PaperFreckles

Looking for some untraditional, colorful, funny cards from a shop with a great name?  Look no more Paper Freckles has what you want.

Now read about the cool couple behind the designs.

Etsy Paper:  Tell us a little about yourself.
Paper Freckles:  My name is Joe Akers, I am the co-owner of PaperFreckles with my wife Coleen. I design, write, letter and illustrate all of our cards. We live in Richmond, Virginia with our three “Fur Kids” Grace, an Akita and Jude and Max our Great Pyrenees… that’s about 350 pounds of puppy!

Anniversary Card

Etsy Paper:  When did you open your shop on Etsy? 
Paper Freckles:  We opened our Etsy shop in March of 2009.

Etsy Paper:  Tell us about your shop. 
Paper Freckles:  When we first opened our Etsy shop in 2009 we were selling some of my illustrations and some of Coleen’s handmade cards. However, we now sell a full line of greeting cards for just about every occasion and we just launched our “Buttons of Stickiness” line of button magnets as well.

Button Magnet

Etsy Paper:  What is it about paper that draws you to create with it?
Paper Freckles:  I think there are a number of reasons why we love working with paper. It’s tactile for one, regardless of the amazing advancements in technology happening everyday, there’s still a real sense of satisfaction to hold something in your hands and read the message a friend or loved one has written. We love that we’re part of a movement to encourage the art of the handwritten note, to have a much more personal interaction with someone than to shoot off a text quickly to thank someone or wish them a happy birthday. It’s much more meaningful and tangible to take the time to pick out a card, write a thoughtful note and to mail or deliver that card in person and see their reaction to it. And of course, once the card has served its purpose - it’s recyclable!

Etsy Paper:  Who is your biggest fan?
Paper Freckles:  My wife Coleen is my biggest fan but my Mom comes in a very close second. I think they might arm wrestle to see who’s the biggest fan when they see this. Coleen and I work incredibly well together as a team and we’re always extremely proud of each other’s dedication or when the other accomplishes something. 

Mother/Father's Day Card

Etsy Paper:  How do you get the word out about your products?
Paper Freckles:  We have a number of channels to communicate with folks. We have a pretty vibrant community on Instagram (Stalk us! @paperfreckles) that we love to interact with and we post daily there. We post to our Facebook page and we also like to do craft & art fairs so we can see peoples reaction to our cards first hand.

Etsy Paper:  What equipment do you use?
Paper Freckles:  Everything starts out analog. I keep a small notepad with me at all times to jot down ideas or sketches I can return to. I will also set aside time to write and work on ideas for cards - just copy though. Then I usually sketch quick thumbnails of the strongest ideas to go over with Coleen. We then decide which ideas work best and then I begin to illustrate and letter the card concept at full size. I then clean everything up, ink the illustrations and then it gets scanned and I finish up the rest of the design digitally.

Etsy Paper:  What or who is your biggest inspiration? 
Paper Freckles:  My biggest inspiration has to be the world around me and the level of seriousness that people display about life in general. I definitely think there’s a time and a place to address things in a tactful and, I guess, a “serious” way. But overall, I think life is so silly and odd and amazing that I prefer to poke fun at it… You know, we don’t create sympathy cards for that very reason - we prefer to make people laugh at life and look at the bright side. There are plenty of other card designers that do a great job with sympathy cards so we’ll leave it to them.

Divorce Card

Etsy Paper:  Do you have a favorite quote to share?
Paper Freckles:  The famous jazz musician Charlie Parker once said something like this, “Master your instrument. Master the music. And then forget all that bullsh*t and just play.” I take that to mean you should respect the traditions of what you do as a craft but don’t let it set boundaries to your art.
There’s another one I like, “Grown-ups do not exist. They’re just children who take themselves far too seriously.” I wrote that one :)

Etsy Paper:  What has been your favorite comment from purchasers about your product?
Paper Freckles:  There’s several but I like:
“Oh my god that’s terrible!” (Said while doubled over laughing)
“This is the perfect opposite of some love-y, mush-y card you find in the store.”

How fun are they!  Paper Freckles is an amazingly fun shop. 

Until next time,
Jenni
Etsy Paper Team
Captain

MaterialWhirlCollage

Looking for something unique to buy for someone or even yourself?  MaterialWhirlCollage has a fantastic mix of paper related items.

