Why

Paper-Roses | A boutique ILLUSTRATION AND design house

How good does it make you feel to know that you made someone else feel all warm and snuggly inside just because you sent them a short note, a gorgeous card or a perfectly wrapped present? Absolutely fantastic, right?

And isn’t it brilliant when you find the perfect card, note card or paper…the one that’s a little bit different…the one that has a timeless look and feel with a bit of a modern twist…the one with just the right amount of sentiment but no fluff and nonsense…?

Or maybe you’re looking for a personalised stationery set, the perfect stationery for your wedding or some unique invitations for the party of all parties you’re planning.

But then you start worrying about the impact on the environment and wondering if paper’s the right way to go after all. Let’s be honest, pretty much everything is going to have some environmental impact. So wouldn’t it be great if that footprint could be a bit smaller?

Paper-Roses’ fantastic hand-illustrated designs with their colourful but subtle look and feel are just what you're looking for. While some of my designs are event or “thought” specific, many of them aren’t so you’re sure to find your perfect card, gift or wrapping option in my ever expanding range.

I also offer a custom design service – you can choose to use one of my existing illustrations in your own way or I can create something new for you.

And yes, all of my paper products are professionally printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper using environmentally friendly printing processes. Now, be honest, what was the first thing that crossed your mind when you read “100% post-consumer recycled paper”? Was it something along the lines of “Mmm…I’m not too sure about that. Won’t it look a bit like the inside of a loo roll?”. Well, there’s no need to worry – I only use the most beautiful, luxurious paper. Yes, you might occasionally see a few minor blemishes here and there, but they just add to the character of the finished product.

Or, if you’re interested my fabric products, you can rest assured that they’re all made from gorgeously soft, 100% organic cotton fabric. Just like all of my paper products, they’re biodegradable and recyclable.

So, go ahead – send your love and share your dreams!

ME

Penny Creedon | Founder, creative director, illustrator, and more...

Paper-Roses | Me | Penny Creedon | Founder and Creative Director

I used to be an actuary, working in an office, sitting at a desk all day…but when life happened and I needed to take a new direction, I fell back in love with drawing and painting. So, in 2015 I decided I’d have a go at designing my own Christmas cards. Duly printed on my home printer, these were sent out to friends and family across the globe…and I got some really great feedback and lots of “Why don’t you give this a go?” type questions. So I did and Paper-Roses was born, officially launching in May 2017.

I feel so lucky every day that I get to do what I love – sketching and creating new designs for Paper-Roses. I definitely look at the world around me in a different way these days – inspiration is everywhere! I’ve had a hectic and thrilling first couple of years – making lots of new friends and rapidly learning many new skills. And now, I’m excited to see what the future holds for Paper-Roses. Who knows, maybe one day it’ll be more than just ME!

Interested in seeing more? Please go ahead and visit my online shop. And for retailers who are interested in stocking my work, please get in touch.

HOW

I have so many journals and notebooks lying around that are bursting with ideas and imaginings. Rather than working on a single design at a time, I often approach new works as part of a complete collection. This means finding the ideas that connect to one another and grouping them by season, style or occasion.

By looking through photos, books and colour palettes, I explore how different elements of design might fit together and I start to think about some special words to complement the artworks. From the very beginning, I consider more than just the subject matter - I think about composition and colours too.

Once I’ve found a comfy space that’s bathed in natural light, I start to sketch. Using pencil, I sketch outlines for all of my designs by hand. These can sometimes take a day or two to get just right, before I transfer them to watercolour paper and start painting. I use watercolour paints and pencils, and occasionally gouache and ink to add depth and rich hues to my designs.

Paper-Roses | Process | Work in progress

Paper-Roses | Process | Bee illustration

Paper-Roses | How | Designing in Adobe Illustrator | Bee note card

I photograph my finished illustrations and use digital software to place and size the artworks. I select fonts for messages and finalise the design before arranging for samples to be produced. This step ensures the colours really pop and the finish is just right - making sure that every piece has my signature premium look and feel. Once everything’s polished and perfected - it’s time to press “go” on the final production run.

Paper-Roses | How | Finished design | Bee note card

When the final pieces are delivered it’s just like Christmas morning! It’s so exciting to hold the finished items in my hands and know that, soon enough, they’ll be winging their way around the world to my lovely customers.