
Signed, sealed, and delivered from the ladies of
Hello!Lucky letterpress, the new how-to book
Handmade Hellos ($19.95) gives rebirth to a long-lost craft: card making. It's one thing to hand write a note in today's world of email, SMS, MMS, IM, BBM, etc. — a good thing.

No, it's not tradition to send cards at Thanksgiving. But, take one look at the
Dingbat Press Maple Leaf/Thanksgiving Boxed Notes ($24), and you'll be convinced. This gorgeous boxed set of six notes features soft-red maple leaves in varying sizes falling from a vivid-orange maple tree.

I just came across this
free downloadable Halloween card from Inside a Black Apple, and it got me thinking. Many of us send Christmas cards sharing family photos, and in grade school we all exchanged Valentine's cards. And, of course, birthday cards are a given.

The next time you're attending a
housewarming party, once you've built your
housewarming bucket, you'll need a cheerful card to wish your friends or neighbors well in their new digs. The
Hello! Lucky Welcome Home Greeting Card ($4.50) will fit the bill and then some.

When sending a hand-written note, it always pays to have
cute stationery. But, what about multipurpose stationery? Why just send a card, when you can send a small packet of seeds along with it?

I'm not big on sentimental central quotes on cards, but I couldn't resist the adorable mod living-room design on this
Welcome to Your New Home Card ($4). I wouldn't mind moving right into this living room; you know I adore the lime green and raspberry color scheme. It's pretty much the perfect housewarming card for all those hip new homeowners you know.

Sometimes I think there's not enough "dropping a line" in the world. Good old-fashioned notes, updating your friends on what's new in your life, and asking about theirs. Yeah, there's prolific Facebook wall and Myspace commenting, but a part of me feels that that's all for show.

Shopping for gifts is one of my favorite activities; I even prefer it to shopping for myself (probably because I'm too easy to please). Finding the ideal gift for a friend is a challenge that I really enjoy. So, when it comes to shopping from a
wedding registry, I get kind of bummed.

Make a friend's day by sending a "just because" card. One of these simple, pretty
Blue Lupine Cards ($12 for a set of eight cards) from Etsy seller Blomma will brighten a mailbox with its simple, silhouetted flowers and pretty blue tones. They'd also be great for a dinner party invitation or as thank you notes for a
new bride.

There's something whimsically beautiful about this
LookyLoo Letterpress Birthday Card ($3.50). I'm not sure if it's the conch shell broadcasting birthday wishes, the "my darling" epithet, the seaweed feathers in the lady's locks, her flowing dress, or the pretty pink waves shooting out of the sea. But regardless, despite aging anxiety, I wish my birthday were just around the corner, and this one came in with the tide of utility bills and dentist appointment reminders in my mailbox.