Paper Ephemera

Etsy Paper:  Tell us a little about yourself.
Matthew:  I'm a self-taught collage artist who has been fascinated by every sort of paper-related item for as long as I can remember. I started making collages several years ago because I longed to be a landscape painter but discovered I had absolutely no talent for it, however I could put together very nice looking pseudo-landscape scenes from little bits of paper. I live with my partner and several cats in Central Florida, outside of the tourist area in what some have described as “the middle of nowhere”. For several years, I was the president of our local art group, and have also taught collage and weaving classes locally.

Etsy Paper:  When did you open your shop on Etsy?
Matthew:  I opened my own Etsy shop in September of 2011, after having been a non-selling member of Etsy for quite a bit longer.

Etsy Paper:  Tell us about your shop.
Matthew:  In my shop I sell collages (both originals and reproductions in various formats), and a somewhat random assortment of other paper-related items including a variety of vintage paper, old greeting cards, playing cards, envelopes and stamps, that make very good supplies for other people's projects. My original collages are almost all postcard size, and I have recently been very excited about getting a wonderful new scanner that lets me digitize the originals with such good resolution that they can be printed as large as 16x20. Lately I have also been listing a few excess items from my own collections, such as Diana-era royal magazines and Absolut Vodka ads. I also always have one listing going for handwoven triangular shawls, which I make as a custom order.

Vintage Magazine

Etsy Paper:  What inspires you?
Matthew:  The thing that inspires me most is interesting or unusual color combinations. A lot of my collage paper comes from old recycled magazines, which my neighbors bring me in copious quantity. I generally lay several of them out in a row and turn the pages of each one randomly as they lay side-by-side until I see colors that look pleasing together. The colors themselves are more important than the object or person that the magazine photo is of. In fact, I will often cut the background away from the primary part of the image, and only use the background in my collages. Once I find a group of colors and patterns I like, I tend to go off on binges of making as many collages as possible of a particular set of paper until it's all used up. Another place I visit fairly regularly for inspiration is a wonderful website I discovered years ago called colourlovers.com that is all about creating palettes of colors and then using them to color pre-made patterns, which can also become ideas for future collages.

Cat Collage

Etsy Paper:  What type of work space do you have and what equipment and supplies do you use?
Matthew:  My work space is as simple and compact as it could be: I make my postcard size collages on a clipboard on my lap, generally while in front of the television set, with the old magazines arrayed in front of me on the coffee table and the floor. Sometimes I will set myself a challenge, such as that the collage has to be finished in a specific amount of time, or can only contain the paper I can reach from my seat without standing up. I generally start out by ripping the paper into the shapes I want, but also I have a small Fiskars paper trimmer for straight cuts and a very tiny craft scissors for detailed cutting. I have a few paper punches for tiny shapes and corners, but my larger pieces are always cut by hand – I never use a die-cutter. I prefer a Zig glue pen for the shiny magazine paper, and Elmer's gel glue (the green stuff) applied with a small paintbrush for other types. The backings of my collages are generally cut from food packaging boxes (cereal, pasta, etc) that are shiny on the outside and flat grey on the inside – I find that the paper sticks really well to the shiny side. I really like the fact that I can fit all of my supplies and equipment into one canvas tote bag and take them with me easily if I'm on the road.


Etsy Paper:  Do you remember the first item you made, and if so, do you still have it?

Matthew:  I'm sure I must have made collages as a child in school or summer camp, but I don't have any of those anymore. My current collage project, which I started at the beginning of 2010, was inspired by the artists who commit to doing one piece per day – one painting, one collage, etc. – so naturally, in addition to the actual collages, there has to be a website. Mine is here: thematerialwhirl.wordpress.com, and while I confess that I haven't even come close to one per day, the fact that each collage is “immortalized” on my blog means that I never forget them, even if the original has been sold or given away. Having digital versions of the entire set also means that no design is ever final – sometimes even when I no longer have the original, I will go back and tweak the digital version if I get a new idea. For example, two of the very first collages I made in this project were a matched pair that said “Happy” on one and “New Year” on the other. I no longer have the actual collages, but later I put the two together digitally with a seasonal message underneath, to create a New Year's greeting card that I list in my shop at the appropriate time of year.

