artists Archives - Cards and Gift Wrap

Posted on May 24, 2023May 24, 2023 by janet — Leave a comment

Are these Chelsea Flower Show Worthy?

Sustainable and plastic free at the Chelsea Flower Show and close to home

Lindum's Wildflower Turf at the Chelsea Flower Show — Lindum’s Wildflower Turf – Winner of the **RHS Chelsea Sustainable Gardening Product of the Year 2023**

This is not my garden! The photo above is actually of Lindum Wildflower Turf at the Chelsea Flower Show, which is the first to be grown without plastic matting earning it the prize of RHS Chelsea Sustainable Gardening Product of the Year 2023.

At Cards and Gift Wrap we are all for sustainability and plastic free, which is why we have our own range of plastic free paper tape…and we also love flowers!

Browse Floral Cards

So this week, while we’re all in awe of the blooms at Chelsea I thought I’d do a little focus on some of our favourite floral artists.

Claire Henley

Claire is well known for her coastal and floral designs, has been a firm favourite throughout Phoenix Trading and Flamingo Paperie and I am delighted to find her cards are available through the Eco-friendly Card Company too so her cards will be available to you for years to come at Cards and Gift Wrap.

See Claire Henley cards

Nicola Evans

Nicola doesn’t just do flowers and she’s one of those illustrators who is so versatile that sometimes her work isn’t instantly recognisable, if you know what I mean.

But her flower bouquets and patterns are always popular.

See Nicola Evans designs

Jane Morgan

Jane Morgan is new to Cards and Gift Wrap but we instantly fell in love with her wildflower canvases of beauty.

Jane’s cards are available with words on the front or usually with a blank alternative – I’d love to know which you prefer?

See Jane Morgan cards

Sally Rich

Also new to Cards and Gift Wrap is Sally Rich. Her cards are all without words but full to bursting with bright and cheerful colours.

Floral cards are so versatile and are great to keep in your card box as they can be used for so many occasions and for anyone.

See Sally Rich designs

Winging their way through the postal system to me right now are some of my own floral designs with Gaelic words on them – I was even featured recently in an article for PGBuzz (the greetings card industry magazine). You can read more about that here.

Growing your own!

Meanwhile I potter about in my ‘crub. If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram you’ll already have seen my strawberry (yes singular – so far!)…is there anything more satisfying than growing your own?

Happy gardening and may the wonders of the Chelsea Flower Show inspire you!

Posted on March 19, 2019August 12, 2023 by janet — 1 Comment

What’s Special about Flamingo Paperie

**UPDATE** As of June 2023 Flamingo Paperie has now closed. We are very sad at the loss of this fabulous company with its range of fabulous artists but we still have a good level of Flamingo Papaerie stock available on this website and will always try and find what you are looking for if you want to locate an old favourite. We are very lucky to be stocking products from many of the same artists via other suppliers.

Other than the quality and affordability, which Flamingo cards and gift wrap has in abundance, what makes them any different to other greeting cards on the market? In short – what’s special about Flamingo Paperie?

Recyclable

All Flamingo gift wrap and gift tags are recyclable, 100%! That’s quite something in a day where there is still a myth spread on social media that only brown paper can be recycled. The gift tags all have jute string ties and jute is totally biodegradable and therefore compostable.

If you’re still not convinced whether you can have pretty wrapping paper without harming the environment then read my guide Is gift wrapping paper recyclable

What about the cards? Good question! All the greeting cards without effects added are 100% recyclable. Until now the glitter on some of the cards wasn’t environmentally friendly but Flamingo have just launched the first cards with eco-friendly vegetable based glitter.

‘Happy Anniversary’

now with eco-friendly, vegetable based glitter!

It’s unclear whether foiled cards are recyclable or not. Many recycling plants won’t accept them but there is some research done by interested parties to suggest that this might be unnecessary.

Charity

ALL Flamingo Christmas cards, including the advent calendar cards are charity cards. If you want to know more about that then I wrote about it in a bit more depth here.

