I know: you are in NO MOOD to discuss sugarplums when you are blinded by visions of heart-shaped chocolate boxes. But this is a good enough deal that I think it’s worth it to force yourself into the spirit. Buy them now and don’t look at them again for ten months.

The cards are by pop-up artist Robert Sabuda, and they’re called “Alphabet” cards because they’re based on his book The Christmas Alphabet. It will not surprise you, then, to learn that there are 26 cards in this set, all different. They come in a nice tin, if you like tins: the “Christmas Alphabet” label comes off, leaving a snowflake pattern.

One thing to be aware of is that the cards are SMALL, as Christmas cards go: too small to include a 4×6 photo. This was not a problem in the end: I bought an inexpensive box of 50 greeting-card-sized white envelopes to use instead. You could also use the holiday-decorated business-sized envelopes intended for sending family newsletters.

Another thing to be aware of is that some of the cards are religious. Most are general holiday (C is for candle, G is for gift), but a few (5?) are religion-specific (M is for manger, B is for Bethlehem).

The cards are so pretty, I’ve had trouble giving mine away. I might have to buy another set to use as annual decorations. Or just to take them out and pet them and admire them. (I see from the reviews on Amazon that I’m not the only one having a little Problem with this.) —Swistle

Link: Robert Sabuda pop-up Christmas cards on Amazon.com
Ballpark price: As of posting time, Amazon has them marked down to $8.08 (from $24.95).