What prints
You get one US Letter portrait page: the letterhead, the letter, and Santa's signature. The body runs 120–220 words, short enough to leave white space around the text. The three free designs are Classic Letterhead, Candy Cane and Snowy Night; each has a matching blank version. Free letters carry a small footer; a letter pack removes it and adds six premium designs. If you want a certificate or an envelope too, print them as separate pages rather than shrinking everything onto one sheet.
Print settings that work
Choose US Letter portrait, 100% scale, and “actual size” rather than “fit to printable area”. Turn off browser headers and footers so the date and URL do not appear in the margin. Default margins are fine. Select color for the full effect, or grayscale for a clean black-and-white page. Run a single test print on ordinary paper before you commit to cardstock; it catches a wrong tray, a borderless setting or a nearly empty ink cartridge.
Paper, ink and a pen
Standard copy paper is fine. For a keepsake, use 24–32 lb paper or light cardstock in warm white rather than bright white. Avoid glossy photo paper: it smudges, reflects the light and feels like a flyer. Print at the quality setting you would use for a letter, not the draft setting. Let the page dry for a minute, then sign over the printed signature with a fine-liner or fountain pen. A real ink signature is a small, convincing detail.
Three short examples you can print
Example 1 — classic, age 6.
Dear Jonah,
The elves have been testing the new sled in the workshop hallway. It goes faster than expected. I heard you shared your crayons with the new boy at school; that was a brave, kind thing to do.
Merry Christmas, Santa
Example 2 — funny, age 9.
Dear Priya,
The reindeer have eaten the packing list again. We found hoofprints on page four. Your wish list arrived safely, and I have given it to the department that handles books, board games and very specific requests.
Yours, Santa
Example 3 — toddler, age 3.
Dear Noah,
I saw you put your cup in the sink. Thank you. The reindeer say hello. They like carrots.
Merry Christmas, Santa
When to print it
Print on December 23 if the letter is for Christmas Eve, and keep it flat in a folder until then. Check paper and ink a week earlier rather than discovering the problem at bedtime. If you are printing for several children, print the letters one at a time so each has its own details, then stack them with a sheet of card between pages. A spare copy is worth the extra sheet.
Free printing and letter packs
Three letters a day are free, and the blank stationery templates are free with no limit. A one-time $4.99 letter pack adds 10 credits — one letter each after the free daily allowance — plus six premium designs, the Nice List certificate, elf reply letters, the North Pole envelope and no footer branding. Most families never need it; it earns its place if you print for a crowd or want the certificate and envelope to match.