<p>Subscription boxes have gone from (briefly) being America&#8217;s ultimate Pet Rock to yet <a href="https://nymag.com/strategist/article/subscription-boxes-to-gift.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="another gift you can purchase from the comfort of your phone">another gift you can purchase from the comfort of your phone</a> and then immediately cross off your list. To my mind, most are little better than generic gift cards. But <a href="https://www.nicelynoted.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="Nicely Noted">Nicely Noted</a> differs from even many stationery subscriptions in that each mailing is actually a painstakingly considered, curated assemblage solely consisting of three letterpress cards and stamps. </p>



<p>It&#8217;s an experience to open each mailing and slowly absorb its distinctive vibe — and this in turn forms the creative foundation for missives only you can create and send out into the world. It&#8217;s a special gift for you <em>and</em> those you love, if you will, and it arrives every last month starting at just $20/pop!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/IMG_5941_PerryatDesk.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10012955" width="771" height="560"/></figure>



<p>Perry Nelson started assembling her über-polished card and stamp sets in 2012, so she has experienced pretty much the entire subscription box circle of life so far. So of course I had a few questions about it all!</p>



<p><strong>There are so many stationery subscription services, but yours stands out as one of the first. What was your impetus for introducing it? ;</strong></p>



<p>The idea for a card subscription came to me in 2011 walking my new dog, Charlie. When I lived in San Francisco and New York, finding the perfect card entailed a quick stop to a stationery boutique in my neighborhood on the way home from the bus or train. However, after moving to Austin for graduate school, I found myself rushing out of the office in the suburbs to reach to reach a cute stationery shop before it closed the eve of every birthday dinner or special occasion.</p>



<p>I thought having the perfect card on hand could save me that harried errand. We sent out our first collection in February of 2012!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NicelyNoted_IMG_7265_lr-1-950x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10012953"/></figure>



<p><strong>How has it evolved since you introduced it?</strong></p>



<p>In many ways Nicely Noted has adhered to the original vision — we send three greeting cards and three forever postage stamps, as we did at the very beginning — ;almost 11 years ago. The format of the insert card and how we try to tell the story of the maker has evolved. We now include a photo of the business owner, along with their name, location, Instagram handle and website, so our customers can easily find more cards by them, if they like. It&#8217;s fun to see where across the U.S. each of them runs their businesses. Somewhat recently, we’ve made the postage stamps easier to manage by adhering all three to a single sheet versus leaving them on the perforated backing sheets from the USPS, so customers can peel them off without painstakingly peeling at the edges.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NicelyNoted_IMG_6494_lr-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10012954"/></figure>



<p><strong>When compiling months, what jumps out to you in regards to a new maker?</strong></p>



<p>Great question. I&#8217;m always on the lookout for new makers. Sometimes I&#8217;ll find them in a cute boutique near home or on a trip. I used to rely on pacing the floors of Javits during the Stationery Show and NY NOW to meet new makers, but that&#8217;s evolved with the changes in the trade show schedule, with the pandemic, and with having a day job. I sometimes head on a search mission on Etsy or Instagram. </p><div class="inline-post clearfix"><div class="see-also byline">See also</div><div id="block-wrap-97413" class="block-wrap-native block-wrap block-wrap-23 block-css-97413 block-wrap-classic columns__m--1 elements-design-3 block-ani block-skin-0 tipi-box block-wrap-thumbnail ppl-m-1 clearfix" data-id="97413" data-base="0"><div class="tipi-row-inner-style clearfix"><div class="tipi-row-inner-box contents sticky--wrap"><div class="block block-23 clearfix"><article class="tipi-xs-12 clearfix with-fi ani-base tipi-xs-typo split-1 split-design-1 loop-0 preview-thumbnail preview-23 elements-design-3 post-10005956 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-favorites tag-savetheusps tag-artifact-uprising tag-custom tag-design tag-greeting-cards tag-illustration tag-mohawk tag-mohawk-loop-eco tag-photo-cards tag-postcards tag-sarah-schwartz tag-the-paper-chronicles tag-the-paper-fold 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<p>I love learning about the lives and communities where the makers live and work — from small town New Mexico and Georgia to urban centers like the Bay Area. They have a wide variety of design styles, and our collections vary between subdued tones to super bright color schemes. It’s always fun to find the work of a new-to-me designer and include their cards in upcoming collections. I also lean on some of the same designers regularly through the years, many of whom have become friends. ;</p>



<p><strong>What is it about letterpress that you so adore?</strong></p>



<p>I love the artisanship, how the layers of ink must be so expertly laid down for near perfect registration or overlaid to create additional colors. I love the creativity of the creators I work with. It is an honor to be able to share their craft with our subscribers!</p>



<p>Obviously every last subscription is a true labor of love, and these assemblages make a great self-splurge or gift for a fellow lover of epistolary. Get your shop started <a href="https://www.nicelynoted.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="here">here</a>! </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NicelyNoted_IMG_7285_lr-1065x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10012952"/></figure>