MaxAndMila

Let me introduce you to Amanda from MaxandMila

Real Men Eat Cupcakes

I had a chance to interview Amanda, this is what she had to say.

Etsy Paper:   Tell us a little about yourself. 
Amanda:  My name is Amanda, and I am a wife of 2 years and a mom of a 16 month old, Mila. When Mila was born, my husband and I began exploring avenues that would allow me to stay home with her. With a background in web and traditional media graphics design, I was fortunate to find a couple of steady positions that I could do at home after Mila had gone to bed. Since my professional work day begins at 8pm, I pay the price of sleep to stay at home with my precious baby everyday... and it is well worth it. I hope that one day I can expand my Etsy shop and generate enough revenue that it can be my primary professional focus.  My husband and I are expecting our next child in February. We are keeping gender a surprise until the birth, but if we have a boy, we will have the Max for our Mila. We live in Birmingham, Alabama.

Etsy Paper:  When did you open your shop on Etsy?  

Amanda:  Max and Mila opened in August of 2012, so we have been in business for a little over a year!

Etsy Paper:  Tell us about your shop.

Amanda:  Max and Mila has an indie/natural/simplistic vibe, and I sell wedding invitations, save-the-date cards, children's birthday invitations, party packages, posters and shower invitations. Most of my products are customized digital files, but I am in the process of transitioning into a finished-product based shop. In the near future, we will be focused on selling complete wedding and invitation sets.  

Wedding Invitations

Etsy Paper:  What inspires you? 
Amanda:  I'm primarily inspired by nature and vintage design. I like to keep it simple and clean.

Floral Baby Shower Invitation

Etsy Paper:  What is your favorite technique/your "specialty"?

Amanda:  My specialty is wedding invitation design, and you'll be able to see more of that in the updates to come. I love being a part of someone's special day, and I know that invitations and print materials can play a huge role in setting the tone for a wedding or event.

Etsy Paper:  When you look at some of the first projects you made, do you want to tear them up and start over?

Amanda:  Absolutely! This is one of the major struggles in building Max and Mila into a more robust shop. Every month or so, I look back over my designs and want to take most of them down and start over!
 

Etsy Paper:  What software do you use? 
Amanda:  I use Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator CS6.

Birthday Invitation

 

Etsy Paper:  What type of work space do you have? Did you have to clear away something in your home to find the space?

Amanda:  I work from the couch or kitchen table. Granted, I can only stay in the same position for a short period of time. I'll be standing behind my couch with my laptop propped on top, then I'll be propping my feet up kicked back on the sofa, and then I'll be sitting perfectly straight on the edge of my dining room chair... all in a matter of thirty minutes. 

What a great shop!  Please take a peek at all Amanda's items.  She has some great things to offer.  

Until next time,
Jenni
Etsy Paper Team, Captain  
 

Member Spotlight - catSCRAPPIN

Hello everyone! Time for another EtsyPaper Team Spotlight!

Meet Lana of catSCRAPPIN! 

Friends don't let friends drink coffee alone

Lana has been in the crafting industry since 1999. She started in scrapbooking and switched to cardmaking. She also ran a internet scrapbooking site for 4 years named catSCRAPPIN. Lana opened a brick and mortar rubberstamping shop in 2002 and sold it in 2006. Something she still regrets. But after being diagnosed with MS, it is something she just can't do anymore. 

Lana lives in Fort Wayne, IN with her husband. They have been married since 1994. All her kids have had tails. They sponsor 4 girls from compassion.com. 

Lana has always been a night owl. She says her best hours are 9pm-5am. This is the time she works on cards and fills orders. 

Lana opened her etsy account in 2009. But didn't start selling until 2012. 

Lana likes to sell greeting cards. But she can't make enough items to 
have a full shop. So she also carries card making supplies.

We asked Lana if she has a special space for her crafting, or does the kitchen table do double duty? This was her response:

"This one is hysterical. I have a whole entire craft house. 
Now remember I have been collecting since 1999. 

Cardstock is in the kitchen cabinets. Pattered paper is on boxes on the dining room table. Coloring upstairs. Glitter and embossing powder in the dungeon.

