THE JOURNAL
From left: cards by Scribble & Daub, Paper Parade and Rifle Paper Co.
It might only be the first week of December, but alongside the piles of party invitations, pre-Christmas workload and frantic gift shopping, there’s something else to sort out: cards. Whether it’s a kind gesture to a loved one, an olive branch to someone you’ve annoyed this year, or simply a gesture to make the in-laws believe you’re a well-turned-out gentleman, there are myriad reasons to send a card, and hundreds of millions of them will make their way around the world this month.
Still, in the digital age, it’s a tradition that’s declining. According to market research firm Mintel, less than half of Brits aged under 35 now send Christmas cards, and believe social media is an acceptable replacement.
A physical card, however, is a welcome contrast to the digital back and forths we’ve all shared with friends and family throughout the year and is an opportunity to send something that requires a little more thought. But how to choose one that stands out?
“The best Christmas cards are made on deliciously thick paper, using artisanal techniques such as letterpress or Risograph and wear their festive iconography lightly,” says Ms Caroline Kent, the artist behind high-end stationers Scribble & Daub. To help you out, we’ve put together a selection of three card makers and printers who know how to make a good impression.
Scribble & Daub
Image courtesy of Scribble & Daub
For something creative and aesthetically pleasing that doesn’t beat you over the head with a holly bush, you could do a lot worse than Scribble & Daub. Every design starts as an original dip pen and ink scribble, which is then sent to a traditional workshop to be printed by hand, one by one, on a vintage Heidelberg letterpress. Freshly printed, these return to the studio, where they are then individually painted by hand with coloured inks. “We use a hand-torn deckled edge card and matching envelopes from the ancient Fabriano mill in Italy, which has been producing paper for the world’s greatest artists for centuries,” explains its founder Ms Kent. Impressive indeed.
Paper Parade
Image courtesy of Paper Parade
Established in Scotland in 2014, Paper Parade is the brainchild of illustrators Mses Rachael Sommerville and Cara Holsgrove after they met at the Edinburgh College of Art. Their cards feature the usual festive fare – nutcrackers, pine trees, Fair Isle sweaters – but are brilliantly drawn, with full colour prints from original illustrations, and will make a wonderful addition to any mantelpiece. Made in Edinburgh, the brand makes the effort to be as sustainable as possible, and uses mostly FSC certified and recycled paper stocks.
Rifle Paper Co.
Image courtesy of Rifle Paper Co.
Designed in Winter Park, Florida, Rifle Paper Co. is a juggernaut of a stationery brand with more than a million followers on Instagram. The company makes everything from wine cups to AirPod cases, but particularly excels at greetings cards. Founded just 10 years ago by Ms Anna Bond after she struck upon a passion for illustration while making her own wedding invitations, the brand is a great go-to for greetings cards for all persuasions. Making discerning cards that are cute without being kitsch, they offer a modern, artistic take on traditional designs.