Sponsor Spotlight: Paper-Treats

FREE IMAGES You all know I'm a pretty big lover of words, but when it comes to crafts and design, well, let's just say that my skills are pretty lacking. Today, friends, I'm excited to share a fun interview with Deanna of Paper-Treats, a Rhode Island-based paperie and design studio. She has a knack for combining both, and the results are beautiful. Read on for Deanna's behind-the-scenes story, what she loves about owning her own shop and her awesome shopping tips! xoxo

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Official Web site: Paper-Treats
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So tell me a bit about your shop and the inspiration behind its launch.
Paper-Treats is a paperie and design studio that showcases my work. I love to dream up designs for invitations, cards and all sorts of paper goods. When I got married, I loved designing all of the little details for my wedding from the invitations to the table numbers. Soon after, a friend asked me to design her wedding invitations. Before I knew it, more people were looking for wedding invitations. This sparked Paper-Treats. I recently launched a greeting card line when I realized that I struggled to find the perfect cards in stores.

Where do the ideas for your designs come from?
My greeting card designs are inspired by things that I find in nature, design blogs, magazines and on Pinterest. I carry a little sketchbook with me at all times where I doodle down inspiring ideas that I see. My one-of-a-kind designs are inspired by the person that requests them. I like to learn about my clients before I begin to design. Through a series of design concepts, we come up with the ideal solution for them. Sometimes the bride isn't sure what she wants. I look at this as an adventure instead of a challenge. I love to gather and share inspiration with them so that they can tell me what they see and like.

What's your favorite part of owning your own shop? What has surprised you the most?
My favorite part of owning my own shop is using my imagination. I love to be creative and just have fun trying to imagine what people want. It feels really great to take something from concept to reality; for me, it's really about the journey as much as the final product.

What is your advice for people looking for great online shopping deals?
I think the more you browse, the smarter the shopper you will be. You'll start to recognize who really cares about their craft. Ultimately, the best deals are when you find items that give you the most pleasure for your dollar. If you appreciate great design and can get it for a fair price, then everyone wins!

What is your favorite item in your shop and why?
This is a really tough question...I have favorite bits and pieces of each project. If I had to pick, I would say my wedding suite for Dana & Colin. I loved working with them. Dana was so open to any and all ideas. She was so excited throughout the entire process. We pulled inspiration from everywhere. Each piece is so unique but still works together with the other pieces. This project let me be a fine artist and a designer. I created a custom font style for their names by hand and then brought it to the computer. Seeing everything together -- from the folded invitation, stamp, post card, etc. -- really makes me smile!