The measure of a small gift isn't what it costs; it's whether the person receiving it can tell that you were paying attention. My notecards, long pads, oversized mousepad notepads, and jotters are affordable gifts under $20 that feel anything but inexpensive. With original illustrations, distinctive textured papers, and designs chosen to reflect a recipient's personality, passions, or sense of humor, they're thoughtful little luxuries that feel personal rather than predictable.
The Bold And The Unapologetic
Before we get to the everyday pieces, I have to begin with the ones people tend to talk about most. My Pocket Truths —an assortment of 12 modern-day calling cards co-written with my friend Banks McClintock—are the rare $20 funny gift that becomes entertainment the moment it's opened. The recipient inevitably reads every single card aloud, laughing as she announces exactly who deserves which one and when she intends to use it—long before she actually does. Cheeky, unfiltered, and dangerously relatable, they're the kind of gift that gets the entire room involved before finding a permanent place in her handbag, ready for the moment when one of those predictions inevitably comes true.
For the friend who prefers her humor with even less ambiguity, my Fuck Swords Calling Cards pair a four-letter sentiment with my hand-drawn crossed swords, engraved in opulent platinum ink on heavyweight charcoal cardstock, for $12 a pack. And for anyone who has ever returned to their car to discover someone else's spectacular disregard for the painted lines, my Parking Cards put a whimsical jackass illustration to excellent use for $16.
Irreverent? Absolutely. But beautifully designed and produced nonetheless. These are funny gifts under $20 for people who appreciate good paper, original art, and humor with a sharper edge—proof that an inexpensive gift needn't be predictable, and sophistication needn't always behave itself.
Beyond The Jotter: Notecards, Long Pads, And Mousepads
A Jotter isn't the only way to give a small, thoughtful gift under $20. My Notecards, Long Pads, and Mousepad Notepads are almost entirely priced at $20 or less (excluding shipping), and each brings my original, museum-quality illustrations and premium textured paper to a different—and genuinely useful—format.
Notecards are for the person who still understands the grace of a handwritten thank-you note and believes the correspondence should be as considered as the sentiment inside it. Long Pads, with a generous 100 sheets, belong on the desk or kitchen counter of the devoted list-maker. And my Mousepad Notepads earn their real estate by doing triple duty as a writing surface, mouse pad, and perpetual calendar.
Whichever format suits the recipient, the art accomplishes the same thing: it makes the gift feel personal. Whether you've chosen her favorite animal, something that recalls a beloved place, or an illustration that simply captures her sense of humor, it says, I noticed this about you. And isn't that what separates a memorable gift from merely another thing?
A Jotter That Lives Everywhere She Does
Think of my 3" × 5" Jotters as fancy scrap paper—the sort worth keeping within arm's reach, particularly in the car. I always have a stack tucked in my car because, inevitably, that's where I remember the thing I meant to write down. They're perfect for scribbling a podcast recommendation for a friend, a song I heard on the radio, leaving a note on someone's windshield, writing down the name of a contractor or shop you want to remember, handing someone your contact information, or capturing a brilliant thought at a red light once you're safely stopped, of course.
And unlike the crumpled receipt one might otherwise reach for, a beautifully illustrated small jotter makes even the most impromptu exchange feel considered. When I hand it to someone, I like that the paper itself has a little personality, and polish—it turns an entirely ordinary moment into something worth remembering.
My Jotters and Journals collection offers an extensive assortment of my original illustrations, making these small gifts under $20 wonderfully useful for the purse, desk, kitchen counter, bedside table—and, most certainly, the glove compartment.
The Illustration Does The Work Of Personalization
A notecard, long pad, mousepad notepad, or jotter doesn't need a name on it to feel personal. The right illustration communicates something about the recipient that a generic gift can not. It says: I noticed. That's the entire job of a small gift, and a well-chosen jotter does it without requiring a matching budget. Browse my Note Pads collection if you'd like to pair a jotter with another tasteful desk accessory.
The Creatures That Already Belong To Someone
Every illustration I draw has a character or motif that suits a specific kind of person. Here is how I think about matching the right one, whether it ends up as a jotter, a notecard, a long pad, or a mousepad notepad.
The Louisiana Loyalist And The Sporting Life
The King Gator Jotters carry my iconic crowned alligator, bold, unapologetically cool, and never in need of an introduction in the right company. For the Louisiana loyalist, Florida native, Low Country Home owner, or anyone who has made the Alligator their spirit animal, they'll always want a pack of these in their bag or jacket pocket — or a King Gator Mousepad Notepad anchoring their desk instead.
From there, the Rooster Jotters feature my hand-drawn rooster, standing proud with all the confidence and character of a true barnyard original. These charming rooster small notecards are perfect for chefs, farm owners, Southern homesteaders, and backyard chicken keepers—especially those who know every member of their flock by name.
