I make and sell handmade cards, bookmarks and gift tags!
How did you get started and what motivated you to start?
Since 2016, I’ve strived to provide uniquely handmade cards, bookmarks and gift tags to help people gift more thoughtfully and save them from awkward gift-giving situations. I chose to start my own business because I was (and still am) sick and tired of the impersonal, mass-produced cards in the market today. I'm sure you feel the same.
I love helping my customers spread positivity. It's another reason Thoughtfully Handmade exists! What better way to spread positivity than with cards? I mean, you don’t give someone a card for a negative reason, right? Let's all start being more thoughtful and intentional with our actions!
I love creating my tag cards- they’re just so much fun to make!
What themes do you pursue in your creations?
I only use scrapbooking techniques with my cards. So that means it’s all paper, stamping, inks and embellishments!
Where do you work on your creations?
I make all of my cards at home in my study.
How do you occupy your mind while working?
I always have a TV show or YouTube video on while I create. Recently, I’ve been re-watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine since it’s one of my favourite shows!
I get most of my inspiration from pretty pattern papers and colours.
What's the most difficult part of the process?
The most difficult has to be translating the image in my head into paper. Sometimes, there is a disconnect, and what I create with paper doesn’t reflect the design that I thought of. For example, some colours and designs seem to work in my head but in reality, they clash!
I created a card series with __karonn__ who writes poetry promoting self-love. All of my cards in the Positive Change series are my favourites. Maybe it’s because I used a lot of purples and that’s my favourite colour!
I choose to put hours of hard work and thought into every single card, bookmark and gift tag that I create. By buying one of my cards, not only are you supporting a small business and a crafter, but you are also helping Seniors With Skills. They are a new non-profit organization dedicated to preventing seniors from social isolation. Ten cents from every item that I sell will be going towards their operational costs.
I’m a full-time student at the University of Toronto pursuing a double major in Criminology and Philosophy!
I have a website where you can find a full collection of my cards: thoughtfullyhandmade.com. You can also find my cards at the Oakhill Marketplace in Brantford (https://www.facebook.com/oakhillmarketplace/) and Dini and Co in Georgetown (https://www.diniandco.com/).
Meet Yandy on Dec 7th at 90 Hunter St East in Peterborough, 10am-2pm!