How-To

How to Add a QR Code to a Birthday Card

Print a QR insert that unlocks a digital time capsule on the big day. Step-by-step instructions included.

October 17, 20254 min read

Build the capsule first so the QR code has something meaningful to unlock.

Print the insert at high resolution and test it before sealing the card.

Set the reveal date so the surprise stays private until the birthday.

Step-by-step

Step 1
Create the digital time capsule
Start a capsule and upload the photos, video, or voice note you want them to discover. Keep the message short enough to feel intimate, not like a homework assignment.
Step 2
Schedule the unlock date
Set the reveal to their birthday, party time, or the morning they open the card. The capsule stays private until that moment.
Step 3
Download the printable QR insert
Use the share menu to create a high-resolution QR insert sized for a greeting card. Save a clean version for future reprints.
Step 4
Print, trim, and test
Print on standard paper or sticker paper, trim the insert, and scan it once from your phone before sealing the card.

Matte cardstock feels polished and keeps glare off the QR code.

Put the QR on the right inside panel with one sentence of context above it.

Schedule the unlock for the moment they usually open cards or gifts.

A QR insert works best when it opens something specific: a voice note, a photo memory, or a short video from people who could not be there in person.