“This is not a letter, but my arms around you for a brief moment.”

Katherine Mansfield writing to her brother, Leslie Beauchamp

A list of what has come through the letterbox this week:

• Two adverts for takeaway pizza
• A letter from the DVLA
• A letter from HMRC
• Propaganda from a wannabe politician
• A catalogue I should really unsubscribe from
• The Man of Kent’s allotment invoice
• The new car parking permit

Actual post doesn’t happen much these days. Like many people, I go as paperless as possible when it comes to bills and suchlike. When post does arrive, it’s usually boring stuff to be skim-read and consigned to the letter rack, to be dealt with on a rainy afternoon. This week’s post was no exception. It was a pile of hard copy spam and life admin. To borrow a phrase from Craig Revel Horwood, ‘dull, dull, DULL.’

But there is an upside. When the usual post is a heap of junk mail and bureaucracy-beige envelopes, it makes the arrival of something different – a birthday card, an invitation, a postcard, or even an actual letter from a friend – triply, even quadruply exciting!

I love receiving post from friends and family. A well-chosen card that the sender knows will make me laugh, letters from the (now-growing-up-fast) children in my life, beautiful thank-you notes, postcards from exotic international locations that turn me Elphaba-green with envy – I love them all. That’s the sort of correspondence to cherish forever.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not harking back to the times when people sat around waiting impatiently for the second post to arrive, like characters in a Victorian novel. I love the convenience and spontaneity of Whatsapps, texts and emails, especially for those times when only a well-chosen gif will do. And sadly, sending snail mail is a bit of a luxury in these financially-stressed times. Stamps are expensive, and cards aren’t cheap either. But texts and social media posts are impermanent (we’ve all deleted a message we wanted to keep accidentally), whereas a physical card or letter can be treasured forever. Plus, a surprise card or letter on the doormat is a little piece of delight, and we all need more delight in our lives.

I keep favourite pieces of post in boxes upstairs. Everyday communication feels so ephemeral now that cards and letters are even more special. They are like handwritten time capsules that hold the keys to fond memories, which make them great cheerer-uppers – hugs in an envelope that can transport you back to a time, a place, a person. I have cards and letters from friends and family going back decades. Some of those people have sadly passed on now. Does that make reading the cards bittersweet sometimes? Yes. Am I glad I kept them? Always. I’ll even display cards I particularly love, like this one from my dear friend, The Prodigal Geordie.

I also adore sending cards and letters. One of my love languages is finding the perfect card for someone. I have been known to buy a birthday or Christmas card that I think is perfect for a friend months in advance and save it up, ready for the big day. I’ll also happily buy cards I think are beautiful, or witty, or funny, just to have to hand when the right occasion presents itself.

So today, I’m writing about great, independent places to shop for cards in Medway and Kent. I’m also sharing my tips for making sending cards easier and more fun! Here we go!

11 Great card shops in Medway and Kent

Fawn & Thistle. Based in Whitstable, Fawn & Thistle offers bright, modern cards with bold patterns and animal-themed designs. They also do homewares and have just launched a collection of literary cat bookmarks.

Olive & Clive. I first discovered Olive & Clive’s cards in the Horsebridge Arts Centre in Whitstable, where I stocked up on several of their cheerful, contemporary cards featuring food and animals.

The Card Shed sells cards and prints featuring over a hundred Kent locations in the style of retro travel posters. I could happily collect the whole set!

Medwayish. There just aren’t enough greeting cards featuring Medway, if you ask me. If that’s what you’re looking for, Medwayish is an ideal place to start for cards, prints and homewares featuring local locations and famous sights, including the Thomas Waghorn memorial.

Objectables offers funny, cheeky and vibrant designs for a range of occasions. It has a shop on the Old High Street in Folkestone, if you want to visit in person.

Also based in Folkestone, Lucy Alice Designs‘ contemporary, animal-themed cards will suit almost any occasion.

Wrapped! You can visit Wrapped at 22 Burgate in Canterbury. It’s a great place to stock up on locally themed cards, but it has a huge selection of general cards too.

Store 104. Located on Rochester High Street, Store 104 has an excellent selection of contemporary and traditional cards from makers such as Cambridge Imprint and more.

Debbie Draws Maps designs unique cards featuring maps of different Kentish locations, as well as cards featuring other parts of the UK.

Imogen Partridge sells a compact range of designs featuring Tonbridge in Kent, and Ticehurst and Hastings in East Sussex, which can be bought as cards and prints.

The Black Rabbit – If you’re looking for cards with badges, this is the shop for you! They do cards with badges featuring mermaids, animals, faces, hearts, flowers and lots more besides – suitable for children and adults like.

