But there’s one thing I can’t do for you: give you the perfect words to write inside the card.
I know, I know. That’s the hard part!
What makes any greeting card special is not just the sentiment on the front, but the words you write on the inside. Many people get immediate writer’s block as soon as they are faced with that 5x7 blank space.
While I can’t do the writing for you, I can give you some tips. And as a greeting card expert, here are my 3 best ideas for what to write in a card.
If you would never tell your hubby, “wishing you a joyful anniversary,” why would you start now?
The key to a killer greeting card greeting is to be yourself! If you’re a sweet and lovable wiseass, your message should reflect that. If you’re serious and straightlaced, don’t pretend you have your own Netflix comedy special.
Going out of character can make your message feel less genuine. And we want genuine, honest and real!
If you are having a little trouble with sounding like yourself, here’s what you do. Open up your voice recorder on your phone and talk off-the-cuff for a few minutes.
Removing the pressure of putting pen to paper can help you relax and speak from the heart.
Follow the flow of whatever comes to mind. There are no rules here! Talk about how you met, how they make you feel or that time they peed themselves at a frat party.
Listen to what you said and I guarantee you’ll find the right words.
And if all else fails, a doodle, sketch or drawing is a beautiful way to express yourself when words fail you. In fact, one of my most cherished cards was hand-drawn from a loved one.
So get out those fancy colored pencils, and get creative! Check out these Zen Doodles for inspiration.
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With some great features in big outlets like Buzzfeed and Huffington Post, my greeting card business blew up in 2015. Before I knew it, my business was more than a fun hobby or a way to earn some extra cash.
I was legit!
In A Nutshell Studio was bringing in money that made a real difference for my family. And do you know who I credit with this success?
My customers.
A little while back I got a sweet note from a customer. She had purchased six times from me over the years and wanted to thank me for being a part of her most special life events.
For someone who writes some pretty naughty cards, (case in point:),
I’m actually pretty private.
But there was something in the air that day, and I wanted to share with her just how much her repeat business means to me and my family.
I told her that, because of customers like her, I’m able to pay for my oldest son's college tuition for the next 3 years, maybe even 4. This was something I never thought I could do. College ain’t cheap!
In fact, when the kid was in middle school, I told him that he'd have to put himself through college or apply for student loans, because it just wasn't happening.
It was something I wanted to do for all of my kids and I had no idea how to make it happen.
Because of customers like this who continue to support me (and my raunchy sense of humor!), I’m able to pay my bills and give my kids a greater chance at a brighter future.
My hope is that the upward momentum will keep going, and I’ll be able to do the same for my younger ones too.
I love my work. I love my customers. And I’m so damn grateful for it all!
If you’ve ever gotten a greeting card, gift wrap or anything else from my site, know that your purchase means something to me and my family. And not just something - it means everything.
Thank you!
]]>Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and it got me thinking.
Lo really had it right when she said “love don’t cost a thing.”
When it comes to showing someone how you feel, you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg.
There’s something so special, tender and meaningful about small tokens of love. Handmade gifts or a homemade dinner paired with a sexy Valentine’s Day card that perfectly sums up your relationship - priceless.
(But seriously, if my hubby surprised me with a new or even used Tesla Model 3, I would not say no!)
This Valentine’s Day, I want to help spread the love by offering some of my all-time favorite love, anniversary and Valentine’s Day cards as free digital downloads.
For real! Just click the button and it will magically appear, ready for you to print, sign, seal and deliver.
No matter what kind of Valentine’s Day you want this year, I have you covered. Get all sweet and mushy with the My Most Favorite Thing card. Or, go the sexy/witty route with the Expired Gift Voucher digital download.
Every once in a while, I need to make some room in the shop for new designs. That means I have to make the tough decision of retiring older ones. Instead of permanently deleting them, I move some of my personal favorites to the free printable cards page of my site so others can still enjoy them!
My hope is that you’ll find a freebie you like and then pick up a few of my new releases.
And if you like my work and are feeling generous, you can always throw me a tip to show your support at my Venmo (@MarichielBoudwin) or PayPal (inanutshellstudio@gmail.com) accounts.
