Little Paper Mill

There’s something special about opening a card, displaying it on your mantelpiece, and being reminded of the person who sent it, says Aisling Howley, founder of Little Paper Mill.

Aisling Howley’s journey into the greeting card world feels almost inevitable. Having studied fine art at NCAD and worked in the print industry while teaching art, starting Little Paper Mill was, as she describes it, “a natural next step”.

“From a young age, I’ve always had a love for art and stationery,” Aisling recalls. “After finishing art college, I knew I wanted to start my own creative business, and designing greeting cards and wedding stationery felt like the perfect fit. It allowed me to combine my passion for art with the joy of creating personal designs for others, and over the years my business has found its true focus in greeting cards.”

Aisling’s studio is in Skerries and her cards are printed and finished in Dublin, using uncoated card stock and paired with a brown ribbed Kraft envelope. The commitment to sustainability is evident - all materials she uses are sourced from responsibly managed forests, and the cards are packed in biodegradable plastic.

Creative Process

Aisling’s designs draw inspiration from her everyday life, travels, and what she notices around her. “I keep a notebook filled with ideas, sketches, and references that I can draw from when it’s time to design. Most of the time I use Procreate on my Apple tablet to create my illustrations. Once I’ve finished a digital drawing, I bring it into Illustrator to build and complete the final card design, ready for print.”

“My style is simple, and I like to include a touch of Irishness in my cards,” she adds. “My proudest moment has been growing the wholesale side of my business and seeing my cards stocked in shops all across Ireland. It’s incredibly rewarding to see my work reach so many people.”

Aisling uses Shopify for her website. “I initially set everything up with the help of a company called Style Factory, who took care of the payment setup and technical details,” she explains. Marketing is primarily driven through Instagram, where visual storytelling comes naturally for a card designer. 

“I use both organic posts and Instagram paid adverts to reach new audiences and showcase my collections,” says Aisling. She also maintains customer engagement through Mailchimp newsletters, “which is a great way to stay connected with my customers and keep them updated on new collections and card releases”.

Reliable Partner

Little Paper Mill operates mainly online and through wholesale, so An Post delivery is vital to operations. According to Aisling: “An Post has been consistently reliable over the years and has played an important role in helping my business run smoothly and deliver orders efficiently.”

Aisling’s bestselling cards are usually birthday and Christmas designs. ”Irish language cards sell particularly well at the moment,” she adds. “It’s wonderful to see such a strong resurgence of interest in the Irish language and Irish-inspired designs, such as Claddagh motifs.”

In Aisling Howley’s opinion, there’s something truly special about receiving a card. “When you open a card, you can display it on your mantelpiece or around your home, and each time you see it you’re reminded of the person who sent it and the occasion it celebrates. It becomes a little keepsake, a tangible reminder of connection and thoughtfulness.”

Supporting Local

For many micro businesses, the Christmas boost to trade is very important, and Little Paper Mill is no exception. “As a small Irish business, with everything we sell made here in Ireland, Christmas is a particularly important time for us,” Aisling acknowledges. “Every bit of support and every sale helps us continue doing what we love, and it means a lot to know that people choose to support local and value Irish-made products.” 

Little Paper Mill cards are available online at www.littlepapermill.ie and in stockists throughout Ireland.