Rise Up Designs

When I started blogging every day, I honestly didn’t know how long I’d keep it going. I just knew I had a LOT to say—and a lot happening as I launched my Etsy shop, juggled a full-time job, and figured out what the heck UVDTF even stood for. Now that I’ve officially passed my one-month Etsy-versary (Feb 12, thank you very much!) , I’m stepping back to reflect—and to make a slight but mighty shift in my blogging routine. Why the Change? Let’s be real: posting every single day takes work. And while I LOVE sharing the journey—wins, flops, glitter explosions, weird messages, and all—I also know that: Quality > quantity Real life is busy And creativity needs a little breathing room What’s Next? Moving forward, I’m planning to blog three times a week —a schedule that gives me space to keep creating, keep learning, and still share the behind-the-scenes of growing my small biz with all of you. Expect the same real talk, same laughs, same sparkle… just on a rhythm that fi...

Let’s just go ahead and normalize this: You can be doing the thing, growing the business, shipping the orders, and STILL feel like you’re winging it half the time. Because that’s exactly where I am. I officially launched my Etsy shop on February 12, 2025 , and since then, it’s been a wild, wonderful, and occasionally wobbly ride. I’ve been: 📦 Making and shipping orders 💻 Blogging daily 🛒 Selling UV DTF wraps 👕 Launching print-on-demand tees … and still staring at my screen some days like: “Who gave me permission to be the CEO of this operation??” So here it is—my “still figuring it out” list —a collection of things I’m fumbling through and surviving anyway. 🌀 1. Etsy SEO (aka: The Algorithm Mystery Mansion) Search engine optimization is one of those things everyone swears is the key to success… but nobody can really explain how it works. One day I’m adding long-tail keywords like a boss, the next day I’m wondering if I should delete half my tags and start over. I know...

 Let’s talk about one of the sneakiest stressors of running a small business: People you know asking for free stuff. Or deep discounts. Or that classic: “Can you just make me one real quick?” Yeah. That. 😐 🎁 “You Should Just Make Me One!” This sentence right here? It’s the uninvited guest at every crafter’s cookout. Don’t get me wrong—I love when people support my business. I really love when people buy from my business. But I’ve learned that support doesn’t mean expecting a hookup.  Making a tumbler isn’t like waving a wand and poof! a glittery glass appears. It takes: 🕒 time 💸 materials 🧼 prep 🙃 and patience I sometimes don’t even have for myself So when someone slides into my DMs with “Can you just make me one?” What they’re really saying (without meaning to) is: “Your time, talent, and tools should cost me nothing.” 💬 What I Say Now (Versus What I Used to Say) Past me: “Oh sure! Just cover the cost of materials.” 😬 (Cue me quietly eating the...

Let's be real for a second— the making part of running a handmade biz? It’s the fun stuff. It’s where I feel most creative, most me . But you know what doesn’t get talked about enough? All the other things I have to do that don’t involve vinyl, tumblers, or cute UVDTF stickers... but still make my business better. So today, I’m pulling back the curtain to share 3 non-crafty things I’m doing right now to help my shop grow—because spoiler alert: it’s not all glitter and glue guns. 1️⃣ Keeping My Inventory (and Etsy Listings) Organized Look, I don’t always love this part. It’s basically the laundry of my business—necessary, repetitive, and deeply un-fun. 😂 But lately, I’ve been double-checking my Etsy listings to make sure they match what I actually have on hand. Because that moment when you sell something that’s not even in your bin anymore? Yeah, that’s the worst. ✔️ I’ve cleaned up my item counts ✔️ I’ve updated product descriptions ✔️ I’m making sure my tags are stil...

 Let’s talk about what’s hot in the shop right now—because I’m lowkey still surprised (and super pumped) by what’s been flying off the virtual shelves. If you had told me a month ago that I’d be constantly restocking UV DTF wraps — especially the branded ones like Spider-Man, Mickey Mouse, Disney princesses, Bluey, and SpongeBob—I probably would’ve said: “Really? Those are the ones people want the most?” But guess what? YEP. THEY DO. What’s Selling: Branded UV DTF Wraps My top sellers so far: Spider-Man – Sold out (because of course he did—he’s friendly, neighborhood, AND marketable) Mickey Mouse – Running low and I’m not surprised. Everyone loves a classic. Disney Princesses, Bluey, & SpongeBob – These are climbing fast, and I can totally see why. There’s something magical about these designs—they’re nostalgic, eye-catching, and instantly recognizable. And when you pair them with that glass soda can shape? Chef’s kiss. 👄 Why I Think It’s Working Her...