The Deer Jotters bring the quiet beauty of the outdoors to your everyday notes, featuring my hand-drawn deer illustration with a timeless woodland feel. They're a thoughtful choice for nature lovers, hunters, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone who feels most at home in the woods. For a coordinated gift, explore my Gift Tags and Place Cards collection for complementary pieces inspired by the same love of the great outdoors.
The Collector And The Critter Lover
The Rabbit Jotters carry my classic rabbit illustration, gorgeously serene, and made for the lifelong rabbit enthusiast, the English garden aesthete, or the person whose home features at least three ceramic rabbits and a fresh floral arrangement. It’s a playful and refined petite notecard that earns a second look every time she reaches for it.
For something a bit more fierce, the Lion Jotters feature my hand-drawn lion, majestic and authoritative, for the person who gravitates toward the regal, the heraldic, and the timeless. The lion has adorned crests and coats of arms for centuries and carries that same weight in a 3" x 5" notecard format. Browse my For Gifting collection if you're looking for something special to pair with the Lion Jotters for a more complete gift.
The Water Lover
For the angler, fly fisherman, and anyone who considers the river a second home, my Trout Jotters are a small declaration of what matters most, in a perfectly portable format that slips easily into a fishing vest, tackle bag, glove compartment, or desk drawer. My Royal Seahorse Jotters celebrate a different sort of water lover, featuring one of the most graceful creatures in my collection for the coastal enthusiast, diver, sailor, beachcomber, or devoted ocean lover. Pair either with something from my Stationery collection for a thoughtful gift under $20 for someone equally enamored with the water and the written word.
And because what paper feels like matters to me just as much as what is printed upon it, every 3" × 5" Jotter is flat-printed with environmentally friendly, soy-based ink on premium, USA-made 100# Ecru Classic Laid Cover stock. Its subtle texture gives these petite cards a tactile quality that distinguishes them from the ubiquitous smooth, mass-produced paper goods on the market. Each pack contains 20 cards with rounded corners, designed and proudly printed in New Orleans.
My Notecards, Long Pads, and Mousepad Notepads are made with the same attention to detail—original artwork, soy-based inks, offset printing, and premium USA-made paper—simply reimagined in different shapes and sizes for the many places where a little beautiful paper comes in handy.
Who Gets A Gift Under $20 And Why
A notecard, long pad, mousepad notepad, jotter, or one of my cheekier calling cards fits more gifting moments than most people expect. Here is where mine earn their keep.
- The Hostess: A beautiful note pad slipped into a hostess gift bag adds a thoughtful touch that lasts long after the flowers have faded. Choose the art that matches her interior design or world, and she'll reach for it every time she needs to write something down.
- The Person Who Has Everything: She already has the candles, the wine, and the cashmere, so finding something she doesn't already own can feel nearly impossible. A set of Notecards or Jotters featuring an animal she's loved or collected since childhood feels personal, unexpected, and chosen specifically for her. It's a thoughtful gift under $20 that proves a memorable present doesn't need an extravagant price tag.
- Inexpensive Stocking Stuffers Worth Keeping: A hysterically funny stocking stuffer she'll actually use is harder to find than it sounds. A set of Parking Cards or Fuck Calling Cards, featuring my original illustrations and irreverent humor, is the kind of funny gift under $20 she'll keep reaching for—and laughing about—long after everything else in her stocking has been forgotten.
- The Add-On That Elevates The Whole Gift:The Add-On That Elevates the Whole Gift: Sometimes, the smallest gift delivers the biggest laugh. A pack of Stop Calling Cards or Fuck Cards makes a cheeky gift under $20 for the friend with a wicked sense of humor. Tuck a pack into a larger present as an unexpected finishing touch that will have her laughing before she even gets to the main event.
- The Coworker With A Sense Of Humor: Not every coworker gift needs to play it safe. A Pocket Truths set of Modern Calling Cards or a pack of Parking Cards gives the office jokester something funny they'll actually use—and, even better, a story they'll delight in retelling after they do. It's the perfect funny office gift for the coworker who appreciates a little irreverence.
When Small Gifts Under Twenty Dollars Say The Most
Some occasions call for grandeur. Others call for something smaller, more personal, and infinitely more considered—the sort of gift that doesn't need an extravagant price tag to make an impression.
A beautifully illustrated notecard set, long pad, mousepad notepad, or pack of jotters can be precisely that. Slipped into a departing colleague's bag, left on a neighbor's doorstep, or tucked into a birthday present for the woman who seemingly has everything, these thoughtful gifts under $20 have a charm all their own. The best small gifts feel less like something selected to satisfy an obligation and more like evidence that you know the recipient well enough to choose something distinctly her.
Ultimately, I designed every piece in this collection for the person who still believes a handwritten note is worth the time it takes to write—and that the paper upon which it's written should be every bit as memorable as the sentiment itself.
