By Alex Day, Marketing & Communications Director
Here at Washington’s National Park Fund, we’re proud to partner with Elle Crée, a Portland-based, woman-owned company redefining paint-by-number kits as tools for creativity and connection — with purpose built into every kit.
Founded by illustrator Rachel Austen, Elle Crée (French for “She Creates”) was born from a desire to make art more accessible while doing tangible good in the world. What started as a creative experiment quickly became something deeper: a way to help people slow down, reconnect with themselves, and rediscover the mental health benefits of making art, all with no prior experience required.
“What I realized in the process of creating this product is that it served a greater purpose beyond just providing a beginner-friendly craft activity,” Austen shared. “It served as a component of self-care, helping people find a sense of calm and a more meditative headspace.”
From the beginning, Elle Crée was designed to be a company with a net positive impact. Beyond creating a product that contributes to self-care and general well-being, Austen was intentional about embedding philanthropy into her business, committing to donate 5% of net profits annually to environmental and social causes.
“I didn’t want to create a product just to sell something that might end up in a landfill and contribute to mass consumption,” Austen said. “The giving-back component was always something I knew had to be part of the structure of the company.”
That mindset made national parks a natural fit. Parks require ongoing stewardship and community support — and they offer something invaluable in return: awe, perspective, wonder, and respite from an increasingly noisy world. Now, kits featuring national parks have become a niche that Elle Crée is known for.
“I donate to causes that are close to my heart, whether it’s social justice or environmental causes. But to have a product that is specifically tied to a place that requires care and upkeep? That was just such a natural fit for us and led to natural partnerships with organizations like Washington’s National Park Fund.”
As part of Elle Crée’s National Parks series, the Mount Rainier National Park paint-by-number kit features a thoughtfully illustrated scene of Washington’s iconic peak, complete with native wildlife and a glimpse of how people experience the landscape.
Designed and assembled in the USA using environmentally responsible materials, the kit reflects Elle Crée’s commitment to sustainability throughout its supply chain.
For Austen, Mount Rainier was an easy choice. Close to home and deeply symbolic of the Pacific Northwest, the mountain represents a sense of place and identity, even for those who admire it from afar.
It’s such a fixture and landmark for where we live. It gives us a sense of where we are in the world and reminds us of the beauty that surrounds us.” –Rachel Austen
With every Mount Rainier kit sold, a portion of the proceeds supports WNPF’s work funding critical conservation, trail maintenance, wildlife research, and visitor programs in Mount Rainier National Park. Customers don’t just take home a creative experience — they directly support the real place that inspired it.
For Elle Crée customers, the kit is also a way to extend the park experience long after a visit ends.
“You’re taking a little piece of the park home with you,” Austen explained. “You’re commemorating that sense of awe and continuing to immerse yourself in the beauty of that place through the act of creating.”
At WNPF, we often hear how time in nature helps people feel grounded and find perspective. Elle Crée’s kits offer a parallel path — combining art and landscapes to create moments of calm, reflection, and connection.
This partnership is an inspiring example of how creativity and conservation can work hand in hand to support both people and parks.
Get your kit and paint for a cause: Shop Elle Crée’s Mount Rainier Kit OnlinePurchase the Kit Through REI
Washington’s National Park Fund is the official philanthropic partner of Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks. Gifts and partnerships like this one power vital park projects from trail maintenance to science and research, youth and family programs, and more.
Photos courtesy of Elle Crée.