 This weekend wasn’t about crafting, tumblers, stickers, or blog posts. This weekend? It was all about MY NIECE . 💕 My niece had her very first out-of-town roller-skating competition , and I was not about to miss it. From the moment my sister mentioned it, I knew I had to be there—not just for her, but for my sister, too. Because let’s be honest: these moments matter. 🛼 Watching My Girl Shine Let me tell you— she nailed it. She had the cutest routine, the biggest smile, and the kind of bravery that made my heart want to burst out of my chest like a cartoon character. Was she nervous? Probably. Did she crush it anyway? Absolutely. Watching her out there, doing her thing, reminded me of something really important: Showing up matters. Cheering matters. Just being there? It’s everything. 🚗 The Quick Trip That Meant Everything We weren’t gone long—just a quick road trip up to Dallas and back. But in that short time, I got to: Laugh and talk with my sister Help her not fe...

 Let’s talk about what happens when you go from cha-ching-ing every day to… crickets. Yep. I hit that moment this week. For a solid stretch, I was doing an order or two every day . It was exciting, validating, and if we’re being honest… kind of addicting. Then suddenly? Nothing. And I’d love to tell you that I handled it with total grace and chill vibes—but, I’m human. So yes, I panicked a little . And yes, I stared at my Etsy dashboard like it owed me an explanation. But then something really unexpected happened:  I stopped spiraling and got to work. The Slow Days Gave Me Room to Breathe (and Catch Up on the Stuff I Usually Avoid) Because let’s be real—when I’m busy making, selling, and shipping, I’m not exactly sprinting to balance my QuickBooks. But during this slow stretch, I: ✔️ Cleaned up my inventory. What I had on hand didn’t totally match my Etsy listings ( oops ), so I reconciled everything. ✔️ Organized my receipts and logged expenses into QuickBooks. I ...

When I started selling on Etsy, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what to expect: ✔️ Make cute things. ✔️ List them. ✔️ Watch the sales roll in. Yeah… not quite. 😂  Etsy has been an amazing experience so far, but it’s also been full of surprises—some good, some… character-building. Here are a few things I definitely didn’t expect when I opened my shop. 1️⃣ People Will Favorite Your Stuff… But Never Buy It At first, I thought a ton of favorites meant I was about to get a ton of sales.   NOPE. They favorite, they leave, and sometimes… they never come back. 📌 Me, seeing a new favorite: "Omg, they love it! They’re totally buying!" 📌 Me, two weeks later: "Hello?? Where did you go? COME BACK." What I’ve learned: Favorites don’t equal sales. But they DO mean someone liked your product enough to save it—so there’s still hope! 2️⃣ You’ll Spend More Time on SEO Than You Ever Thought Possible I used to think SEO ( search engine optimization ) was just...

Okay, let’s be real—starting a business is a rollercoaster. One minute, you’re on top of the world , convinced you’re about to be the next big thing in your niche. The next? You’re staring at your shop stats like, “Hello? Is anyone out there?” In my first month of selling on Etsy, I’ve had some amazing wins , but I’ve also had moments of doubt, frustration, and questioning my life choices. ( Dramatic? Maybe. But also… relatable. )  So let’s talk about the real, emotional side of starting a business—the highs, the lows, and what keeps me going. 🌟 HIGH: Making My First Sale Nothing compares to that first cha-ching notification. It happened, and I was thrilled. 🎉 "I DID IT! Someone (who isn’t my mom) actually wants to buy something I made!" 🎉 That first sale felt like validation —proof that this business isn’t just a dream, but something real. 💡 Lesson: That first sale isn’t just about the money—it’s about believing in yourself. ( And yes, I absolutely happy-danc...

