Cedar Rapids native creates calling cards for Moms on the go

Busy moms often want an extra pair of hands to help them juggle their days.

Elizabeth Smith, 26, hasn't found a way to make that possible, but she has designed something that could make life a little easier - Hip Mama Calling Cards.

“I've seen moms balancing a child on one hip, trying to dig through their purse for a pen and paper,” said Smith, who grew up in Cedar Rapids, graduated in 2002 from Washington High School and in 2006 from the University of Iowa. “If you just had a card, how much more fun, chic and organized is that?”

The card can include a mother's name, the names of her children, a phone number and e-mail address - anything she might need to schedule a play date or establish communication with a child's teacher.

Think calling cards, like the kind Mr. Darcy might have left for Elizabeth Bennett in 19th century England, except these are exchanged on the playground, not in the parlor. The concept is catching on with shout-outs in Parents magazine and online mommy blogs.

“It's just so much easier than trying to scribble an e-mail address or phone number of a scratch piece of paper that you'll lose,” Smith said.

Smith launched her Hip Mama Calling Cards at The Traveling Door's fall sale in Cedar Rapids.

Most of the designs cards feature Mom's (or Dad's) name prominently, followed by the phrase, “mom to ...” and contact information, such as phone numbers, e-mail and address. An alternative design includes both parents' names, plus the kids and all relevent contact information.

A set of 20 cards costs $20.

The cards are the newest feature of Smith's home-based design business, Liz Ink & Paper, which she started in 2008 after she was laid off from her job.

“I needed an income and I started going a little stir crazy,” said Smith, who now lives in Des Moines.

With the holidays near, Smith turned to her love of graphic design, photography and scrapbooking, creating Christmas cards for family and friends.

Word-of-mouth spread and Smith received more orders, this time for save-the-dates and baby announcements.

She added graduation and birthday invitations and moving announcements to her list of products over the year, and is now designing wedding invitations.

“Life events, what's going on in everybody's life, are definitely the focus,” Smith said.

Smith hasn't started her own family yet, but with more of her friends having children, she said it made sense to add parent calling cards.

“I know there are other parent cards out there, but I haven't seen any,” she said.

Liz Ink & Paper is a part-time job for Smith, who now also works as a marketing and communications specialist for The Scoular Company. She spends her evenings designing invitations, announcements and business cards, putting in 15 to 30 hours a week.

The extra hours have worked out well for Smith and her husband, Page, who has his own home-based business designing Web sites. He created her Website, www.lizinkandpaper.com

In the evenings, he works in his office as she works in hers.

“We shout ideas to each other through the wall,” Smith said with a laugh.