Card Designer Spotlight X INK MEETS PAPER
The Card Designer spotlight is a series featuring independent makers whose greeting cards you can find in Paper Source stores. Meet and be inspired by a new designer every month on our blog!
This month we're excited to spotlight wife-and-wife duo of Allison and Jamie Nadeau, the talented owners behind INK MEETS PAPER. Discover how they spread love and connection through their beautiful cards - and learn about the thoughtful details that make INK MEETS PAPER the perfect place to find the just-right card for any occasion!
How did you begin your card-making business INK MEETS PAPER?
"In 2008, we discovered a love for small-batch, craft printing - right as many were calling it a dying industry. In fact, our very first press came from a third-generation print shop that was closing its letterpress offerings. But over the years, we've seen firsthand that print is very much alive. There's a deep and growing desire to reconnect with the tangible: the process of making, the act of writing, the power of physical connection.
Handwritten correspondence really resonated with us - it's such a beautiful and timeless way to connect with those you love. In particular, we saw greeting cards as an accessible way for people to connect with on another. We started work on developing a collection of greeting cards to help spread a bit more love and kindness and launched the INK MEETS PAPER greeting card line in 2010. As our business has grown, one thing has remained unchanged: our commitment to making everything in house. From design and printing (we've added two more antique presses since those early days!) to assembly and order fulfillment, every INK MEETS PAPER card is made by our team in Greenville, South Carolina. It's a hands-on process that ensures every card meets our standards for quality and craftsmanship, and truthfully, we still get excited every time a new design rolls off the press."
What is your Signature Envelope?
"Our Signature Envelope is one of those special details that really sets us apart. It made its debut at the National Stationery Show in 2013 and is exclusive to INK MEETS PAPER/ Each envelope features printed seams highlighting the classic envelope icon and an interior printed message that reads: Text less. Write more. We want the whole experience, from choosing the card to sealing the envelope, to feel like sending a tiny, thoughtful gift through the mail. (P.S. We're actually giving our Signature Envelope a little refresh this year, and you can see a little peek of what's to come in the photo we shared."
What is your Pride collection?
"Our Everyday Pride collection has been a labor of love - and a long time in the making! While we've worked on a thoughtful and inclusive core collection, we wanted to create a specific collection to honor and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community more directly.
Because letterpress printing requires one ink color at a time, capturing the essence of the Pride flag presented a real challenge. So, we leaned into bold, hand-lettered black ink sentiments for the cards and introduced color through a custom envelope. With its six-color rainbow Pride flag and the message "You make the world more beautiful," our Pride envelope makes a joyful, visible declaration of support - whether it's sent in June or December. "
"We wanted to develop phrasings that served a variety of audiences; queer folks and couples, family members and friends of someone who has recently come out, and really anyone wanting to show support to a queer person that may be working through a tough season in life. We worked to keep the phrasings authentic and to serve as a launching pad for the sender's own words. We love the formal celebrations of Pride, but the experience of living is far more than one month out of the year.
As a queer-owned company, we recognize the importance of visibility. The cards in this collection are designed as an everyday celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. Visibility is important, and our Everyday Pride collection is available year round... because celebrating community doesn't end just because the month changes."
Find more cards from INK MEETS PAPER in-store or online at Paper Source, explore some of our favorites To A Bright Year Birthday Card, Part of Your Heart Pet Sympathy Card, & Mama To Be Baby Shower Card!
