Salt & Paper Press is a modern letterpress and design studio. Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, it was built out of a love of paper goods, cottony textures, and handmade craftsmanship.

Elyssa [eh-liss-ah]

Originally from Illinois, I have a Bachelors in Graphic Design, and have been working as a designer since 2011. After living in the Carolinas (Charlotte and Greenville, specifically) for 14 years, we decided to head back to the midwest and moved to Minneapolis in early 2025.

I started my first print-shop job in 2013, and the moment I pulled my first print, I was hooked. There’s something deeply satisfying about the hands-on craftsmanship—the precision and skill required for a good print, and standing at a press instead of behind a desk. I just love it. Opening my own small letterpress studio is truly a dream come true, giving me the chance to create beautiful designs that celebrate the handmade nature of every piece.

Inside a brightly lit room with a wooden floor, a large window, a glass door, a gray industrial food slicer on a cabinet, a yellow trash can, an air conditioning unit, and coat hooks with aprons hanging.

The Press

Our workhorse, Ophelia, is a Vandercook Universal I printing press. In 1963, she was originally purchased by a company in Denver, straight from Vandercook & Sons. I purchased her in 2022 after she was refurbished by The Arm in Brooklyn.

A happy brown dog with fluffy fur lying on a cushion on a pet bed, indoors near a brick wall, with a window and a green plant in the background.

The Shop Dog

Elsa is a our aussie-golden (maybe) rescue. Now 12, we’ve had her since she was 8 weeks old. I love being able to share my studio space with her, even though she’s not much help when it comes to letterpress printing.

Workspace with vintage printing press, a potted plant, and large windows in a brick-walled room.

The Studio

Located in the Ivy Building, and shared with Christine Armbruster, it houses my press, paper cutter, a bunch of plants, and a killer Ikea speaker.