The Card Designer Highlight is a sequence that includes impartial 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!
Have a good time Nationwide Card and Letter-writing Month with our April Card Designer Highlight that includes 2021co with Nicole & Emily. 2021co was formally launched in 2017 with the simple philosophy that ‘a easy card might change somebody’s’ life for the higher. Learn extra about Nicole & Emily’s card making careers and private tidbits right here.
How did every of you start your card-making careers?
Paper has been an enormous a part of our particular person lives for so long as we will keep in mind! And—it’s what introduced us collectively as buddies over 16 years in the past. Nicole has labored for years within the printing trade as a talented salesperson and paper skilled, and Emily has been utilizing paper to create paintings since she was in preschool. Emily began creating greeting playing cards just a few years after faculty as a secondary supply of revenue whereas working for an area faculty of their publications division. That’s the place we met, and immediately bonded over a love of paper, phrases and the sturdy perception that sending a easy card might change somebody’s life for the higher. We formally launched 2021 Co. in 2017 with the aim of use stunning playing cards to place some good into the world.
The place do you draw inspiration from? Meals? Pop Tradition? Timeless Motifs? Playful Puns?
(Nicole) For me, inspiration comes from the human expertise. How are individuals feeling? What messages are most in want and the way can we make them stunning and accessible. (Emily) I discover inspiration far and wide, and I’m continuously snapping photos and taking screenshots. Issues you could find in my digicam roll: distinctive colour combos, lettering, sample and foliage! That stated, phrases are critically necessary in each card we create. We use loads of hand lettering to make a message really feel further private. What does your day appear to be as a card maker and designer? Day by day is totally different! Typically it’s the pure magic of creativity coming to life, different days it’s all about placing out fires. We attempt to stability operating a enterprise whereas additionally supporting the artistic thoughts required to place one thing particular out into the world. It requires loads of time administration, inspiration, espresso and gratitude.
What’s your most popular medium?
(Emily) It’s developed over time to be trustworthy! After I began most of my paintings and lettering was made with pens and drawn. Then for awhile watercolor got here into play and I layered that in to a few of our assortment. At this time, I paint with Gouache for a lot of of our playing cards. I like the opaque nature of the paint and the power to layer and add element. I nonetheless choose creating on an actual piece of paper to creating issues digitally. Previous habits die exhausting!
What does your artistic course of appear to be?
Every new card begins with a brainstorm session on what message we wish to add to thecollection. Quite a lot of instances one among us may have an concept and Emily can instantly start to see it in her thoughts and captures it as a pencil sketch. ( SO MANY SKETCHBOOKS!) Then, every design is both painted or drawn, scanned into the pc, designed and printed. The most effective day is the day the brand new playing cards arrive within the workplace. Pure pleasure!
What are you most happy with as a creator and card maker?
(Nicole) Wow, that may be a exhausting query. There’s a lot. When somebody tells us that they bought or acquired a 2021 Co. card at both a tough or celebratory second of their life and it meant the world to them. We make playing cards and paper merchandise sure, actually, we foster human connection by giving individuals instruments to speak and THAT is what makes us most proud.
( Emily) Ditto to what Nicole stated! It’s a really particular and magical factor, if you create artwork- it’s a bit of piece of your self. When somebody
likes it and validates it, it’s such an honor. I’m proud to work in an trade that understands that connecting with each other within the good and unhealthy instances is what it’s all about.
Any Private tidbits? Particular skills/enjoyable info to share with us?
These are my favourite questions in any interview! 🙂
(Emily) OK, my go to cheat snack palms down is cheez-its! Further toasty if you happen to please. ( I like them a lot we did a weblog submit about gratitude and I actually lettered the phrase in cheez-its). I’m at the moment making ready for my first diploma black belt check in Krav Maga. It’s been a 4+ 12 months course of and I’m so excited to earn that rank. I like journey however hate flying, a standard paradox. I’m a mother of three, a spouse, and a real cat woman who, if it wasn’t for an allergic husband, would have many extra rescues than my two present infants!
(Nicole) I’m the pickiest eater and am zero enjoyable to eat out with (my buddies won’t admit this, however I can really feel their eyes rolling after I order). A former triathlete and marathon runner, I now spend approach an excessive amount of time watching TikTok and studying private growth books. Insanely interested in different individuals and their life tales, I like discovering connections to assist make everybody’s life extra significant. I’ve two
human children with my husband of 25 years and one Nice Dane, Atticus (who’s palms down the favourite within the household). We each love caffeine, cheese, darkish chocolate and imagine within the energy of remedy, a superb podcast, and consuming a chocolate chip cookie to resolve most issues.
Discover 2021co playing cards, such because the So So Pleased with You Greeting Card, I’m So Fortunate Love Card, and All Shapes and Sizes Pet Sympathy Card at our native shops or on-line at papersource.com. For extra inspiration and behind-the-scenes motion, observe 2021_co on IG.
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