I have pics on my facebook page and about page." 

www.etsy.com/shop/catSCRAPPIN/about/
www.facebook.com/catSCRAPPIN

On your Wedding Day

We also asked Lana if she has a favorite crafting book, magazine or tv show? Lana says her favorite crafting magazine is "Just Cards by Scrap & Stamp Arts". They are her favorite because she has been published in them over 20 times. She has lost count but she has made 3 covers.

Just Christmas Volume 1
Just Cards! Volume 17
Scrap & Stamp Arts - March 2009www.scottpublications.com/catalog/default.php/cPath/114_116

And finally we asked Lana what are the five craft items she can't live without. She says

"Five items I can't craft without. LOL yeah right. I need about 20 items minimum! I always laugh at these questions."

paper and cardstock
rubberstamps and ink
Spellbinder dies and big shot
embossing folders
Copic markers

Paper trimmer
silhouette die cutter
adhesive
laser printer

Lana only sells online and to friends and says she is definitely a messy crafter. She says she has to craft every single day. If she takes a break she gets stuck for months.

Happy Birthday

Stop by her shop at catSCRAPPING on Etsy

Member Spotlight - Craftstudiopaper

The Etsypaper team on Etsy is growing and growing! We'd like to take the time to give the world a chance to get to know the fabulous team shops and their owners.

Starting with our Team Captain - Craftstudiopaper!!!



Chrystal, the owner of Craftstudiopaper on Etsy, has been making handmade papers since 1996.  At first it was just a hobby but it has turned into a passion that she never wants to give up. She has a closet full of scraps waiting to be made into beautiful handmade papers!



Chrystal's handmade papers are made using papers that would otherwise have ended up in the trash. Her handmade papers are not dyed in any way. The color comes from the scraps and her papers are very colorful.



She enjoys experimenting with shapes and add-ins such as flowers and glitter.



Stop by and check out Craftstudiopaper on Etsy!
You might find the perfect handmade paper for your project!

Click here for more items from the Etsypaper team!

Meet CardNotions of Etsy Paper

We have for you today another great member of our Etsy Paper Street Team. Take a load off and learn about Wendy with CardNotions and her creative process.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I grew up in the Midwest in a home with cut flower arrangements that were lovely and captivating, food that was too pretty to dig into, and fun activities like sketching portraits and making origami animals.  My mom added that special artistic touch to everything.  I loved to watch her do sumi painting, arrange pressed flowers, and practice calligraphy.  However, I never really exercised my artistic inclinations until I moved to Oregon with my husband and children a few years ago.  My kids are now grown and doing amazing things out in the world.

After spending many years at jobs focused mainly on design engineering, I started using drafting software for architectural card design and learned how to use graphic design software to create colorful images.  Every year I accumulated more cards and ornaments, that I had designed solely for family and friends.

Last holiday season, I did my first arts/crafts bazaar and was pleasantly surprised with my moderate success.  Shortly after that I opened my online shop and really enjoyed the Etsy culture, which is friendly and supportive.  I have also been very fortunate to get so much encouragement from my family and friends. This continues to be a work in progress for me; I have much to learn and am enjoying the journey.

When did you open your shop on Etsy?

I opened CardNotions on Nov. 7, 2011.  It was just following my first Holiday bazaar. 

Tell us about your shop.

Here is my shop link  http://www.etsy.com/shop/cardnotions.  You will find pop-up greeting cards and invitations, as well as intricately cut cards and wooden ornaments.  All of my art and designs are original.  My fabrication process is so flexible that it allows me to quickly modify my artwork, sentiments and cutting on any item I make.  Therefore, I encourage custom requests and can make and ship most one-of-a-kind items within 24 hrs.  I also offer high-volume, precise duplicates of a single design.

Name top (3-5) items (for crafting purposes) that you cannot live without.

For my pop-up cards, materials that I can not live without include double-sided photo paper, double-sided adhesive tape and ink for my printer.  For my wooden ornaments I need good quality 1/8” wood, ribbon, and gold cord.  I also can not live without great photos and my graphic design software.

