How To Dress Up Your Notecards

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The Answer is in How You Write the Envelope

These past few weeks I have been playing with envelope designs…and I wanted to see if they made a difference to the receiver of the notecard.

When we get a handwritten note in our mailbox we get excited …but what about when you see a fancy designed envelope with your name and address?

I love this Facebook post from my sweet friend Karrie in Ohio. I sent her a beautiful vintage notecard with a note to let her know I was thinking about her and I also created a beautiful printed envelope to send it in…I love how she noticed the envelope immediately.

It’s that extra added beauty that makes people feel loved. And don’t worry…you don’t have to run yours through a printer to make it beautiful…you can create a gorgeous envelope through art, beautiful lettering, and stickers.

My handwriting is not the greatest. I suffer from arthritis in my hands and so writing can sometimes be painful for me. But I have a system that helps me…I use a piece of hard backer board to help me keep my writing straight and more consistent. It improves my handwriting, keeps my lines straight and uniformed and for whatever reason…my hand hurts less.

Here are some fun ways to make your envelopes beautiful:

1. Rubber Stamps - I have some beautiful rubber stamps that are bordered and one that says ‘Kindly Deliver To”’ that I love to use. They can be used around the mailing address to give your envelope an extra pop.
   

2. Try mixing up the sizes of your handwriting for the mailing address. For instance make the name a bit bigger than the mailing address (line 2 & 3) and then drop the zip code down on a line by itself and make it the same size as the name.
   

3. Instead of writing your return address on the front of your envelope…buy some beautiful return address labels to add the back of the envelope flap. We also will print your address on the back flap of your envelopes that come with your notecards - we can make them look beautiful for you.
   

4. Another fun add is to use washi tape on the back flap of your envelope. Make sure you really seal it on the envelope or it will get ripped off during the mailing process. I have also added clear scotch tape across it to hold it in place. It really depends on the stickiness of the tape.
   

5. You can also add stickers to your envelope - again making sure they adhere to the envelope really well or you will lose them.
   

6. And my favorite…if you are an artist or just creative you can create beautiful designs on your envelope.
   (Just make sure your address stays clear and readable.)

There are so many ways to dress up your envelopes - tell me what is your favorite way to make your envelopes stand out?

Why Sending Thank You Notes Is More Important Than Ever

In an age where digital communication is instant and often fleeting, the tradition of sending a handwritten thank you note holds more value than ever before. While a quick text or email may be convenient, a tangible note expresses genuine appreciation and thoughtfulness in a way that digital messages simply cannot replicate or create the same feeling.

Here’s why taking the time to send a thank you note is a meaningful and impactful practice in today’s world.

1. Adds a Personal Touch

Handwritten thank you notes convey sincerity and effort. The time taken to select a card, put pen to paper, and mail it demonstrates a deeper level of gratitude than a generic “thank you” text or email.

(Sometimes when things are busy…I will do both. Send a text or email to say thank you and follow up with a card. It may come a little later, but I always want the person to know that I appreciate them immediately…and when I am delayed in getting cards out the double connection lets them know they weren’t forgotten.)

2. Strengthens Relationships

In both personal and professional settings, expressing gratitude through a handwritten note strengthens connections. It shows the recipient that you truly value their kindness, time, or generosity, fostering goodwill and deepening relationships.

3. Make a Lasting Impression

A thank you note is something people can keep and revisit. Unlike digital messages that get buried in inboxes, a physical card stands out, reminding the recipient of your appreciation long after it’s received.

(When I design cards…I keep in mind that some should be beautiful enough to frame. There is nothing like looking over to see a card framed on your desk and feeling the love and gratitude all over again.)

4. Encourages Thoughtfulness

Writing a thank you note requires reflection on what you’re grateful for, helping you develop a greater sense of appreciation. This practice not only makes you feel good but also cultivates a habit of gratitude in your daily life.

5. Acknowledge the Special Moments

Whether it’s a thank you for a gift, a kind gesture, or simply someone’s support, acknowledging their actions in writing makes the moment more special. It allows both the sender and the recipient to cherish the kindness exchanged.

