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The Art of Paper Handmade greetings double as distinctive art for the home  Image courtesy iStockphoto If you find yourself uninspired by drugstore birthday cards and are sick of the easy-but-soulless e-mailed party invite, handmade stationary might be just your greeting – and home – style. "Handmade paper is tactile and visual, appealing to several senses at once; it's sometimes even scented," says Richelle Albrecht, graphic designer and founder of Girl Metro, an independent stationary press in Chicago. "To buy something beautiful and handmade always feels special. Often, [a handmade] card offers something visually that feels unique and individual. Sometimes that's a textural aspect – letterpress printing on a beautifully textured paper or a tiny, handmade embellishment attached to the front of the card, for example. Other times, it's a message or theme that's controversial/unusual and appealing or appropriate to the person who will receive the card. Some of the smaller indie stationers will put out cards with controversial messaging because they are appealing to a younger, hipper crowd that uses a different language and aesthetic to communicate." Finding handmade paper is getting easier as the trend catches on, but for those who want a more direct approach, you could try making your own batch. Christopher James, a professional papermaker in Lincoln, Neb., says he was hooked after one paper-making attempt. "I bought a $20 papermaking kit from a local art store and started making paper in my kitchen," says James. "Fifteen years later, I'm making paper in a 2,500 square foot studio with much larger equipment. Doing production work – producing large sheets by the hundreds – does require serious equipment, but for $20 you can make really cool paper out of your kitchen." James supplies much of his handmade paper to independent stationers like Albrecht, making the handmade paper community a close-knit one. The options don't stop there, though; mailing your creations – or those you purchase – is only one way to go. Brighten a room with a framed piece of handmade paper, or create a collage on an open wall. Play the paper off of a light source for added flair. |
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