If you’ve spent some solid time browsing the stationery section on Etsy, you’ll be familiar with the loveliness that is ‘letterpress’.

Letterpress printing is essentially a ‘relief’ style of printing – words and patterns are given texture, raised off the page and irregularities in colour and evenness of the print are part of the old-world charm.

The most modern of brands, Apple, has created an app that lets you be the master of your own letterpress – literally!

The new Cards app lets you create and send beautifully crafted, real greetings cards personalised with your own text and photos — direct from your iPhone or iPod touch.

Choose from twenty-one designs including simple Martha Stewart-esque ‘thank you’ cards edged in pale grey dots, design-rich love hearts, retro ‘Wish you were here’ postcards, de-bossed booties for new baby announcements and more. Once you have picked your design you can add a photo, a personal message, select a postal address from your Contacts and place your order in seconds.

There’s a few neat tricks as well. For example, if you select one of the travel designs, your card automatically displays the name of your current location (no excuses for not sending postcards now!).

Postage is included in the cost of making a card (each card is $4.99). A word of advice – the cards are sent from the US so if you are wanting cards for a particular occasion, be aware that they can take up to three weeks to arrive. That said, the cards are good quality and come beautifully presented, stamped with a real postage stamp. Snail-mail might be considered retro but there’s still something exciting about receiving a tangible letter.

The Cards app is free and is available through iTunes. Letterpress cards created with the app are $4.99 each.