I sold my first greeting card in 2003.
At the time, I was drowning in endless hours staring at Excel, cranking out economic forecast models for developing Asian economies. My soul desperately needed a creative outlet. I’ve always been crafty, and I turned to collage as a way to recharge and breathe some joy into my life.

The first cards I made were one-offs, little vignettes on top of a matchbox. You couldn’t see the box at first, and even when you did, it wasn’t immediately obvious there was more to discover. If you were curious, you’d pull a ribbon or a tassel and the box would open, with just enough room to stash a note or mini gift. Within my cards hid the joy of solving a puzzle.

Twenty years later, this is still my creative raison d’etre. Instead of building hidden storage from tiny boxes and pulleys, I now play with words. My award-winning cards offer the delight of that aha! moment, the under-your-breath satisfaction of discovering the pun, and the joyful anticipation of sharing that delicious little tidbit with someone else—an ever-growing cascade of joy, built one card at a time.

Marina
Greenville, Rhode Island