Birthday shops are easy to find. The harder card is the Tuesday one: I miss you, I was a bad flatmate, thank you for the 1am phone call, happy nothing in particular. If you have a photo of them (or of the two of you, cropped to the face you mean), Ottermagic can turn it into a small object that does not look like a corporate e-mail. Upload, run Style Swap or Face Swap, preview until it looks like your person, then order a printed A5 (148×210mm folded, 330gsm gloss, envelope included; Royal Mail around 3–5 working days in the UK, airmail around 2–3 weeks to US addresses) or an e-card: a hi-res, watermark-free download. Start at Ottermagic.com.
Why a photo card still helps between birthdays
Friendship cards fail when they sound like a caption generator. A Style Swap front gives you their face in Brick, Chibi, Watercolour, Sketch, Photobooth, Clay 3D, and so on. You still have to write a human sentence inside. The picture does the recognition. The inside does the relationship.
Face Swap is for when the gag is a scene: two of you as a ridiculous double act, a “you live in my phone” energy. Style Swap is for a portrait that can sit on a bookshelf without explaining itself. Pet Swap if the friendship is 40% the cat. Text Swap if you have no photo and still want their name on the front.
Live styles: Brick, Chibi, Emoji, Anime, Watercolour, Caricature, Cartoon, Classic Cartoon, Action Figure, Clay 3D, Retro Halftone, Retro Game, Royal Portrait, Pixel Art, Bobblehead, Sticker Sheet, Tarot Card, Photobooth, Sketch, Lucky Leprechaun.
Best friend
Use a recent photo they already like of themselves. A brutal candid from a night out can be funny in the group chat and unkind on 330gsm gloss.
Chibi, Cartoon, Anime, Photobooth, Sticker Sheet, and Retro Game suit people who already send stickers all day. Sketch and Watercolour suit the friend who would frame a drawing. Royal Portrait is a joke you should only make if they will snort.
Inside: one memory with a date, or one habit (“you still send me the dog video”). Skip a speech about what friendship means.
Flatmate and roommate
UK: flatmate. US: roommate is the word people use. Same card.
These cards work for moving-out, surviving a damp winter, or apologising for the washing-up. Photobooth and Classic Cartoon fit shared-house humour. Sketch fits a quieter thank-you to the person who always bought milk.
If the photo is a kitchen selfie with four people, crop to the one you are writing to. Face Swap gets confused by a crowd.
US roommates: the printed A5 goes by airmail in around 2–3 weeks. If moving-out day is sooner than that, use the e-card.
Miss you
Distance cards go stale when they shout. Watercolour, Sketch, and a simple Cartoon usually travel better than Bobblehead. Face Swap into a huge adventure scene can feel like you are performing missing them.
A printed A5 is lovely if you have the time: around 3–5 working days to a UK address, around 2–3 weeks to a US one. If they moved last week, send the e-card tonight and put a printed one in the post as a second beat if you want.
Write the ordinary things: “the walk home is quieter”, “I queued for coffee and nearly texted you the ugly pastry”. You do not need a poem.
Just because
No calendar excuse. That is the point. Pick a photo from an ordinary day, not only holidays. Style Swap in Clay 3D or Brick can make a Tuesday face feel like a small gift. Emoji and Sticker Sheet are playful without needing an anniversary.
Post when you think of it. If you wait for a “reason”, the card never leaves the basket.
Sorry
Sorry cards are easy to overdo. A Face Swap gag that turns them into a punchline is a poor apology. Prefer Sketch, Watercolour, or a calm Cartoon. Pet Swap (“the dog is sorry too”) only if that is actually your dynamic.
The front should still look like them, because you are addressing a person, not a vibe. The inside has to name the thing you are sorry for, briefly, without a legal defence. If the wound is large, a card is a start, not the whole repair.
If you are not sure they want their face involved, Text Swap or a plain shop card is kinder. Preview honestly. If you feel sly, stop.
Format chooser
| Situation | Format |
|---|---|
| UK or US post, time in hand | Printed A5, envelope, blank inside or printed message (~3–5 working days UK, ~2–3 weeks US) |
| Needed tonight, or they live far away | E-card download |
| You would hang the portrait | Poster or canvas (check Ottermagic.com for live details) |
| No photo you should use | Text Swap |
Recyclable stock and water-based inks on print. Support: support@ottermagic.com (reply within one working day). Prices are in pounds in the UK shop and dollars in the US shop.
Photo notes for friends who only exist at 11pm lighting
- Turn a lamp on. Pub lighting is atmospheric and useless.
- Look at the camera once. You can still be silly after.
- Sunglasses at a festival: wait for a shot without them, or accept a harder Face Swap.
- Old photos: fine if they still look like that; odd if they do not.
Ready when you are
Send the card you would actually like to receive on a random week. Upload a photo, try Style Swap or Face Swap, and keep the preview that looks like them rather than like a template. Print an A5 (148×210mm, 330gsm gloss, envelope) for a UK or US address, take an e-card, or look at posters and canvas. Start at Ottermagic.com. Support: support@ottermagic.com (reply within one working day).
FAQ
Can I make a sorry card from a photo?
Yes, with a quiet style and an honest inside. If a face on the front would feel like pressure, use Text Swap or skip the likeness.
What’s better for a best friend: Face Swap or Style Swap?
Style Swap if you want a portrait in a named look. Face Swap if you both enjoy a scene gag. Generate one of each if you cannot decide. Your reaction to the preview is the brief.
Can I send this to a roommate in the US?
Yes. The printed A5 goes by airmail to US addresses in around 2–3 weeks. If you need it sooner, use the e-card and send or print the file there.
How long does a printed friendship card take in the UK?
Around 3–5 working days with Royal Mail, printed to order.
Can two friends appear on one card?
Start with a photo that clearly shows who the card is for. Busy doubles can confuse a swap. If the preview splits them badly, make two cards or crop to one face.
Do you do posters of friendship portraits?
Yes, posters and canvas are available. Check the site for current sizes and fulfilment.
