Greeting Cards

The tradition of sending greeting cards goes back about 200 years.  Most greeting cards were hand crafted and hand delivered until the first postage stamp was released in 1840.  You could mail your greeting card for only one-cent postage.  Only the wealthy and elite families afforded this elegant and expensive custom at first.  Soon printers developed techniques that made designs and greeting cards available at an affordable cost.  There were many people involved in the progress of the greeting card market but the most recognized names in today’s market are Hallmark Greeting Cards and American Greetings. 

Personal computers and connection to the World Wide Web has altered the greeting card market to some extent.  Many people use e-cards to send a greeting card and message.  But many people find e-cards to be impersonal.  They cost no money and require very little effort, making them of little value to the recipient.

Greeting cards companies hire calligraphers and artists for their design work.  The greeting card industry has developed a handmade-looking greeting card market, but they are still mass-produced.  Research shows that my greeting card niche is like no other service offered on the market at this time.  Each greeting card is a handmade original work of art.  Using a combination of watercolor, collage and calligraphy, each greeting card can be personalized for the recipient.  Each greeting card is a frameable miniature original work of art.  We also address the envelope, add colorful commemorative postage, decorate the envelope to match the greeting card, and mail it for the sender.  Gift cards and/or business cards can be enclosed.  Adding a new dimension of thoughtful and personal communication between sender and receiver is our intention. 

My greeting card business idea first began to develop as I designed elegant greeting cards for family and friends.  As soon as the greeting card was opened, my phone would start ringing with grateful and surprised recipients expressing excitement over the greeting card made just for them.  Artists are always happy when their work is appreciated and admired. So here I am marketing and selling my passion for calligraphy and lettering arts by designing custom and personalized greeting cards combined with a mailing service.