A novelty Christmas card works when the joke is still them: their hair, their glasses, their slightly stunned smile, rebuilt as a figurine or a kind caricature. On Ottermagic you upload a photo, run Style Swap in Caricature, Clay 3D, Action Figure, or Bobblehead, preview until the tease feels affectionate, then print an A5 card or download the e-card. Printed cards are 148×210mm folded, 330gsm gloss, envelope included, made to order in the UK, then posted with Royal Mail to UK addresses in around 3–5 working days or sent by airmail to US addresses in around 2–3 weeks. That is enough object for a Secret Santa pile, and enough likeness that it does not read as a random gag from the petrol station.
This page is the novelty Style Swap set. For rude-list Face Swap jokes, use funny Christmas cards and the naughty list. For packs you might send around an office, corporate office Christmas card packs is the sibling. Secret Santa and stocking fillers covers small gifts. The styles are Ottermagic’s named looks.
Caricature
Caricature leans on the features people already tease you about in a nice way: a strong nose, huge hair, a very particular beard. It should feel like a seaside portrait, not a roast. Use it when the recipient already laughs at themselves. Skip it if they are sensitive about a photo, or if the only picture you have is unflattering on purpose.
Who it suits. Siblings. Old school friends. A boss who is clearly in on the joke. Couples who send each other awful pictures anyway.
Kind joke ideas.
- “The rumours about your hair were, if anything, understated. Happy Christmas.”
- “We asked for a likeness. We may have got an upgrade.”
- Inside: one specific memory, not a list of faults.
If the preview exaggerates something they would hate (weight, a medical difference, a bad haircut after treatment), throw it away. Another style will still be funny.
Clay 3D
Clay 3D looks like a small modelled figure: rounded, tactile, a bit studio-craft. It is often the safest novelty, because it is cute without going babyish. Good for families, for pets, and for people who collect little objects on a windowsill.
Who it suits. Parents. Friends who cook. Anyone who likes a physical souvenir. The office character who already has figurines on their monitor.
Kind joke ideas.
- “Proof you can be modelled in clay and still look this smug.”
- “Please do not put us near a radiator.”
- Pet Swap: “The real manager of Christmas dinner, now in clay.”
Clay 3D also hangs well as a poster or canvas if the portrait is strong. Check Ottermagic.com for live wall-art details.
Action Figure
Action Figure puts them in boxed-toy energy: heroic stance, dramatic lighting, the sense they might come with tiny accessories. It is the gamer-and-film-quotes look, and a strong Secret Santa pick when you have a clear, face-on photo. It is a Style Swap of your picture, not a copy of anyone else’s toy line.
Who it suits. Teens. Colleagues who still quote a film in meetings. Couples who hike, cycle, or otherwise look slightly ready for a mission in ordinary clothes. Kids who want to see a parent as a hero.
Kind joke ideas.
- “Limited edition: still works after several Christmas dinners.”
- “Warning: may contain strong opinions about stuffing.”
- “For ages 18+ (and the nine-year-old who runs the house).”
Keep the pose decent. A photo where they already look slightly heroic (coat, boots, a daft Christmas jumper worn with commitment) helps. A tiny face in a crowd will not.
Bobblehead
Bobblehead is the nodding-desk-toy version: oversized head, smaller body, immediately comic. It is loud. Use it when you are sure they will put it on a shelf and take a picture. It is brilliant for sports fans in the abstract (you still use their photo, not a team licence), for the family joker, and for pets, who already have bobblehead proportions.
Who it suits. Secret Santa. Sibling wars that stay friendly. The colleague whose laugh fills the kitchen. Dogs. Less so a first card to a new in-law you barely know.
Kind joke ideas.
- “Head: still the biggest thing in the room.”
- “Nods yes to gravy. Always.”
- “From one collectable to another. That is you, obviously.”
If Bobblehead feels too much in the preview, step down to Clay 3D before you give up on novelty altogether.
Quick comparison
| Style | Joke level | Best setting | Avoid when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caricature | Medium to high | Siblings, old friends | They are shy about their face |
| Clay 3D | Gentle | Family, pets, keepsakes | You need a sharp, graphic look |
| Action Figure | Medium | Secret Santa, teens, film people | The photo is a distant group shot |
| Bobblehead | High | Office swap, jokers, pets | Formal cards, new relationships |
Face Swap can sit alongside these if you want them dropped into a finished festive scene (Lucky Leprechaun is the live costume-gag example). Style Swap is the usual pick because the photo is the joke. Pet Swap if the card is really from the cat. Text Swap if you cannot get a photo without spoiling a Secret Santa; a name-led card is tidier than a blank, and you can still use Ottermagic.
Manners for office and family jokes
A novelty card is still a card someone might put on a shared fridge.
- Use a photo they already like, or at least one they posted themselves.
- Do not use a picture from a night out they would not show their mum.
- The tease should be something they already say about themselves.
- Leave the A5 blank inside if you want to write the reveal by hand (“It was me. Sorry about the Bobblehead.”).
- For US recipients, the printed A5 goes by airmail in around 2–3 weeks. If the swap is sooner than that, send the e-card.
Preview is the whole etiquette test. If you would not hold it up at the Christmas lunch table, pick another look. Sketch and Photobooth exist for a reason.
Formats and timing
Printed A5: 330gsm gloss, envelope, recyclable stock, water-based inks. Around 3–5 working days with Royal Mail to UK addresses, or around 2–3 weeks by airmail to US addresses. For last posting guidance, see Christmas posting deadlines.
The e-card is a hi-res, watermark-free download after payment. Use it when the office party is tomorrow, or when a US card is needed in less than about three weeks. Posters and canvas are available in the same novelty styles if the figurine deserves a wall. Confirm live details on Ottermagic.com.
Support: support@ottermagic.com (reply within one working day). Prices are in pounds in the UK shop and dollars in the US shop.
Ready when you are
Send a joke that still looks like them. Upload a photo, try Caricature, Clay 3D, Action Figure, or Bobblehead, and only order when the tease is kind. Print an A5 card (148×210mm, 330gsm gloss, envelope; around 3–5 working days in the UK, 2–3 weeks by airmail in the US), take a poster or canvas, or download the e-card. Start at Ottermagic.com.
FAQ
Which style is best for Secret Santa?
Action Figure and Bobblehead if they like a loud joke. Clay 3D if you are less sure. Caricature only if they already laugh at portraits of themselves. Preview before you spend the cap.
Can I make an Action Figure Christmas card from a work photo?
Yes, if the face is clear and the photo is one they would not mind circulating. A well-lit head-and-shoulders from a team page is often enough. Avoid party photos with drinks in hand unless that is the established office humour.
Is Clay 3D too childish for adults?
Usually no. It reads as a modelled portrait, which a lot of adults keep. If they want something quieter, try Sketch instead.
Do US shoppers get a posted figurine-style card?
Yes. The US shop sends the printed A5 by airmail to US addresses in around 2–3 weeks. If the swap is closer than that, use the e-card and print or send the file locally.
Can I put my dog in Bobblehead?
Yes. Pet Swap with a clear photo. Bobblehead and Clay 3D are both strong pet looks.
What if I want funny but not a figurine?
See the naughty-list Face Swap guide, or try Photobooth and Classic Cartoon on the main Style Swap Christmas page.
