You can design your own photo greeting card on Gribzy in about five minutes: upload a photo, add your text, check the preview, and order. The card is printed on heavy matte photo paper, folded to A5, and sent with an envelope to a parcel locker in Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania.

This guide walks you through each step, along with the small things that make the difference between a card that looks homemade and one that looks like it came from a shop.

What you get

• Size: A4 folded in half, so the finished card is A5 (roughly 15 x 21 cm)
• Paper: 250 g matte photo paper, thick enough to stand on a shelf
• Envelope: C5 envelope included

Step 1: Choose the right photo

The photo makes or breaks the card. A few things to look for:

• Portrait orientation works best for the front, because the card stands upright.
• Faces should be sharp and well lit. Daylight photos almost always print better than indoor evening photos.
• Leave some space. If you plan to add text on the front, pick a photo with a calm area of sky, wall or background.
• Use the original file. A photo straight from your phone is fine. A screenshot or a picture saved from Facebook or WhatsApp has been compressed and will look soft in print.

Step 2: Open the designer

Go to the photo card designer and upload your picture. You can move and zoom it to choose exactly what shows on the front. 

Step 3: Add your text

Keep the front short: a name, “Palju õnne!”, “Happy birthday” or a date. Save the longer message for inside.

A few practical points:

• Choose a font that is easy to read. Decorative script fonts look lovely on screen but can be hard to read at card size.
• Check contrast. White text on a light photo disappears. If in doubt, use dark text on a light area or light text on a dark area.
• Read it out loud. Typos in printed names are the most common mistake we see.

If you are stuck on the message itself, our lists of birthday wishes and wedding, sympathy and graduation messages are a good place to start.

Step 4: Check the preview

Before you add the card to the basket, look at the preview carefully. Check:

1. Nobody’s head is cut off at the edge or the fold.
2. The text is spelled correctly, especially names.
3. Nothing important sits too close to the edge, where it might be trimmed.

Step 5: Order and choose delivery

Add the card to the basket and check out like any other order. You can send the card to yourself or directly to the person you are congratulating. We ship to parcel lockers and addresses across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. See shipping across the Baltics for times and costs.

Ideas for photo cards

• Birthday card with a photo from the last year together
• Thank-you card for a teacher, with a class photo
• Wedding or anniversary card with the couple’s first photo together
• Christmas card with the family photo and a short summary of your year
• New baby announcement with the first picture
• Father’s Day or Mother’s Day card with the children’s drawing scanned on the front

Want something other than a card?

The same idea works on other products in our shop: photo keyrings, cushion covers, coasters, mouse pads and more. If you want to understand how these are printed and why some photos work better than others, read our guide to sublimation, engraving and print.

The Estonian version of this guide covers the same steps in Estonian.

Frequently asked questions

What size is a Gribzy photo greeting card?

One size: A4 folded in half, which gives an A5 card. It is printed on 250 g matte photo paper and comes with a C5 envelope.

What photo resolution do I need for a printed card?

For a sharp print on the front of an A5 card, use a photo of at least around 1800 by 2500 pixels. Most photos taken on a modern phone are more than enough. Avoid screenshots and images saved from social media, which are often compressed.

Can I see the card before I order?

Yes. The designer shows a preview of your card with your photo and text before you add it to the basket.

Can I send the card directly to the person?

Yes. Enter the recipient’s parcel locker or address at checkout and the card is sent to them in its envelope.

Can I change my design after ordering?

Personalised cards are printed to order, so contact us as soon as possible if you notice a mistake. Once a card has been printed it cannot be changed.