Life-event cards work when the person in the picture is still themselves, only drawn with a bit of intention. Ottermagic’s path is the same for all four occasions: upload a photo, run Style Swap, Face Swap, or Pet Swap as it fits, preview until it feels kind, then print or download. Printed cards are A5 folded (148×210mm), 330gsm gloss, envelope included, made to order in the UK and 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. Posters and canvas are available if the same artwork should hang on a wall. The e-card is a hi-res, watermark-free download when the date is close. Start at Ottermagic.com.
These days are not interchangeable. A noisy Action Figure can be perfect for graduation drinks and clumsy for a christening. Trust the preview. If you wince, try Sketch or Watercolour.
Shared mechanics
- Upload a photo the family is happy to share.
- Choose Style Swap (restyle the portrait), Face Swap (place a face in a scene), Pet Swap (the animal who was also there), or Text Swap if a photo would be wrong.
- Preview. If it feels like a gift, order a printed A5, a poster or canvas, or an e-card.
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.
Printed A5: blank inside or a printed message, recyclable stock, water-based inks. Support: support@ottermagic.com (reply within one working day). Prices are in pounds in the UK shop and dollars in the US shop.
Wedding
A wedding card can congratulate, thank, or mark the day for the couple themselves. Photos often include formal clothes, a lot of people, and mixed lighting. Crop to the couple if the group is busy. Style Swap in Watercolour, Sketch, or Royal Portrait tends to sit well on a gift table. Photobooth and Classic Cartoon can work if the couple’s humour is already that way.
Face Swap into a wild scene is usually too much unless they asked for chaos. Save Lucky Leprechaun energy for a hen do or a birthday. Pet Swap is fair if the dog walked down the aisle, or sat at home and still counts.
Two formats can make sense: an A5 to pass around, and a poster or canvas of the same portrait if they want it in the hallway. Check Ottermagic.com for live wall-art details.
Inside: mention their actual names, the place if you were there, and one concrete wish for the next month. Avoid speeches that sound copied.
If you are sending into a household whose wedding customs you do not share, ask someone close how playful the front should be. A personalised card cannot carry a theology. It can carry two faces you are fond of.
Christening, baptism, and naming days
Families use different words: christening, baptism, dedication, naming ceremony. Use the word they use.
A photo of the baby (or the older child, if that is the day) in a quiet Style Swap is often enough. Watercolour, Sketch, and Royal Portrait are the safer first tries. Chibi can be sweet if the family already likes illustrated children. Caricature, Bobblehead, and party Face Swap scenes are easy to get wrong here. If you are unsure, do not generate twenty wild previews. Generate one gentle option.
Do not dress anyone as a sacred figure for a laugh. Do not invent religious captions. Short inside wording you would say at the door is better than a paragraph of borrowed piety. Text Swap is a respectful option if a photo of the child would feel too public, or you only know the name.
Postage still follows around 3–5 working days. Naming days are often on a weekend; count back through Friday. The e-card helps when you were invited late. Hand-deliver if you can; the envelope still matters.
Pet Swap appears when the family dog is in every baby photo. That can be right. Keep the style still.
Baby shower
Baby showers vary from quiet tea to loud games. Match the room.
Style Swap in Photobooth, Cartoon, or Clay 3D can feel like a party. Watercolour is there if the shower is more of a lunch. The photo might be the parent-to-be, the bump if they are happy to show it, or a sibling who is about to be promoted. Use a picture they already like.
Face Swap gags about pregnancy only if they have been making those jokes themselves. Guessing that tone from outside the group is how cards end up in a bag, unopened.
If you are buying a group card, one preview everyone has seen is kinder than surprising them with a caricature at the door. Leave the inside blank so people can write.
Print specs stay the same as any other Ottermagic A5. If the shower is tomorrow, take the e-card and print locally.
Graduation
Graduation can take a joke. It can also be tender if the course was hard.
Photos often include gowns, caps, and harsh midday light. Take a second picture in shade if the first one squints. Style Swap in Royal Portrait, Sketch, Action Figure, or Brick can all work, depending on whether the graduate wants pomp, quiet, or play. Pixel Art and Retro Game fit some people exactly and miss others.
Face Swap into a scene can be a leaving-do gag among friends. For parents posting a card to a student house, a clearer Style Swap portrait is usually the safer object to prop on a fridge.
Timing is awkward: ceremonies cluster, and you may not get a gown photo until the day. If you only have an earlier portrait, use that. If you will miss post, send the e-card the evening of the result, then order a printed A5 when you have a still you like.
Posters and canvas are a natural extra here, because graduation is already a wall moment. Confirm live fulfilment on the site.
Photo manners for all four
- Prefer a picture they already like of themselves.
- Ask before using a newborn’s face on a public-feeling design.
- One subject is easier than a crowded hall.
- For pets, include face and ears; turn a lamp on for dark fur.
- If the event is solemn, skip the loudest thumbnail.
Ready when you are
Pick the occasion’s manners, then use the same upload. Try Style Swap, Face Swap, or Pet Swap, and keep the preview you would be willing to put on a gift table. Print A5 330gsm gloss with an envelope, order a poster or canvas, or take the e-card. Start at Ottermagic.com. Support: support@ottermagic.com (reply within one working day).
FAQ
Can I use Ottermagic for a naming ceremony that is not a christening?
Yes. The product is a photo-to-art card. Use the family’s word for the day, a photo they are happy to share, and a quieter style if the gathering is formal.
Is Face Swap appropriate for a wedding?
Sometimes, among friends who asked for a gag. For the couple’s keepsake, Style Swap in Watercolour, Sketch, or Royal Portrait is the more typical fit. Judge the preview, and the relationship.
What if the baby photo is blurry?
Retake if you can. A clearer picture from another day is better than stretching a tiny crop. Text Swap is available if you only have a name.
How long does UK print take for a graduation card?
Around 3–5 working days with Royal Mail. If results week is already here, use the e-card.
Do posters use the same A5 specs?
No. A5 specs are for the folded card. Posters and canvas are separate formats. Check Ottermagic.com for their live details.
Can US guests send one of these cards?
Yes. The US shop sends the printed A5 by airmail to US addresses, around 2–3 weeks door to door. If the day is sooner, use the e-card and print or send the file locally.