It gives me warm fuzzies to know when customers appreciate the hard work I put into all of my designs.
Wishing you a love-filled Valentine’s Day this year!
~Mar
]]>They’re fun and quirky and not afraid to tell you how they feel, no matter how much it’s gonna make you blush.
Not only do they support me, my business and my family, but they are always teaching me something new.
Case in point: The Humpiversary
A customer review for my Best Decision Ever anniversary card reminded me that there are all kinds of anniversaries out there.
She bought her husband this card to celebrate their first date anniversary and their Humpiversary. Conveniently, they are on the same day (wink wink).
Go girl!
It makes sense though. Why wouldn’t you want to celebrate the first time you and your lover got it on? After all, it’s all downhill from there!
To be perfectly honest (and I always am!), Dan and I do celebrate our sexiversary. But humpiversary sounds so much more fun!
I think it’s important for couples to reflect on their first moments together and other special occasions in their lives.
When designing greeting cards, I always pull from my own experiences. So many of my cards come directly from real life with me and Dan. Like my How I Like My Coffee naughty anniversary card!
(It’s just another way that I celebrate my relationship with my hubby.)
When another couple can laugh hysterically, shed tears of joy or lovingly roll their eyes because of my card design, it’s freaking priceless.
No matter if your first time was after a few too many margaritas or straight out of a rom-com, why not celebrate your Sexiversary with your person this year?
In A Nutshell Studio has a huge selection of clever and sexy love cards that capture exactly what you want to say for any occasion.
Check out our other customer favorites for anniversaries and Valentine’s Day!
]]>The simplicity. The color. The skill. Oh baby!
]]>I think that’s how a lot of people feel about hand lettering. It’s just writing in cursive, but with a fancier pen, right?
Well, as a hand letterer myself, I can tell you that thought is complete BS.
It’s much harder to do than it looks. It takes a lot of skill and patience to get the letters to look perfectly imperfect. A simple design could have taken the artist days to get just right!
One brush lettered love card that caught my eye is this I Just Really Really Love You card from Ben at Old English Co. If you haven’t guessed from the name, Ben is based in England and he makes some of the most beautiful, minimalist hand lettered greeting cards, journals and prints I’ve seen.
The simplicity. The color. The skill. Oh baby!
I love them so much, I carry a bunch of his cards and an amazing BUJO Daily Planner in my shop!
I don’t know about Ben, but when I'm creating a brush lettered design, I have a whole process that can take hours or even days.
I start by writing my phrase over and over again, sometimes more than 50 times. I go through each one to see if there's a winner. Usually, I’m not 100% pleased with any one design, so I pull words from Sample #15 and Sample #35 and so on until I have the right set. Then, I digitize each word, piece them together so they look cohesive and do my final edits.
I’m exhausted just thinking about it.
And this is why I really appreciate Ben's work. I know what it takes to create designs that look this good!
The In A Nutshell Studio carries a selection of Old English Co. cards for dads, friends and anyone you love for Father’s Day, an Anniversary or just for the hell of it!
I especially love this sweet card for when you’re missing someone and this one for your significant other on Valentine’s Day.
Check out Ben’s minimalist hand lettered greeting card designs in my shop and see his other amazing work by giving him a follow on Insta!
I love sharing the backstories behind my greeting cards. I especially love talking about my Snoring Greeting Card because I think so many of you get it. Snoring is one of those sounds that could literally drive you up a wall. Believe me, I sleep next to a habitual snorer.
]]>Snoring is one of those sounds that could literally drive you up a wall. Believe me, I sleep next to a habitual snorer.
Here’s a snapshot of most of my nights:
Dan’s heavy breathing transitions into lazy snores and then, full-on log sawing.
I respond with a gentle nudge that progresses into exaggerated sighs and not-so-subtle tosses, turns and pillow-punching.
Then, I straight up leave.
My kids know when dad has crossed my snoring threshold because I’ll cozy up in bed next to them for the night. (Sigh, heart-eye emoji).
To be honest, sometimes I don’t mind the snoring. While I lie in bed, praying that this snort will be the last, I get some pretty damn good ideas, like my best selling snoring card.
