It's 's Indie Week. For the next seven days, the grassroots campaign is encouraging us to "shop small" for Christmas to support independent artists, designers and makers.
Christmas Creatures by
It's called 'Just a Card' because its founder, Sarah Hamilton, believes that if we all just popped into a gallery or shop and purchased one greeting card, we'd help them survive and stay on the high street.
In that festive and supportive spirit, 99¾«Æ·ÊÓÆµ has pulled together a list of recommended Christmas cards to buy for your loved ones this year – be warned, some are pretty rude!
We're not saying you need to be wasteful; you can still think of the environment by only sending a handful by post to very close family and friends. And you can re-use the cards you receive by cutting out the cover artwork and turning it into a label to use on presents next time.
We love this cute and funny card design by Nicola Allan, an artist and illustrator based in Edinburgh. Available in A6 and printed on 300 gsm card. But remember, a tortoise isn't just for Christmas.
Priced from £4 –
'Merry Chris Mouse to you! This happy little gent will take your Christmas greetings wherever you send him,' reads this card's description — printed from an original watercolour pencil illustration by Mister Peebles Illustration based in Hackney, London.
Priced from £3 –
A slightly naughty card for the man in your life, this is just one of many hilarious handmade designs by Alyssa Lucchetta, an artist based in Toronto, Canada.
Priced from £4.59 –
This adorable card design by American artist Jahna Vashti captures the spirit of Christmas and is from one of her acrylic paintings. Available in sets of four, six, 12 or more.
Priced from £12.96 –
This gorgeous Christmas card is printed on paper embedded with wildflower seeds. Which means that it can be planted in a pot or your garden afterwards, making it the most delightful and environmentally friendly card we've discovered yet. It is crafted by Flower Seed Paper, an independent shop by Kevin and Lori Graham.
Priced from £9.72 for a set of three –
We love this handmade snowman card with detachable crochet decoration, made by a mother and daughter team from England. You can also choose from Christmas trees, snowflakes, gingerbread men and Christmas puddings. Another environmentally-friendly option.
Priced at £5 –
An incredibly cute A6 Christmas card, featuring a hand-illustrated hedgehog that reads, 'Here's a Christmas Hedge-hug'. It is brought to you by Bath-based illustrator Beth Goodwin.
Priced from £3.10 –
Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a little Gavin & Stacey. Check out this funny festive card design by Welsh artist Betty James, made using a mix of watercolour and digital illustration.
Priced from £2.50 –
Discovered on a trip around a recent , these watercoloured illustrated cards by Emily Eason feature some of our favourite animals decorated in Christmas fairy lights and sprigs of holly. Festive, independently designed and handmade.
Priced from £10 –
Get this rude and funny Christmas card by Manchester's StudioBoketto to make someone you love smile. There are lots of other designs available. We love the card and the .
Priced at £2.99 –