inclusive.cards

The Queer Store

hello@inclusive.cards — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The Queer Store is an unique enterprise producing a collection of greetings cards that celebrate pop and queer culture. It's by Bristol-based wife and wife duo, Paige and Nikols, from their canal narrowboat.

The Queer Store is available online and in The Queer Emporium in Cardiff, where I picked up two of their cards. The first a simple congratulations card for new parents, "Congratulations Papas!", and also comes as "Congratulations Mamas!".

"Congratulations Papas!" card

Speaking of parents, they have a few cards for mothers and fathers — one, "Mum, thank you for always being an ally", featured on their Instagram.

The second card I picked up has a very pretty pastel gradient background and a simple message, "I'm so proud of you", with little sparkles.

"I'm so proud of you" card

This greetings card comes in several different colours, including the colours of the various pride flags: rainbow, non-binary, pansexual, bisexual, trans, and lesbian flags.

Some reviews on Etsy:

"Such a perfect card for my sibling, she absolutely loved it. I asked for a personal message to be added, and it was clearly and neatly written. It arrived in very good time. I shall definitely be coming back for more cards in the future"
- Jelena

"Gifted to a young relative who needed a little extra love and support. Seller went above and beyond, and I can't express how great it was."
- Lucia

"Perfect card for my wife for valentines day! Really nice quality - would definitely buy from this shop again."
- Katy

The Queer Store logo on the back of a card

Website/Store: https://www.thequeerstore.co.uk/
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TheQueerStore
Funky Pigeon: https://www.funkypigeon.com/blog/indie-designer-qa-the-queer-store/
Thortful: https://www.thortful.com/creator/thequeerstore
Instagram: @thequeerstoreuk
Twitter: @thequeerstore
Facebook: @thequeerstore
TikTok: @thequeerstore

Artecco

hello@inclusive.cards — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Artecco, aka Guillermo Salinas, is an Argentinian photographer, graphic designer, and illustrator based in Wales, UK. Artecco produces greeting cards, prints, tees, and tote bags featuring illustrations of drag queens, iconic quotes, and pride art.

I discovered Artecco's work while visiting The Queer Emporium in Cardiff, where I met Guillermo working. I couldn't help but buy three cards while there.

Two cards were Drag Race themed. The first features Alaska Thunderfuck 5000's read for Adore Delano in All Stars 2.

These other people are gonna say you have terrible makeup skills, you have no fashion sense, and you're dumb as a rock. But they're wrong! You don't have terrible makeup skills!

Greeting card with Alaska's read for Adore from All Stars 2

The second card features Bimini Bon Boulash's UK Hun verse from Drag Race UK Season 2.

Gender-bender, cis-tem offender. I like it rough but my lentils tender. Don't be scared to embrace the femme, whether you're he, she, or them. Limp wrist, hair flick, crème de la crème, love yourself, say that again.

Greeting card with Bimbini's verse in UK Hun

And finally, a colourful birthday card with the text "I hope this birthday card is queer enough for you".

"I hope this birthday card is queer enough for you" greeting card

Back of Artecco greeting card card

Check out Artecco's work on their website, artecco.co.uk, and their TikTok account where they post videos of their work in progress. If you're in Cardiff, you can visit The Queer Emporium in person to buy Artecco's cards and other great queer things from LGBTQ+ artists. It's a great social enterprise that deserves your support.

Website/Store: https://www.artecco.co.uk
Instagram: @artecco / @thequeeremporium
Twitter: @arteccosays
Facebook: @arteccoart
TikTok: @artecco

The Art File

hello@inclusive.cards — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

The Art File is an independent publisher of greeting cards and stationery, with collections designed by their own in-house team and freelance designers.

I picked up one of the cards from their Fierce & Fabulous collection, designed by Beth, one of their own designers. This collection of cards have a wonderful minimal aesthetic and modern design. This collection "celebrates diversity and female empowerment" and features a range of skin tones.

Metalic foil embossed text on "I'm a strong woman because a strong woman raised me!" card

This Mother's Day card with the message "I'm a strong woman because a strong woman raised me!" features a loving embrace of two women with dark skin tones on the front. The outline of the women and the flowers are embossed to give the details of this front illustration extra depth.

Embossed detail around hair outline on "I'm a strong woman because a strong woman raised me!" card

Following the success of their Fierce & Fabulous collection, The Art File have also created a diversity and empowerment collection for men called You The Man.

Back of "I'm a strong woman because a strong woman raised me!" card

I also picked up another of The Art File's mother's day cards outside of the Fierce & Fabulous range but still with an inclusive illustration. It's simple and cute. I particularly like the cat both in the foreground and featured again in a hanging photo.