The problem is: I love the guy. In fact, I wouldn’t know what to do without him. He’s my best friend, but dammit if that snoring doesn’t drive me mad!
My Snoring Card came out of my frustration with my hubby’s snoring and the realization that I would be miserable without him. Dan’s snores are better than anyone else’s snores, and so I’ll deal with it.
In a weird way, I would miss ‘em.
True love, huh?
It seems a lot of people can relate because this is always a best seller for Valentine's Day and Father’s Day. Even more than my Amazing Dad Dick Bonus and How I Like My Coffee cards.
I think it is a perfect mash-up between the realities of a relationship and pure romance. I guess you could say that snores are the sounds of true love.
Does your lover’s snores keep you up at night? My funny snoring card is perfect for Valentine’s Day, an anniversary or just because.
And if you are one of the lucky ones who sleeps next to a strong-and-silent type, check out our other best selling funny anniversary and Valentine’s Day cards for your partner.
]]>I’m not gonna lie. It's a real thrill when your cards are featured on a big news outlet like BuzzFeed. Not long ago, two of my cards were featured on BuzzFeed’s list of “23 Unconventional and Funny Valentines For That Special Person.”
]]>It's a real thrill when your cards are featured on a big news outlet like BuzzFeed. Not long ago, two of my cards were featured on BuzzFeed’s list of “23 Unconventional and Funny Valentines For That Special Person.”
Not only is it some good press, but it's an awesome opportunity to learn about other makers working in the greeting card space.
This is how I found Cheeky Kumquat.
The beautiful brain behind that saucy little fruit (her name is Rain and she’s amazing!) comes up with the most creative, sarcastic and hilariously funny greeting cards. Her dry humor really resonates with me, and I knew my customers would love her too.
When In A Nutshell became successful enough to support my family and then some, I really wanted to invest in other woman-owned brands who had the same wit and minimalist aesthetic.
It took about one second for me to realize that Cheeky Kumquat’s sarcastic cards and naughty Valentine’s Day cards would be a great addition to my shop.
And to be honest, I had pumped out so many killer cards, my brain needed a vacation.
I quickly found her on Abound, a wholesale marketplace for independent retailers and brands. I placed my first order and was seriously blown away. It was like Christmas morning!
The cards were beautifully packaged with pink crinkle paper that made it feel oh-so-special. Plus, Rain wrote a personalized note that made the whole thing extra delightful.
As I suspected, her cards were a huge hit. I’ve placed multiple reorders and plan on continuing to do so in the future.
I love that my business has given me the opportunity to help support other female makers like Cheeky Kumquat!
If you want to shop Cheeky Kumquat’s sarcastic greeting cards and funny Valentine's Day cards, you can check them out in the In A Nutshell Studio shop.
Short on time, but still want the perfect funny greeting card?
Peep Cheeky Kumquat’s top sellers:
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You’ve probably heard the advice: In relationships, it’s the little things that count.
Sure, grand gestures and trips to the French Riviera are great, but it’s the smaller, day-to-day “stuff” that makes your relationship strong.
I think that’s why I love greeting cards so much. With just a few words on a crisp piece of cardstock, you have the power to make someone happy, hopeful or horny.
]]>Sure, grand gestures and trips to the French Riviera are great, but it’s the smaller, day-to-day “stuff” that makes your relationship strong.
I think that’s why I love greeting cards so much. With just a few words on a crisp piece of cardstock, you have the power to make someone happy, hopeful or horny.
It doesn’t get any simpler than that!
My husband and I have a little ritual that we’ve shared since we started dating: making coffee.
We always loved making coffee together, sitting and sipping as we got to know each other better. Soon, our relationship (and my belly) grew. When I was pregnant with my 2nd son, Dan would go out every morning and get me a latte and a banana nut bread.
Looking back, he probably needed a little escape from me! But from my perspective, this is what true romance is all about.
Keep your Don Juan and your St. Tropez.
I got me a Dan.
As it always happens, inspiration struck one morning as I stood staring at my Keurig, still half asleep.
