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When you want your cards to be memorable, tech can help. These two card creation services help you design custom cards that are so cool, your cards will be remembered long after they are read. These services actually print your cards so that your friends and loved ones can keep them as treasured keepsakes or recycle them, whichever they prefer.
Sure, you can email cards, but who doesn’t like getting an actual card in the mail?
Whobaloo
Wahobaloo is a website for making your card a work of art. You don’t need to be an artist, you can become an artist using Whobaloo’s tools. Or you can use creations submitted by other artists.
With Whobaloo you can create cards in all sizes, from business cards to postcards to 8×11 sheets.
Whobaloo provides lots of features to easily create your custom card. You can add a photo, include text and choose from a variety of fonts and colors. You can layer images for unique effects. You can choose the background color and have designs on both the front and back of your card.
Although the site has lots of features, it is easy and intuitive to use.
Once you’re satisfied with your card, you can order it to be printed and mailed to you.
Whobaloo Artist Program
The Whobaloo artist program adds a unique feature to your card. You can choose artwork from Whobaloo artists to be included on your card. You can search for artwork based on genres such as holiday, nature, party, pirates and others. You can also browse by artist if you find someone whose creations are especially appealing. You may want to use your own image and then add border artwork from a Whobaloo artist.
If you’re an artist yourself, you can submit your artwork to Whobaloo to be considered for their site. Whobaloo accepts any form of digital media as art, including photography, graphic art and more. If your artwork is accepted, then you receive a commission every time your artwork is used on a card that’s purchased by a Whobaloo user.
Whobaloo could help you earn some money for your artwork and help you become discovered as an artist!
Pricing
The price varies based upon the size of the card and the number of cards you order. The minimum order is 10 cards. The price ranges from $0.40 per card for 100+ business cards to $5 per card for 10 5×7 postcards. If you order 190 postcards or more, each costs $1.68.
Availability
As of now, shipping is only to US addresses, but Whobaloo hopes to add international shipping soon. Artists can submit their artwork from anywhere in the world.
Postcard on the Run
If you want to create a card that’s pleasing to multiple senses, check out Postcards on the Run. This free app isn’t your typical postcard app, this app is loaded with super cool features. With Postcard on the Run, you can create custom postcards that will be printed and mailed to your friends anywhere in the world.
You can create a 4×6 postcard using a photo from your photo library, from Facebook, or from the camera on your mobile device. You can add a border and select the size and color of the border.
On the back of the postcard, you can add up to 200 characters of text in different fonts and colors, plus you can sign the card with your own handwriting.
[tip]Use emoticons to liven up the text on your postcard![/tip]
Super Cool Features
If you thought adding your own signature was pretty cool (as I did), wait until you see what else Postcard on the Run has to offer!
You can use the GPS on your mobile device to have Postcard on the Run add a map showing your location. If your friends are wondering exactly where you are when you are sending the card, the map can pinpoint your spot.
If you don’t know your friend’s address, Postcard on the Run can try to get it for you. They have an address service called Postal Gopher that can try to get your friend’s address in case you don’t have it handy. Postal Gopher will send and email or text message from you asking your friend for their mailing address.
Your friends can also notify you when they receive their postcards by scanning the QR code on the card with their smartphones. After a card is scanned, you will receive a notice that your card was received.
The very coolest feature of all? You can add a scent to your postcard! That’s right, you can add a scratch and sniff called Smell Mail to your card to add to the sensory experience. Choose from seasonal scents such as holiday spice or pine, or vacation scents such as suntan lotion or ocean breeze.
Your postcard scent options are:
- Baby Powder
- Bubblegum
- Ocean Breeze
- Mint
- Fresh Flowers
- Suntan Lotion
- Holiday Spice
- Pine Tree/Christmas Tree
- Popcorn
- Chocolate
- Skunk
Here’s a video showing you how Postcard on the Run works:
Pricing
Postcards range in price from $0.99 to $1.69, depending on how many cards you order and where you send them. Scratch and sniff Smell Mail adds an extra 50¢ per card, adding the map of your location is free.
