I’ll start by saying I do actually love sending (and receiving) Christmas cards. For a person who designs a lot of greeting cards, I’m not actually that good at sending them - at least on time anyway! So I like being able to sit down with a list of all the people I want to send a card to all at one time and write them (and hopefully not forget anyone).
But this year when physical contact has been very much limited, for a lot of us at least, I think there’s something more to receiving a handwritten card that a loved one has spent time writing, addressing and sending, will mean so much more than a text or a Facebook post to the masses. Being able to hold something they’ve held, even with deeply sanitised hands, and then to see it throughout the festive period on a shelf or strung up on the wall, will just bring that connection to other people closer.
So basically the point of this post is to ask, if you’re not really a Christmas card person, you think they’re a bit old fashioned or that there are better things to spend your money on at this time of year, please just reconsider. Think of each card as that hug you’d normally be giving to each of them to wish them a happy Christmas and show you care. And if you send it early, it will last so much longer both in their memory and just their vision, than a digital message would.
Another huge bonus of course to sending cards is that it’s a really easy way to support independent businesses at this time of year. Whether that’s buying your cards online, directly from creatives like me, or supporting small independent shops near you. Of course there’s nothing wrong with buying bigger, cheaper packs from the supermarket, especially if they’re also supporting a charity with their cards as they often are which is obviously wonderful, so you can always do that too! Just maybe consider buying a couple from little businesses and give them a slice of that festive cheer, as well as your pals. Just a Card can really help!
To help you find some independent Christmas cards, I’ve compiled a list of just some of the many independents I know are selling their own Christmas cards this year. I got a bit carried away so there is more than just "some", so I’m hoping there is something here for everyone! I've added the maker's names and locations because they're real people in real places and they'd all love you to buy their cards!
1. It Was A Rabbit Illustration | Lora in Wilmslow
2. Embers and Ink | Emma in Sheffield
3. Charlotte Hepburn | Charlotte in Yorkshire
4. Helen Richmond Design | Helen in Warwickshire | Currently on Maternity Leave
5. Jessica Woodhouse | Jessica in Chesterfield
6. Joy Jen Studio | Jenna in Leeds
7. Ink Flo Store | Steve in Manchester | Coming Soon!
8. Pen and Gwyn | Nicky in Hull
9. Annie Dornan Smith | Annie in Watford
10. Plewsy | Fiona in Yorkshire
11. The Littlest Falcon | Merlyn in North Yorks
12. Wildwood Paper | Grace in Sheffield
13. The Happy Chappo | Steven in Slaithwaite
14. Yuk Fun Wow | Lucy & Patrick in Portslade-by-Sea
15. Orange Pippin | Helen in Sheffield
16. Citrus Bunn | Clemency in London
17. Cranfield Creations | Aaron in Manchester
18. Our Version Greetings | Sam in London
19. Katie Tinkler Illustration | Katie in London
20. Charis Raine Studio | Charis in York
21. By Sam Bull | Sam in Winsford
22. Dick Vincent | Dick in Macclesfield
24. Katrina Sophia | Katrina in Nottingham
25. Amy Harwood Illustration | Amy in Southampton
26. Textiles By Rachel | Rachel in Cardiff
27. Tom Hardwick | Tom in Hull
28. Sophie Heywood | Sophie in Stockport
29. Loaf and Bear | Laura in Lymm
30. Shufflebotham Fine Art | Jennifer in Kenilworth
31. Nicky L Art | Nicky in Warwickshire
32. Jade Muat-Dodd | Jade in Liverpool
33. Dan Hill Illustrations | Dan in London
34. Own Way Co | Katie in Sheffield | Also at Curated Makers in John Lewis Sheffield
35. Harriet Cox Illustrations | Harriet in the UK
36. Martha and Hepsie | Martha in Sheffield and Hepsie in Barnstable | Also at Curated Makers in John Lewis Sheffield
37. Doodles and Dogs Art | James in Lancaster
38. LDM Design | Lucy in Holmfirth | Also at Curated Makers in John Lewis Sheffield
39. Holly Francesca | Holly in West Yorkshire | Also at Curated Makers in John Lewis Sheffield
40. Mountain Man Draws | Connor in Nottingham
41. Kate Thornton Design | Kate in Huddersfield | Also at Curated Makers in John Lewis Sheffield
42. Tihara Smith | Tihara in London
43. Ricicle Cards | David in Somerset
44. This Thursday | It's me! Tori in Sheffield | Also at Curated Makers in John Lewis Sheffield
45. Reconsidered Retro | Rebecca in Manchester
46. Paper Pocket Designs | Sophie in Longton
47. Front Bum Cards | in Leeds
48. Pippa & Paper | Emily in Bristol
49. Thorns & Roseway | Niamh in Staffordshire
50. Hofficraft | Manda in Abingdon
51. Mister Peebles | Helen in London
52. Robyn Draws Stuff | Robyn in Northamptonshire
53. Crafts in Circles | Jenni in Sheffield
54. Hey Jude Greetings | Gemma in Sheffield
55. Heather G Designs | Heather in Barnsley
56. Inky Pinky Cards | Eleanor in Sheffield
57. Pixie Drew | Nicola in Sheffield
58. Vicky's World | Vicky in Sheffield
59. Crabapple Moon | Anya in Sheffield
60. Joanne Hawker | Joanne in Taunton
61. Fox and Fauna | Sarah in Bury St Edmunds | Coming at The Crafty Fox Market
62. Josephine Dellow | Josephine in Sheffield
63. Emmmakes | Emm in Camberwell
64. Ellie Good Illustration | Ellie in Seer Green
65. Natàlia Juan Abelló | Natàlia in Saddleworth
66. Yellow Fred Creative | Beth in Manchester
67. Taaryn B | Taaryn in Leeds
69. Alex Ashman Design & Illustration | Alex in Manchester
70. Skelton Draw | Laura in Southport
71. Studio Maddy | Eline in Ghent, Belgium
72. Delilah Moon Design | Lucinda in Stoke on Trent
73. Every Goose | Imogen in Ramsbottom
74. Left Handed Night Drawings |
75. Illustrator Kate | Kate in Sheffield
76. Lizzie Lomax | Lizzie in Brighton
77. Emma Fisher Design | Emma in London
78. Bryony Moss | Bryony in London
79. Forget Me Not Cards | Danielle in Sheffield
80. Ariana Martin Design | Ariana in Sheffield
81. Smurphia Art | Sophie in Sheffield
