The Evolution of VCS

We launched in 2008 as Le Papier Studio, a small Etsy shop that expressed Vana’s love for paper silhouette art. That dream has since evolved into a business that serves our customers – a global community that shares Vana’s passion for signature heirloom pieces that also evoke their most treasured memories.

In 2021, we rebranded as Vana Chupp Studio to better reflect our evolution and to swing wide the door to usher in even more creative growth. But staying true to our roots, we remain a lifestyle brand committed to elegant, timeless design and fine artistry. Thank you for joining our community on this creative journey. Serving and getting to know you has been, and truly remains, a most wonderful gift.

Vana Chupp Studio is a boutique lifestyle brand that transforms our customers’ most treasured people and moments captured in photographs into exquisite heirloom-quality jewelry and personal accessories. Vana Chupp founded the company as Le Papier Studio in 2008 as a creative expression of her passion for classic silhouette art inspired by her highest calling, motherhood.

Taking your favorite photographs of family, pets or moments in time, we fashion those images into silhouette portraits and exquisite jewelry and personal accessories that are destined to become treasured heirlooms. As she has done from the beginning, Vana continues to directly consult with clients to ensure pieces
perfectly evokes those forever memories.

Our Values

We know from our own experiences that our little ones grow up entirely too quickly and the precious time we spend with them seems so fleeting. Our mission is to inspire parents to find the joy in even the most seemingly mundane moments, to mentally pause from the distractions and demands of our hectic world in order to live in the present, and to cherish the precious gift of time. These are the moments that write the most important chapters of your story – one that we feel profoundly honored to help illustrate through the heirloom pieces we individually craft for you.

The Team

Vana

Founder + CEO

Aaron

Director of Finance + Operations

Alicia

Customer Satisfaction Associate

Amy

Jeweler

Bella

Studio Assistant

Evin

Silhouette Artist

Monica

Silhouette Artist

Our Story

March 2008

It all started with a silhouette! Vana opened her Etsy shop on March 8, 2008 and started creating paper silhouettes from the eat-in area in her kitchen.

March 2008

Vana's first born, Nikolas (age 3) at her computer in the tiny home studio.

March 2008

Vana's home studio in Mount Prospect, IL

May 2008

Vana in the early days of running her business on Etsy. VCS was mainly a paper product shop offering beautiful custom silhouette portraits and stationery.

October 2008

Vana in her tiny studio off her kitchen packaging silhouette pillow orders.

January 2009

We rented a work space to accommodate our growing business. The tinniest space in a beautiful historical building in downtown Park Ridge, IL.

January 2009

This small studio was the perfect home for all our paper goods...until it became too small.

March 2009

Vana signed her first book deal, “Silhouette Art” with Chronicle Books. Her son Nikolas’ silhouette was featured on the cover and graced our company’s logo until March 2021.

March 2009

Vana was an Etsy "featured seller" and shared her story of how she got started and what inspired her.

May 2009

Vana's first head shot as part of the photoshoot for her first book, Silhouette Art, with Chronicle Books.

May 2009

First "out of home" studio space.

June 2009

Vana in her first office working on silhouette orders.

June 2009

Nikolas, 4 years old in VCS first studio space.

December 2010

Kristen came on board as our first employee. She helped Vana sell her products in local holiday markets.

February 2011

We started offering jewelry alongside paper products and other accessories. It quickly became a best-seller and we continued to add new collections

March 2015

We started offering jewelry utilizing precious metals. The Classic Silhouette Charm Necklace quickly became a customer favorite.

July 2015

Vana with her youngest son, John (then 3) at a local Target store. Vana’s work was featured in select Chicago Target stores.

January 2016

Vana began offering custom house illustrations and ornaments. To this day they are two of our most asked for products.

March 2016

Vana began offering custom house illustrations and ornaments. To this day they are two of our most asked for products.

July 2016

Vana's home studio in Richmond.

October 2016

Vana began offering custom house illustrations and ornaments. To this day they are two of our most asked for products.

April 2017

As her boys became more independent, Vana started devoting more time to grow LPS.

March 2018

We added birthstone charms to our collection to add another layer of customizing giving our customers more ways to tell their unique stories through jewelry.

August 2020

Our team of 4!

December 2020

Vana's first born son, Nikolas (who was 3 at the time she started VCS) now 15 started helping part time at the studio.

February 2021

We started offering more pieces our customers have been asking for, like these darling charm holders that pair so beautifully with our paper clip chains.