What is it about paper that you love?

I love that I can start with a flat sheet of paper, make some cuts and folds and end up with a 3D pop-up.  I also love using lots of colors, cute details and hidden messages whenever I can.  With a 3D card there is a lot more space to fill since you can look behind the pop-up image.

What is it about paper that draws you to create with it?

The paper I use is very resilient, able to spring into 3D after being rolled flat by USPS and able to remember the fold that I gave to it even after sitting open on a shelf or desk.  My technical side loves the mathematics and visualization needed for architectural card design.  My newly rediscovered artsy side enjoys the challenge of artistic design.

What inspires you?

I am inspired by nature and animals and spend much of my free time hiking, backpacking, and trail running.  That’s when I do my best conceptualizing.  I am also inspired, or maybe challenged is a better word, by ideas and suggestions from customers, friends, and family.  I’m quick to brainstorm new or unusual suggestions, treating each as a potential path to new products. It’s great to have my husband to bounce ideas off of.

Do you sell mostly online or at craft shows?

I sell both online and at art/craft shows.  Oregon is a great place for getting involved with art/craft fairs because something is going on every weekend and many tourists visit throughout the summer.  I sell a few items wholesale, and just recently was signed on as a supplier for “Made in Oregon”, which has shops at the Portland International Airport and throughout Oregon.  I am very excited about this new opportunity!

Please list your shop name and link and other places online we can find you.

My Etsy shop: CardNotions

My website: CardNotions

Facebook: CardNotions

Twitter: CnWendy             

My Etsy shop is pretty well kept.  My other online sites have been a bit more challenging, but I have been trying to learn and focus on improving.

Thanks so much Wendy for taking the time for this interview. Your work is amazing and we all wish you great success. You are definitely headed in the right direction!

If you are reading this, head on over to Wendy’s shop, CardNotions, and add her to your circles and as a favorite. I am sure that she would appreciate it.

The Etsy Paper Street Team

It's a Whimzy Life!

Today we are showcasing Etsy Paper Team Member Toria from Whimsy Life.

Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Toria Serviss, I am soon to be 22 years old and I'm from Cortland, NY. I live with Kyle, my boyfriend of almost 3 and a half years, and our cat, Kasumi.

When did you open your shop on Etsy?

I opened Whimzy Life on May 12, 2011. About a year and three months ago!

Tell us about your shop.

I sell decorations for weddings, birthdays, showers, home décor, etc. My items range from pinwheels, to banners, to poms...anything I can think of, really! My link to Whimzy Life is http://www.etsy.com/shop/WhimzyLife

Name top (3-5) items (for crafting purposes) that you cannot live without.

1.      Without my glue gun, I would get nowhere!

2.      Fun, bright, colorful papers

3.      My Martha Stewart edge punch...because everyone loves frilly edging. :)

What is it about paper that you love?

I love that paper is so versatile, and that it comes in endless prints and colors!

What is it about paper that draws you to create with it?

Paper draws me to create with it because I can really use my imagination while working with it. It can be cut, folded, curved, decoupaged, anything!

What inspires you?

I'm inspired by the happiness, excitement, enthusiasm, and encouragement I get from my friends, family, and wonderful customers. They all challenge me to dream big and work hard!

Do you sell mostly online or at craft shows?

So far I have only sold my items online but the idea of participating in a craft show seems like  a lot of fun. Hopefully I will get to join one sometime soon!

Please list your shop name and link and other places online we can find you.

You can find me on...

Etsy: Whimsy Life, http://www.etsy.com/shop/WhimzyLife

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WhimzyLife

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Whimzy-Life/248017355229101?ref=hl

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/toriaserviss/pretty-party-decorations/

Thank you Toria for your time and energy in taking part in our interview. I know that Toria of Whimsy Life would love for you to stop by her shop and follow her online. We, the Etsy Paper Street team, greatly appreciate our followers, too.

Thanks for stopping by. We will be back in a couple of weeks with our next Etsy Paper member spotlight.

Aletha and the Etsy Paper Street Team