'Tis the Season Non-Foil Holiday Photo Card Challenge: 1st Place Winner

Hi everyone,

Today, we cap off our holiday winners countdown by celebrating the winner of the most prestigious and competitive design competition in our industry.

Annie’s winning design, A Very Merry Season, took first place out of 5,437 entries in this year’s Non-Foil Holiday Card Challenge. Including the Foil Holiday Card Challenge, we received 7,824 entries and 2.3 million votes in our two biggest Holiday Cards Challenges. For the Non-Foil Challenge, Annie receives the first-place prize of $15,000.

Annie’s intricate hand-lettering seamlessly and organically integrates with the pine and berry accents, resulting in a whimsical yet elegant design. The traditional color palette captures the festive spirit of the holiday season.

Now, many of you have heard—or witnessed first-hand—that we surprised Annie with this exciting news a few weeks ago at Camp Minted in San Francisco. In honor of our Roaring Twenties theme, a vaudeville emcee and two flappers invited our attendees to the after-hours party at the Camp Minted Speakeasy. But to get in the door, you had to say the password, which, of course, was “SURPRISE.” As I roamed the audience with the emcee, we circled around Annie to deliver a surprise that we hope stays with her as a cherished memory for many years to come.

After more than two years apart, it was such a joy to have the community together for this big moment, celebrating each other’s victories. Fellow Minties surrounded Annie immediately with hugs and congratulations.

Annie Mertlich of Wildfield Paper Co lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. She joined Minted in 2013 and has 254 Challenge wins to her name, including 8 first-place finishes. Annie is widely respected for her exquisite watercolor and design. This win couldn’t happen to a more deserving artist. All of us are thrilled for you, Annie!

Please join me in congratulating Annie, along with all of our other winners from our Holiday Card Challenges. Everyone at Minted is so grateful for our artist community and we can’t wait to see your beautiful work adorning mantels and spreading much-needed joy throughout the world this holiday season.

Warmly,

Mariam Naficy

Minted Founder and Co-CEO