Woodman’s House

charity advent calendar card

shop advent calendar cards

Flamingo Partners, like myself, got to choose which charities would benefit in 2018 and we chose Macmillan Cancer Support, Together for Short Lives and the Alzheimers Society for UK donations.

Artists

Have you ever seen or bought a greeting card after liking the image on the front only to wonder who created it? You turn over the card and all you see is ‘Made in China’. Not so with Flamingo!

Flamingo are proud to promote each and every one of the artists who design for them. And if you read their profiles the artists are pretty pleased to supply Flamingo with their designs.

Flamingo Paperie are a design led company and are always looking for new artists. If you have something to offer, it could be your name on the back of the next new Flamingo greeting card.

You could be part of a very special Flamingo too!

Are you:

Running your own business and need to compliment your products with cards and gift wrap?
Needing a little extra income?
Looking for something flexible that you can shape to fit your lifestyle?
Someone who loves cards, gift wrap, stationery, Christmas and all things glittery!?

If you’d just like to get your hands on these charitable, ethical and desing led cards and gift wrap then you can buy them from my Flamingo shop. Shop now and find our what’s special about Flamingo Paperie.

Posted on June 7, 2018June 21, 2023 by janet — Leave a comment

Flamingo Paperie’s best selling greeting cards in May 2018

There must have been a lot of birthdays in May, but then again, all the best people are born in May aren’t they? (Guess when my birthday is then!) I thought you might like to see what Flamingo Paperie’s top 10 best selling greeting cards were.

In reverse order the best selling greeting cards were…

10 Happy Birthday Stars

Matt textured with gold foil effect on some of the stars and illustrated by Clare Groombridge.

9 Celebrate

Matt textured with gold foil effect and illlustrated by Karen Tye Bentley.

8 Birthday Tree

Matt textured with flitter and illustrated by Honor Ayres.

7 Birthday Cupcake

Matt textured with flitter and illustrated by Alison Hullyer.

6 Birthday Balloons

Matt textured with gold foil and illustrated by Joanne Cave.

5 Birthday Bunting

Matt textured and embossed and illustrated by Laura Stone.

4 Happy Birthday Cupcakes

Matt textured and flittered and illustrated by Claudine Rose.

3 Gin and Bear It!

Matt textured and die cut and illustrated by Celeste Yap.

2 Candles (Happy Birthday)

Matt textured with gold foil and illustrated by Joanne Cave.

1 Happy Birthday

Matt textured with gold foil effect and illustrated by Alison Hullyer.

You can buy any of the above greeting cards by going direct to my Flamingo Paperie shop now or choose a bestsellers mini box to get 1 of each.

Posted on February 11, 2016October 3, 2017 by janet — 1 Comment

Artist Profile – Alison Vickery

Flamingo Paperie are always looking for new artists to add to the fabulous range of cards that they produce. I thought it might be helpful to share information about the artists that design Flamingo cards, stationery and gifts. Our exclusive illustrations by Alison Vickery were amongst our bestselling designs in Phoenix Trading.

As well as producing fabulous artwork, Alison Vickery also runs workshops for all ages, as she said about herself,

“As a member of Gloucestershire Art for Schools, I enjoy running Art Workshops for children who always like to see my Phoenix artworks, picking out the ones they have seen or sent as cards. The children are excellent for the ego as they say things like ”you are one of the best Artists in the World”, I then come down to Earth with an elderly group who sometimes nod off.”

Everyone who is an Independent Flamingo Paperie Partner or is in my Customer Club gets to vote on which designs get through to each new product launch. So becoming a Flamingo artist is not necessarily as subjective as you might expect. Conversely 1000’s of people will vote on your design.

One of my favourite designs and so suitable for spring was Narcissi and Pink Hyacinth

Alison also takes part in the Stroud Open Studios in May each year.

Find out more about how to become a Flamingo artist. Go on – give it a try – and I look forward to seeing your work in the next Trader survey!

And if you’d like to know how you could have the privilege and joy of selling her work too then ask me for more information about becoming a Flamingo Paperie Partner today.

