Make it personal this Christmas and print your own cards

Sending a personalised Christmas card is a thoughtful gesture, and more fun than a trip to the shops. Crafting your own custom card is easy – all you need is a photo you'd like to share, a Canon PIXMA printer (for example Canon PIXMA TS5350 Series) and a pack of Canon Double-sided Matte Paper.

If you're starting from an existing photograph, upload it to the Easy-PhotoPrint Editor app to add into a template and adorn with text and graphics. If you're shooting a new image, why not include friends and family in festive jumpers? Or do as we've done here, and stage a Christmas pet portrait shoot. Whichever option you choose, these seven simple steps make it easy to create and print your very own personalised Christmas card.

If you do decide to shoot your own image, why not have a go at creating a festive backdrop? Creative Park is packed with downloadable templates for Christmas decorations – there's everything from wreaths and banners to snowflakes and Santa ornaments. You will also find lots of festive design ideas on the Creative Park app, which is available for both iOS and Android – simply download from the App Store or Google Play. To print from the Creative Park app you will need to connect a compatible Canon PIXMA Inkjet printer – check the list of supported printer models*.

If you've chosen to get friends and family involved, get them dressed for the occasion in a home-printed Christmas sweatshirt. Canon's Iron-on Transfers are available for light fabric or dark fabric, depending on whether you intend to put your design on a white t-shirt or a dark sweatshirt or hoodie. Both versions work best on natural fabrics such as cotton. Simply print your design onto the transfer paper, cut it out and iron on to the fabric – check the instructions for more detailed information.

Now you've styled your festive shoot, you're ready to take your photo. You'll get the best quality image if you use your Canon camera for the shoot – the Canon EOS 850D or the Canon EOS M50 would be ideal – but you can use your phone if you prefer. Any photo you like will do.

The Easy-PhotoPrint Editor app has a selection of Christmas card templates. Simply, open the app and select 'Cards' on the home screen to see the available design options. If you want to narrow down the selection to those templates designed specifically for the pre-folded Double-sided Matte Paper, tap the 'Filter' button in the top-left of the screen, then select 'Half-fold' under the 'Card Format' option. Scroll down to the cards marked 'Christmas' or 'Season's Greetings'. When you find one that you like, tap to download and select 7"x10" under 'Paper Size'.

The Easy-PhotoPrint Editor app lets you select your image from a variety of storage locations including your phone's camera roll, image.canon, Dropbox, Facebook, Google Drive, Instagram, OneDrive or Google Photos, so it's easy to find your favourites. If it's the first time that you've used the app to connect to an online storage system, you'll need to input your login details. Browse your images and select the one or more that you want to use, then tap 'Next' to pull them into your chosen card layout.

At the bottom of the screen you will see a collection of easy-to-use tools to add extra images or switch to another template. You can also apply stamps, such as speech bubbles and stars or, in keeping with the festive theme, snowflakes or a sprig of holly. There is also an option to add additional text so you can include a personal message for your friends and family.

Once you're happy with your card design it's time to load your printer with Double-sided Matte Paper. You'll notice that the sheets are pre-creased so your cards will have a neat fold. The paper pack also includes envelopes for your finished designs.

When you're ready to print your creation, tap 'Next' in the top-right of the screen. If it's the first time that you've used the Easy-PhotoPrint Editor app with your Canon PIXMA TS5350 Series printer, follow the onscreen instructions to connect the app to the printer. When the app has located and connected to your printer, select 'Print'.

Fold your card carefully along the crease, then write your greeting inside, seal the card in the envelope provided, and pop it in the post. Now it's time to sit back and have a think about your next festive crafting project.

Written by Angela Nicholson