AIBU to get a bit annoyed every year with SIL giving us a Christmas card from a pack.

You are being unreasonable, yes. And even if there's a huge back story you are still being unreasonable. She sends you a card when many people have stopped. Accept and move on.

I'm always pleased to get any card at Xmas knowing that friends and family have thought of me.
To expect a 'special' card from someone is unreasonable, yes!
Absolutely

Oh, for goodness’ sake, it’s a piece of cardboard with some pictures on it. What a ridiculous thing to make a fuss about!

I’m sorry OP, I’m another who thinks you are unreasonable.
just try to remember, that just because it’s your choice to buy special cards, it does not mean everybody else should.

Just be thankful that she remembers you.

I have a very good friend who is literally the only person I give a Christmas card to. So far I have 25 cards left from the box of 30 I bought 5 years ago since I give her a card each year.
Some people don’t like cards - I’m one of them, I’d much rather have a conversation than a card on my mantle for 3 weeks that I then Chuck in the bin.

Each to their own, but I certainly wouldn’t judge someone on this little quirk.

I buy a "special" card for my mother - in her 90s! Everyone else gets cards from a pack bought from a charity. It wouldn't cross my mind to be upset to receive a card from a pack from family

I only buy ‘special’ cards for DH, other family get one from a charity pack.

I’ve never bought or received a ‘special’ card in my life. I buy cards in aid of charities, and so do my family and friends.

My sister-in-law is the same, admittedly usually charity cards - but I always get "special" cards for immediate family as you do Kadinsky. She did say that this year they weren't even going to do cards but donate to charity (does that ever happen when people say it?), but obviously had a change of heart because my sister and myself have had cards with pictures of them and a verse from them as well.

I spend time choosing a design that I like and make sure it helps a charity and I buy however many packs of the card that I need.
I find those 'special' cards a bit cringe -making unless they are for someone living alone. I have known in the past that some older friends have rated their importance in the world by the number of cards received, so I'm not really knocking the special cards but it feels slightly odd to give something over-elaborate like that to one's own generation.

Agree granny Somerset.
Kandinsky in my opinion yes you are !

YABU.

I don’t buy ‘special’ cards either everyone gets one from a nice pack of charity cards.

With you there Granny Somerset!

I wouldn’t dream of buying one of those ‘special’ cards for any occasion, let alone Christmas. Each to his own, I guess.