(Have you ever done something for someone or gifted something to someone and never heard anything from them? You don’t do the thing or give the gift to be recognized for it…but we do, do the thing or give the gift to help or make a difference and when our kindness is recognized or at least acknowledged it makes us want to do more of those things.)

6. Spreads Positivity and Kindness

A simple act of gratitude can brighten someone’s day and inspire them to pass on the kindness. In times of stress or uncertainty, receiving a heartfelt note can have an uplifting and encouraging effect.

Make It a Habit

Incorporating thank you notes into your routine doesn’t have to be time-consuming. Keep a set of beautiful notecards on hand, along with stamps and a favorite pen, so you can easily write and send a note whenever you feel grateful.

A thank you note is a small but powerful gesture that leaves a lasting impact. Now, more than ever, taking the time to send one can create meaningful connections and spread appreciation in a world that often moves too fast. So, why not pick up a pen today and send a little gratitude through the mail?

(And if you need a little help with notecards – we can help you out!)

National Smile Day Card Challenge!

National Smile Day - May 31, 2024

I don't know about you but a smiling banana makes me smile! HaHa!

No seriously we're celebrating National Smile Day (May 31st) with a Card Challenge and we want you to join us! The week of May 26th through June 1st we're on a mission to make our people smile! 

For 7-Days, Send 7-Cards to 7-People!

And we created the most fun card to use for your challenge - you can purchase this pack of 7-cards to use for your challenge and reach out to 7-people and make them smile. 

How do you make them smile you ask? Well just hearing from you will make them smile. Letting them know you were thinking about them will make them smile and knowing that you took the time to handwrite a note and mail it...well that will really make them feel loved and special, and will definitely make them smile!

So grab your pack by clicking here!

You get 7-cards for your challenge along with lime green envelopes for only $11.55!

Come join us for this fun card challenge!

AN INTERVIEW WITH A PAPER LOVER . . . FEATURING BRANDY THORNTON

Paper notes and notecards carry so much intent and meaning, and we wanted to hear some paper lovers put that meaning in their own words. We hope you enjoy this first installment of our Interview series! If you’re a paper lover, and you’d like to send in your own responses to these questions and be featured in our next blog, please email shop@beamazingpaperco.com with your responses! We can’t wait to hear what a handwritten note means to you.

Question 1: What makes a paper note or card special to you?

The message written by a friend or loved one makes the note or card special to me.  While the words written are what I love the most, also just knowing that someone thought of me and took the time to write out a handwritten note and put it in the mail to me in this time of text/email means so much!  I love friends and loved ones that, like me, favor snail mail over digital correspondence!

Question 2: How do you typically craft the messages you include in your cards?

OFten times, I'm writing someone to say hello, to check in and see how they are doing, or I'm writing them for a specific occasion such as a birthday.  I also like to send cards to friends and loved ones on the anniversary of a loved one's passing or a day that I know is hard for them for whatever reason just to let them know they are thought of and prayed for as they face that hard day.  I also love to send cards out to remind friends and loved ones that I am thankful for them and their friendship.  Those 'just because' cards are so fun to send too because you know that the person receiving it will be so surprised to receive a card and that's just so fun!

Question 3: What feelings or emotions do you experience when you receive a card in the mail?

Opening up the mailbox to find a card from someone instantly puts a smile on my face! Receiving a card in the mail makes me feel loved and special.  Receiving a card in the mail reminds me that someone thought of me and that's a wonderful feeling! 

Question 4: Have you ever kept a card for a long time after receiving it? If so, what made you hold onto it?

A fun fact about me is that I've kept all the cards I've ever been given!  I have boxes of cards and letters I've received throughout my lifetime! I have the birthday cards from my first birthday and every card, note, and letter I've received since!  I keep these cards in boxes I call my "Joy Boxes" because it brings me such joy to look back through those cards.  It makes my heart smile to know that I am loved by so many people. Now that I've lost all of my grandparents and my Mama, the cards and letters they gave me over the years are some of my most cherished possessions.  