Concert Ticket Tags

Etsy Paper:  Is there a certain motif that you are repeatedly drawn to?
Matthew:  There are two things that I often do on my collages. The first is that I like to “frame” them by cutting out pictures of frames from old art magazines and gluing pieces of them onto the collage. Generally not an entire frame, but maybe one side, or just a couple of the corners – just a suggestion of framing. Sometimes when people see one of these from across the room, they think it's actually framed, and only when they get up close do they realize that the frame itself is also more paper. The other thing is a sunburst paper punch that I found a few years ago. I liked the idea that some artists have a “trademark” that can always be found in their work, so I've started to always put at least one sunburst on each of my more recent collages whenever the design lends itself to that.


Etsy Paper:  How many different selling venues do you use?
Matthew:  Etsy is my primary selling venue for selling my actual physical items. I also have listed a number of my collages on Fine Art America, which is a print-on-demand site. (You upload the digital image, and the customer can order that image in any number of different formats and sizes.) But with both of those sites, and probably every other one too, you are competing against so many other sellers for the attention of the customer that it's essential to promote yourself additionally, both in person and on social media.


Etsy Paper:  Do you have a favorite quote to share?
Matthew:  Years ago, when I was attempting to become a writer, someone told me this quote, which has been attributed to many people, but primarily to Oscar Wilde: “There are three rules for writing a great novel. Unfortunately, nobody knows what they are.” I printed that quote out on my computer and had it hanging on my wall for a long time, and I realize now that it is also true of art and any other that people try. There are lots of people who claim to have the secret to being a top Etsy seller, but the fact is that if there really were three rules that we could all discover, we would all be top Etsy sellers. I just keep making my little collages and putting them out there and hoping that people will find pleasure and interest in them.

What a great shop!  Matthew and MaterialWhirlCollage are undoubtedly unique.

Until next time,
Jenni
Etsy Paper
Team Captain

ALittleLemonadeStand

Feeling crafty?  Want to write someone special?  Have a pen pal?  Too many old photos? ALittleLemonadeStand has just what you need to get yourself together.

Etsy Paper:  Tell us a little about yourself.
Valley:  I live in Alaska with my husband, Brian, and our tribe of creative children, who range from age one to age 16. (Yes, even the baby is creative- he picked up a pencil and started scribbling at nine months old!)

Etsy Paper:  When did you open your shop on Etsy?
Valley:  I opened my Etsy shop in the summer of 2012, on a whim. At first, it was completely my own little enterprise, but my girls soon started making cards for me to sell. Later, Brian got this crazy idea to buy a commercial laser cutting and engraving machine. His reason for getting it (at least, the one he used to win me over) was so we could design and make our own rubber stamps. That's been a dream of mine for years. Of course, the laser machine has been used for a lot of projects. We started making paper and chipboard die cuts right away, and have been selling them and using them on finished projects to sell as well. The rubber stamps took longer to get started with, mostly because we only recently found a source of odor-free rubber at a reasonable price. They've just hit the shop, and I'm very excited about it!

Die Cuts

Etsy Paper:  Tell us about your shop.
Valley:  We sell a variety of items for scrapbooking and papercrafts. Our most popular sellers are the snail mail supplies, mixed embellishment packs, and mini albums. We also sell handmade cards, scrapbook kits, exclusive die cuts and rubber stamps designed and made by Brian, crocheted items and shrink plastic charms made by our daughters, general crafting supplies like flowers and buttons, and whatever else finds its way from our creative minds into our shop. Most of our sales come from custom orders.

Snail Mail Kit

Etsy Paper:  Are you a clean or messy crafter?
Valley:  My abundance of creativity just explodes sometimes, and I make a huge mess! It can spread into two or three rooms of the house! I'm a perfectionist in a lot of ways, though, so I like to clean up the little scraps as I go, and have “organized piles” all around my work-space. And I'm very picky and detail oriented on my projects, especially the ones I sell. I have to make sure everything is glued on really well, and all the edges line up, and that kind of thing. My work-space is a disaster, but my finished product is carefully executed.

