About this project

What's a “punch box”?
It's a playful object with tiny compartments containing little paper scrolls that are only revealed when "punched" out. They were popular in the 1920s and 30s as party games, fortune telling toys, and in grocery stores as a sort of primitive lottery ticket. My grandfather remembers seeing them at the register when he was a kid, but this wonderful paper object has been mostly forgotten.

Vintage mass-production meets contemporary craft:
I've been dreaming about making a handcrafted punch box with beautiful imagery on the front and poetic text on the scrolls. If this campaign is successful, I'll produce a big batch! They'd be awesome gifts for Valentine's Day or other special occasions. Kim and her pals at Painted Tongue Studios will print the punch boxes here in Oakland, CA. Their Heidelberg Windmill press from the 1950s delivers a wonderful tactile feel and elegant look. This special curio will be edged with Japanese washi tape and each scroll will be rolled by hand. The front and back of the box will be adorned with colorful letterpress imagery designed by me.  To check out my design aesthetic and writing style, explore my website: Leafcutter Designs.

What's on the scrolls?
I’m guessing you’ve got a lot of people whom you love dearly. I sure do. I want the text on the scrolls to stay a surprise but the messages will be sweet, creative words that will be appropriate to send as an "all-purpose" valentine to any romantic interest, platonic friend, or dear family member. And the messages won't actually reference Valentine's Day, so you can use them for lots of different occasions. For example, one might say: "You're so awesome that I would loan you my favorite wool sweater," or "Go pick a flower and give it to a stranger."

Can I suggest phrases to include?:
Yes, I'd love to hear your ideas for scroll messages! Everyone who pledges will have the opportunity to submit phrases for inclusion on the tiny paper scrolls. I'll read every single suggestion and if yours makes the final cut, you'll receive an extra punch box for free. And please note: for a $50 pledge, we'll make you a customized punch box with all 12 scrolls written by you!

Where does the money go?
It's simple: contributions will pay for materials, letterpress printing, final hand-assembly, and shipping. $3,000 is the minimum required to do a production run, but I'd love to produce even more!

Thanks for checking out my project!