 Okay, let’s talk about Pinterest. You know, that platform we all use to save recipes we’ll never cook and DIY projects we’ll never actually attempt? (or is that  Just me? 😆 ) Well, turns out, Pinterest isn’t just for dream home inspiration —it’s a powerful marketing tool for small businesses. So, I decided to test it out for the past 30 days and see if it could actually drive traffic to my Etsy shop . Did it work? Kinda. Was it confusing? A little. Am I sticking with it? Absolutely. Here’s what I learned after one month of trying Pinterest for my small business. 1. Pinterest is More Like Google Than Instagram I went into this thinking Pinterest was just another social media platform. ❌ WRONG. Pinterest is actually a search engine —just like Google or Etsy. Meaning? People use it to search for things they want to buy, learn, or try. 💡 Lesson: If you treat Pinterest like Instagram (just posting random photos), you’re doing it wrong. Instead, you have to use ke...

Wow. One month into selling on Etsy, and let me tell you—it’s been a wild ride. I went into this thinking, "I’ll just list my products, and boom—sales!" Yeah… not quite. Turns out, Etsy is its own little world, and I’m still figuring it all out. So, if you’re thinking about starting an Etsy shop or are just curious about what this first month has been like, here are the biggest things I’ve learned so far. 1. Etsy is Not a “List It and They Will Come” Situation I naively thought if I put my tumblers up for sale, Etsy would just magically show them to the right people. 😂 Nope. Etsy is a search engine , meaning you have to help people find you by using the right keywords, updating listings, and staying active. It’s work. 💡 Lesson: I’ve been tweaking my listings, learning about SEO , and figuring out how to get my products in front of the right customers. (If you’re curious about Etsy SEO, check out this post where I break it down! ) 2. Your Dashboard is Your Bes...

Let’s be real—when I decided to start Rise Up Designs while working full-time, I thought: 💭 "I’ll just work on my business in my free time. How hard could it be?" 😂 Oh, past me… how adorably clueless you were. (SMH) Because here’s the truth: Balancing a full-time job AND a side business is HARD. Some days, I feel like a productivity queen, knocking out orders, scheduling posts, and managing my Etsy shop like a boss. And other days? I feel like I’m just surviving on caffeine and vibes. If you’re juggling both, you’re not alone. Here’s what I’ve learned about managing the chaos. 1. Time Management is a Myth (Kind Of) I used to think time management meant following a perfectly planned schedule where I worked on my business only during certain hours . HAHA. That's sooooo cute. The reality? Life doesn’t care about your perfectly planned schedule. Some days, I have time and energy to get a ton done. Other days, I just want to eat snacks and stare at the wall. ...

When I first launched Rise Up Designs, I expected to deal with pricing questions, custom order requests, maybe a few tough customers. But what I didn’t expect was to almost get scammed after posting a tumbler I was super excited about. Let’s talk about something no one really warns you about when you start selling online—scammers. 👿 Soooo here’s what happened, how I almost fell for it, and how you can protect yourself. The Setup: How I Almost Got Scammed I had just finished a super cool tumbler—one of those “wow, this might be my favorite thing I’ve ever made” moments. So naturally, I posted it on social media, thinking nothing of it. A few likes rolled in (yay!), then a comment appeared: 💬 “Is this available for sale?” Cue instant excitement! 🎉 I hadn’t even listed it on Etsy yet, but hey—maybe this was a chance to sell directly through social media. (Spoiler alert: This is where I should have been more cautious.) The Red Flags Started Rolling In 🚩 Urgency, urgency, urgency. The ...

 If you’re anything like me, SEO felt like one of those big, scary, overly complicated things that only tech-savvy people understand. But as I started growing Rise Up Designs , I realized that if I wanted my business to get found online, SEO wasn’t optional. So, I dove in headfirst. And let me tell you—it’s tricky, but not impossible.  I’m still learning, but here’s what I’ve figured out so far about SEO and how it applies to Etsy, blogging, and small business owners like us. 1. SEO = Helping People Find You (Not Just "Gaming the System") When I first heard the term Search Engine Optimization (SEO) , I thought it was all about tricking Google or Etsy into showing my stuff first.  Nope. SEO is really just about helping the right people find you. 💡 The goal: Make it as easy as possible for someone searching for exactly what you sell to find your products, blog, or shop.  The trick? Using the right words in the right places. 2. Keywords Are Everything If you...