Etsy Paper:  Name your top items that you cannot live without.
Valley:  I have a kit of basics on hand for every project. ADHESIVES: my Scotch Advanced Tape Glider, photo splits, glue dots, and 3D foam squares. TOOLS: my guillotine paper trimmer, sharp scissors, and a Crop-o-dile. PENS: my big set of Stampin' Up markers and a fine-tipped, archival, black or brown marker. INKPADS: black Stayz-On and Tim Holtz distress ink in antique linen and walnut stain. And of course, lots of PAPER! 

Etsy Paper:  What is your first crafting memory?
Valley:  I remember cutting pictures out of catalogs and making collages from the time I was very small. I have an old letter my mom wrote to a friend, in which she tells about teaching me to use scissors when I was a toddler. (She expressed her puzzlement that I kept switching the scissors to my right hand, even though I used a pencil and spoon in my left hand. I still can only cut with my right hand, despite being left-handed. And I still do things differently than other people expect me to!) I can thank my mom for putting scissors in my hand, putting up with my creative messes, and providing me with endless supplies for my art. She still does to this day. Just last month, we got a box in the mail with random oddments, fun stuff for the kids, a book about metal-forging for Brian, and a stack of scrapbook paper and stationery for me.

Etsy Paper:  Is there someone in your life that may have inspired your creativity?
Valley:  Although I get creative genes from both sides of the family, Mom was definitely the one who nurtured that creativity by providing the supplies, the space to work, and the introduction to all sorts of art techniques, as well as setting an example of automatic and unavoidable creativity in our day-to-day life. We did everything creatively, artistically, or with imagination. My siblings and I created art out of absolutely anything, and played dress-up and imaginary games daily. Our school projects were the ones the teachers asked to keep, to show future classes as an example.

Mom is a good cook, but she's never been much of a baker, because she likes to just throw things in without measuring precisely, and bake for however long (usually much too long). That works alright for chocolate chip cookies, since she likes them burnt anyway. But I guess it didn't work so well for bread and that kind of thing. Her technique makes for amazing soups and stews, though! And of course, over the years, she has surprised many people with all sorts of unique creations, from handmade Valentines to a humorous ticket book for a new mom, with a “ticket to motherhood” theme. You can see some of her art in our shop; we just listed a vintage pen and ink card that she drew, and had professionally printed, back in 1968.

Flower Embellishments

Etsy Paper:  If you could learn a new craft, what would it be? Why?
Valley:  I have been intrigued by needle-felting for years. I already have so many supplies (and projects in the works) in the paper-crafting realm, it's not practical for me to start a new hobby. But someday I will try needle-felting, and I just know I'll love it. I want to try making a realistic little chihuahua, with lots of personality. I would also love to furnish miniature dollhouses, or build the setting for a model train layout.

Etsy Paper:  Who is your biggest inspiration?
Valley:  When it comes to balancing my most important endeavor, raising my children, with growing a business out of my art, there is one person who inspires and amazes me: my childhood friend, Katie Berggren (owner of Etsy shop kmberggren). Somehow she combines purposeful, hands-on parenting with a fulfilling artistic career, using the talent God gave her and sharing it with the world. Her motherhood paintings touch hearts all over the globe, and yet she still finds time to spend two hours on the phone with me every few months, discussing everyday life and child-rearing, creativity and business, and reminiscing about our childhood. (We've been friends since preschool.) Katie totally cheers me on in my little business. She is always so excited to hear about a big order or a new product idea. I still remember how delighted she was the first time she heard me refer to myself as an artist. (We've been talking about introducing a kmberggren product line in our shop soon, so stay tuned.)

Etsy Paper:  Who is your biggest fan?
Valley:  My whole family is completely supportive, and Katie and I have been each other's fans for 25 years, but I would have to say my biggest fan is my dear friend, Nancy. She is absolutely my biggest cheerleader, and loves everything I create. She believed in my dream of being paid to scrapbook, years before it even seemed like a real possibility. She has been my best customer- she loves to share my cards with everyone she knows. Not to mention giving me the most delightful reviews in my shop feedback!

Romantic Card

I have another fan who deserves mention, and that is my friend Tangela, who originally bought scrapbooking items from me on eBay, found her way to my Etsy shop, and has become another of my best customers, and a friend of the family as well! It makes me smile to think about how someone who was originally a faceless customer has become someone I keep in touch with regularly, with whom I exchange cards on holidays, someone my kids know by name because she sent them a real 'message in a bottle'. Like Nancy, Tangela has nothing but praise for my work. Here's hoping all you other shop owners are also blessed with wonderful customers like mine!