Don’t you just love when you’re partially zoned out and a totally amazing idea pops into your head?
Anyway, the idea for this card is a play on the, “I like my men how I like my coffee” sayings. You fill in the blank with whatever you like - black, strong, bold, steaming hot, French or Americano.
For me, it was the perfect sentiment to celebrate my addiction to coffee and to Dan.
What can I say, I like him a latte.
Customers went wild for this card! It was even featured on Huffington Post’s list of “Sexy Gifts for Couples Who Are Feeling More Naughty Than Nice.”
“How I Like My Coffee” has been a top-seller for me for the last 5 years. It’s perfect for anniversaries, Valentine’s Day or just because. In fact, it’s so popular, it’s also one of my most copied designs.
But instead of letting the copy-catters bum me out, I keep it positive by focusing that energy on creating more kinky greeting cards, unique gifts and funny gift wrap.
Check out our line of funny and clever Valentine’s Day cards and other greetings for February 14th!
Valentine’s Day is all about romance. It’s about love and affection. It’s about flowers, candy, and heart-shaped everything. It’s about showing the one you love just how much they mean to you.
But let’s get real. You also want to get laid.
]]>But let’s get real.
You also want to get laid.
Forget those conversation hearts and boxes of chocolates. Why make your lover read between the lines when you can tell them what you really want?
That’s where I come in.
Barring an unfortunate case of food poisoning, my naughty Valentine’s Day cards are 99.9% guaranteed to get you some action. From the in-your-face to the sweet and sexy, I have the perfect card to help you seal the deal on February 14th.
No round peg in a square hole here. You were built for each other, so get to work!
P.S. As one of my newest Valentine’s Day cards, These Holes is already a hot seller this season. I guess you could say that my customers have really been “open” to it!
Now this is a party that deserves an RSVP of “Heck, yes!”
This one is perfect for those literary types who want to be wooed with words and visuals.
Pop open a bottle of bubbly and slide this card across the table.
Nice cars are a turn-on for me, so I especially love this illustrated Tesla with the saucy bumper sticker on its rear.
If you still haven’t found the perfect Valentine’s Day card for your boyfriend or girlfriend, husband or wife, or whoever it is that makes your heart sing, check out my other popular naughty cards from In A Nutshell Studio.
My personal faves:
When you know, you know.
Graphic included for your reference.
One off-handed compliment or friendly greeting from a stranger has the power to completely change your attitude.
Have you had this experience before? I’ll bet you have, you sexy minx.
And when you feel loved and adored by someone you care about, you’re unstoppable!
This is the idea behind my popular anniversary gift, Little Mini Love Notes.
Little Mini Love Notes are sets of 14 sweet, sexy and naughty love notes meant to surprise your ride-or-die and make them feel the love.
Unlike my funny greeting cards, there’s no stamp required. These little guys are meant to sneak themselves into places your lover will least expect them.
And that’s what makes them so dang special.
When my husband and I first started dating, he would leave me sticky notes with sweet messages for me to discover. I’d find them in my car, on my desk and even inside the fridge.
I loved the surprise of finding a love note from my husband. Even more, I loved how wonderful it made me feel. For such a simple gesture, it left me feeling like my heart could just explode.
And frankly, these sexy love notes are the reason we have 3 sons. I’m kidding.
Or am I?
Now, I always give credit where it is due. My husband came up with the idea for a line of pre-written notes for lovers.
I started off with a set of tiny notes that would make a great gift for any couple. They were gender-neutral and included some of my favorite existing designs, as well as some new, hand-lettered ones.
Not to brag, but they were a big hit!
Customers kept coming back, asking for new sets that they could gift their loved one. Seeing the need for more love, I got to work creating new sets with new designs.
One of my favorite sets is Set #4. I made this one specifically for men who were looking to make their ladies feel special. Many of these notes were the same ones that my husband left for me throughout the years!
I freaking love when customers want more tiny love notes. It means that someone out there feels like I did when my man left me a sticky note back when we were dating.
And you know what, he’s never stopped.
Surprise Someone You Love with Tiny Love Notes
I get it. It’s not always easy to tell someone how you feel.
