The Card Designer Highlight is a collection that includes unbiased makers whose greeting playing cards you could find in Paper Supply shops. Meet and be impressed by a brand new designer each month on our weblog! E. Frances is a household enterprise, made up of three cousins- Ali, Pippi & Jenni. Their designs & card assortment are impressed out of their East Coast studio in Rhode Island. Whether or not sending their cute greeting playing cards or little notes, their stationery is motivated to please anybody of any age and help their continued objective of making significant private connections. 
How did you start your card-making profession? It was by no means a stretch to enter the world of stationery- my childhood soundtrack was one in every of scissors, tape, and the crinkle of paper. Our mother and father have graciously lived by way of many years of selfmade every little thing, particularly playing cards. I grew into the world of style illustration, graphic design, and finally my very own design enterprise, however I had at all times wished to personal a enterprise with my sister Jenni, and in 2012, we determined that playing cards had been the proper match for my paintings and illustrations. We launched the corporate within the fall of 2013 with our cousin Pippi (we’re an actual household biz!) and have not regarded again.
The place do you draw inspiration from? Meals? Pop Tradition? Timeless Motifs? Playful Puns? All over the place- my children, what makes us chortle, sure kids’s books. I get obsessive about sure colours. For those who see me carrying head-to-toe ultramarine blue, you are in all probability going to see that colour within the subsequent launch. If it’s puce inexperienced, inform me earlier than I take one other step. Although that’s what’s nice about working with your loved ones… 
What does your day seem like as a card maker and designer? It is an actual dream come true to work each day and run a enterprise along with your sister and cousin. My days differ widely- some days are sketching and portray, and a few days are all in entrance of the pc or in conferences with our design and advertising crew. Some days are awesomely productive, and a few… a kazillion drawings of a frog in legwarmers that we by no means use. 
What’s your most popular medium? Watercolors!
What does your inventive course of seem like? I’ve a billion sketchbooks in every single place and sketch on a regular basis. Just about all ideas in my existence begin with, “might that be a card?” After we are planning a launch, Jenni, Pippi and I sit and brainstorm concepts collectively. Typically the phrases drive the concept, and generally it is an illustration concept that begins the cardboard design. There’s lots of, “is a sweaty hen in a pot humorous?” after which I sketch the concepts out and we do one other spherical of edits, after which the profitable concepts are hand-painted in watercolor. There are various, many rounds of edits and lots of work that go unused- we’re all extraordinarily considerate and ultra-specific about what truly makes it into our card line. Many, many occasions we give you a card that actually solely the three of us will chortle at. After we get clean stares from the remainder of the crew, we gently transfer that concept to the aspect.
What are you most pleased with as a creator and card designer? I’m so so proud and honored to be a part of a enterprise that employs over twenty wonderful individuals, and to have the ability to present as much as work in a contented, light-filled, inclusive atmosphere, the place we work laborious to place a product out on the planet that actually does join individuals. Playing cards’ sole goal for present is to make individuals really feel good, and related. We predict not in regards to the variety of playing cards we promote, however in regards to the variety of joyful recipients that’s. It’s superior.
Any private tidbits? Particular skills/enjoyable information? Bueller Bueller … Ha, can’t consider something that individuals would truly wish to learn! However thanks a lot for this highlight!
Discover E.Frances Playing cards and Be aware units comparable to Massive Coronary heart Little Notes, Teacup Child Card, and Lighthouse Right here For You Card at your native retailer or on-line at papersource.com. For extra inspiration and behind-the-scenes motion, comply with @efrancespaper on IG.