It’s no secret, I’m nuts about stationery. I’ve been collecting it since I was a kid, my BFF Cindy got me into it when I was 8 or so. We’d beg our moms to take us to the local stationery store so we could stock up on all our faves – Suzy Angel, Ziggy (it was the late 70’s) and anything with Snoopy on it we had to have. We each housed our collection in a shoe box we covered with gift wrap. And we were constantly sorting them, arranging them by size, color and order of importance. But the best part was the trades. We’d pour over each others collection and then offer up trades trying to get the other’s prized possession. For me, it was always this yellow notecard with an illustration of a girl on the front holding a fish bowl (I think). Don’t ask me why but I had to have it. I’d offer up 9 or 10 different cards in exchange for just that one, but Cindy never budged. Eventually more important things diverted our attention (like boys) but my love of stationery never wavered. So you can imagine my excitement when Parse & Parcel was asked by Legion Paper to collaborate on a promotion commemorating the 70th year of the National Stationery Show in a special The Legion Paper Trading Card Pack!
This one-of-a-kind set takes a design cue from baseball trading cards from the 1970s, but with a twist — each card will be created by a 2016 NSS exhibitor. This fun project will be heavily promoted by Stationery Trends, The Paper Chronicles and the NSS to draw traffic to booths as it celebrates the distinctive spirit of each of the selected lines. Just like when you were a kid and collected the whole team set, NSS attendees will hit each booth to compile their own set — and of course visit Legion’s booth as well as select spots in and around the show to pick up the special keepsake that will hold it all together (that’s where Parse &Parcel comes in – more deets to come later). All submissions must be from confirmed NSS exhibitors and will be reviewed by a panel including representatives from Legion Paper, NSS’s own Patti Stracher, Sarah Schwartz of Stationery Trends and The Paper Chronicles, and yours truly.
Here’s how it works: apply by January 31, 2016 – fill out the form here. The format is 2.5” x 3.5” size, cards can be designed and printed on one or both sides using any print method of your choosing (letterpress, foil stamping, embossing, offset, engraving, digital etc.) on paper that will be supplied by Legion Paper. The cards must include the name of the exhibitor and the paper being used. For more details, check out Sarah’s post on The Paper Chronicles including with a great Pinterest board she put together to help inspire some 70’s design inspiration. I can tell you this, my 8 year old self never thought in her wildest dreams she’d get to go to the National Stationery Show let alone participate in it in such a special way – she just might have traded the whole collection for a chance like this.