary by print method and quantity.
Photo Christmas cards
Photo Christmas cards put your image (a family portrait, holiday snap, or favourite pet photo) on the front of the card. Your assigned Paperlust designer centres and optimises the photo within the layout and can also adjust brightness, contrast and retouching on request at no additional cost. Browse photo Christmas cards to explore all available layouts, from clean single-image designs to collage styles.
Design Christmas cards
Design cards feature original artwork from one of Paperlust's 500+ independent artist designs. You personalise the message, names and (on most designs) colour palette. Popular Christmas styles include Australian botanicals, classic typography, minimalist geometric and vibrant illustrated scenes. Browse Australian Christmas cards for locally designed options that celebrate native flora and the summer-festive season together.
Feel the foil and paper before you commit.
Foil shimmer and paper weight are two things a screen cannot communicate. Order the $5 sample pack to feel the foil finish, paper stock weight and digital print quality between your fingers. The standard pack ships with wedding designs, but the paper stocks and print methods are identical to what you will receive on your Christmas cards. Want to see Christmas-specific designs? Email the studio after browsing the collection and the team can prepare a custom Christmas sample on request.
Print Methods: Which Finish Is Right for Your Christmas Cards
The print method you choose shapes how your Christmas card feels in the hand as much as how it looks on screen. Digital print handles full-colour photos and complex illustrations with absolute fidelity and ships in under a week. Flat foil adds a mirror-bright metallic layer in gold, rose gold, silver or one of a dozen accent colours that catches the light across the room. On photo cards, that foil layer can sit as custom text directly over your family image. Metallic print delivers a subtler sheen, woven through full-colour artwork, without a separate foil run.
The table below covers every print method available for Christmas cards at Paperlust. Note: production times run from design approval to dispatch. Allow an additional business day for overnight Startrack Express delivery to metro areas.
| Print Method | Finish | From (AUD) | Lead Time | Min. Order | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Print | Full colour, photographic accuracy, matte or linen finish | $3.50/card | 5β7 business days | 10 | Photo cards, complex illustrations, large volumes, tight timelines |
| Flat Foil | Mirror-bright metallic layer, no deboss; gold, rose gold, silver, copper and more | $5.50/card | 3β5 business days | 10 | Festive shimmer on modern designs, fastest foil option |
| Metallic Print | Subtle gold or silver dry-toner sheen at a fifth imaging station; integrates with full colour | $3.99/card | 5β7 business days | 10 | Colour designs with a warm gold or silver accent; elegant restraint |
Custom foil text over photo Christmas cards
Flat Foil is the only Paperlust print method that can layer a metallic finish over a full-colour digital photo card. Most photo card designs include a foil-customisable text element: your family name, the year, "Merry Christmas", or a short message of your own, printed in mirror-bright gold, rose gold, silver, copper or one of a dozen accent colours and sitting directly on top of the photographic image. The result is a hybrid card that delivers both the warmth of a real family photo and the premium shimmer of foil on the same piece of paper. Production stays at 3β5 business days, the minimum order is just 10 cards, and the foil colour is yours to pick at design time.
How custom foil text over photo cards works
- Choose a photo card design that supports foil text. Look for the foil-text indicator on the design preview, or filter the foil Christmas cards collection for layouts where the typography sits over the photo (centre overlay, edge banner) or in a dedicated foil-only area (header, footer, side panel) above or below the image.
- Upload your photo at full resolution. 300 DPI minimum at the final card size, which works out to at least 1,650 x 1,275 pixels for a standard 140 x 107mm card. The foil layer is added on top during a separate production pass and does not affect the photo print quality.
- Personalise the foil text. Edit the message. Most templates accept up to 20 characters of foil text. Common choices: your family surname, the year (2026), "Merry Christmas", "Joy", "Peace", "With love from the [name] family" or a short line of your own.
- Pick your foil colour. Gold and rose gold are the most popular for Christmas; silver and copper are second. Less common choices like deep red, emerald, bronze and matte black are also available on most designs. The colour selector on each design page shows what is offered for that template.