To further support Valley and her family, checkout their website, NorthStarCrafts.com which they are just getting started.

That little Etsy shop sure is a family affair.  I love that!
Until next time,
Jenni
Etsy Paper
Team Captain

NyhaGraphics

For the month of March, I bring you Naomi.  Her work is creative, whimsy, and will bring out the child in all of us.  Her shop, NyhaGraphics, displays her amazing work.

Card

Etsy Paper:  Tell us a little about yourself.
Naomi:  Hello, I’m Naomi the creative for all the illustrated products in my store Nyha Graphics. I create all my products in a little studio in south London. I have a background in Visual Communication Design, specializing in illustration. I work part-time as Book Cover Designer for a publisher and the other half of the time I’m designing and creating products or promoting my Etsy store and selling wholesale to local stores.

Etsy Paper:  When did you open your shop on Etsy?
Naomi:  I opened my Etsy store in the summer 2010.

Notebook

Etsy Paper:  Tell us about your shop.
Naomi:  In my store I sell greeting cards, stationery - notebooks, coloring page packs, mirrors, badges and a few limited edition prints. I have a basic necessity (or possible obsession) to draw, paint and make things, it got to a point I had created so much artwork decided to sell some.

I love to draw - cute stuff: birds; whimsical characters; cupcakes and typographic positive/motivation pieces and a few illustrated poems.

I have two styles: little pen & ink drawings with a light watercolor finish; and a children’s picture book style also pen and ink artwork, that is scanned and has a digital mixed media finished. All my products are printed professionally on watercolor quality recycled paper by my local / UK printers on FSC accredited paper.

Etsy Paper:  Do you have a favorite quote to share?
Naomi:  "Creativity takes courage." - Henri Matisse

Etsy Paper:  When your creativity gets blocked/clogged, what do you do or where do you go to get inspired and create again?
Naomi:  I go to a art exhibition / gallery or I’ll go shopping to a art/craft shop, gift and card shop. I love little independent or design led shops like Diverse in Brixton, Paperchase or Tate Modern Gift Shop or ETC in Angel bursting will inspiration for me.

Coloring Set

Etsy Paper:  What is it about paper that you love?
Naomi:  I love the feel of the grain, the pureness of paper, the variations of options in weight and color. I love the way my ink sits on the paper or the paint absorbs into the paper.

Etsy Paper:  Where do you feel at peace, free from all the pressure of family and work?
Naomi:  At the seaside or a beach, I love looking out to the horizon, such pure beauty and the sound of waves splashing in and rushing out is extremely relaxing.

Etsy Paper:  How do you fix your "mistakes"? Do you have tricks to salvage your work, or do you just start over and "turn over a new page"?
Naomi:  Although I use Adobe Photoshop and InDesign and my final artwork is a digital mix. I try not to tamper with the original artwork very much. So as much as I hate to start again, as a illustrator it is great practice to start over and not to be too precious about a piece. I like my work to look loose and painty with space to let the paper breathe. If I overwork a piece or spill my Indian ink, I will start again. After all the second could be that much better…Fingers crossed.

Art Print

Etsy Paper:  Why do you do what you do?
Naomi:  I create because it is my passion, I’ve found pleasure with drawing since I found my first crayons and truly can’t imagine not being creative. Creating art is a great slice of bliss, I loose track of time, feel like I achieved something, made someone happy and it relaxes me.

Etsy Paper:  What has been your favorite comment from purchasers about your product?
Naomi:  My favorite comment was a review for one of my 2014 calendars from a lady in Canada.
“A delightful calendar that will cheer anyone up every day! It was sent quickly and had some treats tucked in to make me smile as wide as can be...Naomi spreads kindness around the world with her work!”

And I think that's the perfect quote to end with.  That is one of the joys of buying from Etsy, handmade items, packed with care and kindness.  Way to go NyhaGraphics!

