Best Of CLE: Punny Greeting Cards

We can’t help but smile when we receive a greeting card with a smiling sushi saying, “Let’s roll” or a frowning corn-on-the-cob with the phrase, “Aw shucks, that really sucks.” Those little moments of delight come courtesy Jess Bennett, the designer behind Letterpress Jess.

After visiting Japan twice, she was inspired by its culture and set out to design a line of anthropomorphic food cards called Cutie Kawaii. “I like super-cute things and kawaii is the movement of all things cute in Japan,” she says. “It’s a really interesting urban cultural movement that resonates with me, and these cards combine two of my favorite things: food and puns.”

Each card is hand-printed using a 2,500-pound, cast-iron, midcentury printing press named Big Sal. But if food isn’t your thing, Bennett has a few other lines that might tickle your taste buds: Crass Calligraphy (“inspirational” phrases peppered with curse words) and Swansonisms (quotes from Parks and Recreation character Ron Swanson). But the appeal for Cutie Kawaii is wide, says Bennett. “You can buy them for kids or your 80-year-old grandmother.” 429 Fourth St., NW, Canton, 330-754-4667, letterpressjess.com

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Celebrate with us at the Best of Cleveland Party Friday, Oct. 25 at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.