5 Types of Cards You Should Always Keep in Your Drawer
If you’re like me, you care a lot about nurturing your relationships with friends and family.
But that doesn’t mean showing up for loved ones is always easy.
Life is often a busy juggling act of work, personal commitments, hobbies, caregiving, and more. Even with the best intentions, reaching out in moments of celebration or struggle can slip through the cracks.
Running to the store for a one-off sympathy or congratulations card can be challenging. And the advance planning needed to buy a birthday card AND mail it on time? That’s no small feat.
In this post, you’ll learn my top tips for stocking your stationery drawer so that you’re always prepared to show up for the people you love—no matter how busy life gets.
Why Having a Well-Stocked Stationery Drawer Matters
There are so many ways to communicate, but there’s something extra special about greeting cards.
Sending a card requires thought and effort. And receiving a card can make you feel seen, supported, and valued. There’s something about a card that feels extra thoughtful in a world dominated by texts and social media comments. Yet, a card doesn’t cost as much as a gift, so there’s very little budget barrier to reaching out!
For most people, the biggest roadblock to sending a card is the work required to find the right card, think of what to write, locate a stamp, and get it into the mail on time.
That’s why stocking your stationery drawer well can make all the difference.
According to James Clear in his book Atomic Habits, anyone can use his Four Laws of Behavior Change to build better habits. Here’s how you can apply Clear’s four laws to your stationery stockpile:
(1) Make it Obvious—by keeping your stationery organized and readily accessible
(2) Make it Attractive—by buying beautiful, fun, and joy-inspiring cards that you can’t wait to use
(3) Make it Easy— by keeping a variety of the most frequently needed types of cards at hand.
(4) Make it Satisfying—by sending cards more often, you’ll strengthen bonds with loved ones
Now that we’ve established all the ways intentionally setting yourself up for success will help you reach out more often and deepen your relationships with loved ones, let’s get specific about the types of supplies you need on hand.
The Five Types of Cards to Always Keep on Hand
Birthday Cards
Everyone has a birthday once a year, right? So this is THE card you will always want to have on hand.
When deciding which design to stock up on, pick ones that are blank inside or contain a short and simple “Happy Birthday” greeting. Here’s why: while you may always remember your bestie’s or partner’s birthday in time to pick out a specific card, your coworker’s or neighbor’s birthday may sneak up on you! If you keep a mix of styles that can be used for anyone, you’ll be prepared every time!
Thank You Cards
A thank you card doesn’t just have to be sent when you receive a gift (although those are important too!). You can thank someone for always being there for you, supporting you, or offering words of encouragement.
A simple thank you send by mail can mean a lot in our digital world. Beyond the relationship benefits, numerous studies have shown gratitude has many benefits including stress reduction, improved mental health, and stronger immune system functioning. The bottom line here? Sending a heartfelt thank you card is a win-win.
Just Because Cards
I think of these cards as the “working horses” of the group because they can be used for any occasion—from encouragement to just saying hi!
In this category, having a mix of “Thinking of You” and text-free, image-only cards is great. Remember, a card doesn’t always have to say something on the front. It’s what you write on the inside that matters.
Pro Tip: Select some with cheery, bright designs and others with more muted colors to match the card to the tone of the greeting.
Celebration Cards
I believe that there is always something worth celebrating. Some celebrations may be big, like a wedding, new baby, promotion, or graduation, while others may be less momentous. This is why I suggest having some specific and some general celebration cards in your arsenal, including messages like:
• Welcome Baby!
• Congratulations
• Cheers
• You Did It!
• Let’s Celebrate
Care and Support
Illness, injury, or loss often happen with little advance warning. Yet, these are the moments when our loved ones need our support the most, so having some Get Well and Sympathy cards is a must.
I also love having blank care and support cards that are flexible and can work for a range of recipients and situations. These are ideal for letting someone know you’re in their corner when they are going through a tough season or even just having a rough day.
Once you’ve selected your card, it’s time to make it your own. Learn my top tips for personalizing a card so that you can become an expert card-sender! >>
Other Items to Make Sending Cards Easy—And Fun
Once you have your cards in hand and organized by type, it’s time to stock up on other supplies and extras.
I find that having these items on hand makes it so much easier to get a card in the mail quickly. I also know that if I have cute stickers or fun colored pens to use, I’m way more likely to send a Just Because card.
Stamps
I love keeping a selection of Forever stamps in my drawer. These can be used for most cards. If you include items in your card, such as a gift card or other inserts, it’s smart to have the letter weighed at your local post office to ensure enough postage.
Address Book
Maintain an up-to-date list of friends and family addresses. A digital version can be handy for easy updates and printing labels.
Card Calendar or Reminder System
Keep a calendar or set reminders for important dates like birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays to help you send cards on schedule.
Return Address Labels or Stamp
Pre-printed return address labels or a self-inking return address stamp can save you time. You can also consider blank labels for neatly addressing envelopes.
Fun Stickers
Small stickers, washi tape, or decorative stamps can add a special touch to your cards and envelopes.
A Nice Pen or Pen Set
Keep a few good-quality pens handy for writing messages. Different colors can add a personal touch, and having fine-tip pens can help with legibility.
Card Inserts
Affirmation cards, vinyl stickers, and other small items that won’t increase the weight of your card enough to increase postage costs are ideal for making your greeting extra delightful and meaningful.
Coordinating Gift Tags
Sometimes, you’ll use your cards to accompany a gift. Having a coordinating gift tag can give a bit of extra polish to the overall presentation!
Glue or Double-Sided Tape
Glue or double-sided tape can be handy for sealing envelopes that don’t have adhesive. You can also use these supplies when attaching photos or other small items to the inside of your card.
Keeping Your Supplies Organized
As James Clear recommends—make it obvious! Keep your stationery organized and easy to access.
A small box or organizer to keep your cards, stamps, and pens together can be very helpful. Consider using dividers to separate different types of cards so that it’s easy to grab just what you’re looking for.
Are you excited to strengthen your relationships by being that person who always remembers the occasion with a card?
I have just the thing if you want to jump-start your card collection for your stationery drawer. Check out my birthday, thank you, and friendship bundles in my shop.