A couple of years ago, I decided that I wanted to keep the cards I receive in a year on display throughout the entire year.  There's a fun, colorful, garland of pom poms hanging above the doorway in my living room and since New Years Day of this year, I have clipped each card I have received in the mail to that garland.  At the end of this year, I'll take down the fun cards I received throughout the year and add them to my "Joy Box" to make room for the Christmas cards when they begin to arrive!  I love walking into my house and seeing these cards hanging above the doorway and every time I glance up at those cards, I smile!  

Thank you so much to Brandy for sharing your thoughts and feelings about paper mail and writing messages from the heart. Let us know in the comments what resonated with you most.

National Thank You Note Day!

National Thank You Note Day is indeed a special occasion for expressing gratitude in a thoughtful and tangible way. Writing thank-you notes is a wonderful tradition that allows people to convey their appreciation for others and reflect on the positive aspects of their lives.

On December 26th, National Thank You Note Day provides a perfect opportunity to take a moment and express thanks to those who have made a difference in our lives. Whether it's friends, family, colleagues, or mentors, a handwritten note can carry a personal touch that makes the sentiment even more meaningful.

Consider jotting down your thoughts on paper, expressing specific reasons for your gratitude. It's a simple yet impactful way to show appreciation and strengthen connections with the people who contribute to your well-being.

So, on National Thank You Note Day, take a moment to reflect on the positive influences in your life and send a note to express your heartfelt thanks. Your words may brighten someone's day and create a ripple effect of gratitude and kindness.

10-Tips to Help You Write a Thoughtful Note

Have you ever sat down to write a note or send cards and you find yourself at a loss for what to say?

Writing a thoughtful note involves expressing genuine sentiments and consideration for the recipient. Whether it's a birthday card, a thank-you note, or a message of sympathy, here are 10- general tips to help you write a thoughtful note:

1. Select the Appropriate Type of Notecard: sending the correct notecard doesn’t have to be difficult but you should make sure it’s appropriate for the message.

2. Start with a Warm Greeting: Begin your note with a friendly and personal salutation. Use the recipient's name to make it more personal.

3. Express Your Feelings: Clearly state the purpose of your note. Whether it's expressing gratitude, offering condolences, or celebrating an occasion, be sincere in your expression.

4. Be Specific: Include specific details related to the occasion or reason for the note. This shows that you've put thought into your message.

5. Share Personal Memories or Experiences: If applicable, share a relevant personal experience or memory. This adds a unique and special touch to your note.

6. Use Positive Language: Frame your words in a positive and uplifting manner. Focus on the positive aspects of the situation or the person you're addressing.

7. Show Empathy: If the note is for a difficult situation, express empathy and understanding. Let the person know that you are there for them.

8. Express Appreciation: If the note is a thank-you, express your appreciation explicitly. Mention the specific actions or gifts that you are thankful for.

9. End with Well-Wishes: Conclude your note with well-wishes or a positive sentiment. This leaves a lasting impression and leaves the recipient with a good feeling.

10. Add a Personal Touch: Consider adding a small drawing, a quote, or something that adds just a little more to your note.

If possible, consider writing your note by hand. Handwritten notes often feel more personal and thoughtful. Remember, the key to a thoughtful note is sincerity and a genuine connection to the recipient. Take the time to consider their feelings and tailor your message accordingly.

And never forget the impact that a thoughtful note can have on the person receiving your note.

Customized Christmas Cards

Sending Christmas cards during the festive season has been a tradition for hundreds of years, enabling people to spread love, joy, and warm wishes to friends, family, and loved ones near and far. This tradition, while seemingly simple, plays a significant role in reinforcing personal connections, sharing goodwill, and offering a thoughtful and intimate gesture during a special time of year.

While any Christmas card can deliver these sentiments, customizing these messages elevates their meaning, demonstrating a level of care and attention that makes recipients feel even more special.

Here are some reasons to customize your cards:

1. Shows That You Care - A customized Christmas card adds a touch of uniqueness and personality to your messages. Instead of choosing from generic designs, customizing allows you to reflect the individual's interests or your personal relationship, demonstrating that you’ve taken time and effort to make the card just right.

2. Creates Long-Lasting Memories - A customized card often means much more to the person you are sending it to…the uniqueness of the card is what sets it apart, making it a memorable keepsake that people are more likely to cherish longer.