- Approve the foil proof. Your assigned designer mocks up the foil text in colour-accurate rendering on top of your photo and sends a proof within 1β2 business days. Foil text proofs typically approve in a single round.
When custom foil text over photos works best
Foil text over a photo card lifts a standard family snap into a keepsake-quality Christmas piece. It works best when the photo has a relatively dark background or a muted area where the foil sits, like sky, snow, an evening scene, a neutral wall, water or dark foliage, so the metallic shimmer reads cleanly without competing with bright background detail. If your hero photo is busy across the entire frame, choose a layout where the foil text sits in a dedicated header or footer band rather than directly over the image. Photographs taken in soft natural light with a clear focal point produce the strongest foil-text photo cards.
Tip: the foil shimmer is most visible on dark or saturated backgrounds. A daylight outdoor portrait against a sunlit wall will mute the foil compared with the same family photo taken against an evening sky or a deep green tree line. Browse the full range of foil Christmas cards to see which designs work best with your photo style, and request a custom Christmas sample from the studio if you want to feel the foil on your chosen paper before placing the full order.
Digital print for photo Christmas cards
If you are planning a photo card, digital print is the only method that can reproduce a photograph with full-colour accuracy across fine skin tones, hair detail and background depth. Foil and metallic finishes are design-led techniques that work with vector-style artwork and type; they are not suited to photographic imagery. Metallic print can be combined with digital for a photo card with a metallic accent on your name or a decorative element, if you want a premium touch on a photo card format.
How to Personalise Your Christmas Cards
Four steps to your finished cards
- Browse and choose a design. Filter by print method, card style (classic, funny, religious), or format (photo, folded, postcard). Each design shows a live preview with your customisations applied in real time.
- Upload your photo or personalise your message. For photo cards, upload a high-resolution image (see the photo guide below for technical requirements). For design cards, edit the message, recipient names and any design variables the artist has made editable: colour palette, monogram, year.
- Review and approve your designer proof. Within 1β2 business days of placing your order, your assigned Paperlust designer sends a proof showing exactly how your card will print, at full size with colour-accurate rendering. Two rounds of edits are included at no extra cost. Most proofs are approved within 24 hours.
- Approve and your cards go to print and dispatch. Once approved, production begins immediately. Standard digital print is ready in 5β7 business days. Flat foil (including custom foil text over photo cards) is 3β5 business days. All Australian orders are dispatched via overnight Startrack Express, and the next morning they are on their way.
Photo upload guide: getting the best results from your photo Christmas cards
Print quality for personalised photo Christmas cards is almost entirely determined by the resolution of the image you upload. Here is exactly what you need to know before you order:
- Minimum resolution: 300 DPI at the final print size. For a standard card (140 x 107mm / approximately 5.5 x 4.25 inches), that means at least 1,650 x 1,275 pixels. Larger card sizes require proportionally higher pixel counts.
- File format: JPEG or PNG. Use an sRGB colour profile for accurate colour reproduction in digital print. CMYK files are accepted but sRGB is preferred for this workflow.
- Orientation: Most photo card layouts are landscape (horizontal). Portrait-orientation layouts are available for select designs. Check the orientation note on the individual design page before choosing your photo crop.
- Single vs. collage: For collage formats with multiple image slots, each individual photo within the collage should meet 300 DPI at its own allocated slot size rather than the full card area. A 3-photo collage card does not require the full card resolution per image.
- Lighting: Natural light photos print best. Avoid heavy flash photography, which flattens skin tones and removes the warmth that prints well in CMYK. Backlit shots cause silhouetting. If your hero photo was taken outdoors in soft midday or late-afternoon light, it will print beautifully.
- Photo enhancement at no extra cost: Paperlust designers can adjust brightness, contrast and retouching as part of the design process. If your photo needs a small boost or you are unsure about the quality, leave a note at checkout and your designer will assess and improve it before sending the proof.
- Unsure about your photo? Place the order and note your concern. Your designer will flag it immediately in the proof stage if the resolution is not sufficient before the card goes to print.
