Winter Holiday Greeting Cards

15 Ideas to Jumpstart Your Winter Holiday Marketing Designs

Can you believe it's time to start planning for the winter holidays? Time is flying by! We thought we might give you a jump start on your holiday designs by posting some unique and interesting holiday greeting card designs. Maybe something here will inspire your winter marketing campaign or spark an idea for your designer this holiday season.


1. Die Cut Pop-Up Holiday Card by Mario De Kauwe

This stunning design features creative die cutting and folding for a memorable and elegant holiday card. This card is printed on shimmery cover stock for extra shine and includes a coordinating shimmery envelope.

2. Corporate Card with Foil Stamping by Christina M. Pesce

This elegant design was printed on metallic paper stock and features foil stamping on the snowflakes and border for an extra shimmer and rich textures.

3. Linen Texture Card by Tiffany Capoccia

This simple and pretty window cutout design is printed on linen cover stock for a rich textured feel that contrasts nicely with the flat style of the design.

4. Advent Christmas Card by Ian Walsh

This clever advent calendar countdown card allows the customer to interact with the design in a fun way.

5. Die Cut Snowflake Holiday Card by Becca Heuer

Using careful planning and simple die cuts, this intricate tri-fold card design creates layers of fun and definitely has that "wow" factor. A custom matching envelope brings it all together.

6. Modern and Fun Corporate Holiday Card with UV Coating by Michele Boles

This fun design takes advantage of textures glossy cover stock and adds that extra pop with UV flood coating. Adding a spot varnish for selective gloss would be fabulous on a design like this.

7. Snowflake Ornament Holiday Card by Cátia Rodrigues and Miguel Castanheira

This card provides the receiver with ornaments to assemble and use to decorate their tree. The snowflake designs are die cut so that they are easily removed from the background. Matching custom envelopes complete the presentation.

8. Die Cut Tri-Fold Winter Card by Mandisa Fabris

This die cut card is double sided for extra space. An elegant tri-fold makes it fun to open the card.

9. Christmas Card with Specialty Folding by Polina Mineva

This Christmas card features specialty die cutting and folding for a unique presentation.

10. Corporate Holiday Card with Foil by Harnessing Light Design Studio

This beautiful holiday card features a touch of foil stamping for an elegant finish. The unique folding also grabs attention.

11. New Year's Postcard by Olivia Sciacca

This postcard is a simple way to touch base with your customers at the beginning of the year. A strong simple graphic on the front encourages the viewer to read the information on the back.

12. Polar Bear in a Snowstorm by Aimee Pong

This designer uses spot varnish to create a unique and humorous holiday card.

13. Holiday Card with Embossing and Debossing by Michelle Alonso

Using silver and gold foil, this sparkly holiday card has a glamorous feel with both embossed elements and debossed elements.

14. Ornament Die Cut Card by Jess Foy

With unique colors and fun patterns, this card stand out among the rest. With die cut ornaments printed on thick coaster board included in the design, this is one that will be displayed all season long.

15. Thanksgiving Holiday Window Card by Scott Withers

This cleverly designed see-through window creates the shape of the corporate logo on the front and opens to a surprise design on the inside. Stand out and show customers appreciation with a Thanksgiving holiday card instead of more traditional holiday cards.

Whatever your style or design, we can help you create a custom holiday greeting card that will stand out among the rest and impress your clients. Our high-quality printing elevates even the most simple design into a treasured memento. Ask us how we can help you with your holiday printing today.

The Horrifying Side of Print

Revealing the Dark Terminology of Print

In the spirit of Halloween and in an effort to take some of the fear out of print, here are the definitions of a few of the creepiest words we use as printers. Read on if you dare!

Bleed

Including bleed in your artwork ensures that the ink will print all the way to the edge of the page without trimming off anything essential in your design. Bleed refers to a space around the artwork that falls outside of the final printed area. Bleed allows for a margin of error—to ensure that your document will look professional after it is cut to size.

