Dog Art Today

Dog Art Today's Holiday Cards from Paperless Post (review)

 

 

Paperless Post Custom Photograph Tyler Foote Holiday Card

After last year's hand-stamped-Pony-Express-community-produced-and-globally-distributed holiday card, I decided to go a different route this year: free and digital. I worried that would mean sacrificing quality, design options, or list size, but then I discovered Paperless Post.

In my opinion, they are the best because:

1.) they have the best designs
2.) the letterpress, real-paper vibe looks terrific
3.) no fancy fonts that you have to pay extra for (I hate when the font you want is an upgrade)
4.) the animated quality gives the card "life"

And most of all:

5.) free really does mean free

I chose this option, uploaded my own photo, and changed the text.  

Here's the back of the card:

 

Full disclosure, there were a few issues I ran into. For example, I couldn't figure out how to export my newsletter email list into the Paperless Post contacts. The columns were flipped.  So I decided to export my Apple Address Book.   Paperless Post asks that you import it as a CSV.  Apple exports as a vCard.  Don't worry, go ahead and do it anyway.  It will work. 

**Note** any contacts that don't have emails will not appear.  I had to enter over half of my contacts' emails manually.  This had more to do with my contact list than Paperless Post, and it forced me to do some long overdue administrative housekeeping.   It took time.

The other option I'd like to see is a link to my card so I could show you how the automation looks here on my blog or embed it in my newsletter. 

And an affiliate program would be cool.

But, the thing that endeared me to Paperless Post and negates these quibbles, is that although there is a 500 person limit to the free cards, the help section gives your a work-around to send out a larger list for free by simply copying the card.  How nice is that?

I know most of you are artists or dog owners or both, so I think Paperless Post is a great option for sharing your artwork or a photograph of the love of your life. 

Visit Paperless Post to create your own card.  Let me know what you think. 

Look for my card on December 18.   If you were on my list last year, you're still there.  If you would like to be included or removed email me.

I am trying to send some cheer while respecting your inbox.  Like everything during the holidays, it's a delicate balance. 

Cheers.

Dog Holiday Cards

 

Boy with Dog Letterpress Holiday Card via SweetPeonyPress

More dog art holiday cards and digital downloads.

H1020 by LOinLONDON

 

 

Happy Howlidays via JackMaster

 

 

Vintage Telegram Holiday Dog Printable Download via GaiaDesignStudios

 

 

 

Labrador Retriever Holiday Cards via Hello Sprout

Thank You For Your Feedback

 

 

Darby Calendar greeting cards from Moo

 

Thank you everyone who responded to redesign survey.   It was so great to hear your thoughts and your encouragement.  Most interesting to me was what you would like to see more of...

- more about me, Moira McLaughlin, and my life in Grass Valley 54.4%

- more in-depth written articles about dog artists 51.9%

- more guest posts from different people's perspective 43%

- more art, less text 31.6% (tie)

- more ways to connect with other dog artists 31.6% (tie)

- more contests 25.3%

The other thing that was informative was that most of you were fine with ads running on Dog Art Today, but several of you felt strongly that national brand dog foods do not always put dogs' well-being first.  And you don't like animated ads.  Neither do I.  Know that I am going to be very conscientious about what advertisers I include here.  Please fee free to email me if you see an ad you don't like.  

Random.org picked a winner from everyone who left a comment.  Congratulations, Barbara Grossman.  You will receive set of Darby:June greeting cards. 

I printed three of my images with Moo's Printfinity feature.  Overall, I was pleased with them.  Though, they were smaller than I thought (my fault for not reading the fine print) and ended up being approximately $2 each for a run of 25 cards.   I liked that you could add your own name and website to the back, but I'm not crazy about the font.  And it would be nice to include the title of the artwork on the back of each one.

If you're an artist who prints cards, who do you like?

 

Letterpress Pit Bull Cards

 

Thank you, Jessi McNamara, for letting me know about the new cards you designed in collaboration with illustrator, Stephanie Fitzsimmons, to benefit Even Chance Pit Bull Advocacy + Resources + Rescue.   All proceeds of these beautiful letterpress cards, starring five different Pit Bulls who have successfully been re-homed, will go directly to Even Chance.  Each card also features a word that describes the dog: forgiving, devoted, resilient, charming, and exuberant.  And the 5-card set is presented in a charming cloth bag. Lovely gift for the Pit Bull-lover in your life.

Order your set at the Even Chance Shop on etsy.

You may remember Jessi's work from the Even Chance Pit Bull Calendar featured here last February.