3. Adds a Personal Touch - In a world that is becoming more digital and less personal, receiving a customized Christmas card provides a meaningful and physical symbol of your relationship. Your loved ones will not only appreciate the beautiful card design but also the heartwarming note from you.

Studies show that receiving Christmas cards…or any personal note or letter makes people feel good inside. It makes them feel loved and shows that you care. Think of your family who live far away or even those family and friends that you can’t celebrate with… getting Christmas cards conveys love, affection, and thoughtfulness. More importantly it helps people feel connected, appreciated, and included.

The holiday season is the perfect time to remind those around you how much they mean to you. Let us help you customize the right card to help spread a little extra joy this holiday season.

You can email us at shop@beamazingpaperco.com to get more information.

4 Ways to Send Notecards as a Small Business

4 Ways to Send Notecards as a Small Business: Market your business and make an impact one notecard at a time.

As a small business owner, you want to get your name out there and stand out from other boutiques and specialty shops people have seen before, but how? Social media is a major marketing tool - and it helps a lot - in getting people to recognize your business and learn about your services, but posts, comments, and likes are quick to do and leave little impact once the recipient closes the app.

To move your business from a name people recognize to a business they feel connected to, we suggest you add sending notecards to your marketing strategy. If you don't have notecards branded for your business yet, then be sure to reach out to us so we can design and print notecards for you.

Here are 4 occasions you could easily send someone a branded business notecard that makes them feel special and helps your business stand out.

• Congratulations on a business or work anniversary
  If a business is celebrating its anniversary or you're celebrating a customer's anniversary of when they went into business with you, don't just comment congratulations on their posts or send an email. Take a moment to write out a note and put it in the mail. Those few words in a card say so much more than an electronic communication.
  

• Thank you for meeting with me to a prospect or customer
  When a prospect is looking for a service or product your business provides, more than likely they are considering more than one option. Stand out from your competition by showing the heart and humanity behind your business with a note and let your product or service features speak for themselves.
  

• Thank you for your order
  We all have some sort of thank you when a customer checks out or pays an invoice, but printed on a receipt or a final pop-up after checkout doesn't come from the heart. Choose a few repeat or special customers each quarter to personally thank with a note.
  

• It was great meeting you
  When attending business conferences or bumping into someone who could be a great fit to work with, sending a handwritten note reinforces and conveys the importance the meeting had on you. Follow-up is important, and the most impactful way to follow up is with something more tangible than a message on a screen.

Whether you send notecards with your orders already or we gave you a few new ideas on how to start, we can't wait to see how this marketing strategy will impact your business by strengthening your connections.

Paris or Venice Anyone?

Have you ever traveled somewhere… and then love to come across little reminders of those past adventures in your everyday?

That's what we love about Michael Underwood's new notecard packs. He's taken beautiful, scenic photographs of Paris and Venice, made them more moody and dreamy with his own touch, and has compiled them into 2 notecard packs of 8 scenes of Paris and Venice.

Michael has spent his whole life creating whether it is with film or photography. He was part of the creative team that brought the world TV channels such as HGTV, Home and Garden Television, and Fine Living Network. 

Now, he produces photos that go beyond all expectations as he gives them the lighting and appearance of being between a photo and a painting. He produces very unique, detailed images that pull at your heartstrings. We held a reception for his "Frozen" collection in April and are glad to add these 2 new card collections, Paris on the Loose and Venice on the Loose, to our Michael Underwood selection in our shop.

Whether you or someone you know has visited either of these destinations while studying abroad, taking a honeymoon, or going on a trip, these card packs offer a great way to send a note to someone you traveled with to remind them about the crazy times you had together and the wonderful memories you made. Or, you can always frame them as they are works of art to begin with.

Michael's new notecard packs will be available in the shop and online on July 17, 2023. You can stop by and pick up a pack or shop online.

We're Focusing on Intention This Quarter

The team at Be Amazing Paper Company is focusing on Intention during the second quarter and we're starting with listing ways that we can be more intentional in our day to day life.

Here's a little journal download to help you get started if you're interested in joining us.

Click Here to Download!

