Imagine what a lovely surprise sending a handwritten greeting card to a loved one would be. (What, texts don’t count as greetings?) There’s something so thoughtful, sentimental and old-school about receiving a card nowadays, particularly a well-designed one. And if you’re looking for a not run-of-the-mill Hallmark-esque card, Etsy is the perfect place to look. Here we’ve rounded up some of our favorite Etsy shops for greeting cards crafted with love.

Stranger Days is where you’ll find Mother’s Day appropriate sentiments like “Home is Where Mom Is” and sassy one’s for your partner like “I love what you have under your moustache” all paired with playful graphics.

Parrot Design Studios designs the most lovely letter pressed cards perfect for special occasions, congratulations and weddings. Featuring gorgeous calligraphy and vibrant colors, this is one of our top picks for unique greeting cards.

Ink Meets Paper is another great Etsy letterpress card source. At parts vintage, whimsical and fun, their carefully crafted cards contain messages like “Hip, hip hooray” and “What are YOU Waiting For?”

Cool Jane makes cards that look like she used one of those old school label makers, and we all know retro is so in. An added bonus: all of the cards are printed on 100% recycled paper, is acid-free and chlorine-free. With cute sentiments like “I like riding bikes with you” and “Party like it’s 1993,”there’s something for everyone at this little Etsy shop.

Toucan Tango Designs is a husband and wife team creating simply wonderful black and white cards featuring original sketches like that of a whale (i.e. “You are Tons of Fun”) 

Rachel Ink – these handmade greeting cards feature nostalgic hand-drawn illustrations of Vespas with birthday hats, roller coasters, and more. Better yet, you can add a customized message to the inside. These are guaranteed to bring a smile to anyone who receives one.

– Esther Carlstone