12 of the Prettiest Thank-You Cards to Show Your Gratitude

These days more than ever, gratitude goes a long way. Because we're still living in a time of COVID-19, the holidays, birthdays, and general gift-giving looked very different this year, which is why it's so important to show your appreciation for the presents you receive from family and friends who you can't celebrate with in person (and even to those who you do get to see!). In a world where it's so easy to just fire off a text message, a handwritten notecard is still the most thoughtful way to say "thank you." Plus, everyone loves to receive snail mail!

To help you nail your post-present etiquette, we've rounded up the most unique, modern thank-you cards. But before we get to our picks, we reached out to Allison Carter, celebration expert at Allison Carter Celebrates, for a few tips on writing the perfect card. When it comes to crafting a thank-you note, Carter says the number one thing to keep in mind is to make sure you are specific and not general. "You want to clearly thank them for the exact gift and the thought behind it," she explains. "Share what you plan to do with it or what you love best about the gift." And the number one thing to avoid? "Don't make it feel like you just sat down and wrote a bunch of thank you notes at once," she says. "The same note times 10 is never a thoughtful gesture."

As for timing, Carter suggests sending the card within a few days of receiving the gift. "I try to write my thank-you notes as soon as possible, because it's something that can easily slip your mind. Although generally within a month is acceptable. But if it goes past that, acknowledge the timing in your greeting. A simple, 'so sorry this took a little while to get to you!' is fine."

Ahead, see our picks for the best modern thank you cards to show your gratitude.