Buy 'Just a Card' for Christmas to support independent shops, designers and makers

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, Creative Boom 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.

Christmas Tortoises by Nicola Allan

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 – Buy the card

Chris Mouse by Mister Peebles Illustration

'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 – Buy the card

Touch My Elf by Alyssa Lucchetta

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 – Buy the card

Forest Festivities by Jahna Vashti

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 – Buy the cards

Stag Print Watercolour by Kevin and Lori Graham

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 – Buy the cards

Handmade Snowman Christmas Card by Lily Blossom Studio

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 – Buy the card

Hedge-hug Christmas Card by Beth Goodwin

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 – Buy the card

Oh! Oh! Oh! by Betty James

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 – Buy the card

Christmas Creatures by Pippa & Paper

Discovered on a trip around a recent Makers Market, 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 – Buy the cards

All I Want For Christmas Is You by StudioBoketto

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 Christmas Pugs card and the Merry Kiss-My-Ass.

Priced at £2.99 – Buy the card