Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Dunn.
Hi Andrew, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started to create paper toys in 2011 as a way to share my passion for drawing and crafting with my two young children. My children’s love of Lego and Minecraft inspired me to design paper crafts that all children could build to create their own worlds.
Working full time and being a devoted father and husband, has meant that my passion for paper toys has been a slow process. However this has had it’s advantages, allowing me to define my values and purpose, refine my designs and style and produce a product that is fun, affordable, collectable and educational.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’m a six foot two, bearded, long silver haired, overweight 49 year old who has obsessed with making paper craft activity kits for 15 years – what on earth am I doing with my life? What am I contributing to the world? In this digital universe why would anyone think that making a paper toy would be entertaining?
And to go along with my recurring existential crisis there is advertising, marketing, branding, public liability, terms and conditions, shipping, social media, influencers, SEO aren’t strengths of mine. These are all slightly bitter but necessary obstacles that I needed to swallow and digest if I want my paper toy obsession to bloom.
Like most creatives I get distracted by other ideas and runaway from the business of business responsibilities and liabilities. I always want to be designing my next paper toy rather than spending time tweaking keywords and subverting social media algorithms. My happy place is playing with my crayons and chasing paper toy butterflies.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I design paper toy craft activity kits. I illustrate a character on a piece of paper or two. Then the audience can purchase a digital copy to download and print. Cut it, fold it, stick it together and bing bang bong, you’ve made your very own character that won’t shout or burp or giggle or fart or make too much of a mess!
The idea isn’t original, I remember similar crafts being on the back of cereal boxes when I was growing up in the 1980’s. I design my Box Ed Paper Crafts to be cool and funky. Normally coolness and funkability come with big $$$ signs. However Box Eds have also been created to leave you with plenty of change in your pocket, and once on display your Box Ed paper toy characters will make you look like the coolest cat in the kitchen or the hottest dog in the diner!
There is a slightly more serious side to all of this. Crafting a Box Ed is a STEM activity and introduces children to how 2D shapes combine to create 3D shapes. The activity allows children to develop their fine motor skills by cutting, folding and sticking. It teaches them patience and accuracy, how to use and combine materials and gives them a real sense of accomplishment once completed. The inclusion of a blank template in each pack allows the creative freedom to design a unique, custom paper toy. Box Eds can also be used as action figures and puppets for role playing and storytelling.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I’m not a big risk-taker, I’m naturally introverted and doubly so I believe as I’m originally from England. So posting on social media can often be a risk to my timid, fragile ego. But with age and wisdom comes resilience and most of the time I don’t give a “Jimmy Tuppence” what the haters may think!
I’ve always been careful with any financial risks too. There never seems to be much left after all the bills are paid. But that’s also a key value of my paper crafts, to share something with kids that doesn’t cost much but can give them something fun and educational to fire their imaginations.
Pricing:
- Everything is $5 Aussie! With half the proceeds going to charities and good causes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.boxedspapercrafts.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boxedspapercrafts/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BEPCs
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCseNHLplo3GHN-xB3XUZBfw
