The Creative Journey Behind My Musical Theatre Cards

At Hi Top Design, a lot of what I do revolves around my passion for musical theatre. What started as creating artwork inspired by my favourite shows quickly evolved into something even more special—musical theatre greeting cards. Today, I want to take you behind the scenes of how these cards are made, from initial inspiration to the final product you hold in your hands.

How It All Started

When I first started Hi Top Design, for my Esty shop I focused mainly on producing high-quality prints of my musical theatre artwork. I’ve always loved the world of musical theatre. My creating this artwork it has allowed me to explore the stunning costumes, set designs, and the way these elements come together to tell a story. My artwork allowed me to express my love for these productions, and I felt incredibly lucky to share that with others.

While I hadn’t initially planned to create greeting cards, the idea came to me almost by accident. I was working on a piece inspired by Wicked, one of my favourite shows, and I thought, “Could this could work on a greetings card?” From that moment, the idea of turning my artwork into greeting cards was born.

The Wicked - For Good card was my first, and it quickly became one of my best sellers. It was such a rewarding feeling to know that fans of the show could connect with the artwork and message, and that’s when I knew I had found a new way to share my love for musical theatre with others.

Step 1: The Artwork Process

The first step in creating a musical theatre card is, of course, the artwork. For each design, I start by looking at the characters I have drawn. I draw inspiration from the beautiful costumes and set designs that make each production unique.

Once I’ve chosen my subject, I look for lines or quotes from the musical that would work well on a card. This step is crucial, as the quote needs to complement the artwork and convey the right message. I often ask myself, “If I were a musical theatre fan, would I want to receive this card?” It’s all about capturing the magic of the show and the emotions it evokes.

Step 2: Ensuring High Quality

The next step is making sure the artwork is of the highest quality. I spend a lot of time perfecting the details and ensuring that the artwork looks stunning at its final size. Quality is incredibly important to me—if I’m going to share my work with others, it needs to be something I’m proud of.

I also make sure that the colours are vibrant and the images sharp. After all, when you’re a fan of a show, you want a card that does justice to its beauty and magic.

Step 3: The Evolution of My Print Process

When I first began making cards, I printed each one individually by hand, packaged them myself, and shipped them out. It was a great experience at the start, but as the cards gained popularity, the process started to become overwhelming. I also wasn’t completely satisfied with the print quality from my own printer—it wasn’t the level of professionalism I wanted to provide for my customers.

That’s when I decided to explore other options. After some research, I found a fantastic Print on Demand company, Prodigi, who are based in the UK that could produce high-quality cards with ease. I was thrilled to discover that they offered single-card printing, which meant I could maintain the personal touch while offering a wider range of products. What’s even better is that their quality was superb! The colours were more vibrant, the paper felt luxurious, and I could even offer a larger size for greater impact.

Shifting to Print on Demand was one of the best decisions I made, and it allowed me to focus more on the creative aspects of my business while still ensuring that the cards were of the highest quality.

Step 4: Ensuring Customer Satisfaction

Customer satisfaction is always a top priority for me. Before listing any new card design, I always order a sample to ensure that the final product matches my vision. This allows me to check the print quality, the paper texture, and the overall appearance of the card before it’s available for sale.

Getting feedback from my customers has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve received wonderful comments about how much people love my cards, and I’m always thrilled to hear that they’ve been used for all sorts of occasions—birthdays, holidays, and even weddings. Knowing that my cards are part of people’s special moments is something I’ll never take for granted.

The Future of my Musical Theatre Themed Cards

Looking back, I’m so proud of how far my musical theatre cards have come. What started as the passion project side of my new business has grown into a beloved product for fans of all ages. I’m excited to continue creating new designs and expanding my collection, sharing my love of musical theatre with even more people.

If you’re a fellow musical theatre fan or know someone who is, I hope you’ll take a moment to explore my collection of cards. From Wicked to other fan-favourite shows like Heathers, Six, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Les Misérables and more , there’s something for everyone.

You can check out my range of cards and buy your own on my Etsy store below. Use the code ‘hifromhitop’ for 10% off your order.

©Hi Top Design. The Musical Wicked is owned by its rightful owners and I hold no rights to it. I own the sole rights to this specific piece of fan art inspired by the show. Duplication or reproduction is strictly prohibited.