Eight cards to brighten a wintery day

February 15, 2023

I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks this has been a long, long winter and so it was good receive the most recent Card Boys box through the post. Once again there’s eight cards, and once again its hard to choose a single favourite.

All of them though brought a pop of much welcomed colour to my morning, and yes, even those on with dark backgrounds - they just make the colours pop even more.

Couldn’t you just dive into those leaves and smell the freshness right now? Or maybe a birthday party is just what we need…

There’s plants in vases and plenty of yellow and orange flowers - I’ve been trying to work out what they are and are settling on cone flowers for the yellow, and perhaps dahlias or gerberas for the orange ones. But they could be any number of other flowers either, and that’s ok.

Abstract shapes, perhaps for when you’re not sure what to say or friendly turtles swimming in an unrealistic bubblegum pink pond. Both made me smile though.

We all need to hear that we’re fantastic at times, and what better way than by post? I’m between these two for my favourites this month, but then again it really could be any of them.

Which would you choose?

Eight autumnal cards

November 15, 2022

I’ve received my latest box from Cardboys, and again they’re mini pieces of art which will be popping through letter boxes of people I know celebrating over the next few months. As ever for £24 I received eight cards, once again with a thank you card, some specifically for birthdays and others which can be put to many uses.

Two green budgerigars sitting on branches against a light blue oval on a darker blue background — ARTIST: LAURA BARNES

This box covers the three months September to November, so I wasn’t surprised for there to be an autumnal leaf design, which I think is one of my favourites this month.

Green, red, amber and purple autumn leaves on a brown background, with the previous card beneath — ARTIST: GRACIE GERSTMAN

yellow and peach flowers with green leaves on a white background, both previous cards are at the bottom of the pile — ARTIST: REBECCA DIGGLE

I’m not always a fan of more comical designs, but this unicorn pigeon made me smile. I think we all need some unicorn pigeons right now!

On top of the previous cards, a picture of a unicorn pigeon on a pink background with text "hope your birthday is as magical as this unicorn pigeon" — ARTIST: GRACE CHILTON

pastel pink, yellow, red and green splodges creating a flowerlike patter on a cream background — ARTIST: FLORA DUKE

What I like about these is that they encourage me to share them, not necessarily always by post. We don’t need to talk about the cost of postage, but isn’t it always nice to receive something nice in the post?

A hand drawn female wearing a beret, striped top and trousers holding a present behind her back — ARTIST: HOLLIE FULLER

This month though, there was one card that had me considering if I wanted to continue with the subscription. And it was this one. I like the idea and depiction of Party Thyme, but I’m struggling with the typo. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to use this one without pointing out the misspelling, but then again that says to the person receiving it that I think they’re ok to be sent a typo - see, what a dilemma.

A green card of Birthday Herbs with 9 illustrations of herbs, including Party Thyme — ARTIST: GRACE CHILTON

A tiger lazing among golden flowers, and palm trees with a yellow sun on the horizon. The words 'thank you' in orange at the top of the card. — ARTIST: HANNAH GRACE

But then again, one card in what is now twenty four isn’t bad odds, but I know I wouldn’t have bought that card. Thankfully though the last card in this set is a zinger, and I’ll be sorry to part with this one. What would you do about the typo card, I’m interested to know your thoughts.

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If you want to see previous boxes, read my post from August.

Eight cards for summer

August 11, 2022

Back in May I shared the cards from the card box subscription service by The Card Boys which I signed up to at this year’s Grand Designs Live. This week I’ve received my ‘summer’ box of cards and I’m just as pleased with it as I was that first box - and I’ve used over half of those.

Each card is a mini piece of art, and the scheme supports independent artists and illustrators, and provides me with something different to cards from high street stores. The artist’s biography and details are on the back of each card, so it’s a great way to discover artists, and great for artists to get their work more visible.

There’s eight cards in the box (for £24) but I’ve only got photos of seven - that’s because I used one and sent it off before I thought to take a snap.

a shimmering sun in gold red and white — ARTIST: LAURA BARNES

A LARGE PINK BIRTHDAY CAKE WITH CANDLES ON — ARTIST: GRACIE GERSTMAN

A STREAM THROUGH A LUSH VALLEY LANDSCAPE — ARTIST: MICHAEL BARTLETT

AN ARM HELD OUT HOLDING A BUNCH OF FLOWERS WITH 'THANKS A BUNCH' LABEL — ARTIST: EMMA TOBEY

LOOKING THROUGH A WOODED LEAFY LANDSCAPE INTO AN OPENING — ARTIST: MICHAEL BARTLETT

WHITE ABSTRACT FLOWER PATTER ON A MID BLUE BACKGROUND — ARTIST: FLORA DUKE

A TOUCAN AMONGST LEAVES — ARTIST: LAURA BARNES

There isn’t a card I wouldn’t use in this selection - and as last time, it’s the last image that is my favourite. Which is yours?