I’m feeling all the emotions ❤️🔥 as I write this because this milestone represents more than just a number—it’s the celebration of a journey that has been incredibly personal to me. 2025 marks the 25th year of Social Butterfly Designs—an entire quarter century of creating, designing, and delivering countless invitations and paper creations for all of you. It has been, without a doubt, one of my life’s greatest
passions 💋.
Today, as I step into this anniversary year, I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey that has brought me here, the amazing people who have supported this business, and the exciting ways I will celebrate this milestone with you.
🧐 A Look Back 🔍
What started as a small stationery business focused on designing invitations has blossomed into something far greater than I could have ever imagined. Social Butterfly Designs has never just been about invitations, greeting cards, and paper goods; it has been about fostering genuine connections, celebrating life’s special moments, and providing ways to share the simple yet powerful act of putting pen to paper. Every design, every product, every invitation, and every heartfelt note I’ve created has been from the heart, and has brought me so much joy!
I have been absolutely blown away by the love and support you’ve shown me over the years. I started this journey back in 2000 (anyone remember Y2K? 😂). My two oldest kids, George and Helen, were only 3 and 1, and my youngest, Audrey, wasn’t even born yet! Here’s a snapshot of our family back then (left) and my son’s birth announcement (right), with a special story behind it below.
This little hand-drawn, hand-painted watercolor birth announcement I created for George (now 27!) in 1997 (yes, I painstakingly hand-painted over 150 of them 🤯…and did anyone note my son’s birth weight 🫢…he ended up being born via c-section 😮💨) was a turning point for me. It was in that moment I made the life-changing decision to leave my 14-year corporate job in public relations at Princess Cruises to stay home and raise my family. This birth announcement played a major role in inspiring me to start my own graphic design and stationery bbusiness just three years later.
After years of designing my own holiday cards and receiving encouragement from family and friends, Social Butterfly Designs officially launched on November 1, 2000. I initially started the business with my friend Susan Mills 👯 who shared my passion and creative vision. We worked together for a few years, but for the majority of this journey, I’ve been on my own—learning, growing, and evolving every step of the way.
⤵️ Then vs. Now: The Realities of the Day 💻
Back in 2000, people were still using flip phones, and Facebook or Instagram didn’t exist yet! Designs were hand-drawn more often than digitally created, and my workspace was the back corner of my dining room table, piled with stacks of paper, ribbons, embellishments and cutting tools instead of sleek design software (and because cell phone cameras weren’t a thing yet, I don’t have photos of this scene ☹️). But one thing hasn’t changed—the joy of sending and receiving a heartfelt, handwritten note in the mail 💌.
Brad Pitt was the “Sexiest Man Alive” and flip phones and Razor scooters were all the rage in the year 2000.
🥂 A Year of Celebration 🍾
To honor this incredible milestone, I have some special things planned throughout this year! From behind-the-scenes looks into my creative process, to exclusive anniversary designs, giveaways, and maybe even a few surprises (think limited-edition designs, nostalgic throwbacks, and maybe even a special collaboration… stay tuned!), this will be a year filled with gratitude and celebration. I want to take you along for the ride 🎢 —sharing cherished memories from the past 25 years while looking ahead to all the exciting things still to come!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being part of this journey and for joining me to make this anniversary year one to remember!
I’d love to hear from you! Do you have a favorite Social Butterfly Designs card or invitation you’ve kept over the years? Drop a comment or share a photo—I’d love to take a trip down memory lane with you!
P.S. The best way to keep up with these 25th anniversary updates is to follow this blog and/or follow me on instagram @socialbutterflydesigns.