WE tend to take Christmas cards for granted as they are available almost everywhere in Cumbria – and are usually in shops by the end of September.

It wasn’t always like this and you can find out how the designs and manufacture of cards for Christmas and other festivals have changed through the decades in a county exhibition.

It is called Little Works of Art: 100 years of greetings cards and can be seen at Whitehaven’s Beacon museum until January 7.

This charming exhibition explores the history of greetings cards and postcards, with 200 on display.

The cards cover the period from the First World War to the 1950s but there are some examples dating back to the 1850s.

You can see cards from Christmas, New Year and Easter cards - as well as birthday and Valentine’s Day.

There are cards by many of the most significant publishers, such as Raphael Tuck, Marcus Ward, Thomas De La Rue, Robert Canton and Ernest Nister.

A broad range of designs and types of card are featured, including those made with paper lace, silk fringes, embossed designs, unusual shapes and comedy themes.

The museum is open every day until Saturday, December 23, from 10am to 4.30pm with a 3pm closure on the 23 rd.