Australia Post Christmas Posting Deadlines 2026
The single most useful piece of Christmas card planning knowledge is the Australia Post Christmas cut-off calendar. Miss the window and your cards arrive in January. Plan around it and your cards land on the mantelpiece before the tree goes up. The table below shows indicative 2026 deadlines, modelled on 2025 Australia Post Christmas dates. Confirmed 2026 deadlines will be published at auspost.com.au/christmas from October 2026. Check back then and update your order date accordingly.
| Delivery Service | Post Cards By (Metro/Capital) | Post Cards By (Regional/Rural) | Order from Paperlust By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard post β same state | ~18 December | ~13 December | 5 December |
| Standard post β interstate | ~16 December | ~11 December | 3 December |
| Express Post (domestic) | ~23 December | ~18 December | 10 December |
| Express Post + 24hr rush* | ~23 December | β | 17 December |
| International Standard | ~12 December | β | 20 November |
| International Express | ~18 December | β | 1 December |
*24-hour rush production available for an additional fee. Standard digital print only.
Regional and remote note: Add 2β3 business days for Western Australia, Northern Territory, Tasmania and remote areas on Express Post, and up to 5 business days for standard post. If in doubt, order a week earlier than the table suggests.
How Paperlust order dates are calculated: Order dates in the table above include 1β2 business days for designer proof, 5β7 business days digital production, and overnight Startrack Express delivery. Flat foil and custom foil text over photo cards add only an extra 1β2 business days, so the dates above remain accurate for foil orders. For Christmas card etiquette guidance, including when to send, who to include and how to address envelopes, see our Christmas card etiquette guide.
Christmas Card Wording Inspiration
What you write inside a Christmas card matters as much as how it looks on the outside. Below are four ready-to-use examples for the most common Christmas card contexts: family, friends, business and religious. For a fuller collection of wording ideas, seasonal greetings and sign-off styles, see the complete guide to what to write in a Christmas card.
Family Christmas cards
A family Christmas card is the one people keep. Lead with warmth and make it personal rather than generic. Reference something real about the year, even just a season or a feeling.
More family Christmas card wording ideas →
Christmas cards for friends
A card for close friends has room to be warmer, funnier and more honest than a family card. Avoid the corporate tone and write the way you would speak. Browse the range of funny Christmas cards if you want the design to match the energy.
More Christmas card wording for friends →
Business Christmas cards
Business Christmas cards should be professional but not cold. A genuine thank you lands better than a formal seasonal greeting. For large corporate sends and logo placement, see the dedicated business Christmas cards range.
More business Christmas card wording →
Religious Christmas cards
For faith-centred messages, keep the focus on the Christmas story and what it means to the sender personally. Browse religious Christmas cards for designs with nativity imagery, scripture and devotional motifs.
More religious Christmas card wording ideas →
Frequently Asked Questions
For metro delivery before Christmas using standard post, order at least 10β12 business days before your target posting date. Most customers order in late November or the first week of December to stay comfortably ahead of Australia Post Christmas cut-off dates. If you are short on time, select the 24-hour rush production upgrade at checkout; this extends your order window by approximately five business days and is available for standard digital print orders.
Digital print is the most popular choice: it reproduces photos and full-colour designs with accuracy and ships in 5β7 business days, making it ideal for most Christmas card timelines. Flat foil is the best premium upgrade: a mirror-bright metallic finish in gold, rose gold, silver, copper and a dozen accent colours that ships in 3β5 business days with a minimum order of just 10 cards. On photo cards, the flat foil layer can sit as custom foil text directly over your family image, the only Paperlust method that combines a real photograph with a metallic finish on the same card. Metallic print is a subtle middle option: a soft gold or silver sheen woven into the digital print at standard digital turnaround.
Yes. Paperlust photo Christmas cards let you upload your own image (a family portrait, holiday shot or pet photo), which your assigned designer centres and optimises in the layout. Photo cards use digital print to ensure full-colour accuracy across skin tones and fine detail. Your designer can also adjust brightness, contrast and retouching at no extra cost if you leave a note at checkout.
