Calligraphy can go on anything, any material plain or preprinted.  It is good to choose your surface and background carefully to compliment your Calligraphic message.  Here are examples of beautiful artwork found on regular notecards purchased at a good stationary store.

A slide show of Calligraphy being used for  Envelopes, Place Cards & Notecards

Place Card Settings bring the touch of class and caring right to the dinner table.

Here are some samples of Mixing Artwork on Preprinted Note Cards with Hand Lettered Calligraphy.

Hand Lettered Place Cards ready for your event

Another Way of Doing your Place Cards is creating a Seating Chart

A Calligraphic example of Silver Ink on a colored envelope, writing with a Pointed Pen, using Flourished Copperplate style.