{"id":65339,"date":"2018-10-29T22:01:53","date_gmt":"2018-10-30T05:01:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ponoko.com\/blog\/?p=65339"},"modified":"2018-10-29T22:01:53","modified_gmt":"2018-10-30T05:01:53","slug":"vic-tac-toe-laser-cut-jewelry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ponoko.com\/blog\/maker-success-stories\/vic-tac-toe-laser-cut-jewelry\/","title":{"rendered":"From Plan, To Prototype, To Product"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Vic<\/p>\n

Etsy Seller Vic Tac Toe Turns Graphic Designs Into Tangible Sales Through Laser Cutting<\/h2>\n

After graduating with a degree in graphic design, Victoria Myrand naturally began work as graphic\/web designer. But she was yearning for more creative challenges outside the designs she produced 9 to 5.<\/p>\n

\u201cI quickly discovered that I missed the creative freedom of developing my own lettering and illustrations,\u201d she says. \u201cI continued to draw my own artwork on the side until I decided I wanted to do something more.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a desire to not only create art that people would enjoy but also make an impact in some way, she got to work planning her next move. And that\u2019s when Vic Tac Toe<\/a> was born.<\/p>\n

She began designing prints inspired by her love of animals (dogs, cats, woodland creatures and more) on-trend design elements (pineapples, anyone?) and fondness for cute sayings. This cactus print is the perfect reminder to \u201cstay sharp.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Vic<\/p>\n

Then something interesting happened. She saw an opportunity to expand her business beyond art prints and through laser cut products<\/a>\u2014a wearable form of her art. Here\u2019s that same cactus (minus the prickly bits, of course), this time made into earrings:<\/p>\n

\"Vic<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought laser cutting would add a unique twist on stud earrings, which have been around forever,\u201d she says. \u201cI chose to use Ponoko because I don’t have the resources to cut the wood on my own; the machinery is expensive. And since there is no minimum order size, working with Ponoko makes it possible for people with small budgets to use the services.\u201d<\/p>\n

Moving From Design Idea To Product Inception<\/h3>\n

One of the things Victoria says attracted her to working with Ponoko is the ability to quickly move from idea, to prototype<\/a> to finished product. So how does her design<\/a> process work?<\/p>\n

\u201cI love looking through Instagram and Pinterest to get inspired,\u201d she explains. \u201cI also doodle on my iPad to come up with fresh ideas. Next, I create the designs in Illustrator<\/a> and then send them to Ponoko to cut them for me. When Ponoko is finished, I paint them with two coats of acrylic paint to bring them to life!\u201d<\/p>\n

Watch how she does it:<\/p>\n