A Small History of Greeting Cards
Long before greeting cards filled store shelves, they were small works of art shared between friends.
In the late 1800s, a printer named Louis Prang helped introduce beautifully illustrated greeting cards to America. His colorful lithographic printing methods allowed artists to reproduce detailed artwork in ways that hadn’t been widely available before.
Because his company helped make commercially printed greeting cards available to the public, Prang is often called the Father of the American Christmas Card. The Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art preserves his papers, artwork, card samples, and other printed materials.
Because of this, Prang is often called the Father of the American Christmas Card.
His goal was simple but meaningful: to help people share beauty, kindness, and thoughtful messages through the mail.
In many ways, greeting cards have always been connected to the newest creative tools of their time.
As technology changed, artists adapted.
Printing methods improved, photography entered the world of greeting cards. graphic design became digital.
Today, artists have even more tools available, including digital illustration and AI-assisted imagery, but the heart of a greeting card remains the same.
To me, a greeting is a small moment of human connection.
A Personal Note
Years ago I was also an early adopter of new creative technology.
My first camera for portrait photography was a Sony Mavica, which stored photos on floppy disks. At the time it felt incredibly new and experimental.
I didn’t have formal training and learned mostly through curiosity and trial and error. Many of my early portrait sessions came through word of mouth, and what began as a small side project, what we’d now call a side hustle, grew into one of my most enjoyable creative adventures.
Looking back, it reminds me that creativity often grows alongside new tools.
The tools may change, but the heart behind creating something meaningful for another person remains beautifully the same.
A Tradition of Small Joy
Every Scatter Joyfulness greeting continues that tradition in its own way. Each one begins as a small piece of micro art, carries a message from one person to another, and sends more joy out into the world.
If you’d like to follow the Scatter Joyfulness story from the beginning, read How Scatter Joyfulness Began. You can also explore the Scatter Joyfulness greeting card collection to see how that tradition continues today.
That’s the journey I’m on now, and I’m glad you’re here.
Hugs & Smiles,
Joy & Bunny
