By Sara Thompto & Kristin Bivens
In the world of paper products it can sometimes be hard to find just the right type of stationery. Although there are those “gem” stores out there, carrying beautiful paper products, it seems the average traditional brick and mortar retail store carries enough to appease birthdays, thank you notes to grandma, and special occasions but not much else.
It can really be a challenge sometimes to find cute patterns or designs that are original and fresh. So, where do those people who write letters regularly, have pen pals, send postcards just for fun, or have dozens of family members and friends to send cards to each year, get their stationery?
Online stores of course! This is why online store communities such as Etsy.com are such a huge success.
Etsy has thousands upon thousands of stores filled with unique products where stationery designers display their work. They offer paper products galore and the designs tend to be more unique. Sometimes though, it can be daunting sorting through the site to find that special product that you just have to buy.
We took the time to go through numerous Etsy stationery and paper product stores and compiled a list here of what we feel is a good selection of the unique stationery products available to you on Etsy.
Have fun browsing - we sure did!
1. Courtney Oquist
Artist Courtney Oquist creates cute patterns and imagery through painting. In her bio you can tell she has a big passion for painting when she says “I recommend everyone paint!” Her products are reproduced images of her artwork (mostly abstract nature scenes and geometric patterns), and as far as stationery is concerned, her shop offers greeting cards and postcards.
2. Castle on the Hill
If you love vintage-y, kitschy design, this is the shop for you. Full of postcards with an old book page and a picture of a classy lady on the front, these designs will provide a touch kitsch to any note you want to send. One of their designs even includes wedding invitations, which are complete with a bride and groom on the front of an old book page. Castle on the Hill also sells prints and paintings. This shop is truly full of unique designs.
3. Earth to Girl
This shop says it best with their tagline when they say “Silly, odd, cute and bizarre illustrated creations.” You’ll find everything from robots to adorable baby deer on her colorful stationery products, which include postcards, greeting cards, and stationery paper sets. Most of her designs are hand drawings with a ton of color. Perfect to brighten anyone’s day!
4. Ladybug Press
In her shops biography owner Angela Stewart says “I fell in love with letterpress long ago,” and her love of letterpress shows in her beautiful work. Her designs are simple and sophisticated, yet charming and surprising at times. As far as stationery is concerned Ladybug Press offers greeting cards, notecard sets, and she even offers custom work.
5. Pemberley Pond
Are you a Jane Austen fan? If so, Pemberley Pond is probably the store for you! Sisters Lalla and Luisa Lodetti started their shop theme based off of the romantic and witty writings of Jane Austen. When it comes to stationery products, postcards are what you’ll find. The illustrations and writing are so cute you’ll need to buy two of each - one to send to a special someone, and one to keep for yourself!
6. Sudachan
If you’re a dog lover, you’ll want to take a look at the inventive dachshund designs, created by Cindy Masunda for the shop Sudachan. Inspired by her own two dachshunds, Frodo and Sam (cutest names ever!), her designs are adorably unique and you’ll surely fall in love with her greeting cards, pads of paper, and other dachshund products!
7. She Can Lift a Horse
This shop sells Gilmore Girl postcards. How can you find a better shop than that? The rest of the shop owner’s designs are funky and original, including “Kitten Aid” recipe cards, that quite literally have a cat sitting in a mixer. The designs are just a tad edgy, which makes them a little less traditional, but oh so cute.
8. Rainy Day Colors
“Handmade paper goods” is what best describes Rainy Day Colors because that’s exactly what the shop offers. You’ll find greeting cards and notebooks here, most with a craft brown base, and paper cutout designs in cute, bright, colorful shapes and designs. Because they aren’t a traditional printed card they have a truly different vibe than you’ll find at most stores!
9. Note•ify
Notecards are the main stationery product that Note•ify offers, and the off-beat, city themed designs are quite impressive. In her bio shop owner Samantha Barsky explains she was not only inspired by the city in which she lives, but also by places she’s traveled and by vintage photos as well. Her creative process of taking a photograph and manipulating it makes it a wonderfully unique experience you’ll want to check out!
10. Shiny Happy People Publishing
You didn’t think we could make a list of Etsy shops worthy of checking out, without plugging our own shop in here as well, did you? Our Etsy shop has a small sampling of our work based off of what we currently have printed and ready to ship out. Postcards, notecards, letter paper, and baby shower invites currently populate our Etsy store. As always, you can view our full catalog at www.ShinyHappyPeoplePublishing.com, or if you want to order something we already have on hand go to our Etsy link below!
*Although some of these Etsy stores may have products in retail stores somewhere throughout the country, we’ve listed them on the blog anyway, in case they’re not in a store near you.
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