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<p>Where does stellar design begin and end? I used to think I knew the answer, but witnessing the ascension of <a href="https://girlwithknife.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="Girl w/Knife">Girl w/Knife</a>, I&#8217;ve found myself rethinking that. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/G-w-K-Princess-Vespa-Greeting-Cards-CROP.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10013975"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Elicia&#8217;s muse Princess Vespa poses amongst several Girl w/Knife best-sellers.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Over the last several years, Elicia Castaldi has sliced not just a singular path through stationery, but home décor and even home design as well. Her stylish wake reveals that rewriting the rules to your own liking is simply a matter of confidence and vision — preferably accessorized with a pair of killer stilettos, of course.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/GIRL-W-KNIFE-B-SUSP-CANDLE-1536x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10013979"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Beautiful Suspect Candle is one of many Girl w/Knife candle varieties.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Extending as it does across many product segments, Girl w/Knife is both a lifestyle and a mood, but at its core is the &#8216;digital photoshop collage&#8217; process Elicia invented. This framework truly blooms in her greeting cards. She painstakingly paints and collects visual elements, then layers them with just the right copy, reflecting our beautiful but too-often sad world with truth, heart, fashion and the occasional sharp edge. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/GIRL-W-KNIFE-PROCESS.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10013980"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Elicia paints elements to be painstakingly layered into her designs.</figcaption></figure>



<p>As such, receiving one of these from a loved one during one of life&#8217;s highs or lows is bound to solicit a deep emotional response. Unsurprisingly, in the stationery domain, Elicia has won a slew of Noted@*Noted Awards and Louie Awards, including the highly competitive 2022 Artist of the Year.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/THICK-AND-THIN-STYLED-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10013982"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">&#8220;This is a celebration of way-back besties that have weathered ALL the crazy fads together,&#8221; Elicia has said. &#8220;This one makes everyone laugh. It turns out the 90s robbed so many eyebrow hairs, and none of us are over it.&#8221; Unsurprisingly, this design plucked a 32nd Annual Louie Award. </figcaption></figure>



<p>Elicia drops in to discuss not just her design process, but the autobiographical elements running through all her work. From childhood cat best friends to otherworldly interactions with spectacular insects, it&#8217;s all just fodder for Elicia&#8217;s next fantastic, elevated creation. Just remember: the biggest consistency here is an element of surprise. </p><div class="inline-post clearfix"><div class="see-also byline">See also</div><div id="block-wrap-84519" class="block-wrap-native block-wrap block-wrap-23 block-css-84519 block-wrap-classic columns__m--1 elements-design-3 block-ani block-skin-0 tipi-box block-wrap-thumbnail ppl-m-1 clearfix" data-id="84519" data-base="0"><div class="tipi-row-inner-style clearfix"><div class="tipi-row-inner-box contents sticky--wrap"><div class="block block-23 clearfix"><article class="tipi-xs-12 clearfix with-fi ani-base tipi-xs-typo split-1 split-design-1 loop-0 preview-thumbnail preview-23 elements-design-3 post-19940 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-celebrations tag-christmas-cards tag-design tag-greeting-cards tag-hand-lettered tag-hand-painted tag-holiday-cards tag-sarah-schwartz tag-shades-of-expression-designs tag-stationery tag-stationery-blog tag-stationery-design tag-stationery-designer tag-thank-you-stationery tag-the-paper-chronicles" style="--animation-order:0"><div class="preview-mini-wrap clearfix"><div class="mask"><a href="https://thepapernerd.com/seasons-greetings-from-shades-of-expression-designs/" class="mask-img"><img width="100" height="100" src="https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Holiday-5.jpeg?resize=100%2C100&;ssl=1" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Holiday-5.jpeg?resize=150%2C150&;ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Holiday-5.jpeg?resize=200%2C200&;ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Holiday-5.jpeg?resize=293%2C293&;ssl=1 293w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Holiday-5.jpeg?resize=75%2C75&;ssl=1 75w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Holiday-5.jpeg?resize=390%2C390&;ssl=1 390w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Holiday-5.jpeg?resize=585%2C585&;ssl=1 585w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Holiday-5.jpeg?resize=24%2C24&;ssl=1 24w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Holiday-5.jpeg?resize=48%2C48&;ssl=1 48w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Holiday-5.jpeg?resize=96%2C96&;ssl=1 96w" sizes="(max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px" /></a></div><div class="meta"><div class="byline byline-2 byline-cats-design-4"><div class="byline-part cats"><a href="https://thepapernerd.com/category/celebrations/" style="color:#b79b0d" class="cat">Celebrations</a></div></div><div class="title-wrap"><h3 class="title"><a href="https://thepapernerd.com/seasons-greetings-from-shades-of-expression-designs/">Seasons Greetings from Shades of Expression Designs!</a></h3></div><div class="byline byline-3"><span class="byline-part date"><i class="tipi-i-calendar" aria-hidden="true"></i> <time class="entry-date published dateCreated flipboard-date" datetime="2017-11-15T14:00:58+00:00">November 15, 2017</time></span><span class="byline-part likes-count"><a href="#" class="tipi-like-count " data-pid="19940"><span class="likes-heart"><i class="tipi-i-heart-o" aria-hidden="true"></i><i class="tipi-i-heart" aria-hidden="true"></i></span><span class="tipi-value">0</span></a></span></div></div></div></article></div></div></div></div></div></tipimidc>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/HI-RES-G-w-K-ICONIC-B-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10013976"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">This card is the centerpiece of Elicia&#8217;s Iconic Bitch Collection. &#8220;It was inspired by a magical and unforgettable encounter I had with a dragonfly in its last day of life,&#8221; Elicia has said. Earlier this year it also won a Louie. </figcaption></figure>



<p>Today you might find Elicia on the American Dream Network discussing the renovation of her latest <a href="https://www.instagram.com/knifehousepalmsprings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="Knife/House">Knife/House</a> in Palm Springs; tomorrow she may be at a book signing promoting her inclusion in the just published <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Wildly-Creative-Women-Inspirational/dp/168481152X" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="Wisdom Of Wildly Creative Women">Wisdom Of Wildly Creative Women</a>. Yet Elicia is a paper person through and through — and that element remains the lifeblood of her brand.</p>


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<p>Check out Elicia&#8217;s first international magazine feature: a lavish, 10-page layout in ¡HOLA! Magazine, Spain.</p>

Elicia Castaldi of Girl w/Knife