The size of the bleed you use depends on its purpose. A document intended for print on standard paper or cover weight stock that bleeds off the edge of the printed sheet should have a bleed of at least 1/8″ (0.125 inches or 9 points) on each side of a document which requires bleed.

Creep

When printing a saddle-stitched (stapled) booklet, you need to consider the thickness of your finished product. If you tried using notebook paper and staples to build your own book as a child, you are probably familiar with the frustrating challenge of getting the edges of your booklet to line up neatly.

For a booklet with a lot of pages, it is more difficult to fold flat due to the combined thickness of the paper. This bulk causes the inside pages to extend out past the outside pages as shown in illustration A below.

The outer pages have more bulk to fold around, so they will appear to lose a little bit of width with each additional page. To prevent this from happening, printers use creep to adjust the size of each page just slightly. This creates a clean beautiful edge to your booklet and consistent margins on each page as shown in illustration B above.

Cut

Simply put, the cut is where the printed design is trimmed to its final size or shape. If a printed piece is in a shape other than a standard rectangle, then a die cut will be used. Occasionally, a printed piece will be kiss-cut which means that the cut does not extend all the way through the substrate, but it can be easily torn apart by hand later, such as with magnets or stickers. Very intricate designs will often be laser cut for crisp edges.

Die Line

When your printed project will be cut into a unique shape, it usually involves die-cutting. Examples of a die cut shape are hang tags, name tags, parking hangers, door hangers, or custom envelopes.

A die is similar to a rubber stamp, except it is used to cut a shape rather than leaving an ink impression. It takes a lot of skill to create a beautiful die, especially for more intricate designs. This means that complicated dies tend to be more expensive. Be sure to check with your printer before you design your artwork to make sure your die cut will fit in your budget.

When you are preparing your artwork for printing and cutting, you should include a die line which shows the printer where you want the design to be cut. The die line should only be created using vectors to prevent jagged edges. The die line is typically indicated using a spot color that contrasts with the artwork colors. Name your layer “die line” so that your printer knows what your intentions are for the project.

Gutter

The gutter is a little extra space used to accommodate the binding in books and magazines. When your document has multiple columns or facing pages, you will need to set the gutter width. The amount of gutter required will vary depending on the binding method you choose. Gutter is also used to refer to the space between columns of text in a page layout, although the official term for that is the alley.

Perforate

When a row of small holes are punched into a sheet of paper, it creates a part can be torn off easily. Perforation can be seen in coloring books where the pages can be torn out of the book. It is also commonly used with coupons, flyers, stamps, and tickets.

PMS

Although these three letters can cause dread in women (and men) everywhere, when it comes to print terminology, these letters refer to the Pantone Matching System. PMS colors allow printers to create consistent colors and maintain brand integrity.

Slug

The slug is part of a design document that is located outside the trim line or design artboard, therefore it will not appear in the final printed piece. However, it is occasionally included in the design file and contains information about the project such as the title and date or specific instructions for the printer.

Trap

Similar to bleed, trap refers to a fail-safe method which prevents possible problems with registration during the printing process. In offset printing, the different colors are produced on separate plates which are then layered individually onto the paper. Even the most careful and skilled printers can’t align each layer perfectly every time. Therefore, the use of trapping can make room for slight variations that happen naturally during printing.

When the layers of color are slightly misregistered, you get an effect similar to the one shown in the image below.

In order to prevent this from happening, high quality printers will use trapping to create a tiny overlap between the two layers.

Although we take care of the trapping when you print with us, it is important to keep in mind how trapping works as you design. For example, if you are printing small colored text on a dark background, make sure that your font isn’t too thin and choose a sans-serif font if possible to prevent the little serifs from getting lost during trapping. In this situation, it’s also a good idea to slightly increase the space between characters and lines.

As you can see, there's no reason to be afraid of your friendly neighborhood printer. At least not this year... Bwahahaha!

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Employee of the Month - October 2016

Evan Carson - Employee of the Month

October 2016

Congratulations to Evan for being selected as our Employee of the Month for October 2016. Evan works hard and always tries to "make it happen" for our customers. Thank you, Evan, for being such an asset to McNeil Printing.

