| Remember your childhood dreams? Did you pursue them? Are you happy that you did? As a child, April knew what she wanted to be. Encouraged by her mother, she was constantly crafting from her imagination. Going beyond her wildest dreams and actually being successful, and today making a living doing what she really LOVES. She developed her entrepreneurial skills at a very young age, selling her her crafted goods, art, as well as making unique gifts for her loved ones. She would sign her work with ‘April’s Ideas,’ her first “hallmark stamp” on the back of her work. Little did she know then that would soon be the beginning of her career as an artist. With her childhood dreamed materialized she is successfully running her product line, known as A.I. Paper Designs. |
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April received her degree in special education from Eastern Michigan University, however she did not go on to become a teacher. Her creative spark never left and she continued creating and selling handcrafted picture frames, photo albums, and greeting cards at art fairs.April attended 34 art fairs one year! Thats an average of 3 a month – give or take a few, of course she had her, then boyfriend now husband, Steve for support. She knew from the beginning that her business would thrive after selling a significant amount in one show. Soon after local craft retailers suggested her to wholesale her goods, a giant leap of faith – but one she took with great confidence.A.I. Paper Design become so successful April and Steve needed a small staff to support their ever growing business. They knew that they had arrived when they attended their first New York wholesale show! |
| They quickly outgrew their studio in Berkley and relocated to a larger space in Royal Oak, MI. Their expansion led them to open up their own retail gift shop known as Catching Fireflies. A.I. Paper design is currently represented in 400 retail gift shops across the USA, and Artcraft is proud to be one of them. |
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In 2010 A.I. Paper design celebrated their “official” 10 years in business and with their success they wanted to give back to the art community by establishing Yellow Door Art Market, a 3,600 sq ft venue that local artists could set up their own permanent mini-gallery without worry of the logistics of customer service and marketing. “ I felt it was a way to give [artists] exposure… you have to be different and buy things that touch people and make them feel good. It’s a big part of who we are” says April. Yellow Door carries handmade items from over 60 Michigan artists, students, and authors inspiring them to follow their dreams. | ||
| Just like April, Artcraft is living the artful dream every day! We love representing amazing artists and their stories! Make Sure to check out April’s new collection of amazing items HERE! | |||
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