My Passion for Handmade Greeting Cards: Creating Art from the Heart

I remember when I was a little kid, I loved writing notes and making cards for my friends and family. In Taiwan, while we don’t experience the full holiday traditions of Christmas like in Western countries, we still enjoy exchanging gifts and cards just for fun.

I didn’t just make cards for my closest friends—I went all out, creating them for my entire class on Christmas once! And it wasn’t just Christmas. Holidays like Chinese New Year, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Teacher’s Day, and birthdays all gave me an excuse to express my creativity through handmade cards.

For this special article, I asked my dear friends to dig up the cards I gave them over the past 20+ years. I can’t wait to share them with you! Through these cards, you’ll see how my artistic skills and personal style have evolved over time.

Cards for my mother

One of the oldest greeting cards my mother helped me find is the one on the very left. I wrote it when I was just 8 years old. It says:

Dear Mama, happy Mother’s Day! Stay healthy and beautiful forever.
By daughter YiFang
89.5.12 (which means May 12th, 2000)

Looking back, I find it so interesting (and a little funny) that most of the cards I gave her over the years pretty much share the same wish!

A Special Birthday Card for My Friend in 2014

I made this little book card for my friend back in 2014 when we were 22. Kim and I have been in the same class since fifth grade, and we've been part of each other's lives ever since. She loves to drink (and still does!), so for her birthday, I decorated the cover with wine, shot glasses, and cocktails. The cover also says ‘Written by Eva Tsai’—Eva is my English nickname, so yes, Eva Tsai is also me! :)

Cards for My High School Friends

I’ve made some very close friends since high school, and even though I’ve immigrated to the U.S., we still keep in touch and share updates on a daily basis. Many of the cards I’ve made or bought for friends I don’t remember, but it’s really fun to look at them again. I can see why I drew them the way I did!

Celebrating Christmas in 2021: A Card-Making Tradition

2021 was the third year I lived in America, and I absolutely love celebrating Christmas. My favorite part of the holiday is making cards for my friends. Many of them are pet owners, so I look up photos of their pups and experiment with different themes, styles, and mediums. And I never learned cursive writing in English, so I had to Google how to write it!

Creating a Unique Card to Match My Friend's Personality

The friend I drew this card for is really cool, so I wanted to create a unique style that stood out from the rest and showcased something that would best fit her personality. I truly enjoyed the process and love how the result turned out.

Christmas Cards I Created in 2020-2021

Just like my Christmas cards, I pour my heart into birthday cards too—especially for loved ones.

A Heartfelt Birthday Card for My Boyfriend Featuring Ringo

This is a birthday card I made for my boyfriend, featuring my German Shepherd, Ringo. My boyfriend has had Ringo since he was a puppy, and now Ringo is also my dog. I’m sharing this personal card because I love receiving cards that are made for me; they make me feel special. That’s why, when I make cards for others, I want to make them feel special too.

(The pink dot represents his favorite ball toy—he always carries it around and lays next to it.)

My Appreciation for a Friend in Korea

I was an exchange student in the English Program at the University of Central Arkansas in 2011-2012. During that time, I made international friends and learned English together. One of my close friends is from Korea, and I was lucky enough to visit her there a couple of years ago. I gave her a card with a portrait of her cat, drawn with colored pencils. She was so surprised and happy and told me she was going to display it on top of her refrigerator. In 2025, I visited her again, and I was so happy to see that the card was actually still there! I really appreciate that she takes such good care of it.

The final set of cards I’m sharing is for Chinese New Year, featuring designs for the Year of the Dog, Goat, and Monkey. It’s so special to revisit these pieces after all these years, and I’m grateful that my friends have kept them. Knowing that my cards are cherished reminds me why I love making them—it’s not just about the art, but about staying connected and sharing love through each design.

Creating these cards has always been a special way for me to connect with the people I care about. It’s more than just art—it’s about sharing love, heartfelt thoughts, and warm wishes with those who matter most. I’m excited to continue this journey of card-making and to create even more joyful moments with my friends and family.

Thank you for taking this trip down memory lane with me. I hope these cards bring a smile to your face, just as they have for mine.