Looking Back at some of my favorite Christmas Cards Past
For me, sending holiday cards is like the Super Bowl, Met Gala and awards season all rolled into one – the anticipation (and the spirits!) are high! While I try to test my creativity every year, my mailers have always reflected those quintessential Cheree Berry Paper & Design details that distinguish our season’s greetings from the commercial bah humdrum: clever, unexpected, interactive and thoughtfully customized.
P.S. I hide the Elf on the Shelf in my season’s greetings each year – can you spot him?
2017: This Is Us
I never pass up the chance for a clever play on pop culture, and in 2017, This Is Us reigned supreme as the darling of the small screen. The precursor to “Instagram vs. reality,” this holiday greeting garnered smiles by capturing our family both picture-perfectly posed and chaotically candid.
Interested in a holiday card that shows the full picture of your fam? You might like:
2019: Eyes Wide Open
I spy with my little eye an interactive card that turned up, turned down and turned out a sensory explosion of fun! A series of nesting photos opened a window into our world, giving glimpses of my littles’ multifaceted personalities plus their sweet (sometimes mischievous) sibling dynamic. Pro tip: giving the kids props makes a photo shoot a ball for all!
Interested in holiday card with an interactive format? You might like:
2020: Piecing It Together
Living in lockdown was puzzling to say the least! Complete with a year’s worth of soundbites coming together on the back and a corner piece that actually popped out (and back into place!), this krafty card marked a mind-bending time while keeping the big picture in perspective: having each other during uncertain times.
Interested in holiday card with an unexpected element? You might like:
2021: Another Nutty Year
Another nutty year meant channeling my inner Uncle Drosselmeyer and transforming my kiddos into nutcrackers via lenticular illusion. Each custom vector animation mimicked its mini muse, from their heights and hair color down to their clothes and shoes, making this a truly personalized card you couldn’t find anywhere else.
Interested in a holiday card with custom art? You might like:
All Kinds Of Wonderful: Starry Night
2022: When You Be-Leaf
When we welcomed a new addition to the family – our rescue doodle, Webster – I marked two occasions with one hybrid holiday card! Whether debuting a new arrival (baby or fur baby), a new address or a new marital status, commemorating major milestones and the most wonderful time of the year together creates an unforgettable two-for-one holiday special.
Interested in a holiday card that shares big cheer and big news? You might like:
2023: Best of the Best
Move over, Time magazine! I summed up the most wonderful trends, topics and time of the year with a multifold mailer that gave my kids their own solo moments. Topped with some festive doodles and an emergency packet of confetti, this one was a unanimous winner.
Interested in a multifold holiday card with a spread of photos? You might like:
Holiday Frame Of Mind Multifold
Making Spirits Bright Multifold
2024: Dreaming of a White House Christmas
A monumental moment deserves an unforgettable mailer! In 2024, CBP was invited to decorate the White House State Dining Room for the holiday season, an honor I modeled in this dimensional design. Perfect for displaying on a mantel, this pop-up picture gave to friends and family three fancy kids, two trimmed Fraser firs and a portrait of President Lincoln sitting pretty. Read about this special project in more detail here.
Interested in a house-focused holiday card? You might like:
It's always a merry moment when I drop my holiday cards in the mailbox. But revisiting these treasured tableaux year after year brings me even more joy – each a time capsule that transports me back to my family’s most precious memories.
Our personal histories are told through our holiday cards, and I truly believe these paper records to be one of the most priceless heirlooms we can pass down to our children, our children’s children and beyond. I hope that my card archive and the larger CBP Holiday Collection will inspire you to start or to continue this time-honored tradition for yourself. You’ll be so glad you did.
Wishing you happy everything.
xo, Cheree
