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Handy tips from some card makers

Make your card funny. (Or sweet. Or clever.) The funny can come from what you write (even if the photo may not immediately appear to be funny) or the funny can come from the photo itself (showing a pet in a silly situation, doing something silly, or wearing something silly). You're the artist. You pick.

Photos | Writing | General

 

Idea starters

Here are a couple of examples of pet cards that might be really helpful as you create your very own pet card. Feel free to take them to heart or completely ignore them. Up to you.

Option A
(writing on cover and inside; photo cropped on cover)

Option B
(photo only on cover; all writing on inside)

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Photos

Pick out the best darn Fido (or Fluffy or Elroy) photo you have:

• Be sure the photo suggests a story somehow or a thought or an emotion.
• Choose a photo that has something interesting going on in the top part—since you can't see the whole card when it's on display in the rack.
• Avoid winter references when possible. (These cards will be in stores during the summer.)
• Sometimes how you crop your photo can tell a story.
• Here are some examples of what we mean...

  Good Photo	Bad Photo
  Here's why: Pet fills the photo (which diminishes the background) Interest is at the top Pet is in focus Vertical 4"x6" ratio	Here's why: Photo is mostly background Pet is out of focus Photo is blurry Horizontal 4"x6" ratio Pet has "red eyes" from camera flash Poor cell phone photo quality

Writing

Think about what your animal friend might be thinking about the whole birthday thing:

• Are they happy about it? Grumpy? The look on their face or their body language may give you a hint.
• Do they want to tell you something directly ("I'm so excited")?
• Or are you telling a story about them ("Birthdays are easy for Fido.")?
• Or are you simply making a comment about birthdays?

General

Consider these three judging criteria when you are creating your card:

• Easily sent — by more people than your close cronies.
• Cohesive — the photo and the writing seem like they were meant for each other.
• Sticks to theme — it's a funny birthday pet card.

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A Few Idea Starters

Option A
(writing on cover and inside; photo cropped on cover)

This bulldog clearly has something to say. You can see it in his eyes, and his bared teeth are just begging for comment. So your pet sitting on a chair by the pool becomes a bulldog philosophizing about birthdays. (And demanding some cake.)

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If you've ever spent time with a cat, chances are he's sat like this at least once and it made you laugh. It cracks a lot of us up. But how to make this funny photo into a birthday card? Can we relate to this cat somehow? In comes the self-deprecating writing that many of us can relate to, come birthday time.

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With a wink you can get away with saying pretty much anything (pretty much), and when you're a dog — literally or figuratively — you can get away with talking about biting bottoms. So here you have a frisky little card written as if the frisky little puppy is speaking (which of course, is really representing the frisky person sending the card).

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We're interested in all pets, so don't forget the hamsters (and turtles and spiders and bunnies and...?).

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Option B
(photo only on cover; all writing on inside)

Here's an example of what appears to be a simple image that grabs you when you look at it more closely — there's definitely something intriguing there that makes you want to see what comment/writing might be inside the card. The simplicity of the inside writing makes it possible to not only poke fun at less than beautiful dogs on cover while giving a little jab to the co-sender of the card, too.

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On the sweeter side of things, we have a kitty with a tiara. Feel free to use props in your photo (as long as they are no danger to your pet, of course). Sometimes props can make the whole idea come together. This card speaks to the reputation of spoiled cats and about our right to be pampered on our big day each year. Putting the two ideas together makes for a pretty sweet card.

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You don't need to show the whole pet to have this be a pet photo card. Sometimes just a hint can be more powerful in terms of storytelling and interest. We know there's something going on in that little kitty's head, and we know it's probably not what was intended for the ice cream. But we also absolutely know that feeling — wanting something that maybe we shouldn't want — and may like "permission" to be naughty on our birthday.

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Remember, we're not just interested in kitties and puppies in this here contest. Don't forget about all those pet parrots and parakeets and ostriches...