The Paper Craft Studio has the solution for creating the perfect card for that special someone and occasion. Whether you are celebrating a birthday, a holiday or an anniversary, finding a card can be an overwhelming endeavor. Nevertheless, this can be made easier by having a card designed with a vision in which one’s personality can be integrated into the card.
Silvia Rodriguez, a KSU junior, created the Paper Craft Studio blog in July 2008. The blog site became Rodriguez’s platform to share her passion for paper craft creations, especially handmade cards.
A couple of months after the Paper Craft Studio blog launched, Rodriguez started receiving inquiries from visitors about how and where they could purchase Rodriguez’s unique cards. Rodriguez decided to open an Etsy account and linked it to the Paper Craft Studio blog.
Before starting her blog, Rodriguez took colored pencil lessons and online copic marker classes. Rodriguez reads graphic design books that concern color theory, texture, composition and balance, and how to create the perfect focal point on your designs. In April, Rodriguez will be taking private Adobe Illustrator and graphic design lessons online to further enhance her card-making skills.
She emphasizes that her cards are unique, and the materials are specially ordered from companies that make limited supplies of items such as ribbons, buttons and crocheted flowers. For a more professional look, Rodriguez only uses the best quality of materials and embellishments that the scrapbook industry offers.
Because the materials and embellishments that she orders from scrapbook companies are usually limited, Rodriguez states that one of her goals is to make sure that her handmade cards are one of a kind. Additionally, Rodriguez rarely repeats a design once a card is created, which makes her handmade cards even more exclusive.
However, Rodriguez mentions that she would be happy to recreate any of the cards on her blog. Rodriguez has worked on several holiday- themed cards including Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween and Valentine’s Day. In addition, she can create a card in which someone gives ideas or details of what design or theme they have envisioned.
Junior Criminal Justice major Sirlene Felkins is a fan of Rodriguez’s creations.
“Silvia’s work is very unique, and I wanted to get something special for my office that people would be touched by, so I got the Owl Be There card,” Felkins said. “I have it in my office—it is a message that ‘Owl Be There’ for my husband, my family and my job. And it is cute because the owl is a symbol for the KSU Owls.”
Rodriguez said that it takes her up to two and a half hours to create a card, depending on the design. For instance, a single layer card can be completed in about one hour. Cards that have lots of layers and outlined stamp images require more time to complete. For more information, please visit http://thepapercraftstudio.blogspot.com or contact Silvia Rodriguez at sil4creativespace@gmail.com.
