Card of the Month: May
This month, we’re excited to highlight one of our favorite cards from our collaboration with Old Try. We love their aesthetic, and this message is one of our simplest.
“Y’all” is one of those southern-staple words that’s comforting, warm and a reminder that you’re home.
This card is special because of how open-ended it is. Sending a card just to say “hey” is something none of us do enough, and we hope that seeing this card can remind you to reach out to a friend or loved one and just check in. It makes a difference.
Remember: Never. Stop. Sending. Love. Notes.
FEATURE: Our Collaboration with The Sercy Studio
One of our favorite new products was a labor of love not just on our end, but with another team of makers that we’ve long loved and admired.
The Sercy Studio is a company dedicated to selling little “sercies” that spark joy and can be passed along for generations.
We love their mission, and we thought that it paired well with the goal of Breath of Inspiration line. So we thought, why not collaborate?
Now, we have our mini Breath of Inspiration notecards, in beautiful packs, paired with a sercy. We’re so happy with how this turned out and loved working with The Sercy Studio.
Read on to check out our conversation with MacKenzie Williams, the heart and brains behind the company.
Breathless Paper Co: Tell us a little about the story and progression of The Sercy Studio and its mission.
MacKenzie: The Sercy Studio is a dream come true, but it didn’t happen overnight. After my first daughter was born, I decided not to return to my design job at a local architecture firm. But I knew I wanted to work! At the same time, my aunt was sick and received prayer beads. I loved the gesture and thought it could be expanded into a gift line.
My aunt Ruth also used the term “sercy” to describe a little gift given for no reason except love. I created my own version of beads and eventually called them “blessing beads”. It was perfect because I have always been crafty, and I got to put my Fine Arts degree to use! Seven years later, The Sercy Studio has evolved and become much larger than I could have ever imagined. We sell blessing beads and other sercies online and in over 300 retailers across the country.
BPC: What do you love most about your job?
M: Creating blessing beads for special occasions and milestones that people want to remember!
BPC: How long have you known Jess / BPC?
M: Gosh, 5 years? Jess and Matt were so kind to help me take my first professional photos. I was new to wholesaling and Jess helped me get off the ground!
BPC: How did this collaboration with BPC come about?
M: We have lots of time to create and collaborate mart week! Jess's encouraging cards sets were the perfect compliment to our little sercies.
BPC: Describe to us a little bit about the line you designed with BPC and why your brands align.
M: We hope the card sets and tokens make people smile! The cards have encouraging words and the token are a sweet addition. I know several people that keep the box in their purse and hand them out when they encounter someone that may need a sercy.
BPC: What do you hope this collaboration accomplishes and provides for customers?
M: I hope our card packs make it easy for our customers to be thoughtful and show love to others.
BPC: A large part of BPC's mission is to promote the importance of handwritten notes / love notes and sending real mail -- what is your personal opinion on the importance of this?
M: I have a whole cabinet at my house with stationary, cards and tags for me and my kids. I totally believe in the power of a handwritten letter! I am a gift giver but no gift would be complete without a handwritten note. And on the flip side, I think it is important to show appreciation when I receive a gift.
BPC: Anything else you want us to know?
M: I feel blessed to know Jessica and Matt. They are an inspiring couple that has been encouraging to me on my entrepreneurial journey.
Card of the Month: April ❀
SPRING IS HERE! Finally. We have some serious spring fever.
As Easter and Summer approach, we’re excited to be outside more with friends and family.
We chose this Card of the Month because it’s one of our newest additions to our Breath of Inspiration line, and it’s the perfect expression of the Easter season, and a reminder of the importance of taking the good with the bad.
(Click the photo below to contact us about ordering!)
Wishing a happy spring and a peaceful Easter season to you and yours, from Breathless Paper Co.
Card of the Month: February ♡
It’s the season of love! (But let’s be real… that’s always).
We’re all about February, because it’s prime time for love notes (our favorite thing ever). Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to just about significant others. It’s about friends, family… everyone. Every single person deserves and needs a reminder that THEY ARE LOVED.