Finding a Good Pencil - Blackwing Checks Off All the Boxes!

Some of our favorite brands that we're proud to find and to stock in the shop are ones created with the mission of using time intentionally in order to slow down and give our minds a rest from fast-paced technology. 

One of our favorites has to be Blackwing, a pencil company that produces different pencils and leads created with a specific use in mind. The leads of each pencil vary in hardness and finish. 

Plus, my personal favorite feature, their erasers are refillable. Read on to learn which of the four pencils are good for the mindfulness habit that fits your routine. We have all 4 Blackwing pencils in stock, Matte, Pearl, 602, & Natural, and we wanted to go through the differences and what each pencil is best used for. 

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THE MATTE PENCIL

The Blackwing Matte has the softest and darkest graphite but holds a point well. It's the top choice for artists and doing sketches. 

It's ideal for: 

-Rekindling a sketching or drawing hobby to let yourself unwind 

-Starting a daily sketch journal 

THE PEARL PENCIL

The Blackwing Pearl has a graphite that is not too soft nor too hard which makes it very adaptable for both drawing and writing. 

In fact, this is the choice pencil for one of our favorite local artists, Adam Trest. 

This is your pencil if you: 

-Prefer to draw instead of sketch 

-Bullet journal or like to draw and write as you journal 

-Want to elevate your doodle game when you're in meetings or on the phone 

THE 602 PENCIL

The Blackwing 602 has a firm graphite but is still very smooth. 

We think it's best used: 

-Keeping score while playing cards or a board game 

-Jotting down notes

-Start a daily journaling habit to manage stress and process emotions 

THE NATURAL PENCIL

The Blackwing Natural has extra firm graphite and requires the least amount of sharpening. It's preferred by writers and is best when you want to be very precise and detailed. 

With that in mind, these are best for: 

-Detailed drawings 

-Crossword puzzles in the newspaper  

-Writing a letter

FYI - It's the one I prefer to use in the shop when marking and measuring prints.

We hope we gave you some ideas of new mindfulness hobbies to try out or at least a better pencil for you to continue doing what you love. It makes our day when we find a brand like Blackwing that supports mindfulness and creativity during any stage of life. 

With the best tools in your pencil pouch, you get to focus on your thoughts, art, or new habit of clearing your mind and managing stress. 

Stop by the shop and pick your own box of Blackwing Pencils or purchase them online - Click here to view them online!

Making Intentional Choices

Do you know that feeling when you first meet someone, and you instantly click? The conversation flows because you both live by and communicate with the same ideas and beliefs. You know you're going to be friends because your values already align. 

That's how Elizabeth felt when she read about the inspiration and mission behind Eeboo Piece & Love. While looking for new inventory, Elizabeth discovered Eeboo. 

Mia Galison founded this woman-owned, mother-run toy company, and she based the whole business around designing toys to nurture children's creativity and curiosity while cultivating meaningful communication - all without a computer or phone. Mia wanted her children to grow up learning to free play, ask questions, and discover the world around them, but Mia didn't feel like the toys she found were delivering in those departments. She decided to fill the void with eco-friendly, no-tech toys (Paper) decorated with art by children's illustrators - a detail that made her new spin on "old school" classic games stand out in the market. We love how she took games we all grew up playing - Old Maid, Crazy 8s, Rummy, and Go Fish - and turned them into more beautiful and kid-friendly versions with vibrant colors and pictures on each card. 

Eeboo's values of cultivating more original thought, life-long learning, more personal communication, and creativity resonated with Elizabeth because it's what she aims to inspire in customers when they walk through her shop. At Be Amazing, we hope to inspire you to create something when you walk through our shop and see our calligraphy workbooks and pens, a card to send to a friend, or a book that piques your interest in a topic you'd like to learn more about. We focus so much on paper - cards, journals, and books - because we, like Mia at Eeboo, feel it's the time away from screens and notifications where it's easier to learn, feel inspired, and really connect with your friends and family. 

If you have littles in your life, come by the shop to pick up - remember these? - a paper doll set, an educational time-telling game, or puzzles for your preschoolers to learn colors and numbers. We're so glad we found such a conscientious toy company that believes as much as we do that old school is the best school when it comes to learning and being creative as a child and as an adult.