Posted on January 30, 2016January 27, 2018 by janet — Leave a comment

Artist Profile – Alison Hullyer

Narcissi Flamingo Paperie Notecards Alison Hullyer

Flamingo Paperie are always looking for new artists to add to the fabulous range of Flamingo cards that they produce. I thought it might be helpful to share some information about Alison Hullyer. Alison is one of the artists that designed Phoenix cards, stationery and gifts. Phoenix Trading has now closed and I am part of the new company Flamingo Paperie.

Alison Hullyer’s designs

One of Alison’s latest illustrations is a gorgeous notecard design. This is new in the February 2018 Flamingo Paperie range. This is illustrated by Alison Hullyer who has been an artist for Phoenix Trading since 2002, and now Flamingo Paperie. Her designs include animals, cars, age related cards, pencils, hearts…and lots more!

About herself, Alison says:

“I am continually sketching and looking for new ideas everywhere I go and feel very lucky that this is my job. It’s always a thrill to see my new designs come out in print, and I love the challenge of creating new artwork in a variety of styles, even if I am working on Christmas in the middle of summer!”

Members of the new Flamingo Paperie Customer Club will get to vote on new designs. This influences heavily which designs get through to each new product launch. This means that being accepted as a Flamingo artist is not necessarily as subjective as you might expect. In fact 1000’s of people could be voting on your design. This is something Alison particularly loves “as they know what sells and can provide valuable feedback from their customers”. So if you’d like to see designs before they go to print and have your say join my Customer Club today.

Alison is a member of the Cambridge Open Studios where 200 local artists open their studios to the public each year in July.

As well as cards, many of her illustrations are available in fabrics and coasters too and she has her own online shop.

Becoming a Flamingo Artist

Find out more about how to become a Flamingo artist. Go on – give it a try – and I look forward to seeing your work in the next survey!

And if you’d like to know how you could have the privilege and joy of selling her work too then ask me for more information about becoming a Flamingo Paperie Partner today.

Posted on January 21, 2016January 23, 2023 by janet — Leave a comment

Artist Profile – Julia Rigby

Phoenix Trading were always looking for new artists to add to the fabulous range of Phoenix cards that they produce. I’m sure Flamingo Paperie will be too. I thought it might be helpful to share some information about some of the artists. Julia Rigby produced illustrations for Phoenix since 2002, with her very colourful artwork featuring designs with people, vehicles, beach huts, farmyard scenes and even a tower of shoes!

One of Julia’s current designs is the Ski Resort Advent Calendar

Julia Rigby about herself when illustrating for Phoenix Trading

‘“I can’t seem to stop!” she admits. “Working for Phoenix is a total delight – I can work around my children’s needs, in my own home, doing something I love. It is so exciting to see my work printed and the Phoenix team are so friendly and supportive. Whenever I meet Traders they always come up with lots of new suggestions for cards so I am never short of inspiration.’

She works mostly in watercolour, ink and gouache resulting in very bright, colourful designs.

You might not know that everyone who was an Independent Phoenix Trader could vote on which designs got through to each new product launch. The same will happen with Flamingo Paperie. What’s more, even being a member of my new customer club will mean you have access to these surveys too. Becoming a Flamingo Paperie artist is not necessarily as subjective as you might expect as 1000’s of people could vote on your design.

Alongside her cards her designs often become cross-stitch kits, most notably by Bothy Threads, and she also has a range of designs licensed to Wentworth Puzzles (whose jigsaws I adore!) including some of the Phoenix card designs like ‘Le Grand Depart’ and ‘Harbour Town’

If you’d like to know more about becoming a Flamingo Paperie artist please ask me. Go on – give it a try – and I look forward to seeing your work in the next survey!

Posted on January 12, 2016January 23, 2023 by janet — 3 Comments

Artist Profile – Amanda Loverseed

Just as Phoenix Trading were always looking for new artists to add to the fabulous range of Phoenix cards that they produced, so too are Flamingo Paperie. I thought it might be helpful to share some information about Amanda Loverseed. Amanda is one of the artists that design Flamingo Paperie cards, stationery and gifts.