Until next time,
Jenni
Etsy Paper
Team Captain

Scrappy Seahorse

This month I thought you'd enjoy reading about a shop with a whole lot of love.  Just in time for Valentine's Day and planning a June wedding, ScrappySeahorse has so much to choose from.  Now let's get to know the owner, Megan!

Etsy Paper:  Tell us a little about yourself.
Scrappy Seahorse:  My Name is Megan Cichorz and I live in a tiny rural community called Pantego, NC. It is about an hour from the Outer banks one direction and an hour from Greenville in the other. I live here with my wonderful hubby, 4 great kids, 4 chickens, 2 cats, 1 dog, 1 fish, and 1 tortoise.

Etsy Paper:  When did you open your shop on Etsy?
Scrappy Seahorse:  The idea of starting my own art/craft business has been a lifelong dream that grew into a beginning concept a few years ago, before I had ever heard of Etsy. I went the route of taking some formal studies in Art and Design at East Carolina University and dabbled with a few craft shows. Then this past year I hit a few milestones: I turned 40, celebrated my 20th anniversary, and began designing my oldest daughter’s upcoming wedding. In the midst of all the wedding planning a lightbulb went off in my head and within a few weeks Scrappy Seahorse Designs officially opened. That was June of 2014.

Save the Date Scratch Offs

Etsy Paper:  Tell us about your shop.
Scrappy Seahorse:  My shop focuses on what I call truly handmade paper goods and accessories for weddings and celebrations. I stress the ‘truly handmade” because my work stands apart from mass printed/purely digital work that you usually find in the wedding world. Each of my pieces or invitations goes through my hands with every cut, punch, brush stroke, stamp, and ribbon tie. This gives my invitations, guest books, journals, etc. a really one-of-a-kind quality, which I think every bride wants for her special day.

Cake Topper

Etsy Paper:  Do you have a special place for your crafting, or does the kitchen table do double duty?
Scrappy Seahorse:  The shop started out in boxes and bins, then a table in my bedroom, and now it has ultimately become a full studio in what was our homeschool room. So now school takes over the kitchen table instead of my work.

Etsy Paper:  Are you a clean or messy crafter?
Scrappy Seahorse:  My kids just remarked the other day how I am a bit of a clean freak about the house, but a total mess in my craft room. I am huge multi-tasker so I have lists, scraps, projects, and half-done design concepts everywhere. I think of it as creative chaos.

Etsy Paper:  When your creativity gets clogged, what do you do or where do you go to get inspired and create again?
Scrappy Seahorse:  With weddings it is easy because there is a constant seasonal change with magazines and blogs to pull from. Plus, each bride has her own unique vision and ideas that I get to work off of.
I also get lots of ideas from my scraps. I may do an invitation and have 100 pieces of cut off paper that are the same size and shape. Those scraps will become a bookmark, or a set of favor tags, or maybe a new embellishment . Waste Not, Want not.

Gift Tags

Etsy Paper:  Where do you feel at peace, free from all the pressure of family and work?
Scrappy Seahorse:  Well, the cool thing about my shop is I get to be home with my family and this “work” is not work to me at all. My craft room is my peaceful haven. 

Etsy Paper:  What is your favorite item to make, the one that makes you smile just thinking about working on it?
Scrappy Seahorse:  My favorite item to make is my wedding invitations. I love getting to convo the brides on every little detail, so we can create something that fits their vision for their Big Day. It is fun to make something that gives someone such joy. My Scrappy Seahorse brides are always so cute, because who isn’t full of excitement when choosing things for their wedding day.

Wedding Invitation

Etsy Paper:  Why do you do what you do?
Scrappy Seahorse:  Art has always been a huge part of who I am, but back in college I chose a career in nursing out of practicality. That job has been great and provided well over the years, but throughout my nursing career I have always pursued my art on the side. My favorite saying was always “I want to be an artist when I grow up.” So, with all of my milestones from this past year, I decided that this was a great time to work on my grown-up goal. The great thing is… now I can say…” Hi. I am Megan Cichorz, a wife, mother, homeschooler, and now owner/artist/designer at Scrappy Seahorse Designs.”

Megan sure does have a lot on her plate, so inspirational.  Her shop, www.etsy.com/shop/ScrappySeahorse, has the perfect mix of vintage-inspired, rustic, feminine, and modern.

Until next time,

Jenni

Etsy Paper Team, Captain