Author: Lou Longworth

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Updated Greeting Card Illustrations

Updated Greeting Card Illustrations - I'll always bee here for you

I’m excited to tell you that I’ve now added updated greeting card illustrations to several of my best selling designs. As I mentioned in my last blog post my style has evolved and changed quite a bit since I first started. So I’ve spent a lot of time redoing some of my earlier designs and I’m much happier that it’s all a bit more cohesive now.

It’s taken a while to get the photography sorted out and add all the new designs to my shop, but it’s finally done. Here are some examples, but you can see the full range here.

Little Creatures Designs

I’ve been redrawing ants, moles, octopuses (octopi?) and bees for this collection. Each illustration appears on several different designs for various occasions. So if you like the Ant but are after an anniversary card rather than a birthday card, just check out the full Little Creatures Collection to see what’s available.

Fantastic Ant Birthday Card - wishing you a fantastic birthday
Bee Good Luck Card - I BEElieve in you
Mole card - I love you mole and mole each day
Bee Anniversary Card - We BEElong together
Octopus favourite squeeze card - you're my favourite squeeze

Thirsty Business Illustrations

If alcohol is more your thing then I think you’ll like the updates in my Thirsty Business Collection. Covering a range of tastes including wine, beer, bubbly, beer, gin and whisky, you’ll also find designs for a variety of occasions and recipients too.

Beer Father's Day Card - Happy Father's Day to a Top Dad
Wine Birthday Card - Happy Birthday to my Partner in Wine
Champagne Sparkle Anniversary Card - You put the sparkle in my life - Happy Anniversary
Gin retirement card - You're retiring... more time for G&T
Whisky Birthday Card - Have a neat birthday

Sportsy Greeting Card Illustrations

This was one of my earliest collections and has remained popular. It’s always fun to reference someone’s sport and hobby obsessions in a card, with obligatory pun of course. I’ve updated illustrations for cyclists, runners, tennis fans, golfers, yoga bunnies and even my little trampoliner. Once again, there’s a wide range of different occasions with the updated illustrations so take a look at the full Sportsy Collection here.

Updated greeting card illustration for Trampoline Father's Day card
Runner good luck card - You can do this
Tennis anniversary card - We're a perfect match
Cyclist birthday card - Happy Birthday! Hope it's wheelie great
Golfer Retirement Card - Hope it's TEE-rrific
Yoga birthday card - Happy Birthday! Hatha tremendous day

I’ll continue to update more of my earlier greeting card illustrations over time, so if there’s a particular design you’d like me to work on next just let me know. You can get in touch via the contact form or message me on Instagram.

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Greeting Card Design Refresh

Coming soon - greeting card design refresh

I have some news! I started my greeting cards business quite a few years ago, and my style has evolved quite a lot since then. So I’m currently in the middle of a greeting card design refresh. I’ll be keeping the silliness, the punny sentiments and the themes, but I wanted to curate the range and make sure the illustration style is more consistent throughout.

I’ve redrawn the illustrations for my most popular designs which has been both fun and time consuming. It’s been a while since I’ve just been caught up drawing for hours day after day – and it’s been very good for me. I hope it’s going to be good for you too! You might have noticed some of the new illustrations on a few of my Mother’s Day cards, but even if you missed those you’ll soon get to see the full range.

I’m now sorting out all the imagery. Once that’s done I’ll add everything to the website and to my wholesale catalogue. The lovely Emily Dawe has taken some gorgeous photographs for me so it’s all very exciting 🤩

I’m also doing a mini brand refresh at the same time, including my logo. So you might start to notice a few small changes over the next while…

Don’t miss it

If you’d like to be among the first to know when I launch the new greeting card designs, you can sign up here. I’ll make sure you don’t miss out and my subscribers always get the very best launch offers too 😇

Sign up here

Once the greeting card design refresh has been launched, I’ll obviously be retiring the older versions. I do still have some pre-printed stock though. I’ll be discounting these cards over the next while, perhaps even giving some away… So keep an eye on my Instagram and you might get lucky! All my current designs are still for sale until the launch, and will be printed on demand.

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What to write in a Valentine card

happea valentine card

Knowing what to write in a Valentine card can be difficult, whether you’re sending a Valentine to someone new or someone you’ve been with for a while. So I’m here to help you out with some ideas and inspiration…

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and it’s time to start thinking about what to write in your favourite squeeze’s Valentine card. Whether you’re looking to express your undying love and appreciation or just want to let them know that they’re special, here are a few tips and ideas to help you write the perfect Valentine’s Day message…

Express your feelings

Valentine’s Day is a terrific opportunity to tell your other half just how much they mean to you. Particularly if you’re not usually one to express your soppiest feelings, a Valentine card gives you the perfect excuse to do so without feeling awkward. Let them know what it is that you love about them and why you’re so happy that you’re together.

Or if you’re not yet a couple but you’d really like to be, this gives you a chance to broach the subject and let them know that you’re interested in more than just a friendship or admiring them from afar! 😘

Personalise it

Make your message unique to your relationship by mentioning inside jokes, special memories or personal details that only the two of you would understand. Show that you’ve put a bit of thought into the message rather than just doing the bare minimum of Dear …, Happy Valentine’s Day, Love from …

Keep it simple or go all out

Sometimes the simplest messages are the most powerful. A short and sweet message that simply lets them know how much you love them is often enough.

but…

If simplicity isn’t really your thing as a couple, go mad with as much gushiness as you like!