You can shop online on our website for these amazing products by CLICKING HERE!

International Women's Day - March 8th

"I raise up my voice - not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard . . . We cannot succeed when half of us are held back." - Malala Yousafzai 

For International Women's Day, today on March 8th, I want to spread awareness of amazing women and organizations who raise their voices for our community of Laurel, MS, and Jones County. 

For example, the Junior Arts League of Laurel and the Young Women's Christian Organization are women-run organizations creating change for inclusion and education in Laurel. I have enjoyed being a part of the YWCO and the amazing women who work to build community. We are super lucky that the director of the YWCO, Brandy Thornton, also works with us at the paper shop!

But there are so many women who do such special work...here are a few I would like to take a moment to recognize. Each woman below is committed to a mission that either sets up our children for a brighter future or supports and helps feed families in need...two of the most important missions in any community.

Crystal Phillips founded The Social Club in 2020. Her vision and mission is to provide inclusive play for children as well as education of sensory needs and disabilities for parents. Guiding her are the values of inclusion, acceptance, compassion, and education as she advocates for the special needs population. The Social Club and Crystal have made such a positive awareness and acceptance in our community. And I am so proud to have them right across the street from us at the paper shop.

Hope Staples, with her husband, founded the Glory House Global Outreach. The mission fueling the project is to share Christ with the community and the world. Hope and the many volunteers at the Glory House do an incredible job of orchestrating and promoting community service projects, worship, teaching, and providing food and personal care through the Bread of Life Center food pantry. 

Elizabeth Harris serves as the Board Chair of Nurture Our Future. This nonprofit funds the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library for the Laurel and Jones County area. They also have the Brain Bus that goes around the area to promote learning through play. Elizabeth and the other board members focus on ensuring children are set up for success with out-of-school learning opportunities and books so they can thrive from their very beginning. 

We are so lucky to have these incredible women and women-run organizations changing our community for the better! And trust me when I say that these are not the only women making a difference in our community...there are so many more! 

Take time this month and especially on Wednesday, March 8th to say thank you to all the women who work tirelessly to make a difference! 

We have some special cards in the shop for Women's Day. Email me if you want to learn more: efanslow@beamazingpaperco.com.

My Favorite Books for 2022

I read quite a few books in 2022 and normally my book genre of choice is business books. I have read them most of my adult life and I have learned so much from them. I will never pass up a good business book, but this year my attention moved toward books that dug a bit deeper both personally and for the paper shop.

While I have read a ton of fiction books this year as well…these four books made the most impact:

1.    Little Stories of Your Life – Laura Pashby

2.    If you find this Letter – Hannah Brencher

3.    The Forever Letter – Elana Zaiman

4.    I Want to Thank You – Gina Hamadey

The Little Stories of Your Life book by Laura Pashby was my most favorite. The book shared all about storytelling using pictures and your words. "Find your voice, share your world and tell your story." I've always loved to take pictures of things that create an emotion within me. If anyone were to look at the pictures on my phone they might be confused as to why I took the picture - and that is why I fell in love with this book. It teaches you how to create stories around the pictures...how to share the emotion of what you were feeling at the time you took the picture. How to share memories, observations...snippets of time.

If you find this Letter by Hannah Brencher was the book that started the Laurel Love Letters program. I loved reading Hannah's story about how she started writing letter to strangers and the impact those letters had on others. Those letters helped Hannah almost as much as they did the strangers she wrote them too...her memoir was moving and it helped me create some love in Laurel and we will continue to do special events with Laurel Love Letters!

The Forever Letter written by Elana Zaiman was another one of my favorites that I happen to stumble upon and I am so glad that I did. This book was inspired by a centuries old Jewish tradition called the ethical will. Zaiman shares her mission of why it's so important to write that forever letter to your loved ones. It's about passing on "wisdom, humbling experience, dreams, and love from one person to another." If you're not sure how or where to start...Zaiman gives you all the instruction and direction you will ever need!

