If you’ve been searching for a specific Papertrey Ink die set and came up empty, or you stumbled across an old forum post warning people away from the brand, it’s easy to start wondering if something’s wrong. Missing products and years-old complaints can paint a pretty gloomy picture.
But incomplete information isn’t the same as the full story. Before you write off PTI entirely, let’s look at what’s actually going on — what the evidence says, what really happened during the rough years, and what you should know before placing an order.
Papertrey Ink Is Still Open — Here’s the Evidence
The short answer is: yes, Papertrey Ink appears to be open and still operating. You don’t have to take anyone’s word for it — there are several clear signs pointing to continued activity.
The official website at papertreyink.com is active and showing current products. That includes things like a July Cardmaking Workshop Bundle and subscription offerings — not exactly the kind of content a business puts up when it’s winding down.
On top of that, a YouTube video from June 2025 shows a crafter reviewing brand-new PTI products as part of a regular monthly release. That’s not a throwback haul or an old unboxing — it’s new product activity happening right now.
PTI products are also currently stocked by Simon Says Stamp, one of the biggest names in craft retail. Retailers like that don’t keep carrying a brand that’s on its way out. Their product pages describe PTI as a company that “specializes in clear stamps, paper crafting embellishments, and accessories” — present tense, active listing.
Social media accounts show recent posts, giveaways, and new-release announcements too. The overall picture is a brand that’s still designing, still selling, and still showing up for its customers.
What Actually Happened in 2019 — and Why It Scared People
Most of the “is PTI closing?” concern traces back to 2019. That’s when things got uncertain — and understandably so.
Early that year, Papertrey Ink announced what they called a “fresh start.” That phrase sounds hopeful, but for a loyal customer base, it raised immediate questions: What kind of changes? Why now? Is something wrong?
Around the same time, Nicole Heady — a co-founder and one of the most recognizable creative voices behind the brand — left the company. For many customers, Nicole wasn’t just an employee. She was the heart of PTI’s design identity. Her departure shook the community.
Forum discussions on platforms like 2Peas Refugees filled up quickly with speculation. People were connecting dots — website problems, restocking delays, a major creative departure — and wondering if the company had been sold or was quietly failing. None of that was officially confirmed. It was community worry running ahead of facts.
What the “fresh start” actually turned out to be was a reorganization and relaunch. PTI rebuilt around the change rather than shutting down. Social media posts from that period even reference a full shop relaunch with daily giveaways leading up to it. It was a rough transition, but it wasn’t a goodbye.
The Die-Cutting Manufacturer That Closed — and Why It Caused Confusion
Here’s a detail that clears up a lot of confusion: a major die-cutting manufacturer that served many brands in the craft industry — including Papertrey Ink — went out of business. PTI publicly acknowledged this on their Facebook page.
That closure had a direct impact. PTI couldn’t produce or restock certain dies the way they used to. Gaps appeared in product availability. Some sets became nearly impossible to find.
A thread on Reddit’s r/cardmaking community illustrates exactly how this confusion plays out. A crafter was searching for the “Let’s Fiesta” cutting dies from PTI, found the matching stamp set without any trouble, but couldn’t locate the dies anywhere. It’s a frustrating experience — and it’s easy to jump to the conclusion that the company must be struggling.
But the more likely explanation is simpler: the manufacturer that made those specific dies closed, and PTI lost that production source. That’s a supply chain problem, not a sign of company collapse. It affects many craft brands that rely on the same external manufacturers, not just PTI.
Think of it like a small restaurant that loses a key ingredient supplier. The menu changes, certain dishes disappear, and regulars get frustrated. That doesn’t mean the restaurant is shutting down — it means they’re dealing with a sourcing problem and figuring out what comes next.
Old Customer Complaints and Whether They Still Apply
Let’s be honest here — there were real problems. Not just rumors, but documented customer experiences that deserve acknowledgment.
A thread on Scrapbook.com captures what some customers went through: shipping delays, difficulty getting issues resolved, and communication that left people in the dark. One user even expressed surprise that PTI was still in business at all. That kind of frustration is worth taking seriously.
The tricky part is that these threads often show up near the top of search results. So when someone Googles “Is Papertrey Ink going out of business,” one of the first things they might see is a post describing a really bad experience. That colors the whole first impression — even if the post is several years old and the situation has changed since.
Older complaints about shipping delays, stock problems, and poor communication were real. But they came from a specific and clearly difficult period in the company’s history — right around the 2019 transition. A bad review from that era doesn’t automatically reflect what a customer today will experience.
That said, it’s still worth doing a quick check before you order. Look for recent reviews on crafting forums or Reddit. See what people are saying now, not just what they were saying five years ago. That’s the fairest way to judge any business, small or large.
How to Tell If a Craft Brand Is Actually Healthy
PTI is a useful example of something that happens a lot in the craft industry. Small, design-driven businesses go through founder changes, supplier problems, and reputation dips — and they don’t always close as a result. Sometimes they come out the other side.
If you ever find yourself wondering about a craft brand’s health, here’s a simple way to check for yourself:
- Visit the website. Are products listed with current details? Are there upcoming events, bundles, or subscriptions? A business in liquidation doesn’t build out a workshop calendar.
- Check social media recency. When was the last post? Are people engaging with it? New release graphics and giveaways signal active operations.
- Look for third-party retailers. If a major retailer like Simon Says Stamp is still stocking the brand, that’s a meaningful signal. Retailers don’t hold inventory from brands they believe are done.
- Separate discontinued products from company closure. A die set being unavailable is not the same as the company disappearing. Supply changes, strategic decisions, and manufacturer issues all cause gaps without signaling shutdown.
For more straight-talking business coverage like this, The Business Sheet breaks down company news in plain language without the fluff.
What You Should Know Before You Order from PTI
Based on everything available, Papertrey Ink appears to be an active, operating business. New products are launching, the website is live, and major retailers are still carrying the brand. The closure rumors seem to stem from a rough transition period and a supply chain disruption — not from the company itself going under.
That said, it’s always smart to shop carefully with any smaller brand. A few practical tips:
- Use a credit card or PayPal so you have buyer protection if anything goes sideways.
- Read recent community posts on Reddit or crafting forums to get a feel for current customer service experiences.
- If you’re after a specific older die set, be aware it may never come back — not because PTI is closing, but because the production source may no longer exist.
None of this is a reason to avoid PTI altogether. It’s just sensible shopping, the kind you’d apply to any small business you’re ordering from for the first time.
The Bottom Line
Papertrey Ink is not going out of business based on what’s currently known. The brand has had a genuinely turbulent stretch — a founder departure, a major supplier closure, and a difficult transition period that left some customers with bad experiences. That history is real, and it makes sense that people are cautious.
But turbulence isn’t the same as collapse. The evidence right now points to a company that came through a hard season and is still designing, still releasing, and still serving its community. If you love their products, that’s worth knowing.
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