In our email age, old-fashioned written correspondence is a refreshing throwback, similar to drinking a soda made with real sugar or watching the president hand someone a sword. Write a thank-you note to the past with today's Groupon: for $20, you get a set of custom-made stationery (a $50 value) at This Paper Ship.

Captained by its husband-and-wife crew of Joel and Ashley Selby, This Paper Ship produces whimsical custom paper designs using original art. In order to create your set of customized stationery—which includes 12 note cards and A7 corresponding envelopes that also double as shells for inter-office business tacos—Joel and Ashley will consult with you either in person, by telephone, or via email. During this personal powwow, you'll get to elucidate any stationery visions that came to you in a dream, specify a color scheme, create a custom design, and incorporate personal elements such as initials, drawings, photos, or favorite Simpsons quotes. With 24 paper colors to choose from and any amount of ink colors available, painting exclusively in primary colors will become a forgotten relic of first grade, just like show-and-tell and subtraction. Once Joel and Ashley have created their myriad magical markings, a design proof is sent to you for any small tweak or acute adjustments. The stationery is then printed in-house using giclée processing, which is especially good at capturing fine details in illustrations. Your finished product will arrive via bonded city stork in 2–3 business weeks.

Each customized stationery set is a one-of-a-kind work of art, as owners Joel and Ashley create all their designs and illustrations without the use of artistic robots or stock photography and illustrations. As high-volume paper users, This Paper Ship strives to be as environmentally friendly as possible, and each custom stationery set is printed on paper made using 100% clean, renewable hydroelectric energy. The stationery station also reuses and recycles most packaging and shipping materials, and the protective wrappers used for single-card orders are made of 100% naturally compostable cellophane.

Extra charges for floods of ink.

Reviews

This Paper Ship designers Joel and Ashley Selby were featured in an article in Go Triad.

• The art of Joel and Ashley Selby is not traditional, yet it is at once familiar and inviting…postcards become little works of art, designed to brighten the days of mail handlers' as well as those who receive them. – Stephanie Burt, Go Triad