Life & Work with Karina Valle

Today we’d like to introduce you to Karina Valle. 

Hi Karina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I came to the Michigan from El Salvador when I was just 11 years old it was a huge culture shock I had to get used to a whole new world and learn the language which was really hard since there wasn’t a lot of Latinos in the school to help Me get around as sad as it sounds I used to go and eat my lunch in the bathroom because I didn’t have any friends but eventually I met amazing people who helped me through it all every time I remember this it doesn’t get me sad it actually helps me motivate myself because I have come very far I conquered the challenge and learned English met new friends and got used to my new home. 

Back in E Salvador, I used to love going to the free classes offered to make piñatas and others crafts that is where my love for handmade crafts started so here in the US my first big interest was to find classes that would offer me that, as I grew up my craft got a little better and started making more stuff and now crafting is a therapy for me. 

In 2020 after many years of creating for myself and friends, I got the courage to show my art to the world or as far as I could get it hehe and that is when Crafty Lily V was born named after my daughter, starting that process was scary locally there wasn’t many people who do the same as I do so that really intimidated me but I said hey! Is amazing to be unique so why not! I bought my first cutting plotter which was amazing because I had no idea they existed and my hands were thankful for that lol! I wanted to challenge myself to new things and during a pandemic, I had to keep myself busy while taking care of 2 kids and having a battle with anxiety and depression and it helped me so much! 

My first order was a canvas decorated with paper flowers and o lord was I nervous and scared! All the excitement and love for crafts had me in fear but I did it! Little by little more friends and family supported my little dream, I’ve met so many amazing people from all over the US who share the same passion as I do. My Instagram has grown little by little and as time goes by my creations are loved by many and that makes my heart full, right now I focus more on paper flower decorations and some custom wooden signs but I am always open for special requests! 

All of my giant paper flowers are hand-cut and made with so much love they really have been my therapy I make and show them with so much pride and wish to expand my services to renting giant paper flower backdrops to use as picture background in birthdays, weddings or other special events. 

And to you that is reading my story, I challenge you to follow whatever dreams you have because this dream as little as it might seem now it has helped me tremendously mentally and emotionally there is nothing better than doing what you love. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No not at all! My journey is still hard at times paper crafts have grown a lot in time now you can research and find many crafters who create many similar things and that is one do the challenges every day standing out from others creating something that someone will look at and know it’s yours. Other challenges I’ve come across is criticism not everyone is will love or like the stuff you do and paper crafts are very underappreciated by many still learning to brush that negativity off. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I make custom gifts and decorations; my specialty is paper flowers they can be made small to go into shadow boxes for a special custom gift or made bigger to decorate big parties! I also offer custom wooden signs for example gifts for teachers customized with names and flowers. 

Always open to special request I also offer personalized mugs, onesies, and party favor bags. 

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I would love to give a huge thank you to my crafty sisters their Instagram: Deysi @partytime.creations 

Dayanna @shelovespapers 

Karmen @puky_deesignz 

Andy @andyzavalyna 

Érica @lovelybusybeedesigns_

Who have always been there for me supporting and giving me advice no matter the situation they are always there pushing me to be the best version of myself from the start till now and I am sure for the future each and every one of them will be there for me as I grow.

And 

Elsy Santos my cheerleader and childhood friend who is always there for me. 

My husband Jose for his patience, support, and love for being my prop holder and party setting helper hehe 

My children Vladi and Lily for being my inspiration and for also messing up my craft room hehe that also keeps me busy 😅

My sister Wendy for always being there to cheer me on , no matter how crazy my ideas are she always has the “do it!”

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crafty_lilyv/

Image Credits
https://lindseyvphotography.mypixieset.com/