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Sensitive. Courteous. Cordial. Comforting. Softhearted. Reverent. Polite. Sympathetic. Well-Mannered. Tasteful. These are the words that are most often used to describe Clayboys’ line of greeting cards. OK, no. Not really.

If you’re open minded, with a wicked sense of humour and you enjoy smart, irreverent, and edgy humour, that sometimes crosses a line or two, without ever being mean spirited, well then… welcome to Clayboys. But it’s not all piss and vinegar. There’s also a lot of ‘heart’ to be found here. The Clayboys are after all, deep down, a couple of old softies who often cry themselves to sleep, usually after watching ‘101 Dalmatians’.

As ‘The Clayboys’, Canadians Michael and Regan have been making good-humoured cards about aging, family, politics, astrology and sexuality, for over twenty years. Regan started making cards for his family and friends when he was about six, and in some ways he never really grew up. His mother always said he would end up making greeting cards for a living, although she probably didn’t expect the direction the cards would go in, and ofter referred to them as ‘bawdy’. Sometimes she told people that she never expected one of her kids to grow up and make ’smut’ for a living, although she usually said that with a bit of a smile and a wink. She had a pretty wicked sense of humour herself.

Although there is only one artist, there is no one specific ‘look’, Regan has a large visual library that he draws from. Or, it is possible that he just has a short attention span. But, probably the thing about Clayboys cards that defines them the most, is what could be called ‘A three part narrative’. The illustrations and the concept are carried through the entire card; the front, the verse and the back. You haven’t finished a card until you’ve looked at all three.

Stores that carry Clayboys cards frequently say that they like having them because it’s so great to hear people laughing out loud. And that’s the bottom line. Ultimately Clayboys want to make people happy either by making them laugh, or giving them something witty, that says something relevant, something that they can relate to, whether it be through irony, cynicism or thoughtful observance.

Why ‘Clayboys’? Well, they used to make ceramics. Regan started drawing cartoons on Michael’s ceramic plates and vases, and that led to Regan getting back into making greeting cards. (Regan’s mother was right, as usual).

 They don’t make things of clay anymore, and they definitely are no longer ‘boys’, but the name stuck, and the rest, as they say is history.

The words that best describe Clayboys cards? Dry. Deadpan. Dirty. Droll. (Sometimes all in the same card) Witty. Wicked. Smart. Ridiculous. Silly. Whimsical. Campy. Risqué. Raunchy. Irreverent. Hysterical. Too funny for words.

But enough about us. Take a look around, and if we can get you to break into a smile, or even better, laugh out loud, then we are doing our job. And if you don’t, well, you probably have a black and white spotted fur coat hidden in your closet somewhere.