I Want to Thank You by Gina Hamadey was a book about her project of sharing a year of gratitude through thank you letters. Her reasoning for doing this project was to 'reconnect parts of her life that she missed, to put something positive out in the world, to return to something she loved which was to write with pens and paper, to get in touch with people who mean something to her...and most importantly to see what would come of it.' She chose 12-themes (one for each month) and it was so interesting to hear her process of how and why she sent thank you cards to specific people.

You may not have heard of any of these books before or these authors, but I think that is always the fun of finding new books and learning from them. While it is fun to read fiction...it's not always my favorite. I much prefer a good book with a good message. Something that teaches, mentors and shares an opportunity for growth!

How about you? What are some of the books you've enjoyed this year? Share in the comments below.

Come Celebrate With Me!

Mark Saturday, August 6, 2022 on your calendar...why you might ask?

Well for one thing it is National Stationery Store Day and you know we will be celebrating! But it's more than that...we will be celebrating our 1-Year Anniversary!

Can you believe that our little shop will be one-year old in August?

I am not sure where the time has gone but I have to admit it's been one of the best years of my life! Who would have thought that our crazy idea of opening a paper / stationery store at the end of a long COVID run and on a street in Laurel, Mississippi that was under full construction would have gotten us here?But I am thrilled that we are still here and not just surviving but thriving and it is thanks to all of you! Your support and love of paper has started to create a movement here in Laurel and it just makes me giddy with happiness!And to celebrate we are having a week of fun - so don't miss it!

Here's a sneak of our current schedule - we will post more on our Instagram and Facebook pages next week!

Monday, August 1, 2022 - National Girlfriend Day

Take a look at the new Hey There Girl card created for National Girlfriend Day 2022!

These will be available in the shop and online on July 27, 2022 for purchase. Don't miss the opportunity to let your girlfriend know how important she is to you with this sweet little note. Blank on the inside and ready for your heartfelt message!

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AND THE BIG CELEBRATION…

Saturday, August 6, 2022 - National Stationery Day & Be Amazing Paper Company 1-Year Anniversary CelebrationYou might be wondering what National Stationery Day is, am I right? National Stationery Store Day was created to help support local paper and stationery stores. Support is more than stopping into the shop and spending money…support comes in many forms. -Supporting your local stationery shop means sharing their social media so that others can learn about them and what they do.-Supporting your local stationery shop means referring them to your family in friends when you find something you love there!-Supporting your local stationery shop means buying local instead of on Amazon and big box stores!-And on 08/06/2022 - support means stopping into the shop and celebrate with us! Stop by between 11AM-2PM to celebrate!

Here's a few ways we're celebrating...

-For the first 20-customers who spend a minimum of $10 you will get one of our amazing goodie bags filled with fun paper and stationery goods! There will also be some discounts and 5 people will receive a special customized offer for a box of stationery for FREE!

-Don't worry if you're not one of the first 20...we will still have something for you too! You'll get one of our limited edition one-year anniversary notecards to mark the occasion. And we have more goodies to give away too!

-Bring the kiddos - because you know I always have fun goodies for the kids. Getting kids excited about paper, pencils and all the things in letter writing is my passion, so we do our best to make sure it's fun for them.

PS - We'll have some yummy food and deserts for you to enjoy as well! You don't want to miss it!

It's Never Too Early to Start!

One day this week I posted on social media that Emily Ley's book released. It's her new children's book called You're Always Enough. One of my customers texted me to ask me to hold one for her daughter. She wanted to come by and pick one up for her as she was having a bad week.

You see her grandmother passed away a bit ago and she has been struggling with the loss and her Mom thought the book might help brighten her day. So yesterday she texted to tell me she would be in later in the afternoon.

My heart felt compelled to create a special gift for her daughter, who I have gotten close to over the last few months. So I grabbed one of the children's journals off the shelf and wrapped it up in pretty tissue paper and put it in a bag. I also wrote her a sweet little note to let her know to keep smiling. I asked her to keep creating beautiful art and to write in the journal to help her feel better...and I signed it...Mrs Elizabeth.

I put the little package in the special mailbox we have in the shop and waited for her to come in. When she did I told her to check the mailbox as there was something special in there for her. She was so excited and went over to the little area in the shop where we have chairs. However, she didn't sit in the chair but instead dropped to the floor to open her special gift.