Tips for card-sending success

Don’t put it off

If you see the perfect card for someone and you can afford to buy it, just do it! Don’t wait. Don’t think, ‘Ooh what a great card for Uncle Elmo – I’ll come back and buy it when it’s his birthday next month.’ You’re just creating more work for yourself, you might forget, and if you do remember, the shop might not even have that card anymore and you’ll kick yourself for not getting it when you first saw it. Just buy it now. Which leads me onto tip number 2:

Be prepared!

Keep a card stash. I have a box of cards for all occasions that I keep topped up throughout the year. It contains cards I’ve spotted that I know a particular friend or family member will love, plus additional thank-you cards, birthday cards, anniversary cards etc. It’s a great way to alleviate shopping hassle. Having a card stash means you won’t have to rush to find a card at the last minute, and you will always have cards on hand for unexpected occasions. My stash has helped The Man of Kent out of many a pickle. Of course, if you’re going to have a stash of cards, you ideally will also…

Always have stamps!

You don’t want to be ready to go with your card beautifully written out then have to schlep to the Post Office to buy stamps. I try to keep a stamp stash as well as a card stash. I like to keep some stamps in my purse, and some in a drawer in the house to avoid last minute faff. (In the interests of fairness, The Man of Kent may plunder the card stash frequently, but he does usually have his own stamps).

Don’t wait for a special occasion

Cards are for every day, not just for birthdays, Christmas and Valentines! I’m a firm believer in the power of sending a card purely for the sake of saying ‘Hello friend, I was thinking about you’ and spreading a little joy.  

Check whether the card is blank inside

You don’t want to have found the perfect card and have composed the ideal message/joke/poem etc, only to find there’s no room on the inside because of the cheesy words already printed on the card. Trust me, I speak from experience.

Beautify those envelopes!

Now, when it comes to sending cards I am beyond extra. I like making the envelopes look fancy with interesting envelope seals. I use stickers featuring maps, old advertisements, animals, flowers, and have seasonal ones for Christmas, Autumn and Halloween (I did tell you I am beyond extra). Some of my favourites places to buy stickers are The Pinnock Collective, Indigo Joy, Dotty About Paper, and Azmari.

Consider sender labels

I like to put the sender’s address on envelopes in case things get lost or delivered to the wrong place. I used to hand-write sender details on the envelope but a few years ago I got smart (or lazy, depending on which way you look at it) and decided to buy some printed, personalised sender labels instead. In case you’re wondering, yes, I do go extra-extra and have Christmas-themed sender labels for the festive season! Sarah Burns Prints is where I order my everyday-use sender labels, and I order festive ones from Stick-emUp Designs.

Late for a very important date? Don’t panic!

Have you just remembered it’s your granny’s birthday tomorrow and you haven’t sent her a card? Do not panic! Some card sellers will write or print a message in the card for you and send it direct to the recipient. You can also send an e-card. Now, I realise the whole point of this post is the joys of physical cards, and I’ll admit I used to be a bit sniffy about e-cards, but you can get cute ones for all occasions nowadays, and they can be a life-saver at the last minute. Sending e-cards is also a great option if you’re sending cards to friends and family living in places where the post is unreliable.

What to do with cards you receive?

Let’s say you have a collection of special cards from over the years that you want to keep, but you’re not sure what to do with them beyond stuffing them in an old shoebox. Here are a few ideas for you.

Store them in a gorgeous box

My best friend is one of the most caring, thoughtful, wonderful people I know and she sends amazing greetings cards. Look at this brilliant pop-up Halloween card she sent me one year – isn’t it awesome? She also gives presents in the most beautiful gift boxes. I have kept every box she’s ever given me and I store cards and letters in them. So instead of relegating your treasured correspondence to an old shoebox under the bed, why not invest in some stylish storage instead? IKEA, The Works and Sostrene Grene have lots of affordable options, or you could splash out on something luxurious from pattern makers like Cambridge Imprint or Harris & Jones.

Frame or display them

Greetings cards can make fantastic wall art. I’ve been known to buy cards and postcards specifically for this purpose. You can frame them individually, make a collage if you’re creatively inclined, pin them to a cork board, prop them on a picture ledge, or even get a special display stand for them. I don’t have room for one of these in my tiny house, but I love Nina from Colorado’s idea of having keepsake cards in a twirly rack that you can peruse wherever you like!

Make a photo album or scrapbook

Another solution is to store your cards and letters in an album or scrapbook. All you need is an album, some sort of adhesives (I’d suggest photo corners or washi tape) and a bit of time to arrange the cards however you like. Harris & Jones, Esmie and Paper High make gorgeous albums, and you can find all manner of scrapbooks at Hobbycraft, Etsy or most stationers.

And finally

So there you go – some great places to buy cards in Kent and Medway, and some tips for taking sending and storing cards to the next level.   Why not rescue your friends and family from a doorstep of bureaucracy-beige and pizza leaflets by sending them a card today? You might just make their day (and you can’t keep a text in a box).

Do you have a favourite place to buy cards in Kent or elsewhere? Do you have tips and hacks for sending cards and letters? Comment away with your recommendations!