In this guide
The three-part card formula
- 1
Name the moment
“Happy birthday!” “Congratulations on the new job!” “I heard about your week.” One line, so they know why the card exists. - 2
Say one specific thing
A memory, a quality, something they did. “You were the only one who remembered my exam” beats “you're so thoughtful”. - 3
Point forward
A plan, a wish or a promise. “Dinner's on me Friday.” “Can't wait to see what you do next.”
Here's the formula at work:
Happy birthday! This year you finally ran that 10k, and I've never been prouder to hold a sign. Cake on Saturday?
Examples for common cards
Birthday
“Happy birthday! You made this year so much lighter, mostly by laughing at my terrible jokes. Dinner's on me.”
Happy birthday! I hope today is as easy and bright as you make other people's days.
Another trip around the sun, and you still make it look effortless. Happy birthday!
Wishing you cake for breakfast, zero emails, and a year full of good surprises.
Thank you
“Thank you for driving me to the airport at 5am. You didn't even complain. Next coffee's mine.”
Thank you. You made a real difference, and I won't forget it.
Thank you for showing up when it mattered.
I'm so grateful for you. Thank you for everything.
Get well soon
“Heard you're stuck on the sofa. I'm bringing soup and the worst film I can find. Rest up.”
Get well soon! Rest up, drink water and let others do the dishes.
Sending healing hugs and a big bowl of virtual soup.
Get well soon! The world is a little dimmer without you at full brightness.
Sorry
“I was short with you yesterday, and you didn't deserve it. I'm sorry. Can I call tonight?”
I'm sorry. I was wrong, and you deserved better from me.
I'm really sorry. I've been thinking about it, and I want to make it right.
No excuses, just a real apology: I'm sorry.
Just because
“No reason. You just make normal days better, and I don't say it enough.”
What to avoid
- Apologizing for the card itself. “Sorry this is short” makes it smaller.
- “But” in an apology. Everything before it stops counting.
- Age jokes, unless that's already your thing together.
- Long paragraphs. On a phone, three sentences feel like a letter.
Making borrowed words sound like you
It's fine to start from someone else's line. Then:
- Swap one word for a word you'd actually use.
- Add one detail only you two know.
- Sign it the way you sign your texts.
That's usually enough. Our message ideas are sorted by occasion and by who you're writing to, and every one can be turned into a card in a tap.
P.S.Quick questions
- What do you write in a card if you're not close?
- Keep it warm and simple: name the occasion, add one kind observation, and wish them well. “Congratulations on the promotion. Your project last spring was brilliant. Enjoy it!”
- How long should a card message be?
- Two to four sentences. Long enough to feel personal, short enough to read on a phone.
- Is it okay to use a message I found online?
- Yes, especially as a starting point. Change a word or two and add one specific detail so it sounds like you.
- How do I sign off a card?
- However you'd sign off a text to them. “Love,” “Always,” “See you Friday,” or just your name.
That's everything you need. The rest is just picking a photo and saying what you mean.
Love, Bun 🐰
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