Announcement
The Card Bard Shop will take your pet photos and transform them into quality custom holiday cards that will amaze your friends and family! Skillful Photoshop techniques and heaps of imagination turn boring greeting cards into family treasures that will be cherished forever. Order over sixty cards, and receive a free 8x10 print of your card.
Most of our cards will be ready to ship in less than three days after we receive your photos, order and inscription. Please send your photos in advance of placing your order to make sure they are of print quality. Want to know exactly how long it will take? Just send us your photos and card choice and we can tell you!
Questions? See our FAQs or click on the Ask question link and we will answer them.
Reviews
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Goldi on Feb 21, 2024
5 out of 5 starsCheri (CardBard) always does a fantastic job creating these beautiful, unique cards. She puts a lot of time and effort into each one. They have become a cherished Christmas tradition over the years. My Christmas would not be complete without them.
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dmessenger on Dec 22, 2023
5 out of 5 starsThe Card Bard always has the most unique and memorable cards. Cheri does an excellent job with the design of her cards and the extra special personalization. We've been getting our Christmas cards from Cheri since 2012 and each year our family and friends look forward to see what's next! The cards are the best ever!!!
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Sandy on Dec 17, 2023
5 out of 5 starsYet another amazing Holiday card from The Card Bard. Cheri is simply the best, she’s amazing at taking random photos we provide of our pups and turning them into world of art. Thank you again, every year they are just amazing ! Highly recommended
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Emily on Dec 17, 2023
5 out of 5 starsThis is my second year using the CardBard for our Christmas cards. They are beautifully made and unique, everyone loves them.
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Tracie on Dec 3, 2023
5 out of 5 starsI was very pleased with the quality of my cards. Beautiful! Cheri ensured that every detail was just what I wanted. I can’t wait to share my cards with family and friends!
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Laurie on Dec 2, 2023
5 out of 5 starsAbsolutely Gorgeous Card. Brings out the Best in my Pups , plus, it gets mistaken for the real thing. I’ve had friends ask “How did you get them to sit like that “ So Realistic, so much fun!
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Laurie on Dec 2, 2023
5 out of 5 starsAbsolutely Beautiful Cards! Captures my pups personalities. Memory Makers!
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Jane on Nov 28, 2023
5 out of 5 starsAs always Cheri is the best…always love how she makes our pups stand out. Every year our relatives and friends ask if they are going to be receiving one of our “special” Christmas cards.
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Sylvia on Nov 22, 2023
5 out of 5 starsWe have been ordering our cards through CardBard for ten years now and are never disappointed. We have friends who can’t wait to see the latest, and it’s going to be so much fun this year, once again. Cheri answers questions quickly and it is always such a pleasure working with her.
About TheCardBardShop
Shop members
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Cheri Moland
Owner And Designer
I’m a photographer, graphic designer, and pet parent. It’s amazing fun making your fuzzy family members into “superstars” and I appreciate the opportunity to make those special days of the year a little brighter for you, your family, and friends.
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Frequently asked questions
Do your cards fold or are they like a post card? How big are they?
Our cards are the traditional folding style with the inscription on the inside. They are a roomy 5.5” X 8.5”, which conveniently, is the largest size you can mail in the U.S. without adding extra postage.
What kind of photos work best for your cards?
The best pose for most of our cards can be taken from in front of the pet, at his/hers eye level (as opposed from your eye level looking down at the pet on the floor) with the pet in a sitting, standing or upright laying position. Some cards just require a head shot, but most need a shot of all or most of the pet’s body. You can either get down on the floor to take the picture or photograph them while they are sitting on elevated, such as a couch, chair, deck, etc. The best lighting is usually outdoors on bright overcast days or in open shade. Avoid harsh sunlight, however, as it will either bleach out all detail in white fur or turn dark fur to solid black. Separate photos of each pet work the best and feel free to send more than one.
Can you retouch a photo of my pet?
Yes! We routinely retouch any eye glare, remove scruffy collars or leashes that are visible, lighten eye stains, fix bad poodle hair days and can even combine head shot from one photo and a body shot from a different photo (same pet, of course) to achieve the best possible image of your fuzzy little friends. Most of the time there is no extra for this, but contact us prior to placing your order if you have any questions or concerns.
Will cell phone (or tablet) photos work for your cards?
Yes! Here are some guidelines to help you achieve the best results:
Clean your lens before taking photos.
If there is a setting for HDR, make sure it says "HDR On".
DO NOT USE THE ZOOM FUNCTION. On cell phones and tablets, this merely crops the photo in the device, making it smaller. Instead, move in as closer.
Please do not use the portrait mode on your camera phone. This renders just a small portion of the photo in focus (usually the face) and the rest will be out of focus. In order to construct a convincing composite, we need the entire pet to be in focus.
If you are sending your photos directly from your phone, when your email service gives you an option of what size image to send, always pick largest or original.
What settings should I use on my digital camera?
Set your camera to the largest image size available.
Set ASA to no higher than 400.
Use flash if necessary but turn off red eye correction. This function emits a series of flashes prior to photo and will usually make your pet look away and usually turns the pet’s eyes to black blobs. We will retouch any unwanted eye reflections and do a much better job at it.
Can I send photos take by a professional photographer?
We cannot use professional photos unless the photographer has given us permission to do so. Most are happy to do so - all we need is an email from them.
I have trouble getting my dog to pose for photos. What should I do?
For dogs, it's usually easier to enlist a helper. Have someone hold the dog on a leash in front of you and kneel down to take the photo. Don’t worry if the leash is visible, we will retouch it out. If your dog has a hard time calming down, work in several short sessions (less than ten minutes). Usually by the third one, it has become much less exciting to the pet. Be generous with treats to make it a positive experience.
If you regularly have your pet groomed, a great trick is to accompany the pet on the trip, and when the groomer is finished, snap a couple photos of the pet while they are still on the groomer’s stand. They are pretty close to eye level, they have calmed downed, the lighting is usually good, and they look nice to boot!