Welcome to the first day of Fall! Usually, I find myself in the minority in thinking that September is the perfect time to start holiday planning, but this year it seems everyone is ready to look ahead to the joy that the end of the year brings. So in addition to autumn, today marks the first day of my annual holiday series, The Christmas Countdown. And just as some stores are already marketing their holiday wares online, you’ve likely already seen the offerings from stationery companies arrive in your inbox. There are some logistical concerns with shipping and reduced staff that explain the earlier launches this year, but I’ve been a long-time fan of buying my holiday cards in September. Today I’m excited to bring you 12 of my favorite picks for 2020 Christmas Cards from Minted.

This post contains affiliate links and I may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on the links on this page. 

I’ve mentioned my affinity for Minted holiday cards a few times before, and I have supplied you with discount codes in the past (look for a new discount code at the end of this post), but I’ve only recently become an affiliate of theirs. It is a welcomed partnership. Minted is all about celebrating joyous occasions with modern, beautiful paper goods; whether that’s a holiday card, a wedding invitation, or even artwork. What I love about the company is its focus on up-and-coming artists, and how they give the customer the option to customize elements of the design with different color themes, foil text that pops on the page, and photo cards to commemorate your growing family.

In fact, depending on the style, customization options range from choosing the photo layout and theme colors to choosing foil colors and the type of holiday greeting. You can create a flat or folded card, and if it’s a folded card, you can leave it blank or print a message inside. You can even choose the type of paper (including a recycled option), the shape of the paper, and its size. Lastly, you can turn your holiday card into an ornament, postcard, or even a booklet. Here are some of my favorites:

Classic Holiday Photo Cards

Letterpress Holiday Photo Cards

2020 has been a year like no other. I think we’re going to see an increase in the number of Christmas cards we receive this year because they represent tradition and familiarity, and plainly, people haven’t seen each other and we’re missing that personal connection. I know everyone views where we are in the COVID timeline differently, but there are lots of us that still haven’t seen friends and family for months. These next few picks are really wonderful for connecting with loved ones who will appreciate knowing you’ve been thinking about them throughout the year.

Year In Review Holiday Cards

I love this updated take on a year-in-review style. Offer friends and family a quick update on what’s happened during 2020 while keeping things fun and festive with a Christmas tree layout.

Vellum Overlay Holiday Cards

These vellum-overlay cards are just the thing for 2020. I picked the first option with newlyweds in mind. Pick a photo from your wedding (even more important if a Zoom wedding or intimate ceremony is now a part of your love story) and attach a vellum overlay with it. Now you can offer loved ones a keepsake memory while still providing a message of holiday cheer. The second pick is great for giving updates on young children (like a more traditional yearly update) or even to share what has happened since you last saw each other. And the last pick is perfect for letting loved ones know you’ve been thinking of them, especially as so many of us have had an opportunity to re-evaluate our priorities this year. The Minted website offers more suggestions on how to pair these vellums, but I love the idea of using an unexpected photo.

Foil-Pressed Holiday Cards

BONUS PICK: CUSTOM HOLIDAY CARDS

I’ve added this last card as a bonus pick. It’s technically not one of the 12 because there’s nothing standard about it. This is truly a custom holiday card. Have your child draw a photo and scan it into the Minted website. You can pick your foil-press option and send a professionally-made card of your child’s artwork to those who would love it most—especially grandparents!

The cards I’ve chosen to share with you are ones that I would proudly send to my friends and family and those that I would equally love to receive. In sharing with you, I curated a list of my favorites with my tastes in mind. But the great thing about Minted is that the customization and breadth of work means that there is something for everyone. If you’re of a different religious faith, or would prefer to wish someone a happy new year instead, there’s a card for you, too (maybe you prefer a funny card, or even one that features your pet). This is just a sampling of what’s available, and I encourage you to see if there’s something you love at Minted.com.

Use Code EARLYHOL2020 for 15% Holiday Cards. Expires 9/24/2020