From Crayons to An Apple Pencil; How I Started WPD
I have had a love for stationary and organization since I was young. As a kid I collected stickers and would beg my parents to take me to teach-mart with the money I saved up to buy a Webkinz and stickers. Foreal, it was an obsession. I participated in every art show my school held and spent my free time drawing & painting.
By the time I got to college, my family joked & would say planning & organization was a legitimate hobby of mine which always felt silly but it was true. I pursued a degree in Human Resources because every aptitude test said I would be good at it. Driven by ambition, I graduated with my Bachelors Degree in just 2.5 years. I joined the workforce at age 21 & quickly felt burnt out & uninspired by corporate America. I wasn't using my planner, painting or expressing myself creatively at all. (we don't talk about it)
Until one day I thought "this can't be God's plan for me". My sister for the 100th time recommended I start sharing my planner spreads online & the seed was finally planted. I went home & did all the research I could. I purchased a new planner from Plum Paper, created an Instagram & joined a beautiful creative planner community. I quickly jumped back into the things I love and was drawing/creating stickers for my spreads. I downloaded the free version of Cricut and attempted to make a sticker sheet. After much trial and error I did it. The excitement seeing my own creation brought me was a new feeling. I knew then, this was my purpose.
I then had the crazy idea that I should share my designs with the world and build my own stationary brand. I purchased a how to open an Etsy shop guide & got straight to work. For weeks after that, I spent most nights eating a frozen dinner at my computer developing my shop, drawing, & learning. Throughout the creation of my shop, God has put two things on my heart while guiding the way. Psalm 34:4 "God delivered me from all my fears" became my mantra and truly helped free me from my fears. Also, I have had the repeated thought and reminder of 'If you don't live out your dreams, someone else will live them out for you'. Those have helped guide me to get Pixel Paper, now Willow Paper Designs started.
Willow Paper Design; the perfect mix of digital and paper designs. To my younger self, thank you for your courage. To you, thank you for supporting my dream.