Little Mini Love Notes are a great way to surprise someone special with the perfect words to show them how much they’re loved.
You can find all 5 sets here.
I have some ideas brewing, but what little note would you want to see in the next set?
We know that regular, old Valentine’s Day cards won’t cut it for your special someone. To help you find the right card, we’ve put together a list of our bestselling greeting cards for Valentine’s Day.
No matter if you’ve been lovers for 25 years or 2 hours, our cards are guaranteed to get you an “Aw, babe, this is so us.”
Plot twist!
While this one starts off a little snarky, it ends on a sweet note that any lover would appreciate.
Confidence is sexy.
Remind your lover of the gift that you are.
I mean, does it get any sweeter than this?
No. No, it doesn’t.
Traditional love poems are charming.
But, throw in some “cheeky” fun and you’ll definitely get some action this Valentine’s Day.
Is there some magic pixie dust that falls on married couples after the honeymoon to make this the default convo?
Yes, but don’t you kind of love it?
Valentine’s Day only happens once a year, so make it count by giving your lover a card that is uniquely “you.” Check out our popular love and relationship greeting cards anytime you want to tell someone how you really feel!
About 5 years ago, I was scouring Instagram and Googling random thoughts for greeting card inspiration. This is how many of my card designs begin. I see something that sparks an idea or makes me laugh, and I'll put my own spin on it to make it uniquely In a Nutshell Studio (and me!)
I came across a card that said “I fucking love you.”
I adored how straightforward it was. Bam! This is how I feel. But, it got me thinking about ways I could put my saucy spin on it.
There's a proofreader's mark - hell if I know the name of it - that tells you to switch the order of words. With one little squiggle, I turned the original inspiration into an anniversary or Valentine's Day greeting card with some serious SPICE.
I had no idea if people would get it. But I liked it, and if no one bought it, I knew of one person who would appreciate it - my husband.
Luckily, this card is hotter than Pete Davidson's love life. It’s been my top-selling Valentine's Day card for the last 5 years.
It even outsells my Snoring card, another customer fave. If you share a bed with someone who sounds like a goose in heat, this is the card for you.
Do you know what I love most about designing funny greeting cards for my own business? Inspiration can come from anything and out of anywhere. Do I know anything about proofreading marks? EFF NO.
But somewhere along the line, this mark attached itself to my brain so I could pull it up at just the right time.
The satisfaction I feel when an idea becomes my own unique design is incredible! And when one of these strange little ideas becomes a best-selling naughty greeting card on my website, it feels pretty damn good!
You might think it’s impossible to find exactly the right sentiment in a greeting card. But here at In a Nutshell Studio, we have you covered.
My Proofreader’s Mark card will show your Valentine (or next door neighbor, we don’t judge) exactly how you feel.
I had an idea for a design of different types of boobs on wrapping paper. But, I found that an amazing shop called Hooray All Day already made a Boobies Wrapping Paper that was perfection. The colors, the boobies, the placement of the nips – it seriously is the tits!
Part of why I love being an illustrator and maker is that I get to use my own creativity to come up with hilarious greeting cards and saucy birthday cards that you can’t find anywhere else. Why would I recreate the wheel when Natilee (the badass maker behind Hooray All Day) already has the perfect tits?
I wanted to ask her if I could carry her products in my store.
But I hesitated.
I’m a bit of an introvert and I was worried that she might not want to share her products with another woman maker/ illustrator/ California shop owner. Would she turn me down? Would she see me as her competition?
Luckily, I found her shop on Faire, a wholesale marketplace that connects independent retailers with brands from around the world. Not only was I able to start selling some of her quirky and fun gifts, but we actually became virtual BFFs.
We can commiserate over the joys and struggles of being mompreneurs, while supporting each other’s businesses and brightening each other’s days. And since we’re both based in California, I get my shit fast!
This experience got me thinking about how important it is for women makers to support each other. There’s a saying I like to model my business on: A rising tide lifts all boats. When I support other women makers, it will inevitably lift my business up, too.