Wonder of Tech readers can save 25% off of the cost of the cards by using the promo code DECFUN, valid through the end of the year.
Availability
Postcard on the Run is a free app, available for
- iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch in the iTunes App Store,
- Android devices at Google Play,
- Windows Phone at the Windows Phone store, and
- Nokia phones at the Nokia store.
Bottom Line
Use these creative services to craft unique custom cards!
Do you like mailing cards to friends? Do you like the idea of submitting your art to Whobaloo? Would you like to send a scratch and sniff postcard to a friend? Which scent would you choose? Let us know in the Comments section below!
*Mailbox image by Cindy Cornett Siegle
**Sample Whobaloo Snowman card featuring the work of artist Ann Troe
Hi Carolyn
Whobaloo appears to be the right fit for me. I will surely try that.
Thanks for sharing the great info.
Sapna
Hi Sapna, I’m so glad you like Whobaloo. There are a lot of great places to create cards, but both of these services offer something special beyond the typical cards. I hope you enjoy Whobaloo, Sapna.
I’d love to test both services Carolyn. We still haven’t ordered our cards, but hopefully we’ll be ready in a day or two. We’ve been using Apple for the past three years. It’s expensive, but looks great.
Hi Jens, Yes, Apple does have an app that will help you create a card and mail it for you. It’s a fine app, though expensive. These services offer something a bit more than the typical card. I love that Whobaloo supports artists and that Postcard on the Run has features like adding a map and scratch and sniff.
Enjoy designing your cards, no matter where you get them from!
Oh I love these Carolyn! What cool services and I have a feeling I’m going to be trying them both out.
Being able to personalize your card without it costing you a small fortune is right up my ally. That’s why I never joined some of these network marketing opportunities that shared cards. I can do it myself much cheaper with my own hand written message too.
Love the postcard idea as well. Quick, easy and just to the point. Great idea and thank you so much for these shares. You’re the best!
~Adrienne
Hi Adrienne, I’m so glad you love these services too. I think they’re fabulous. Both of them offer something unique. And when you’re taking the time to create custom cards, it’s because you want them to be unique!
Enjoy creating your cards, Adrienne!
Oh my childhood, when I used to spend my entire December thinking which holiday card to send to which uncle, which aunt, and which cousin. WIsh the eCards had a fraction of that joy. Or even my kids have fraction of that joy we used to get out of such simple activities.
I am glad these services are connecting the old world (physical card) to new world (there is an app for that). I gotta try the business card option.
Thanks Carolyn for introducing us to hidden gems like these!
Hi iRewardChart, Yes, you’re right. It’s easy to spend a lot of time in a card shop trying to pick out the perfect card. With these services, you can make personalized cards that may end up costing a lot less than store bought cards.
I also like that both of them produce physical cards that can be mailed. There is still value in sending physical cards to people.
Have fun designing your business cards, iRewardChart!
Hi Carolyn,
You know how Scrooge-like I am. I am looking to save on sending cards! The postage for second class went up from 38p to 50p here and so I’m not alone! It’s not a bad idea though. I am actually thinking about some new business cards, maybe after Christmas.
I’ve explained how I photographed the full moon in my blog this week, especially for you! I have a snow picture too, it was taken in China, we have frost and ice, but no snow yet. I think we will be photographing the frozen lake and canals again soon. It’s about 2C today and so not quite cold enough for that. I will be doing some photos with text on for use as Christmas greeting on you Facebook Timeline or blog. 🙂
Hi Mike, I thought of you when I wrote this blog. I checked with the Wahoolie developer and they do accept photography. Perhaps you should submit some of your photographs to them? Your photographs would make an interesting backdrop for cards. Plus, that may help others discover your photography! :-bd
I was hooked until I saw the pricing; makes sense these would be $$, but darn…was hoping I could knock out holiday greetings…we’ll return to Plan A — designing our own and figuring out how to print. Thanks for your always timely and relevant content, Carolyn!
