Ah, the marvels of the internet. If you’re sitting in front of a computer screen reading this, then you certainly know how convenient it is to have the entire realm of cyberspace at your fingertips. Besides the major online art supply stores and paperies where you can find crafting supplies and products by big mass-produced stationery lines, there are a myriad of online boutique stores that carry unique, limited edition products by independent stationery designers. These boutique stores distinguish themselves from one another by upholding distinct styles to meet the needs of different customers.

Here are some online boutique stores that carry a great selection of paper goods:

(clockwise: Nikki McClure, Carson Ellis, UNO, Im Smitten, and Rachell Sumpter)

buyolympia.com features strong stylized illustrations. The designers and illustrators include Sesame Letterpress, Nikki McClure (yet another amazing paper-cut artist!), Carson Ellis (wow!), Little Who (more incredible handsewn cards), and Matthew Porter.

Little Paper Planes is another online store offering hard-to-find stationery products and a mind-boggling collection of prints and ’zines created by some really neat illustrators. Im Smitten, Blissen and Lemonade Maid (Jill Bliss and Saelee Oh), port2port, and Rachell Sumpter, and UNO are just a few on the list.

(above: DeLuce Design, 1201AM, and Five and a Half)

Cut + Paste has a huge selection including Foxy and Winston, lovelydesign, Jenny Wren, DeLuce Design, and letterpressed cards by Tennis, anyone?

Elsewares features humorous, fresh and clean designs by Sidepony, Imaginary friends, 16 Sparrows and If’n Books, just to name a few.

Trunkt has a growing stationery collection that includes cards and journals by 1201AM, Five and a Half, Good on Paper, and Tori Wood.

Pixelgirlshop carries paper goods by designers like The Paper Princess, Sugarlily, Blend Creations, Sprout Studio and Paper Cloud.

(above: Paper + Cup, Tiger and Jones, and Turquoise Creative)

Luxe Paperie is the place to visit if you’re looking for the more traditional letterpress or printed look. Paper + Cup, Snow and Graham, Pancake & Franks, Saturate, and Sugar Bean Press are among the long list of designers.

Soleberry features an extensive collection of classic-looking paper products. You can find Tiger and Jones, Egg Press, Turquoise Creative, Cartesian Graphics, Sue Prue, and many other letterpress designers.

Greer carries a wide variety of styles including handsewn, silkscreened or letterpressed. Some of the stationery lines they carry include Art School Girl, Elum, Egg Press, and Binth.

(above: Susie Ghahremani, Dog and Pony Show, and Tiny Monkey)

Fred Flare’s cheerful collection of stationery includes designs by The Small Object, Jill Bliss, One Good Bumblebee, Tiny Monkey, and more.

Copacetique carries cards and journals with colorful, fun graphics, including some very quirky cartoon characters. The lineup includes Meomi, Dog and Pony Show, Artghost, Boy Girl Party (Susie Ghahremani), and more goodies by One Good Bumblebee and The Small Object.

This is just a small sampling of the many online stores that carry paper goods by independent designers. I’ve tried to cover a wide variety to show the different styles that are out there. If you’re looking for a card with a particular look in mind but aren’t too familiar with the names of the designers yet, take a look at the products in these stores. Also, if you’re thinking of launching your own stationery line, these are great places to start doing research. Look at what types of items are selling well, what others have created, where your own work fits in stylistically, and how it would be priced in comparison to the items already being sold. And from all that clicking and scrolling, you might pick up some great new ideas!

July 13th, 2006