If you’ve ever wondered how a postcard design comes together, today I’m pulling back the curtain and walking you through how one of our Christmas favorites came to life.
A few years back, I was sitting in church, admiring a nativity display a friend had made (you can see it above). Those big red letters spelling J-O-Y caught my eye—their shape felt warm and inviting.
Thinking this would make a fascinating postcard, I took a photo of the display so I could capture the shape of the letters.
Working in Photoshop, I first isolated the letters:
Next, I shaped quiet hills and soft dunes under a night sky.
Add in a star-filled night sky, a few palm trees, and the scene felt ready.
All that was missing was Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus—the centerpiece of the design.
Finally, when all the pieces are combined and a soft watercolor texture is applied, the finished design comes to life:
We hope you enjoyed this behind-the-scenes peek, showing how an idea turns into a postcard!
We invite you to explore our 35+ Christmas postcards waiting for you—pick your favorites and enjoy sending some J-O-Y.