Hi Jayme, Thanks for pointing that out. I should have been more clear in my article and I have updated it to reflect the pricing more accurately for Whobaloo. If you buy larger quantities of cards, such as holiday greeting cards, the price drops tremendously. If you order 80 or more cards, the price drops below $2 per card.
I hope you take another look at Whobaloo, Jayme.
Carolyn – I particular liked the “smell your card” option, that does add a unique feature to the tool and I would love to use that on my cards.
Whobaloo also looks interesting, though we do not have the ritual of sending out christmas cards, maybe I can use it for our Indian festivals 🙂
Hi Praveen, Thank you! I thought the Smell Mail was such a cool feature. I just have to include that on any postcard I send. That would be so great to get too!
Whobaloo needs some art for Indian holidays. What a great opportunity for an enterprising artist to submit some to Whobaloo! :-bd
I have a friend whom’s 5yo daughter is painting / drawing these kind of cards and selling them on fiverr. Apparently, people still buy these cards and from what i can see the kid is quite happy with the earnings. She is saving for a cute bike.
Hi Radu, Wow, how cool that you know a budding artist. She might want to consider submitting her art to Whobaloo too. They don’t require an exclusive license so maybe she could afford that cute bike a little sooner! :-bd
Hey Carolyn, i’ve transmitted your message to the parents of this kid and they said that they will check it. Anyway her drawings are getting better and better.
Thanks for letting us know, Radu! Please keep us posted on this. It would be great to support a budding artist! 🙂
Thanks Carolyn, this is a great resource. Things like this make it easy for people to send something special.
Hi Ross, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! I’m glad you enjoyed this post. You’re right, these are great resources to create unique cards.
Whobaloo is amazing! Discovered it just in time before Christmas! I love creating my own postcards, they are always more thoughtful and made with heart. Thanks again.
Hi Teressa, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! I’m so glad you enjoyed this article. Whobaloo is amazing so I know your friends will enjoy getting your unique cards.
What a great website for postcard creating! Unfortunately, I’m going to have to wait until the Whobaloo decides to expend their shipping throughout the whole Europe. Does anyone know when this will happen? Thanks in advance.
Hi Sina, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! I’m so glad you like Whobaloo. I don’t know when the service will come to Europe, but stay tuned to The Wonder of Tech for further information.
These are so cool! I especially love PostCards on the Run. We travel several times a year, but we no longer send post cards – just too much work when on the go. But this program, an app for on the go? A GPS feature showing where we are? They’ve sold me. Not to mention the scratch-n-sniff option. I can see it now – my son’s next postcard sent, complete with the skunk scent! Love it!
Hi Carol, Great point! If you want to send a postcard when you’re on a trip, you have to buy the postcard, buy a stamp, find the address and find a mailbox to send it off. With Postcard on the Run, you can create your own postcard with a picture of you in front of a landmark, beach, etc. and have it stamped and mailed for you. So much time saved!
I’m glad you like Postcard on the Run, but I hope your son doesn’t send a skink scented postcard to me! =;
Hey Carolyn,
I enjoyed reading your article. I made excellent customized cards with the help of Wahobaloo. I would like to add one to the list of possible choices for creating beautiful holiday cards i.e., Zazzle. It is my personal favorite as any non-experienced photo editor can make use of it. You can make your iwb products, from custom greeting cards and invitations to T-shirts with an affordable rate. The best thing I like about this is you are not just restricted to template designs but can make a card from a blank slate.
Thanks for wonderful share!
Hi James, I hadn’t heard of Zazzle before, thanks for letting us know about it! With both Whobaloo and Postcards on the run, you can use your own creativity, you don’t need to use a template. Just want to make that clear for all the readers here.