One of her current designs is the Reindeer Stable Christmas Card. You can see a video of a slightly different way of displaying it here.

Amanda Loverseed’s designs

Amanda Loverseed is probably one of our most well-known and perhaps most recognisable artists. That is to say her artwork is easily recognisable as it is very distinctive!

She works mostly in pen and ink and watercolour, making her work very detailed and very bright. She likes working in a variety of styles and on different subjects, one day drawing black Skull and Crossbones and the next Blue Butterflies. And yet her work always has that distinctive ‘Amanda’ look and most of her work has a signature snail too!

What Amanda said about herself:

‘I have always worked as an illustrator. I studied illustration at Cambridge College of Arts and Technology and immediately, after leaving college, had my first two children’s books accepted. It is particularly interesting to work on designs that require research such as the ‘Kings and Queens’ poster.

I live up a track in the middle of a field with my husband and two cats, Millie and Spinach. I have a wonderful view of the South Downs from my studio window and, whenever I get tired with drawing, I walk along the track and the two cats come with me. If I am out and about I am always looking for inspiration, such as a quirky building or car that will make its way into a ‘Cut Thru’ design or an idea for Christmas cards seen in the spring.

I love illustrating for Phoenix and the creative freedom it allows me and enjoy working with people who care passionately about the quality and integrity of their products. I am delighted that a chance meeting with a Phoenix Trader at a Christmas fair in 1999 should have led me to work with such a friendly and dedicated company.’

I’m glad that meeting happened in 1999 as it’s a privilege and joy selling her designs!

Choosing our artists

Everyone who is a Flamingo Paperie Partner gets to vote on which designs get through to each new product launch. This means that 1000’s of people could be voting on your design. Not as subjective as you think is it?

Alongside her cards her designs are often made in to cross-stitch kits, most notably by Bothy Threads. In particular her cut-thru designs that have also often appeared as Phoenix cards too. Some of these have been made in to giant posters and jigsaws. One of my favourites was her cut-thru spaceship!

Find out more about how to become a Flamingo artist. Go on – give it a try – and I look forward to seeing your work in the next Trader survey!

And if you’d like to know how you could have the privilege and joy of selling her work too then ask me for more information about becoming an Flamingo Paperie Partner today.

Posted on June 8, 2015June 21, 2023 by janet — 11 Comments

Artists Wanted!

UPDATE – As of June 2023 Flamingo Paperie has now closed.

Ever wondered how Flamingo Paperie find their artists? If you have ever thought your work might look good on a card then you’ll be interested to know that it’s Artists Wanted time.

What sort of artwork fits the Flamingo Paperie artists wanted profile?

Flamingo Paperie artwork is a real mixture of fun, contemporary and fine art. It’s difficult to say exactly what they are looking for because trends and fashions change. The easiest place to start might be to look at our current range to give you an idea.

Or see my latest video with a snapshot of the Christmas range from 2017.

How do I submit my work to Flamingo Paperie?

You can post your artwork to them at Artist Submissions
Flamingo Paperie
60 High Street
Wimbledon Village
SW19 5EE

Flamingo Paperie will consider ‘paper’ copies of artwork or digital artwork. Though I know first hand that the creative director loves to receive ‘real’ artwork through the post!

What happens after I’ve submitted my artwork?

Once you submit your artwork to Flamingo Paperie, they will send feedback on whether they think your work is what they are looking for. If you are successful then Flamingo Paperie shortlist your work on to a survey that the creative team get to vote on!

So get out those paints and brushes, go on – give it a go! Or pick up the phone and get that artist friend of yours to send her work in. Tell Flamingo I’m the one who told you that there were artists wanted and when you let me know that the artist is successful, I’ll send you something to say thank you. Good luck, hope to see your work in the next product survey!

If you’d like to know more about our current artists then take a look at the artist profiles of Alison Vickery, Alison Hullyer, Julia Rigby and Amanda Loverseed.