Greeting cards can be hit or miss, especially with Valentine’s Day. Some of the illustrations are fine, but the messages are embarrassing, especially if you’re early into a relationship. “Be Mine” has a bit of a stalker vibe.
Loaded Blanks are illustrated greeting cards minus the overly sentimental messages. Instead, each card has room to write a personalized storyline. One valentine card, for example, shows two squirrels doing cute couple activities like riding a bike and holding hands. Another card shows two monsters gleefully stealing (or rescuing) a pet parrot.
But if your gift is a flop, the “I’m sorry” card may be a better fit. It features a very remorseful dinosaur bumming around his apartment alone.
The collection has more than 20 cards, including special occasion and thank you cards. Made on 100 percent recycled paper, $2.95 each, available at loaded blankshq.com or Women & Children First, 5233 N. Clark St., and Wolfbait & B-Girls, 3131 W. Logan Blvd.