Take the Hassle (and Hustle) Out of Holiday Shopping with 55% Off at Shutterfly

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The holidays are a time when my to-do list seems to grow longer by the minute. Between decking the halls with seasonal decor, planning an elegant holiday feast, and shopping for everyone on my gift list, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

Smaller action items like sending out holiday cards tend to slip through the cracks. And if I’ve really procrastinated on the holiday shopping, then it’s often gift cards galore as my backup plan. If there’s anything I learned during the pandemic, though, it’s that you can actually get a lot done through the internet.

I realized that sending holiday cards no longer has to entail hours spent tediously writing each one by hand. Instead, I could hop on the Shutterfly website, select a gorgeously designed photo card with a custom greeting, and cross that task off in less than an hour.

Similarly, instead of reaching for those impersonal gift cards, I could opt for something equally convenient but much more thoughtful by ordering a personalized photo gift—like an ornament or framed print—all while enjoying a mug of peppermint hot chocolate from the comfort of my couch.

While the time-saving benefits of shopping through Shutterfly are certainly an attractive feature, the money-saving perks definitely take it to the next level. Not only are they offering up to 50% off almost everything on the site during November, you can earn 6% cashback by shopping through Slickdeals Rewards.

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For even more savings, you can use the Slickdeals-exclusive promo code GRABMY5 for an additional 5% off plus a free 8” x 8” hardcover photo book or free white 11 oz. ceramic mug. Though this code doesn’t stack with other codes, you can stack it with the sitewide sale for a total of 55% off your entire order.

And from now through 11/14 (11:50 p.m. PT), get free shipping from Shutterfly with promo code EARLYGIFT or get an extra 20% off fleece blankets, candles, and puzzles with promo code GETCOZY starting on 11/13. Product limitations do apply, and these offers can’t be combined with other code-based offers.

The hardest part is deciding which items you want to personalize—there are so many amazing options. If you’re curious, I’m sharing what I ordered this year to make my holiday purchases easier, more thoughtful, and far more festive.

Holiday Cards

Family Holiday Christmas Cards
Family Holiday Christmas Cards

Family holiday cards were always one of those things I loved receiving in the mail but never thought about sending myself. However, after having kids (twins!), I realized how lovely it is to have a family card to look back on over the years.

After taking some family photos, I perused the design gallery to see what template would be a good fit for us. The editing tool is simple to use, and there really is a style for everyone, from classic and colorful to minimal and neutral. If you’re having a hard time deciding, you can star your favorites and compare/contrast them to narrow down a winner. I also liked that you can change the greeting from spiritual to secular, depending on your personal preference.

Since I have an affinity for calligraphy-style fonts, I chose the Handwritten Shine Holiday Card. The greeting foil is available in several colors, like gold and copper, but I chose white for better contrast with my image. As for paper selection, I went for their signature smooth cardstock, which felt thick and weighted, with a vibrant print quality. There is a pearl shimmer or luxe double-thick version available, if you want to upgrade.

Perhaps my favorite feature was the free back-of-card design that is included. You can leave it blank, choose a solid color, or select from many festive patterns. I chose a green mistletoe motif for the back and tied that same pattern into the envelopes with a matching liner. You can even add an extra enclosure card to share family news or announcements.

I absolutely love how the cards turned out. Due to their wonderful print quality and stylish design, I feel pretty certain our family’s card will get some prime real estate on many fridges and mantels this season.

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Address Labels

Custom Return Label and Envelope
Custom Return Label and Envelope

Shutterfly offers the option to have both return and recipient mailing addresses preprinted on your envelopes—and they will even mail your holiday cards out for you. But if you’re like me and need extra time to gather updated addresses, you can simply order blank envelopes and address them later.

To save myself the time and effort of writing out my return address on every envelope, I decided to order personalized address labels. Just like with the holiday cards, the design options are abundant. The filters make it really easy to sort through the various designs with the ability to sort by style, theme, and color.

I chose the Simply Floral Address Label because I felt the design was a close match to the mistletoe pattern on the back of my cards and envelope liners. Having a coordinated address label really tied the entire holiday card together, making it feel like a cohesive stationery package.

Because of all the time I had saved not having to handwrite holiday cards and return addresses, I decided to add an extra festive touch by sealing the envelopes with a hot-wax seal. It’s funny how this feels like the nicest holiday card I’ve ever sent, but it’s taken the least amount of effort on my part to do so.

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Photo Ornaments

Custom Photo Ornament
Custom Photo Ornament

If you’re ever at a loss for gift ideas, ornaments are a lovely option. Not only are they festive for the current season, but they can also be enjoyed over and over in the seasons to come. Plus, they tend to get passed down through generations, so there’s a good chance they could eventually become family heirlooms.

Creating a personalized ornament with a custom photo or message makes the gift all the more meaningful. I decided on the Photo Gallery Glass Ornament as a gift choice this year. I love the classic round shape and simple glass design, but there are many other shapes, colors, and materials to choose from, such as ceramic, wood, or metal.

The photograph I selected was originally full-color, but I applied the black-and-white filter in the editing tool to give the ornament a more neutral vibe. You could also opt for a sepia tone, soft-focus look, or adjust the color saturation to your preference.

Paired with a black satin ribbon, I think the ornament turned out beautifully and will easily coordinate with many different holiday color schemes throughout the years. For when the holidays are over and it’s time to take the tree down, Shutterfly also includes a handy storage bag with a padded liner to make storing it a breeze.

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Framed Prints

Custom black and white print
Custom black and white print

The holidays are a joyful occasion to gather and celebrate with loved ones. Once the festivities are over, photographs are the best way to preserve those precious memories. But if you’re anything like me, most pictures remain in a gallery on my phone—and unless I’m prompted by the phone’s memory feature, they simply get lost in the shuffle.

I decided now was as good a time as any to finally print and frame some photos to give as gifts. I waffled between ordering the gallery layout with several different photos versus a single photo, but ultimately I settled on the Modern Gallery of One Portrait Framed Print because it’s classic and sleek.

There are five sizes and various frame styles to choose from, as well as the option to add a top and bottom mat. I chose the classic curve frame in a white finish with a white top mat and black bottom mat. I also used the editing tool to apply a black-and-white filter to my photo.

When it arrived in the mail, I was struck by how modern yet timeless it looked. In fact, my plan was to gift this print to my parents and in-laws, but it’s just so good that I immediately started planning to order one for myself. And with such great holiday deals happening, I may just get more than one!

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