Today we’d like to introduce you to Tessa Opperman.
Tessa has always enjoyed making handmade cards for family and friends. She remembers drawing her own cards as a little girl, and somehow that stuck. Matisse’s artwork inspired her to expand her horizons and try paper cut-outs. Quite unexpectedly, this solicited a positive response from a few recipients, and they encouraged her to make more cards, affirming that they would be motivated to buy her artwork. Over the summer of 2015, she put her scissors and glue to good use and made a small inventory. There was one problem with the card business, however: it was disheartening to imagine a handmade card, used once and then tucked away or recycled. Tessa wanted her cards to bring continued joy to people’s lives. Her solution: the infinity card. Each original piece of art now comes with a dozen notecard inserts, so that your message can be removed and replaced, extending the life of the card. Every infinity card comes with a tracking number so you can see where it has been. Current card locations include California, Washington, England, and France! All of Tessa’s artwork is also available in the form of printed postcards and greeting cards. She even makes custom cards of any kind, including wedding invitations. She can cut out just about anything, from parrots to bicycles to cityscapes.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
To be honest, the card business is not very lucrative. I keep making cards because I am passionate about my artwork. The best part about this business is when someone stops by and is moved by my work.
Please tell us about Coronado Cliffs Card Company.
As a one-woman business and an artist, I am most proud of my custom artwork. I thrive when I have a unique project, such as cutting out a parrot or a tandem bicycle. Spending several hours on one card is actually quite rewarding. I am also proud of the infinity card concept. I have a lot of cards that family and friends have sent me over the years, and I don’t know what to do except hoard them. The infinity card sets the artwork free so that it can live a long life. Even if the card is tucked away for a few years, someday that person is going to pull it out and realize it is time to send it again. I am also excited to advertise that I use recycled materials whenever possible, including the envelopes and paper for printed cards.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I don’t think I would have done anything differently. All my work is out of a passion for the craft.
Pricing:
- Postcards – $1
- Greeting cards – $2
- Infinity cards – $8
Contact Info:
- Website: coronadocliffs.com
- Email: coronadocliffs@gmail.com
- Instagram: @coronadocliffs
- Facebook: facebook.com/coronadocliffs
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
