Every Spring Issue of Stationery Trends is extra-special to me, as each marks the publication’s anniversary. Yes, 17 years ago, in Spring 2008 — a time when one publication after another was closing — this colorful trade quarterly was born. While so much has changed since then, the excitement I feel when I page through the issue delivered to my mailbox — well, that has yet to dim.
Today I’m pulling the curtain up behind our Spring Issue. For those paper nerd readers who are not familiar with our quarterly publication — available in both printed and digital form — our audience is primarily stationery retailers, though there is plenty there for anyone who works in the industry in any way (for example, maker, sales rep, licensing agent).
The first look at the cover has to be a “wow” moment — especially for our Trends Issue — and Leuchtturm1917‘s latest palette accordingly delivers by taking one’s breath away — just like that brilliant thought you write within!
While I am not the biggest fan of Mocha Mousse, I do like it in this grouping. While this luxe German brand has had a cult following for years, its appearance on the Grammy stage holding Best New Artist Chappell Roan’s acceptance speech (which Vogue dubbed the speech of the night) has made it a bona fide stationery star!
I am always enchanted by the fanciful imagery of Lykkefund Paper. Everytime I look I find a new treasure — bare feet, an open notebook, a magnifying glass. Plus as a neutral, Mocha Mousse is literally what the other timely Pantone tones I cover in our Fresh Picks department — Rose Tan, Viola and Cornflower Blue — spring from.
For my Rose Tan coverage, this Beve! sticker hits the tone squarely on the head, and is trending up thematically as well.
It’s always fun to feature a tone in tandem with others, and Rose Tan really resonates in this mesmerizing, undulating design from maker on the rise Barone & Co. (Yay you!)
Give me a blue and I’ll be happy — and Cornflower Blue feels accordingly fresh and funky. This card is from A Zillion Dollars and I can guarantee you, anyone who gets it will save it! The maker behind the brand, Carolyn, recently announced she is cancer free, so this design truly comes from her heart. And yay to you too, Carolyn!
You can almost feel the June sunshine beating down on you looking at this flat note from 2025 Spotlight Award Honoree Liesel Anne Callahan of Liesel Anne Studios. Hydrangeas, gingham and personalization make for a stationery triple threat!
Janine Kwoh of Kwohtations was actually a 2024 Spotlight Award Honoree — and her smart usage of Viola elevates this card’s message as it inspires a meaningful, lasting message. For me, it’s the white copy on black pot that really makes it so arresting.
I love how Ilex Studio‘s acorn and avocado vases are so simple yet so brilliant, letting us into rooms we’ve never seen to witness nature’s magic in action. And now they’ve incorporated color!
I was so fortunate to score an exclusive interview with Anna Bond of Rifle Paper Co. for my cover story, which delved into trends within the baby, bridal and gift/home segments. This may be “just” a deck of cards, but in her words, their overall design speaks to patterns that are “complex, smaller scale and British-inspired.” Personally, I adore this emerging look!
The baby market is currently a bit all over the place. On the one hand, many still ascribe to the “pink for girls, blue for boys” notion. This big-bowed introduction from Mud Pie certainly speaks to it. While big bows on baby bottoms are not everyone’s cup of tea, I would have bought this for Veronica in a second!
On the other hand, in our age of gender fluidity, there is a big push towards gender neutral too. I really like how Willow & Ivy Press straddles this very complicated line — and also celebrates a rainbow baby with the joy and tender fanfare each deserves. To me, the texture looks as plush as a baby blanket — no easy feat!
In the bridal domain, for Gina Peterson of Ginger P. Designs, a timeline of events (and maybe even a map!) is a classic element that can be repurposed to suit any bride’s vibe and event. Meanwhile, guests can take in the whole event at a glance.
I really love these Vow Books from Karen Adams Designs. They are yet another thing to buy, yes, but they are a keepsake that keeps the attention where it should be — that person you have chosen to marry!
This paper nerd loves to see the fun messaging of stationery hop onto other categories — and Furbish Studio always does it with lots of flash + sass!
Hazel Mazel is another little lifestyle brand to watch — and as you can see, it’s still only available to the trade. I don’t think I’ve seen one SKU that’s not adorable. Tell your favorite gift shop to order some already!
TOG.ink, the “ultimate custom print sidekick” from The Occasions Group, just turned seven — and I enjoyed getting better acquainted with this creative community in my feature, The Seven-Year Niche. To realize it was all accomplished one exquisite creation at a time is pretty amazing! Above you see blind embossing beautifully executed by TOG.ink for Angela Pro Design.
My What’s in The Cards department took a deep dive into birthday cards — and for the second year running, it’s all about cake! I can barely look at the sweet Friendly Fire Paper concoction above without getting hungry. I have space for that too!
Cake may be “just a theme” — but our maker community takes it in so many directions. I love how Lindsay at Inklings Paperie blended it with the literary theme (also currently rocking store shelves).
As a summery theme, strawberries and fruit of all varieties are trending up — their preciousness only increases as grocery prices rise. I really adore this treatment from Swiss designer Harmony Hardin. Her work feels like a breath of fresh air, and is not yet saturated in the states.
Cherries are probably the second top fruit, right behind strawberries — and you know I’m going to respond to any treatment that incorporates both a stamp and a postmark. This is from ILOOTPAPERIE.
What’s in the Cards closed with Just Because cards — and this Ümlaut Brooklyn gem feels to me like the top sentiment (and facial expression) of 2025!
I loved discovering Evil Llama & Friends (and meeting its maker-founder Neda) at the winter markets in Atlanta and New York. Neda is a finalist for the Louie Award in Rising Star category, very well-deserved in my opinion. The organized chaos of this llama’s well-lived-in home — complete with squirrel-hunting cat — provides lots of colorful inspiration!
Since pickleball is so trendy, it was easy to assemble a quick half-page as the market is packed with offerings. If you’ve ever wondered why E. Frances Paper is so popular, it’s because of clever, offbeat approaches like the sticker above!
My Summer Market Coverage delved into what the community shops at the summer markets: winter holiday! Noteworthy Paper & Press introduces Big Foot (and a whole lot of rustic, snowy imagery) into its fantastic letterpress mix for a purely pastoral effect.
My small maker coverage included Woollybear Travels. If you adore animals and want to support a small independent woman maker, go spend your $$ here! In addition to being an artist, Melisa is a Registered Veterinary Technician on a mission to make the world a better place for orphaned, injured, and rescued animals. Melisa volunteers at sanctuaries around the world and paints the animals she meets before putting them on card fronts. The back tells their story, as well as info about the sanctuary.
Every issue closes with P.S. — and this quarter, the department focused on calendars, planners and journals. I featured Bohemia Design, which hails from the UK but produces these tree-free cotton journals in India. I am obsessed with their texture, belly bands and the pattern interplay — and the image above does not do them justice!
Thank you for reading this far! Check out the digital version of our spring issue here, all of our digital editions here, and if you want a print copy delivered to your mailbox, get a free year here. As paper nerds, we can all appreciate the simple joy of sitting down and paging through a physical product.
Meanwhile, I shared the larger image we used for our cover from below. I hope you like our crop — as you can imagine, I just HAD to include that handwriting on that page!
