Letterpress & artist-made stationery · Atlanta, Georgia
Bumblebee PressHappiness on Paper
A little ink. A lovely piece of paper.

Happiness on Paper

Make someone's day. Starting with your own.

Come on in.
The kettle's on.
THE BUMBLEBEE PRESS ROOMVintage machinery. Fresh possibilities.
Illustrative vintage press and tea in window lightIllustrative studio film
Pull a print on a vintage platen pressA side view of a cast iron press with flywheel, round ink disk, rollers, hinged platen, and a long lever. Choose ink and paper below, then pull the lever. CHANDLER& PRICE INK DISKCOTTON PAPERCAST IRON, STILL AT WORK
Go on.
Pull the handle.
Slow printing.
Happy paper.
Choose your inkPrintmaker
blue
Your paper

Simple luxuries.

The paper matters before the ink ever touches it.

Papers from
500 year-old mills
Reclaimed
cotton rag
Small-batch
handmade papers
Julie’s first love:
pressed botanicals.

It started
with a weed.

Julie Franklin went out collecting plants with her botanist cousin. The pressed specimens sent her straight to making botanical presses of her own. Bumblebee Press grew from there.

Then someone in New York handed her a letterpress card. She kept taking it out of a file just to hold it. Soon came a 1920s Chandler & Price Craftsman, bought from “Wild Bill.”

That love of paper stuck. Her framed botanicals even found their way onto Friends. Whoa Nellie.

More from Julie
Illustrative pressed botanical sprig on textured handmade paper
Illustrative botanical study, inspired by the beginning.
A little piece of the field,
saved on paper.
COLLECTIONS &
PRESS MENTIONS
Ethan AllenCOLLECTIONSThe Conran ShopCOLLECTIONSSundance CatalogCOLLECTIONSBetter Homes and GardenFEATURED INCNNFEATURED INHouse BeautifulFEATURED IN

For the desk.
For the mailbox.

Artist-made paper goods for people you'd love to send a little something.

Bumblebee Press letterpress congratulations card
Greeting cards
Something worth putting a stamp on
Artist-made Jane Austen paper artwork from Bumblebee Press
Art
A place on your wall
Boxed stationery from Bumblebee Press
Stationery sets
For when the words come
Bumblebee Press gifts and desk accessories
Gifts & desk
A little something for your corner
Have a rummage in the sale

Let them pick their paper. Gift certificates are 10% off with EBGIFT, valid for 12 months. Subscriptions excluded.

A STATIONERY SUBSCRIPTION, WITH A SURPRISE INSIDE

Make it
Happier.

Each month, a little box of possibilities. Three to five mailable pieces, with limited edition designs to keep or send out into the world.

It works like a CSA: your subscription helps Julie buy the lovely materials and make the next batch. You get the surprise.

Join the waitlist

Waitlist only. Doors open at surprise times. Join for the newsletter and a note when it's your turn to come in.

A real Make it Happier stationery box with cards, paper goods and confetti
A peek at a past box. Your next one is a surprise.
Keep a little.
Share a little.
“It is like getting a present every month, but even better because you get to share it with people to make them feel special too!”Elizabeth Seidle
“This is a little treasure chest full of love that you get each month.”Joe B.
“The whole box experience is something I love.”Lisa Malane
Dear you,
Thank you for...
GOOD WORDS WANT TO BE SENT.
A FREE THANK-YOU NOTE GUIDE

The first line
is the hard part.

Someone did something lovely. You want to tell them. Julie's guide helps you get the good thoughts out of your head and onto the page.

Help me write that note

A few notes, sent back.

KIND WORDS FROM THE OTHER END OF THE MAILBOX

“The quality of your paper is much nicer than others.”

Susan Vann
Thomasville, GA

“This is the way I always want to buy stationery - made by hand, by a person, not a faceless company.”

Margaret Rode
Evergreen, CO

“I’ll have a hard time parting with each piece, but know that each will bring joy to the lucky recipient.”

Danell D
San Francisco, CA

Wonder is
our superpower.

Good paper comes with responsibility. Bumblebee Press uses recycled and chlorine-free papers, Forest Stewardship certified papers, and no VOC press wash. Julie supports artists and vendors who pay a living wage.

The values behind the work

Hey, hello.

SNAIL MAIL & LOVE LETTERS
1270 Caroline St
Suite D 120-436
Atlanta, GA 30307
HOURS

By appointment.
Send a note before you visit.

Instagram ↗Facebook ↗
CUSTOM LETTERPRESS & A FEW GOOD QUESTIONS
How long does custom work take?

Plan on about two weeks for design and around five weeks for most letterpress projects. The press calendar often fills months ahead, so get in touch while your idea is still a scribble.

Can you squeeze in a rush job?

Ask Julie. Projects are first come, first served, but sometimes there's room for an extra scoop at the ice cream counter. Tell her what you have in mind.

When does Make it Happier open?

There's no set schedule. Surprise openings happen from time to time. Join the waitlist to hear when the doors open.

Talk paper with Julie
Shop the paper goods ↗Join the waitlist ↗
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