The Typography Is the Star
Most holiday certificates use pictures of Santa or presents. This one is different: it is led by lettering. A burst of hand-drawn words forms a Christmas tree on the left of the card, and the rest of the design stays quiet to let it shine. If you appreciate good type, this is the design to start with.
Reading the Lettering
On the left, the white and gold lettering is stacked into the shape of a fir tree. At the very top is a small gold star. The words WE WISH YOU sit in small white capitals, followed by A VERY on a golden ribbon banner, and then Merry Christmas in a large, flowing white script that swells out like the wide branches at the bottom. The overall effect looks like a hand-lettered poster.
At the top right, GIFT CERTIFICATE is set in bold white capitals with a snow-dusted texture, and little pine trees tucked into the letters.
Colour and Background
The background is a deep wine red, close to burgundy, with a darker silhouette of pine trees along the bottom half, like a forest at dusk. Tiny snowflakes are scattered across the card. A double frame in gold, one thick line and one thin, runs around the edge. The gold, white and burgundy combination feels warm and a little luxurious.
The Form on the Right
The card measures 8.5 x 4 inches in landscape. Inside the frame, the right side holds the gold form lines:
- Amount, with a small gold box marked with a dollar sign.
- Recipient Name on a long gold line.
- Sender Name on another long gold line.
- Valid, with the date format dd-mm-yy.
- Signature.
Note that the date prompt uses day first, then month, then year. If your region writes the month first, retype the prompt to mm-dd-yy so the recipient reads it correctly.
What You Can Change
The form text and prompts can be edited. The tree lettering and the GIFT CERTIFICATE title are artwork. The wine red background, the gold frame and the forest are shapes you can recolour: a dark green background turns it into a classic pine forest card, and a navy version feels more wintry.
Paper and Print Settings for Dark Colour
Dark, rich backgrounds look best on matte card stock from 250 to 300 gsm. Gold lines on dark red can fade if the printer is low on ink, so check the first copy. As the card is 8.5 inches wide, use Fit to page or print on a larger sheet and trim to size. It makes a striking present in a dark green or gold envelope.
Pairing It With a Small Gift
Because the design feels formal and rich, it pairs well with a small physical present such as a candle, a bottle or a box of chocolates. Tie the certificate to the gift with gold ribbon, which echoes the frame on the card. A certificate for a dinner or a performance, presented with a small treat, feels more like a gift than a voucher.
For another look with lettering and a different palette, see the credit card sized red certificate or the blue pine garland gift card. All are listed in the Christmas gift certificate collection.
