I have known Chelsea for over a decade, we would get together and have brief chats about graphic design. I always thought her profession was interesting! I could always tell that she had a genuine passion for what she does.
I was in charge of planning my sisters 40th birthday party and I wanted a unique invitation. When I say unique I am talking about a library sign out card. Nicole (my sister) loves books, and writing. I knew Chelsea would be the right person for the job. Chelsea captured my vision, she is affordable, and those invitations were absolutely perfect!
When I created this blog I knew I had to introduce her to The Many Colors of Natalie readers. Everyone needs an invitation for something somewhere down the road and Chelsea can deliver! Enjoy the following interview!
1. Where does your passion for the arts stem from? What led you to becoming a graphic designer?
From a young age I was pretty artistic, drawing and sketching. When I was younger and in daycare I made a drawing of a fireplace at Christmas time and the daycare center ended up using it as their Christmas card for over 10+ years. I’d like to say my artistic skills come from my mom, she’s very artistic but in a different way. As far as becoming a graphic designer, I actually had no real idea of what I wanted to do after high school. I took art classes all four years in high school and really enjoyed them so it just seemed like the next step. I opted for a two-year program in case I really didn’t care for it instead of trying to stick it out for four years.
2. When did you realize you wanted to be an entrepreneur? What are some of the positives and negatives you experienced with having your own business?
I sort of fell into becoming an entrepreneur. Working full time for seven years as a graphic designer and then just straight quitting to become a stay at home mom was quite an adjustment on my part. After having my son and getting into a routine with him I was contacted by a current customer of my previous place of employment asking if I was interested in doing freelance designing for her. I made sure to ask permission from my previous place of employment and basically it just escalated from there. While at my old job I had gotten married and designed all my own invitations and print material associated with weddings. So, in designing my own invitations I had more friends and family see my work and come to me for designing their invitations and other printed materials. Word spread from family and friends to other friends of friends, then I joined the Wedding Group on Facebook and get most of my business from there. I still do get a few referrals from friends and family. I thought it was a good way to keep me updated on my design software if in case I’d like to return to working as a graphic designer. It was also nice to be able to do something I used to do in keeping my sanity after having a baby. And I also immensely enjoyed designing all the different invitations and nothing prided me more than hearing that is exactly what the bride and groom were looking for. I’d say my specialty is taking a few ideas that the bride and groom are looking for and combining them and creating a brand-new design with all the elements they are looking for. There are so many ideas out there that it is very overwhelming so being able to help a couple navigate through all the ideas and find what they are looking for is what makes me want to keep doing what I do. Mostly everything I’d say is on the positive side, being able to use my creativity and design basically how I want to but also keeping with what my clients are looking for. Being able to take on as much or as little work as I’d like. Having a fantastic local print shop, I use for all my printing is a nice bonus too, they know exactly what I need and they have helped me tremendously during this COVID period and shipping out my orders. I can work from my home and be able to do things with my kids. Technology has really helped in communicating with my clients via email, text, and video chat/FaceTime. The only negative aspect is having to answer to myself if there is a mistake made, there is no one else to blame so I take making a mistake and fixing it very seriously. I try my hardest to be affordable for what I offer and understanding of certain financial situations and am willing to working with clients if they have a specific budget that is around where my pricing is at.
3. Tell me a little about what Chelsea’s Custom Design Creations is? What makes your products unique? How can customers order your creations? How long does it take you to deliver a final product?
CCDC is basically a one stop shop for your digital printing needs. Mostly items on a smaller scale (for promotional items a digital file can be designed and purchased. I just don’t print that size of those items like banners and such), obviously wedding items, birthday, baby shower, graduation invitations. Also items I’ve designed are business cards, brochures, product sheets, and labels. My products are unique because they are basically designed from scratch, meaning no two items are exactly alike. Each order can be customized to exactly what the clients’ needs are, including the quantity, shape, size, colors and wording. What makes my products unique is you can order as little or as many as you need. There is no minimum quantity and not really a maximum either. And again, the design process I go through in designing what you are looking for, whether you are trying to combine certain ideas together. A lot of clients come to me with a few samples they found online that they like but not love, so it’s up to me to put them together to create the perfect invitation. For example, a client liked a certain way a rustic background looked on an invitation that had sunflowers on it but she wanted baby’s breath flowers instead. So, my job is to make a rustic invitation with baby’s breath instead of the original flowers. Or clients who need special wording on their invitations, like having step parents, deceased parents, or divorced parents but need to still follow the proper etiquette for invitation wording. A lot of fill in templates you find online don’t allow for those special requests or have limited room where a client might need to list three sets of parents. I can’t tell you how many clients have ordered products from me so I’d say that’s a pretty good thing! I do have quite a few repeat customers so that is always appreciated when the same client orders something different. I had a client who order Save the Dates, Wedding Invitations, Bridal Shower Invitations, Wedding Thank You Cards, and then Baby Shower Invitations and even 1st Birthday Invitations! I am always so thankful for those types of clients. As for delivery of products it all depends on the product. I pride myself in responding in a timely manner to messages that are sent with clear answers, emailing proofs of their products in a timely manner and delivering their product in a timely manner. I would say from start to finish for a wedding invitation order is less than two weeks, from basically the first initial ideas sent and a proof of the invitation emailed, to receiving a printed sample of your invitation, to shipping out the full order. Some smaller jobs like birthday invitations could take just a few days. But again, it all depends on the job, there are jobs that having finishing steps included in the product that might take a little longer.
4. What types of media (print/otherwise) have you worked with? Is there a software package you like to use?
I’ve worked for a sign shop briefly and got involved in vinyl stickers for a while designing and cutting them out. But other than that, mostly just digitally printed material is what I’ve found I liked working with the best. I went to school and learned how to use the Adobe Software so that is what I currently use and like. I learned on a MAC in school but I am PC based now.
5. What is one of your most memorable projects that you have done? Why was it so special to you?
I can honestly say most of my projects are memorable in their own ways. Each client has their own story to tell and their idea of what their perfect wedding invitation looks like. The one that does stick out the most though is for a bride who had a terminal illness. The lady who was asking vendors to donate their services was looking for everything and anything that would be considered wedding related. Basically, the brides last wish was to get married and have a full wedding experience. What stood out the most and called my name was her wedding was going to be on my birthday that coming year so I took it as a sign. I donated my time to design her wedding invitations and then another local vendor donated their printing services so I did not print this particular job, just did the designing. I was very proud and honored to be able to do that for that bride.
6. What do you do to keep up on the latest and greatest in graphic design work?
I feel just staying connected with the wedding industry and doing more designing is keeping me up to date with the latest trends, colors, themes, those sorts of things. I’m very fortunate to have those connections and have a network of friends in the wedding business to keep up with the ever changing trends!
For more information on Chelsea’s Custom Design Creations please see information below:
You can find me under Chelsea’s Custom Design Creations on Facebook. I do not currently have a website.
The most frequently asked questions are:
If I can design something that puts two or more ideas together?
Answer is: Yes!
If there is a minimum quantity to order?
Answer is: No, same with a maximum order, answer is still no.
All of my designing and digital proofs are emailed back and forth for viewing before you pay any deposit up front. You do receive a printed sample for the wedding invitations sets (after a deposit is made). Any jobs can be shipped anywhere in the U.S.
