Playful online birth card with a teddy bear

A card the older brother can recognise

An online birth card is a page behind a link that holds the name, the date, a few photographs and a guestbook. It goes out the same day and costs nothing to forward. This one puts a drawn teddy at the centre, which turns out to matter most to the person who is now a big sister or brother.

A deep red sits on a pale rose ground, with soft clouds behind the bear and a rounded, friendly typeface for the text. It is openly childlike rather than tastefully restrained, and that is the whole intention. It suits a family who would rather the card looked like the nursery than like a design magazine.

Share the link with everyone at once, and let the grandparents forward it further. They congratulate you in the guestbook, look at the photographs and read when visits are welcome, so nobody has to ask twice about the best day to come. Wanting something calmer instead? Our other online birth cards keep it plainer.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to prepare?

Ten minutes. Name, date, weight and a photograph go in, and nothing about the layout needs your attention.

What can the recipients do?

They leave a message of congratulation, look through the photos and read when a visit would suit you. All their messages arrive in one place, which is easier to read back than a long thread.

Will a drawn bear still look right in a year?

The illustration is simple rather than trend-driven, and the card is a moment rather than a wall piece. Most families find they look at it hardest in the first fortnight, and the photos matter more than the bear after that.

Can we make it less childlike?

Colours, typefaces, photographs and every line can be changed. The portfolio holds calmer designs if the bear is not for you.

Is it cheaper than printing?

No print run, no envelopes and no stamps. The more useful part is that you can add a better photograph a week later without sending a second card.