It’s the digital age. Email has replaced letter writing, faxing, even phone calls. And why wouldn’t it? It is immediate, more reliable (although intense spam filters are making that less true), and you don’t have to buy a stamp. I certainly am attached at the hip (literally) to my email. But I am old-fashioned in some respects. I still write with paper and pen for a lot of purposes: scripts, to-do lists and notes to name a few. There is something immensely satisfying about putting ink on a blank page.

Alison McLaurin feels the same way. A writer herself, Alison was frustrated that letter writing has become a lost artform. She created Tikilynn, a line of cards that are young and stylish – these are not your mother’s thank you cards. Inspired by her cat, Tiki, Alison incorporates whimsical illustrations of the feline on most of her cards (funky abstract designs are also available for you dog lovers). The correspondence cards are crisp and smooth; the greeting cards are slick and professional. My favorite part is that all the included envelopes come in a variety of bright colors: gamma green, fireball fuchsia, celestial blue, and more.

Cards can be purchased online at www.tikilynn.com. Prices range between $2.75 and $13.00. Cards sold individually and in packs.