2025 - code, maze, yajilin, partridge square
Perhaps to compensate for the previous year, this card is a bit overstuffed with puzzles. It features a simple code of my own design that I used both in the maze on the front and as 'drop caps' in the text inside. On the back, a partridge square originally intended for 2024, the square year. I just couldn't let it go to waste.
2024 - shakashaka
This year I planned to use squares as the theme and had a few really nice ideas cooking. Then my father died and I completely changed course at the last moment. The result of a hasty redesign in October, the card now features only a single puzzle and is a stark departure from the usual fare. I can't really look at this card without feeling sad.
2023 - alphametic, slitherlink
I tried so hard to make a slitherlink whose solution yielded a christmas-y picture. In the end I reversed course and made a picture with the clues. The result is my favourite card design so far - minimalist yet totally Christmas.
From this year onwards the card features a QR-code on the back that links to this site.
2022 - jigsaw, kropki sudoku
A return to the "QR code repair" idea of 2019, this time I felt I really nailed the design. Especially the jigsaw turned out almost better than I planned, turning the pieces 45 degrees was a real find.
This is also the year I began the "this is a XXX puzzle" thing, to make it easier for recipients to find information about the puzzles - not everyone knows all the 'well known' puzzles out there!
2021 - hidden letters, substitution code
This year I learned about the size constraints of putting puzzles on a card. The idea was to hide letters in a grid of symbols - symbols that shared a trait (in this case their colors) could be connected to form letters. The spikey bits were used to disambiguate.
Ideally, each letter would have multiple alternatives to make this more than a substitution code, but there was just not enough room to do that. In retrospect I would have done it differently, but at least the pictures are nice.
2020 - graph match, paint by numbers
No sudoku this year, instead I used a more visually pleasing puzzle of my own design. The front is a photograph of a LEGO mosaic that I created for this card. In other words, I put in a little more effort. I also began using a professional printer for the card.
2019 - quiz, number crossword, sudoku
While recovering from a burnout, I decided to do something small, achievable, and creative. That was the first Christmas Card back in 2019, and I think 5 or so people received one. It has a strong "design is my passion" vibe, and though I had no real plans to repeat it, I did put "this is number one" on the back...