7 alternative Valentine’s Day cards you’ll fall in love with

Not the soppy type? If a dozen red roses, a box of pralines and a mushy, gushy card just won’t cut it for your loved one this year, why not take inspiration form some our favourite customer designs?

Nicola Darwen – Valentine’s Collection – All profits to Cancer Research UK

Giving pink a modern twist, Nicola Darwen uses our luxury G.F Smith Colorplan paper stock in romantic Candy Pink and adds bold, typographic statements to create her stunning collection of Valentine’s Day cards. But that’s not all! Each and every one of her gorgeous cards is more than a love note – all the profits made from these cards raises money for Cancer Research!

We asked Nicola about her project – prepare to be inspired!

“I’m a freelance graphic designer by day so you can usually find me working on branding and identity. This Valentine’s though I decided to turn my love of type and lettering to a good cause, raising money for Cancer Research UK to support a close friend who is fighting cancer for the second time.”

Click here for more on her story and here for her fundraising page.

Head to Nicola’s website for more, or get inspired by her Instagram!

La La Stationery – Will you be my Galentine?

Single this year? Celebrate your Gals instead with a Galentine’s Day card from La La Stationery and show your girls that they’re your number one!

But what is Galentine’s Day? We asked Archie from LaLa Stationery all about her inspiration…

“I’ve long been a fan of the TV programme ‘Parks and Recreation’, in which the main character, Leslie Knope, celebrates Galentine’s day on 13th February with all her girlfriends. I adopted the idea and started throwing tea parties for my girlfriends a couple of years ago. This year I thought I might as well create some cards that I can give out too!”

Archie is a Graphic Designer from NW London who specialises in Jewish greetings cards, but has a penchant for fun prints too! Shop La La Designs on Etsy, or get inspired over on Instagram!

Liz Harry Design – Love U / Hey Gal Friend

Liz Harry knows how to keep it real. Her range of Valentine’s Day cards add a serious injection of 80’s inspiration, featuring bold statements and some seriously gorgeous graphic design. She’s also all about female empowerment, so we chatted to her about that too – check it out here.

Liz lives in Liverpool and creates bold bright and beautiful graphic design for the music industry, and uses her skills to design gorgeous cards, jewellery and pins. She sells ‘em on Etsy and Not on the High Street – if you’re stuck for a Valentine’s day gift or card, we’d recommend swinging by. Find her on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook too.

Better Half Full – Valentine’s Collection

The way to anyone’s heart is through their stomach, of course – and Better Half Full absolutely nails this with their fabulous collection of foodie inspired cards. Mixing bright, bold colours with quirky illustrations, they might not be your average Valentine’s Day card, but we reckon they’re guaranteed to raise a smile!

Shop the range on Etsy, Micromkt, or follow Better Half Full on Instagram.

Niobe is a teacher and she’s on a mission to become a more positive person. She created Better Half Full to help spread happiness amongst those we love – in the form of tangible cards that stick around, be propped up on a shelf, stuck onto the fridge or onto the wall – and overcome our technology driven world.

Paper and Wolf – Valentine’s Day Collection

Printed on textured Fresco Gesso paper stock, these playful, yet beautifully intricate cards from Paper and Wolf feature tiny, gold embellished hearts to add an extra dimension. Whether you’re feeling sentimental or just a little cheeky, you’ll find a perfect fit!

Becky is an in-house graphic designer and illustrator for a large restaurant brand in London. She enjoys working on her brand – Paper and Wolf – designing cards and bespoke wedding stationery in her spare time.

Check out Paper and Wolf on Instagram, or shop the whole range on Etsy!

Pretty Neat – Sarcastic Valentine’s Day Cards

There’s nothing like being honest and to the point, right? These tongue in cheek Valentine’s cards from Pretty Neat do just that – so if you’re looking to cut through the mush this Valentine’s Day, we reckon these cards have it nailed.

We asked Scott – the designer at Pretty Neat where his inspo came from for these incredible cards…

“We created a range of cards that were honest, sarcastic, and to-the-point. Cards that are an alternative to the everyday greeting card.”

Scott is a freelance UX designer, and runs Pretty Neat from Cardiff, Wales. Follow Pretty Neat over on Twitter and Instagram, or head to the Pretty Neat website to get shopping!

Hope Glass Illustration – Valentine’s Collection

Need a new way to say ‘I love you’? How about letting someone know you can’t live without them with a quirky card from Hope Glass Illustration? Hand drawn, these illustrated cards help you say it your way on Valentine’s Day… or any day!

Hope is an illustrator, tea lover, and mother of two cats: one called Gaia (which means Mother Earth) and one called Nova (who originally belonged to a witch or so her mum says…) She’s always loved to draw and from a young age I was encouraged by my parents with endless trips to the library and a good supply of pencils and poster paint. Her inspiration comes from everyday life and by the people and animals she sees around her. Hope’s also a self-confessed illustrated children’s books collector, and by her own admission “has far too many of these on my shelf at home.”

Shop Hope’s range on Etsy, follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, or head to her website here.

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