We picked one of our favorite Deep Breath cards for the February Card of the Month.
Order yours now, and get started on a love note or two (or three…) All of our Deep Breath cards are perfect for saying how you feel.
XOXOXO,
BREATHLESS PAPER CO.
Card of the Month: December
December is HERE! Winter has almost completely taken over, and there’s no denying that we’re deep into the holiday season.
So, we naturally had to pick one of our new holiday cards for this month’s Card of the Month.
This card from our new collection with artist Angela Elliot is perfect for expressing all that the holiday brings — joy, craziness and humor.
This season is about telling those you love how important they are to you, and spending time with the most important people in your life.
If you’re looking for last minute card orders, shop our retail shop or send us an email!
Happy Holidays from ours, to yours.
Holiday Love Notes
If you know us, you know that we’re all about writing and sending notes and letters. It’s important to remind those around you how much they mean to you. Plus, giving love brings love back to you. It’s a cycle that costs nothing to participate in.
Around the holidays, it’s especially important. The holidays bring love, but also stress. By telling others how much they mean to us, we can dissolve some of that stress and emphasize the love.
We’re making it easy for you by sharing some of our favorite holiday card picks.
Grab some for your family, friends, holiday hosts, neighbors, even strangers. Love is love.
>> EMAIL TO ORDER, WE CAN’T WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU! <<
Card of the Month: November
November — the month of thanks. Fall is in full swing. Everything is cozy. And it’s almost time to feast.
It was easy to pick a card that, for us, encompasses all it means to give thanks. Gratefulness is everything.
This card is from our Breath of Inspiration line — one of our favorite lines full of cards that spread positive messages + give back to important causes.
We’re wishing you the happiest season with your friends and family. And don’t forget to get your cards for your loved ones, holiday hosts and friends.
Breathless Paper Co. in Chattanooga
This past weekend, the Breathless Paper Co. family went to Chattanooga for rest, relaxation and family time. And, of course, lots of cute boutiques and paper goods.
Read on to hear about our trip and our Chattanooga recommendations — the food, the sights, the kiddos, the paper.
On recommendation from our friend Mariah from Shadowbox Paperie, we stayed at the new Westin Chattanooga, and it was beautiful! It's in a super walkable location, which is especially nice in the Chattanooga fall.
After arriving on Friday, we had to get room service because our kids think it’s just the best.
We were in vacation mode, so we got up later than usual on Saturday and had breakfast at Tupelo Honey in Warehouse Row. That area is designed by the same folks who created Ponce City Market in Atlanta — so it’s pretty awesome.
Afterwards, I was so excited to get to finally go to Shadowbox Paperie. Mariah has been a customer for years and years, and the shop is hands down one of the best paper shops I have been in. I fell in love (and walked out with a few things, of course).
Then, I dropped Matt and the kids at the (totally awesome) Children's Discovery Museum so I could go check out all the shops we work with and a few others suggested to me: Sophie’s, Charlotte’s Web, Seed, Blue Skies, Genevieve Bond and Furnish.
First, I went to Sophie's and… I want it ALL. They have bought from us for years and I hadn’t visited in so long. And let me tell you, I didn't want to leave. From the product mix to the way things are merchandised, this place was amazing.
Then I popped into Charlotte’s Web. They do monogramming and carry a bunch of our napkins. It's the perfect shop to get a special personalized gift!
I headed to the Riverfront to see Seed — it's called the '“happy shop.” And it's filled with happiness! They just started carrying some of our cards so it was fun to pop in.
I stopped into Blue Skies, and I've been told I had to go in there. It's filled with all kinds of great gifts and paper. I think our Heartward line is absolutely perfect for this adorable shop!
After going all around downtown and the surrounding spots, I headed further out and went to Genevieve Bond. She carries a lot of our cards and our Heartward tees. It's a very large packed full of awesome goods shop. Everything you'd want for a gift, it’s there!
Then, I went to Furnish — which is a perfect farmhouse shop! I was so excited that they carry Heirloomed so I had to make the trip there. It was so worth it. It has the most wonderful feel (and smells so good).
