Inspiration Sunday with Marie-Claire Camp

As a mom who loves making stuff for kids, I think todays guest and I would get on like a house on fire! Back in the day, I also made cards for my son, but I didn't go as far as setting up a who company and going into production with them...

1. Tell us a bit about yourself.... 

Hi. My name is Marie-Claire Camp. I’m originally from a little farming community in Southwest, Michigan. I moved to Grand Rapids, MI to go to art school (with my high school boyfriend) in 1999. I have since married my sweetheart, bought a house, have three cats and now twin three year old boys. 

I worked as a professional Graphic Designer and Interaction Designer for 7 years, and now I’m a full-time Momma and part-time maker.

2. Where do you get your inspiration from? 

My inspiration comes from my children, Silas and Owen. They are the most amazing thing that has even happened to me, and have changed how I see the world. They want to know everything, and everyone, and they love making things. Their hunger for life is infectious and beautiful.

3. Tell us about your business...

I make “Wallet Cards” for kids to play and work with. Beautiful, durable, nontoxic and educational cards for small children to work and play with. I’ve found the best materials, artists and people to help produce the cards, and it shows in the finished product.

4. What led you to start your business.... 

It started out as a project to create smarter and better versions than the cards they were both already obsessed with – the cards in my and my husband’s wallet (licenses, credit cards, gift cards). But those cards were made out of toxic materials and covered with corporate logos and the boys were teething at the time and putting them in their mouths.

I thought “someone should invent cards that are beautiful, durable, nontoxic and if they were educational, that would be great too.” It turned out that I was that someone. 

I launched a Kickstarter campaign last Summer (2012) to fund the first deck, an Alphabet deck illustrated by Marc Martin of Australia. A few weeks ago, my second Kickstarter was successfully funded, and I’m currently working with my husband to create four new decks and a companion iPhone app.

5. What does an average day look like for you?

Wake up with the boys, get cleaned up and make breakfast, my husband Victor heads off to work (he’s an Interaction Designer). I’m with the boys all day – we dance, cook, read, whine, nap, go for walks, eat snacks, draw, build things, sing, take pictures and wait for Papa to come home. After the boys go to bed, I open my computer and work answers piles of emails, work on layouts, write and prepare orders to go out to clients. 

Somedays I have help (my amazing husband, our friend Ray, and two of the best babysitters on earth), and some days I do it all myself.

6. What is the one thing about your job that makes your heart sing?

Making amazing things that kids love.

7. Share a secret with us that has never been shared online before ...
This is more of a fun fact I guess... I once won an apple pie for first place in a tomahawk-throwing and fire-starting contest. My amazing family used to travel around the Midwest doing French and Indian War reenacting on weekends. We dressed and acted as an 18th-Century French family. I learned amazing skills like fencing, sewing, candle-making, a ton about American history, and of course, how to throw a tomahawk.

Marie-Claire works tirelessly during the day with her twin boys, and at night to make amazing and beautiful products. She finds materials made in the United States, amazing illustrators, and superior Michigan printers and developers. She’s empathic, strong, and really, really, really patient.

We have four new card sets for pre-order, they ship in August:

• Color & Shape

• Numbers

• GO!

• My Wallet set (cards, play-money, wallet and companion iPhone app)

Preorder them now at www.YouGuysAreSoAwesome.com

We’re also reprinting our Alphabet deck, pre-orders now reserve your place when they ship out in early June.

Find Marie-Claire....

website :  www.YouGuysAreSoAwesome.com

Facebook :  http://www.facebook.com/ChildrensWalletCards

Twitter : https://twitter.com/soawesomecards

Pinterest : http://pinterest.com/soawesomecards/

Kickstarter page : http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/482898835/childrens-wallet-cards-color-and-shape-numbers-go

Thanks and Cheers!

--

Marie-Claire Camp

Creator of Children's Wallet Cards

Owner of SO Awesome, LLC in Grand Rapids, Michigan

(616) 446-3622

All images property of Marie-Claire Camp except for Inspiration Sunday Banner