Cards by Iris
About CarisCards
CarisCards grew from my love of cards, paper and small creative projects. What began as something for myself has become something I can share with others: cards to send, to keep or simply to enjoy for a moment.
“Cards to send, to keep or simply to enjoy for a moment.”
Rediscovering the joy of real mail
For as long as I can remember, lovely paper, cards and craft supplies have made me happy. As a child I did a lot of crafting and loved sending notes and cards. I had almost forgotten that feeling until I rediscovered the joy of real mail.
I started Postcrossing in 2024 after briefly trying to write long letters to international pen pals and realising that it did not suit me. Sending a postcard turned out to be just right: short, manageable and still personal.
I began with a few tourist cards, but soon noticed that people especially enjoy receiving something within a particular theme. A small supply followed: first a few extras, then a few more, and by now there is always something to choose from.
The joy is in making
Writing can sometimes be difficult, but I find joy in making and decorating cards. Add stickers, washi tape, stamps and five different ink colours, and the back becomes even more colourful than the front. No two are the same.
That creative side gained fresh momentum when AI made it possible to generate images myself. What began as an experiment produced surprisingly beautiful visuals. At the same time, I discovered that real control only comes when you continue editing and refining the work yourself. My cards now combine both: AI as a starting point, followed by my own editing and finishing touches.
The card about the fatigue and helplessness of living with long COVID.Living with long COVID
The battery that slowly runs down.
Even before all this, I created an image for a card that meant a great deal to me personally: the fatigue and helplessness of living with long COVID, the feeling that the world keeps moving while your battery slowly runs down and no longer recharges. Because this remains invisible to so many people, I wanted to express it in the form of a card.
That idea remained untouched for a long time, not because of a lack of motivation, but simply because the energy was not always there. With help and patience, it eventually became CarisCards.
“The feeling that the world keeps moving while your battery slowly runs down.”
Small and personal
An unexpected card never gets old.
The cards I make are diverse, ranging from sweet animals and beautiful flowers to Postcrossing meetup cards. I enjoy all kinds of designs, because an unexpected, beautiful, cheerful or funny card in your letterbox never gets old.
CarisCards is not a large shop or commercial company, and that is not my aim. It is something I make on a small scale for fellow card lovers, with occasional room for other things such as stickers or paper goods.
Everything you see here was created in moments when it was possible, step by step and at my own pace. It was all made with pride and joy.
Enjoy buying, writing, decorating, sending and receiving cards.
View my designs