Can I Get That in Print?

20 Ideas for Supporting Your Sponsors

It’s generally understood that businesses offer sponsorships in order to show community support and ultimately to gain brand exposure which leads to more sales or greater customer loyalty.  Therefore, a sponsorship is an agreement between the donor and the receiver to help each other grow in a mutually beneficial relationship.

When the sponsorship benefits both parties, it can go beyond simply honoring a pledge and lead to a strong partnership, ensuring long term support for both sides.

So, your goal is to make sure your event promotion leads to increased exposure for your sponsors. The question is: How do you make sure your sponsors feel valued and appreciated? How do you develop loyalty and commitment with your sponsors?

Whether you already have sponsors for your event or you’re trying to figure out how to get in the door to present your plan, we have several ideas to help you turn your sponsorships into lasting relationships.

Here are 20 ways to support your sponsors so they’ll support you.

1. Make sure you honor their brand identity. Use their official logo, slogan, and company description whenever possible. Be careful not to spell their name wrong or include incorrect contact information! Many companies have strict guidelines for how their brand should be portrayed. Sticking to that guideline shows them you care about who they are as a company. Know your sponsor’s goals as a company so that you can maximize exposure in the right places. Asking for this information in the beginning will instill a higher level of trust in you.


2. Send a personalized thank you card. Once a company has agreed to sponsor you, make sure you send a personalized thank you card that’s worthy of being displayed. Include information about how their donation will help you and your community. Add a hand-written note for that personal touch.


3. Take every opportunity to include information about your sponsors. Designing a flyer? Include your sponsor’s logo in the corner. Writing a blog post about your event? Include a link to your sponsors in the article. Printing a program? Include an ad for your sponsors. Your sponsors will never complain that you had too many mentions of their company.


4. Send traffic to their website. Whenever possible, use your website to drive visitors to your sponsor’s website. Most companies track where their web visitors are coming from and seeing your website as a major contributor will definitely help your sponsors see the benefits of sponsoring your cause.


5. Offer ad space on your website or other promotional materials. In addition to a logo and link, offer a space for digital ads from your sponsors on your website. Obviously, not every website is set up to do this, but if you can, it adds a lot of value to your sponsors. If you’re purchasing billboard space, offer your sponsors a place for their logo or ad.


6. Use social media to promote and thank your sponsors. Tag your sponsors in every tweet, post, and update. Link to their website or their social media pages. Encourage likes, follows, and shares. Encourage your sponsors to link to your event page, too and you’ll both receive a boost in traffic.


7. Encourage your patrons to sign up for your sponsor’s email newsletter. During event registration or ticket purchase, include a link or sign up sheet inviting guests to sign up for your sponsor’s newsletter to receive more information about their company. Often a company can provide you with a snippet of code to place on your website for easy newsletter sign up. Or include a link in your own email newsletter! Providing your sponsors with a list of potential clients is a valuable service.


8. Include sponsors in press releases. When writing for online media outlets or printed newspapers or periodicals, include mentions of your sponsors. This kind of exposure is significant for your sponsors.


9. Invite sponsors to your event with complimentary tickets. It’s a simple way to show your gratitude to your sponsors and ensure a memorable experience that will stay in your sponsor’s mind when it’s time to sponsor again next year. Give them front row seats, VIP passes, or custom name badges with their logo on it. Consider giving them a t-shirt, branded water bottle, or other gift of appreciation, too.


10. Involve your sponsor’s employees. Invite your sponsor’s employees to attend your event and participate in the activities. The more people who enjoy your event from their company, the more likely they are to want to do it again next time.


11. Single out your sponsors during the event. Most companies will appreciate some kind of announcement over the PA, a chance to give an award or even a chance to say a few words about their company during your event.


12. Create promotions with your sponsor’s products. If you offer giveaways, auctions, or raffle prizes as part of your event, include products from your sponsors. They will often give you something to use as part of their sponsorship and it’s a really great excuse to mention and promote their brand. If you’ll be playing games or having competitions, make sure the prizes are products from your sponsors.