I left her to open it by herself and went over and chatted with her mom. She wondered over to her mom and asked her if she had a pen she could borrow. She sat on the floor intently writing on one of the postcards that came with her new journal...and when she was finished...she handed me this...

This sweet little girl gave me a "Thank You" note! How special is that? 

One of my missions in opening the paper shop has been, since day one, to get more people writing to each other. To send more cards to say thank you, or I have been thinking about you...and she knew just what to do to say thank you for little gift.

If her momma is reading this...thank you for raising the most sweetest and politest young lady! You are definitely doing something RIGHT!

I hope you will keep writing!

Another Mother's Day is Upon Us...

No matter how old we are…we never stop needing our mother…

For the past few weeks I have been sharing writing prompts on Friday mornings (I skipped last Friday because it was a crazy day and I completely forgot to do it - Sorry!)

This week I wanted to incorporate a writing prompt in with my blog post. I wanted to create a writing prompt that was in line with something that happened to me this week.

You may or may not know that both of my parents passed in their 60's and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about picking up the phone and texting or calling my Mom to tell her about something that has happened during the day; something I know she would love to hear or something that would make her laugh.  (She had the most amazing hearty laugh...ask my Aunt Sandy or Aunt Freda...they loved her laugh as much as I did!) 

So with Mother's Day quickly approaching this event that happened this week felt a bit more sad.

We got some big news that we had won Best in Mississippi 2022 for Best Fine Paper Goods! And although I was stunned when we originally got the news a month or so ago it didn't actually feel real till those Mississippi Magazines were delivered to the shop this week and I saw it in print.

My first response was to text a picture to my hubby to celebrate all the hard work we have put into this sweet little paper shop...but my second response was...I wish Mom were here to see this. She would be so proud and I would send her a copy of the magazine and she would share it with all her friends back home. 

But she's not here...so I let the thought slowly slip from my mind.

The following day while working on some new printing designs...Sonya from The Bookstore in the Window texted me to congratulate me and I responded that it was such a great honor and that I wish my Momma was around to see it. And she responded with "you do good work," and I felt the lump in my throat and the tears start to form in my eyes. 

It was time to head home so I packed up my bag and headed to the car...it was there...sitting in the parking lot in front of the library that the tears came hard quick. Yup...the big ugly cry. Sonya's words echoed what I could have imagined my Mom saying to me and well...that was all she wrote and it hit me hard.

So when I got home I wrote my Mom a letter. For me, it's the best way to talk to her when I need to tell her something important...it's the best way to release the feeling of not being able to tell her something I really want to share with her.

Many of us have lost our parents and as you all know...even after a while of not having them around there are still a few bad days here and there. So I wanted to share this letter with you on this Mother's Day and encourage you to grab your journal if you feel the need to share something important or beautiful with your Mom on this Mother’s Day.

And if you’re blessed to still have your Mom…well send her a letter anyway! Letters are special and from the heart - it would be the perfect Mother’s Day Gift!

Happy Mother's Day to all the Momma's out there! We hope you have a wonderful day!

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Hey Momma!

It's Wednesday, April 29, 2022 and today I received the Mississippi Magazine in the mail and it's now official that we won the Best in Mississippi 2022 Fine Paper Goods! Can you believe that? I feel so blessed to have won against some of the most amazing and fun paper stores in Mississippi. 

I mean...we haven't even been open a full year yet...right? How cool is that? I know I have told you several times over the last year how much I love doing this and how fun and amazing this is for me. You know how much I loved being a business consultant over the years but it was time for something different and I don't think I could have found a more perfect place to land than where I am now. 

I have to admit that I had a bit of a moment in the car on the way home tonight knowing that I couldn't pick up the phone and talk to you or share this experience with you. But as I always do...I just imagine how excited you used to get whenever I accomplished something big or small. With you it never mattered how big the accomplishment was...you never let it pass without telling me how proud you were of me. 

I wish you were still here and could visit us in Laurel...you would love this sweet little community Mom! 

I love you and miss you terribly!

E-