Anvil Cards was launched by Justin Charles “JC” Woods, a born-and-raised Houstonian who draws his inspiration from Texan culture to create fun greeting cards. The designs are simple yet clever, like a Topo Chico bottle wearing a Santa hat and displaying “Feliz Navidad” on its label, or one that says “Happy Holidays” in the signature blue tiles found across Houston curbs. Every card is made with quality linen paper, cut and folded right there in the Rice Village store. Anvil also sells locally made gifts and Houston-themed merchandise like hats and pins, and if you’re terrible at remembering birthdays, it offers a service (limited to a lucky few) that will send any card out with a custom message on the same day every year. How cool is that?

Seventh Eclectic, an apparel and accessories brand, is the brainchild of Houston native Kenzie Reeder-Shumate. Her greeting cards all follow the same aesthetic, which is inspired by American tattoo culture, and are digitally drawn by Reeder-Shumate herself. Her most popular designs include two hearts with the words “Til death, all yours” in the middle and a cowboy baby with the message “You’re the yee to my haw.” She started her small business on her own as a way to make income from home and become her disabled son’s full-time caregiver. While she sells them directly on her website and has a dedicated following on Etsy, you can find her at art markets across the Houston area twice a month.

Paper Vibes was founded by Leila and Carlos Peraza, the owners of Space Montrose, and fellow designers Tyler and Matthew Mendez. What sets the company apart is the artists’ commitment to sustainability and using eco-friendly
materials while conveying joy, empathy, and love in these little works of art. Cheeky designs include two dancing avocados with a “Back That Hass Up” message and, for the holidays, the state of Texas outlined in festive lights with the colorful words “Merry Christmas” in the middle. You can buy Paper Vibes greeting cards online or at Space Montrose on Westheimer.

Little Sue Cards is a heartfelt tribute to the late Suzanne Ashley Summers, known as Little Sue. Though she battled a rare and aggressive salivary gland cancer known as Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma, her determination led her to pursue a lifelong dream of creating greeting cards. Little Sue's legacy lives on through her Etsy shop, where her husband, Jesse Summers, honors her memory and donates all profits to organizations dedicated to advancing rare cancer research and supporting young adults facing similar challenges. Little Sue believed that cards are more than social norms—they’re a way to celebrate life’s precious moments, big or small. Her namesake company embodies the spirit of cherishing those moments using warmth and irreverence to spread love and laughs, even in the face of adversity.