When I first started making and selling greeting cards online, I definitely had some girl crushes on a couple of Etsy sellers (Natilee included). Another of these babes was Julie of Unblushing. I mean, her Instagram bio alone is genius! I knew I wanted her unapologetic greeting cards and irreverent wrapping paper in my shop ASAP.
I strived to be as successful, creative and bold as these ladies. Their work inspired me to come up with my own art and to scour the internet for designs that didn’t already exist so I could boost my business to the next level.
And let me tell ya, it ain’t easy!
There is this idea out there that other funny greeting card sellers are your competitors. I've chosen to think about this differently. Instead of competition, negativity and the desire to win, I’ve chosen to focus on collaboration, support and positive vibes.
Back in the day, women were “makers” because they had to be. It was the expectation that we would make the clothes, the food and all the other shit our families needed to thrive in the home.
Now, we get to be makers. We can use our abilities to pursue our own creative interests to make products that we can sell all across the world. Our passion projects can become full-fledged businesses that allow us to support our families and ourselves in ways that our predecessors could not.
Not only do we make that cheddar, but we act as role models for our kids and our communities. The mark that women makers make cannot be ignored… especially in the funny greeting card biz!
There are so many other greeting card brands that are women-owned that I’m proud to support and stand behind. You can even find them right here at In A Nutshell Studio!
Rain of Cheeky Kumquat
Natilee of Hooray All Day
Lisa of Sapling Press
Christy of Paper Baristas
Julie of Unblushing
Ronnie of Bangs And Teeth
Jill of DeLuce Design
If you want to join me in celebrating and supporting these artists, check out their greeting cards by doing a quick search for their brand name here at my shop and pull out that wallet! I’ll be sharing more about these great brands and others in future posts, so be sure to check back soon.
Are you a maker who is interested in having your products carried at In A Nutshell Studio? Contact me so we can see if we are a good fit!
I love brands with a unique perspective. Bright, fun, quirky and little bit dirty. Brands who aren’t afraid to speak the truth, even if it’s a touch offensive. Brands whose purpose is to bring joy and make people smile.
Sound like you? Get in touch.
Are you one of the zillions of people who fell in love with the Rose Family of Schitt’s Creek? The show quickly became an after-dinner staple for my family, and a huge inspiration behind some of my most successful greeting cards.
I came to Schitt’s Creek a little late. Although the show had been on the air for 5 years, I started watching when it was released on Netflix in 2020. I was immediately charmed by the Rose family and the locals of Schitt’s Creek, the town that was originally purchased by the Roses as a joke.
2020 was a year that begged for some stress-free entertainment, and Schitt’s Creek delivered! The impeccably timed quips, the romances and the hilarious family dynamics gave me tons of inspiration for funny greeting cards and gifts.
Watching each episode, I would furiously scribble down notable catchphrases, zingy one-liners and perfect stills to turn into illustrations. And the ideas kept coming.
As I usually do when inspiration strikes, I got to work with our illustrator Anna. After she brought my visions to life, I popped the illustrations into my greeting cards and paired them with the perfect quote for each character.
I turned out an impressive line of birthday cards and greeting cards that were some of my most popular products of the year. Check out Moira Rose – my best-selling Schitt’s Creek greeting card!
Sure, the title of the show might not scream “this is family-oriented.” The truth is that Schitt’s Creek is a family show that’s bursting with heart and hilarity.
When the 6th season was released, my family made it a part of our evening ritual. I watched the show with my husband and 3 boys and we laughed our butts off. In between LOLs, they learned lessons about love, acceptance, family and how to show up for the people that matter most.
Not bad for a 30-minute sitcom.
Schitt’s Creek has already become iconic and could put a smile on literally anybody’s face. Moira, with her quirky fashion choices, fabulous wig collection and hard-to-place accent, has become an instant favorite. So much so, we even released a second Moira Rose card!
If you have a Schitt’s Creek lover in your life (and even if you don’t), one of our Moira Rose greeting cards or Johnny Rose birthday cards will be sure to put a smile on their face.
Our Schitt’s Creek gifts are available on right here on In A Nutshell and in stores at amazing stockists across the country. If you’re near Portland, Maine, Tom over at Old Port Card Works carries a bunch!
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