Yes. Most Paperlust photo Christmas card designs support a custom flat foil text overlay (your family name, the year, "Merry Christmas", or a short message of your own) printed in mirror-bright gold, rose gold, silver, copper or one of a dozen accent colours, layered directly on top of your family image. Foil text is added in a separate production pass after the photo prints, so the photographic image keeps full digital colour fidelity and the foil layer reads cleanly. Production stays at 3β5 business days with a 10-card minimum order. Foil text reads strongest over darker or more uniform photo areas (sky, snow, evening scenes, neutral walls); for busy frame-filling photos, choose a layout where the foil text sits in a dedicated header or footer band rather than directly over the image.
A minimum of 300 DPI at the final print size produces crisp, clear results. For a standard card (140 x 107mm), that means at least 1,650 x 1,275 pixels. If you are unsure whether your photo is high enough resolution, place your order and note your concern; your designer will assess it in the proof stage before the card goes to print. Most smartphones shot in the last four years produce files that comfortably meet this requirement.
Yes. White envelopes are included at no extra charge with all card formats that use an envelope. Coloured and textured envelope upgrades are available if you want something more festive: kraft, sage, blush and deep navy options are popular for Christmas sends. Postcard-format cards do not use an envelope and are mailed directly.
Yes. The business Christmas cards range includes professional designs suited to corporate senders: clean typographic layouts, neutral colour palettes and options for logo placement or letterhead-style formats. Volume pricing applies automatically as quantity increases, and the Address Manager tool lets you import recipient addresses via Excel to prepare envelope addressing in bulk.
Paperlust ships all Australian orders via Startrack Express overnight to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart. You will receive a dispatch notification with a tracking number as soon as your order leaves the studio. Regional delivery typically takes 2β5 business days. Western Australia, Northern Territory, Tasmania and remote areas may take a little longer; allow an extra 2β3 business days as a buffer for time-sensitive Christmas sends.
Yes. The standard $5 sample pack ships with seven wedding designs across different print methods, so you can feel the exact paper stocks, foil finish and digital print quality that will be used on your Christmas cards. The Christmas designs themselves are not included in the standard pack, but if you want to see specific Christmas designs in person, email the Paperlust studio after browsing the collection and the team can prepare a custom Christmas sample on request.
Paperlust offers a wide range of paper stocks depending on your chosen print method. Digital print is available on Matte 300gsm, Linen 300gsm, Premium 380gsm, Metallic board, Kraft 290gsm, Blush and Vellum. Flat foil (including custom foil text over photo cards) is available on Matte, Premium 380gsm and Colour Stock options. The stock selector on each design page shows which paper-stock and finish combinations are available for your chosen design.
Yes. Volume pricing applies automatically as your order quantity increases and the per-card cost reduces at standard quantity breaks. If you are ordering across three or more card types (for example, combining Christmas cards with Christmas party invitations), a 15% multi-order discount applies. For large corporate orders or bespoke requirements, contact the Paperlust team via live chat. Orders over USD $350 qualify for free DHL Express international shipping.
Shop Christmas Cards by Style
Browse the full range of Paperlust Christmas card collections below. Each sub-collection is curated around a specific style, occasion or print method, so you can find your design quickly and order with confidence. All collections include instant online customisation and free overnight Startrack delivery across Australia.
- Photo Christmas Cards - Upload your own photo for a personalised family or milestone card
- Australian Christmas Cards - Locally designed with native flora, coastal themes and summer Christmas scenes
- Business Christmas Cards - Professional designs for corporate sends, bulk orders and logo placement
- Religious Christmas Cards - Traditional nativity, scripture and devotional designs
- Foil Christmas Cards - Mirror-bright metallic accents in gold, rose gold, silver, copper and more
- Funny Christmas Cards - Illustrated and typographic designs for the people on your list who appreciate humour
- Classic Christmas Cards - Timeless seasonal designs in traditional red, green and gold palettes
- Christmas Party Invitations - Match your cards with a formal or casual invitation for your festive gathering
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