"Thanks for being so brilliant Mum" card

Detail of "Thanks for being so brilliant Mum" card

The front design is embossed and the card simply has "Happy Mother's Day" inside.

Embossed detail viewed from inside of card

The Art File is available online and on the UK high street.

Website/Store: https://www.theartfile.com/shop/greeting-cards
Instagram: @theartfileofficial
Twitter: @TheArtFile
Facebook: The-Art-File

Paperbear.ie

hello@inclusive.cards — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

I've long admired Paperbear's cards. Three dimensional birds, flowers, cakes, musical notes that unfold towards you as you open their cards. Paperbear's designs don't look or feel like gimmicks - their cards feel special.

Front of 'Brides on a Swing' card

Their same-gender cards include designs of grooms or brides on a swing, two men or two women on a park bench, and two grooms riding a tandem bicycle. The silhouettes are simple, yet the 3D card construction is complex. I like that the actual mechanics of the 3D folding is mostly hidden and doesn't add a lot of bulk to the card itself.

Inside of 'Brides on a Swing' card

I bought one of their 'Brides on a Swing' cards, which cost €4.99 and delivery within Ireland was €1.60. Despite the card coming in a strong 'Do not bend' envelope and housed within a Thank you card (see below), my 'Brides on a Swing' card still suffered a slight bend in transit unfortunately. Given the precautions, I think I was just unlucky.

Thank you note and outer card housing

I have to say I was really impressed with the feel of the card and I liked the extra cut-out details of hearts and flowers.

Topdown view of 'Brides on a Swing' card

Katie and Aaron Dowling got the idea for Paperbear while travelling in Spain and set it up in 2013. They've teamed up with the non-profit organisation One Tree Planted to plant at least one tree per day to help offset the paper used by their business as well.

The brides on their swing

They also have cards available as Gaeilge.

Website/Store: https://paperbear.ie/
Instagram: @paperbear_cards
Twitter: @paperbearirl
Facebook: paperbear.ie

Nyha Cards

hello@inclusive.cards — Sun, 27 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Designer, illustrator, and author Naomi C. Robinson started Nyha Cards in 2014, describing it as "colourful greeting cards for a colourful world" - Nyha Cards certainly are colourful! These multicultural designs are bright and highly saturated and cover birthdays, new baby, weddings, Christmas and congratulations.

I ordered two cards to see them for myself. The first card, "To the world's very best mum", is perfect for this weekend if you're in Ireland and the UK.

'To the world's very best mum' card

Described as "perfect for Black, African American, Asian, Latino and Afro Caribbean recipients", it features a happy kid holding a "You are the best" flag. I love the colours of the MUM graphic.

Detail on front of 'To the world's very best mum' card

It has a simple inside with the message "Wishing the greatest mum an incredible Mother's Day".

Message inside card saying "Wishing the greatest mum an incredible Mother's Day"

The second card I ordered was a wedding card of a couple's hands with beautiful dark skin tones forming a love heart together.

Front of 'On your wedding day' card

I really like the combination of navy, blue, yellow and browns here.

Detail on front of 'On your wedding day' card

There's a nice touch on the inside of a patterned border that's the same pattern from the clothing on the front and back of the card.

Inside of 'On your wedding day' card showing patterned border at edges

Nyha Cards are available online and on the UK high street.

Website/Store: https://www.nyhagraphics.co.uk
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/NyhaGraphics
Instagram: @nyha_graphics
Twitter: @nyhagraphics
Facebook: nyhagraphics

Cards for everyone

hello@inclusive.cards — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

At Christmas 2018, when I became frustrated at the lack of LGBTQ+ representation while shopping for greeting cards, I decided to make a small site to list queer cards that I came across for future reference at cardsbutqueer.ie. I hoped that it would be a useful resource for more than just myself.

cardsbutqueer.ie screenshot

And in February 2019, when the site was online and I wrote a Twitter thread where I outlined some of the reasons for my frustration:

However, it's clear that other minorities are similarly underrepresented on greeting cards and I want to highlight great cards, feature different representation, and discuss specific elements of cards more. So I'm resetting here on inclusive.cards with regular posts about inclusive greeting cards in all forms. You can follow updates on Twitter, at @inclusive_cards, and on Instagram, at @inclusive.cards.

It shouldn't be difficult to find appropriate greeting cards whether you're a person of colour, queer, or disabled. To be undervalued and discriminated against in society and then be reminded of that when trying to express how you feel through something as simple as a card is painful and something we should no longer accept. Inclusivity should be rewarded and supported. We shouldn't settle for less, so let's celebrate the card makers who are already representing all people in their designs.

I need your help though! What do inclusive greeting cards mean to you? Which are your favourite? How can they be improved to be more representative? Do you know of cards I should feature? Let me know all your greeting card thoughts through the contact form or email hello@inclusive.cards.