Frequently Asked Questions
Got questions? We’ve got answers!
Browse our FAQs for info about orders, shipping, returns, custom items and more.
Products
What should I use to write on the wood?
Because of the porous nature of the wood, we recommend using a pencil or a ball point pen. Gel pens work well too, as long as you let the ink dry for a minute after writing. (Be super careful if you're a lefty!) A fine point sharpie will bleed slightly into the grain of the wood, so we recommend testing out that method to make sure you like the outcome before diving right in. If you'd like us to include a sample card in your order so you can practice, please contact us immediately after placing your order.
What postage do wood cards require?
Our eco-friendly, sustainably-harvested birch wood cards and postcards require standard first-class letter rate postage to ship within the domestic US. They are quite malleable and durable, so you can send them as you would any other regular first class card or postcard!
Orders
How do I check my order status?
Click the Order Status link at the bottom of the page or contact us.
Are your products available for wholesale purchase?
Yes, indeed! Learn more about placing a Wholesale Order.
Shipping
How much does shipping cost? When will I receive my order?
Learn more about shipping costs, order processing times and time in transit by viewing our Shipping Information.
Wholesale Orders
Are your products available for wholesale purchase?
Yes, indeed! Learn more about placing a Wholesale Order.
Is there a wholesale representative in my area?
Our products are represented by super fabulous individuals in many areas of the US. Please contact us with your store details and we'd be happy to connect you with a rep in your area.
Custom Orders
What are your custom design guidelines?
Accepted Files
Submit your artwork as an Abode Illustrator file, PDF or 300 dpi JPG. Remember to outline your fonts and change any spot colors to CMYK. Logos, illustrations, text and photos all work great! Please email your artwork to us after placing your order.
Bleeds & Safe Areas
If you'd like your design to extend to the edge of the card (i.e., full bleed), please add a 1/8" bleed to all edges. For all designs, please leave a 1/8" safe area between important design elements and the edge of the card. Since trimming isn't always an exact science, it's possible that there may be up to an 1/8" "give" on your custom card size and/or artwork placement. Of course we will always do our best to trim as accurately as we can, but it's important to consider this "give," particularly if your design requires perfect symmetry. Also keep in mind that the radius of rounded corners is 1/4".
Colors
We use a 4-color (CYMK) print process, so we are able to print as many colors as you'd like to use in your design, with the exception of white. Any white areas of your design will simply knock out, allowing the natural wood to shine through.
To ensure the colors in your artwork will print well on the wood, we recommend selecting hues similar to those that you see used in the wood cards on our website. Note that there will be a degree of transparency in the printing, depending on the ink color. Lighter colors are more transparent and allow the birch wood to show through, while darker browns, reds and greens print more opaque.
What is the recommended photo size for my personalized card?
To ensure the best results when printed, we recommend that you submit a clear, original, unedited photo that is at least 300 pixels per inch (ppi) so that we have the best quality image to work with. If your photo is not large enough (i.e., does not have enough pixels per inch), then it can result in a fuzzy or pixelated final product, which isn't ideal for anyone…after all, we want your photos to shine!
The original file from your camera should be plenty large for print, but it's possible that it got sized down somewhere along the line (perhaps when importing it to your computer or a photo program) so it's important to double-check before submitting it.
To determine if your photo is large enough for the design you have selected, you will first need to estimate the dimensions of the photo area on the card. (You can also ask us for specific dimensions if you'd like.)
For example, if the design you like best appears to have space for a 5 x 7 photo, you'll want to multiply each of those measurements by 300ppi to identify the ideal pixel dimensions for your photo. In this case for a 5 x 7 photo area, you would want to use a photo that is at least 1500 x 2100 pixels.
To identify the dimensions of your photo, look in the ‘File’ menu of your photo viewer. If the listed dimensions are at least 1500 x 2100 pixels, your photo will print wonderfully!
When you're ready, you can email your photo to us.
Returns and Refunds
What is your return policy?
Learn more about Returns & Refunds.
Other
What if the topic I need isn't listed here?
We would LOVE to hear from you! Please contact us.