Day 5 of National Stationery Week 2025
Featured stationery: Coral & Blue Paper Co.
In case you’d rather listen than read:
On this last spotlight post of National Stationery Week, I just have to tell you about someone who’s doing something truly special—Ashley Cruz Campbell, the founder of Coral & Blue Paper Co. in Saratoga Springs, New York. We all love handwritten, heartspoken notes, but Ashley has taken that love and turned it into a beautiful mission to help children embrace the joy of writing.
About Ashley and her Coral & Blue Paper Co.
As a mom, Ashley wanted her own kids to learn the value of saying “thank you” and connecting with others through writing. When she couldn’t find stationery that was both kid-friendly and meaningful, she created her own. Her award-winning cards are larger than usual, with wide lines and space for drawings—perfect for little hands learning to express big feelings. She even patented the design!
But here’s the part that really moved me: Ashley’s work has reached all the way to Burundi, Africa. Through a chance connection with a teacher named Maurice, she began sending her stationery to children there. In a country where paper is a luxury, these cards became tools for learning, healing, and connection. The kids use them for reading, writing, art, and even public speaking. It’s become a form of therapy, helping them process trauma and find joy in expression. Ashley has since formalized this effort into a nonprofit, and now over 7,000 children and 36 teachers are part of the program.
Incredible!
From a simple idea to teach her own children gratitude, Ashley has touched lives across the globe. It’s a powerful reminder of how small acts, such as encouraging a child to write a thank-you note, can have a ripple effect in ways we never imagined.
If you want to learn more or see her lovely stationery, visit coralandblue.com. I think you’ll find her story as inspiring as I do.
Set a good example
Ashley and I have talked about ways to encourage children to write notes and letters, and we both agree that it makes a difference if they see their parents and grandparents writing cards too. It also helps when you can turn card-writing into a party. The pictures from the Coral & Blue website clearly show kids having fun making art and writing notes.
Coral & Blue Cards come in sets for various children with delightful color options. The line has expanded from the original Thank You stationery to now include “Thinking of You” and holiday stationery, so just go to the Coral & Blue Shop and start poking around.
You can connect here with Ashley and the Coral & Blue Paper Co.:
Is there a child in your life you can write to?
Just send them a note from time to time and ask about their interests. My friend
has turned the first day of every month into “kids’ card” month and sends a card to several young people in her life. She says it’s a wonderful way to connect with parts of her family who are far away. And hey, they might even write back, especially if you tell their parents about the Coral & Blue Paper Co.Always remember: whether written or spoken,
words from the heart will never fail you!
Such wonderful work makes a difference to people all over the world and sometimes we don't even know how far that influence has stretched.
But then mostly unbeknown to us it takes root and grows and blooms to eventually spread its message to the most unlikely places.
This is really inspiring. She is spreading so much joy and happiness across the globe to children. What a great mission.