Tailoring your message to be representative of you as a couple shows that you get how unique your own special relationship is 🥰

Be sincere

The most important thing when writing your Valentine’s Day message is to remember to be sincere. Whether you choose to write a simple message, a heartfelt love letter or a silly poem, speaking honestly about how you feel is the best way to make your other half feel special.

Borrow ideas

If you really can’t find the right words to use, or want to do something a bit different and unique this year, why not find a poem, a quote or a song that sums up how you feel? You could quote some or all of the lyrics of ‘your’ song, or even adapt the words of an existing song or poem into your own soppy, or silly, version…

Even your choice of card can help you express yourself more easily. Whether it’s a silly pun that you’ll both chuckle over, a beautiful illustration or just something that you have in common, choosing the right card gives you something to refer to in your own message as well to make it more personal.

Why not take a look at the range of Valentine Cards I have in my shop? There’s something for everyone, from sporty types to those who bond over a glass or two of the good stuff and everyone in between. You can even go all out and request a custom cartoon portrait of the two of you, for a card and gift rolled into one!

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Cosmos Flower Cards and Prints

Cosmos Flowers Cards and Prints

If you liked the Cosmos illustrations I shared with you a while back, then you’re going to love my new collection of Cosmos Flower Cards and Prints 😊

See the full Cosmos Flowers Collection

You’ll find cards for all sorts of occasions, including versatile blank cards to cover all the bases. And you can also buy a variety of A4 size prints to brighten up your home and bring a bit of the outside in 🌸🌸🌸

Here are a few of them…

Some of the A4 prints from the Cosmos Flower Cards and Prints range

As well as the Cosmos illustration cards, I’ve also created a few Dotty typography based cards in colours that complement the Cosmos flower cards, including “Happy Birthday”, “Thank you so much”, “Good Luck!” and “Hurray for you!”

dotty thank you card - thank you so much
Dotty framed good luck card
Dotty framed hurray for you card
Dotty Happy Birthday Card with dotty frame

You’re also going to love the Cosmos Card Set – a bumper pack of 16 cards! I know what it’s like to be caught out when you need a card at the last minute and this set will sort that problem out for you…

It will simplify your life no end because you’ll have a huge selection of cards on hand at all times. There are cards for a variety of occasions as well as blank cards that will work in any situation. So you can just pick the best card for the job each time and delight your friends with your thoughtfulness and good taste 😇

It will also save you money as you’ll get 16 cards that usually cost £3.95 individually for just £2.00 each – a saving of over £30 😃 – and delivered for free too!

Get Your Cosmos Card Set Now
Bumper cosmos card set - 16 cards from the Cosmos Flower Cards collection

The set includes the full range of Cosmos illustration cards as well as the complementary Dotty range. Here’s the full list of what you’ll get:

Of course you can also buy each of the cards individually, or use the 3 or 5 card bundle deals to pick and mix the ones you want.

I’d love to hear what you think of the new range – why not head over to Instagram or Facebook and send me a message?

Shop Cosmos Flowers Collection
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Reasons to send a card

Reasons to send a card

There are so many reasons to send a card to someone. Greeting cards are kind of magical. They’re just a page of card stock folded in half with some ink on… But they can do amazing things and actually change the way people feel!

I love creating greeting cards knowing that they’ll be used to deepen friendships and make people smile. Sending a card lets your favourite people know that you care enough about them enough to make a bit of effort. And it’s a physical reminder that you’re thinking about them. Here’s a list of 5 reasons to send a greeting card…

Celebrate a special occasion

Okay, so this is the most obvious one, and the reason most of us send cards in the first place. Sending a birthday or anniversary card lets the recipient know that you remembered that this day is a big deal for them and you’re celebrating them and their special day.

Send a card to wish someone luck

Getting a good luck card definitely gives us a little boost of confidence before we tackle something that’s a bit daunting. Whether they’re going for a job interview, taking a test or exam, or attempting a physical challenge, sending someone a good luck card will be a little reminder that you believe in them.

And to say well done

A card is also a great way to say well done when someone has already achieved something. Whether that’s graduating, having a baby, passing a driving test, finishing a marathon, getting a new job, or any other accomplishment, you’re letting that person know that you think they’re brilliant!

Send a card to stay in touch

Sometimes a card can be the best way to just say hi when you haven’t seen someone for a while. While technology makes it easy to text, email or call someone pretty much anywhere in the world, sending a card is a more permanent reminder that you’re thinking about someone. You’ve shown you care enough to choose a card, buy it, write in it and post it off to them!

Cheer someone up with a card

It’s very easy to send off a text message… But just think how you feel when physical post arrives through your letterbox. We’re accustomed to the noise of digital communication so getting something nice in the mail still gives us a little bit of a thrill. Sending a greeting card is a fantastic way to cheer someone up when they’re having a tough time. They have the excitement of receiving mail. And they also have something real they can put on their desk or shelf to remind them that you’re there for them.

These are just a few of the zillions of reasons to send someone a greeting card… They’re a relatively inexpensive way to make someone feel good, to connect with them and to cement your friendship or love, for whatever reason. Send one of your favourite people a card today and make them smile 🥰

Shop for a card now