13. Introduce your sponsors to potential business partners. You add incredible value to your event when you take the opportunity to introduce your sponsors to other people who might be interested in their services or products. It’s all about networking!


14. Offer a place to display information during your event. Offer your sponsors a table or booth to hand out company brochures, flyers, or business cards. Some companies will want to contribute to a swag bag, hand out promotional products, or hold a contest. Help them to brand their booth by offering branded banners, tablecloths, or back drops.


15. Go big with their branding. An enormous banner or poster placed at the entrance to your event will ensure that every participant knows who your sponsors are. Sponsors will feel appreciated when they see you honoring them in a big way.


16. Offer exclusivity in their area of business. It’s important to your sponsors that they aren’t promoted right next to their biggest competitor. If possible, make sure they know they will be the only sponsor in their particular area of business.


17. Make sure your whole team shows their appreciation. Encourage your team members to follow or like sponsors on social media, express a few words of gratitude in person or online, and give their business to the companies who sponsor you.


18. Use video to promote your sponsors. Video is a powerful promotional tool that gets attention. Show your sponsor’s commercial at your event. Post a video to your social media pages talking about how amazing your sponsors are. A video showing your successful event branded with your sponsor’s logo will be an excellent tool for motivating sponsors for next year, too!


19. Take pictures with key members of your sponsor’s company. You can post photos online or even print a custom canvas or poster for your sponsor to hang in their offices. If your sponsor has a photo on the wall showing their pledge to your cause, they will be more likely to continue that sponsorship.


20. After the event, send a report of how the sponsorship worked. Don’t stop showing the love once the event is over. After everything is wrapped up, send another letter expressing thanks and reporting on how successful the project was. Include event photos or videos if possible. Since you can’t usually prove that the sponsorship directly increased sales in your sponsor’s company, it’s best to focus on how many times the sponsor was promoted or acknowledged. For example, attendance at the event showed that their corporate banner was seen 2,500 times, your social media post received 5,000 hits, and 3,000 people visited the link on your website.

Take advantage of every opportunity to express appreciation to your sponsors and you will build loyalty and trust and ensure continued support for your efforts. Together, you can both grow your brands and further your causes.

At McNeil Printing, we can help with your printed promotional materials! We offer affordable options for printed flyers, programs, posters, and more. Ask us about our top quality banners and display graphics. We can assist you in visually promoting your sponsors in the best way possible.

The Best Paper Ad in the World

This Video is a Must See

We just had to share this heartwarming ad from the Paper and Packaging Board. The ad was created to show how personal and intimate paper communication can be as opposed to digital formats.

The video is shown below. It features a sweet young boy who wants to send a message to his dad in the military, stationed overseas. He uses paper airplanes to send his letters. Watch the video to see how it all turns out. You'll be glad you did!



Or watch the video on YouTube.

Introducing Ben Fullmer

Welcome to Our New Sales Team Member, Ben Fullmer

Ben has over 10 years of printing experience and we are excited to have him on our team! He grew up in West Jordan and now lives in Orem.

Ben met his wife of 8 years in a math lab while attending UVU. His pickup line? “Hey there, did you know that 1+1 = 2?” Well somehow it worked and he now likes to say that 1+1 = nearly 6 as they have three beautiful children and one due to arrive in October!

Along with spending time with his family and providing the best quality printing and customer service available, Ben enjoys friends, road trips, gardening, dirt bikes, guitar, basketball, canyoneering and watching college football.

You can contact him at ben@mcneilprinting.com or by calling 801.221.2555. Welcome to McNeil Printing, Ben!

We've Got Your Back

Proud Sponsors of the Orem Owlz

McNeil Printing is a proud sponsor of the Orem Owlz. Check out our sponsor video below. McNeil is sponsoring a game night on September 1st at 7:05 PM. Talk to your sales rep about tickets. We would love to see you there!