2020 is a year that none of us will ever forget. I think it might have been the first time in my life that I actually have had genuine fear for our country. The pandemic shattered the economy, isolated us from each other and in many ways turned people against each other in unprecedented and unexpected ways—socially, politically and even just in general as we social distanced and were no longer able to smile at others, hug, shake hands, etc. Traveling disappeared, sports, concerts, extended family outings ceased, etc. etc. I am getting a little depressed just listing it all.

I feel INCREDIBLY blessed that I have had the chance to take so many senior, family, and newborn photos this year to remind myself of the good in the world, to see the smiles of the people in my community and remember that there is still joy and happiness in the world around me.

With the distance required due to all things 2020, I think it is more important than ever to send printed Christmas cards this year. Social media has become a toxic place, so many people are taking a break from Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep themselves sane so just sharing your family’s holiday wishes on social media isn’t going to have the same impact it once had. There is something so magical and heart warming about getting something tangible in the mail that someone took the time to address specifically to YOU. I believe we need this extra touch in our lives more than ever this year.

I tried out Basic Invite for printed holiday cards and ordered some samples so you could see how awesome they are.

A little more about why I recommend Basic Invite if you want the best holiday photo cards, Christmas cocktail party invitations, or birth and other announcements:

Almost Unlimited Colors- Basic Invite is one of few card printing services that allows customers almost unlimited color options with instant previews online. Once you select a design, you can change the color of each element on the card. With over 180 colors to choose from, you can make sure the card is exactly how you want it. You can make your card coordinate with your outfits or the elements in your photos to make it a truly custom design.

Add sparkle and extra love with beautiful foil pressed designs.

No surprise here, but I love all of the card options that allow you to include dozens of photos to show off your family!

Custom Samples- Basic Invite is one of the few websites that allows customers to order a printed sample of their actual invitation before they place their final order. You can see the paper quality and how it will print in real life and make sure the card is perfect before ordering hundreds of them to send. Purchasing cards is an investment, and knowing that your card is perfect before you order them in bulk gives a lot of peace of mind.

Over 40 Different Colors of Envelopes- Basic Invite has over 40 different envelope colors to choose from. With so many options, you can match your envelope with the card. It is every perfectionists dream come true. And this is the thing that is maybe highest priority of all to me: All of Basic Invite’s envelopes are peel and seal so the envelopes can be closed quickly and securely (and don’t require excessive licking ewww).

You can customize the font colors and design colors to match your photos giving you all the creativity in your holiday card!

I love that there are options to include your family story on the card rather than having to insert a separate letter. I love reading about what is happening in the lives of my friends and family.

Address Capturing Service- Basic Invite offers an address capturing service that allows customers to share a link on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other social media to request their friends and family’s addresses. The addresses are stored in the customer’s account and can be selected during the design process. Basic Invite offers recipient address printing at no cost on all card orders. I haven’t tried this part of their service yet, but it sounds like such a great idea and will eliminate so much of the annual address gathering stress that accompanies every year’s mailing!

Foil- Foil cards are available in gold, silver, and rose gold. You can also choose between flat or raised foil on all of Basic Invite’s foil designs.

Right now Basic Invite is offering 15% off with coupon code: 15FF51

Looking for holiday gift ideas? Try Nail Dashes for the girls in your family. These are a HUGE hit at my house and they have some really fun holiday colors and styles that are limited in supply.