After going to as many shops as i could, I picked up my guys and we got ready for a fun family date night — our favorite.
We walked from the hotel to Old Gilman Grill which was delicious and had an adorable atmosphere. Our kids love getting dressed up!
Afterwards we hung out in the West Village and saw a laser show, which our little guys loved. We ended the night with some Pink Berry and a hotel room dance party. (I finally learned the floss thanks to my son…)
After brunch and the aquarium on Sunday, we headed home. It was so great to spend some time away with our kiddos and Matt. Plus — we love seeing our products in action. As usual, thanks for all the support. We couldn’t do it without you guys and all the shops that show us love.
Meet: Beer Greetings
It’s the season of collabs! We worked with Atlanta company and friend, Ashley Edmonds of Beer Greetings, on an awesome “Happy Hangover” 6-pack holder and some fabulously festive cocktail napkins. Perfect for craft beer (or wine!) lovers. And just in time for the holidays. We’re obsessed, and we think you will be too.
>> EMAIL TO ORDER <<
BPC: How long have you been in the "Beer Greetings" business?
We launched Beer Greetings in time for Holiday 2014 with just one design to test the Market.
BPC: Tell us a little about the scope of what you do and how the business has grown.
Beer Greetings is a part of our broader company, Smartsy Brands, which strives to provide innovative solutions to everyday problems - big or small, silly or serious. Our products and brands are all born from needs we see in our own personal lives with lots of input from our customers, family and friends. It started with our eco-friendly gift wrap line, Lilywrap, and then expanded to others including Beer Greetings.
BPC: What do you love most about your job?
I love the process of taking an idea for a brand new product and guiding it through the development process all the way to launching on store shelves. It's a very surreal, exhilarating (and sometimes frustrating) process.
BPC: How did you begin working with Breathless Paper Co. (BPC)?
I connected with Jessica through our collaborative group comprised of Southern brands, Deep South Social. We both found an instant appreciation for each others' work (and for each other!)
BPC: Describe to us a little bit about the line of 6-pack holders, etc, that you designed with BPC.
I love the witty humor of Breathless Paper Co. So when working on joint six-pack carrier, we knew it had to be funny and perhaps a bit edgier than our standard boxes. I basically told Jessica and Matt that I'd love a box appropriate for all occasions and let them run with it. I loved what they came up with so much that we made no edits whatsoever!
BPC: Outside of Beer Greetings, what do you do on your day to day? Any other business ventures/artistic projects/etc.?
Too much! Ha. Seriously, I get excited by so many things and tend to jump in right away. Like I mentioned, my company Smartsy Brands has several brands that I run, including Lilywrap gift wrap, Beer Greetings, Cheer Greetings, and the Vortex. We also have a real estate business renting out properties on the coast. I'm also very involved in the community at our girls' schools, at church, leading a girl scout troop and with the Atlanta Ronald McDonald House charities. In between all of that, I love to travel, watch football, picnic and just enjoy the small pleasures in day-to-day life.
BPC: BPC believes in the importance of a handwritten note and sending snail mail -- what are your thoughts on this?
I think there is no better way to show love and appreciation than through a handwritten note. I have three young daughters (5, 3 and 1) who LOVE creating cards, mailing them to family and leaving me sweet notes and pictures around the house. (My Kindergartner recently made the cutest postcard to reply to her grandparents who were on a long trip!) If I ever forget the importance of expressing sentiments in this way - I need to look no further than the effect the little notes floating around my house make me feel.
BPC: What's your favorite part about running a business like Beer Greetings, and what's the hardest part about running a small business?
My favorite part of running Beer Greetings is all of the amazing people I am able to meet - through social media, collaborations, my retailers, trade shows, and more. I have met the most interesting people. The hardest part of running a small business is running into issues like production delays and bad product that are beyond your control. These issues, unfortunately, happen - but I hate seeing progress stall and customers disappointed.
BPC: What's your favorite BPC card?
My all-time favorite is probably "Y'all Are Gonna Make Pretty Babies" - makes me laugh every time.