Rise Up Designs

This weekend was full of heart, hustle, and hot cocoa — and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. On Saturday, I set up shop at a local vendor market. Even though there were a few other big events happening nearby, the crowd still showed up strong. The hosts did an amazing job promoting, and it reminded me how important that piece is for small businesses like mine. Every customer felt intentional, like they made a choice to come out and support us. That means everything to a maker. Then Sunday rolled around, and I tried something new — a pop-up market in my own backyard. I didn’t go into it expecting a crowd, just wanted to open my space to friends, family, and neighbors… and wow, they showed up! From sangria to support, it felt like one big warm hug from my community. 💛 These two days reminded me that support doesn’t always look like a crowd — sometimes it’s one person telling a friend, one neighbor popping in, one kind message on Instagram. That ripple of kindness is wha...

My very first big pop-up is almost here— October 4th —and I’m feeling  all the feelings . Excited? Absolutely. Nervous? You bet. Getting ready for something like this takes a lot of work: the hours spent creating, labeling, pricing, and planning. The mock setups in the backyard to figure out my booth layout. The bundles I’ve been building for the holiday season. Every detail matters—and when you’re a small business owner, it’s all on you. And with all that effort, it’s only natural to feel a little anxiety about the outcome. Will people show up? Will they love what I’ve created? Will all the prep be worth it? Here’s the truth I keep reminding myself:  I can only control what I can control.  The rest? That’s where I put my faith, my trust, and my positive energy into the universe. 💖 I see all the hard work that the other makers and vendors put into their businesses, too. It’s inspiring, and it reminds me that we’re all in this together—hoping for good things, showing up w...

Big things are coming! My very first major pop-up event is right around the corner—October 4th—and this week has been all about prep. I’ve been busy creating something I haven’t done before: bundles just in time for the holiday season. Instead of selling items one by one, I’m combining them into gift-ready sets 🎁. Here’s what I’ve been working on: ✨ Tumbler + Wrap + Matching Bookmark + Daisy Coaster all packaged in clear cellophane — ready to grab and go! ✨ Book Lover Bundle for all the readers out there. 📚 ✨ Houston Sports Lover Bundle 🏈⚾ ✨ Dallas Sports Bundle 🏀🏈 So far, I’ve made 10 of these bundles, priced at $25 each. The goal? To increase my ticket price while giving customers ready-made gifts they’ll love. On top of that, I’ve been practicing my setup at home. I pitched my tent in the backyard and mapped out my booth layout so I can be more efficient when the big day comes. Because let’s be real—setup day can be overwhelming. But with a little practice, I know ...

 What. A. Week. 🙌 I’m excited to share a little behind-the-scenes of what’s been going on: ✨ Texas College Football wraps are selling so well that I went ahead and ordered more. And let me tell you—they look gorgeous . ✨ My brand-new K-pop Demon Hunters wraps (designed by yours truly) arrived, and I couldn’t be happier with how they turned out. ✨ I’m officially kicking off market season starting in September, then October, November, and December! That means prepping pricing, labeling everything, making signage, and getting my booth setup ready for my very first one. 🛍️ ✨ I also printed brochures for Wrap and Rise Mobile Craft Parties so I can share them at local events—because you never know when the next party opportunity will pop up. 🎉 And here’s the kicker: I did all of this while fighting off strep throat and a cold. 🤦‍♀️ Because sometimes small business life doesn’t stop for sick days. The Lesson This Week Being a maker and small business owner isn’t about hav...

 This week has been a whirlwind 🌪️—traveling for work, flight delays, and then coming home to a stack of Etsy orders waiting for me. On top of that, I decided to try something new: custom T-shirts 👕. Between cutting vinyl, pressing designs, wrapping orders, and shipping them out, it felt like there just weren’t enough hours in the day. And honestly? That’s the reality of being a small business owner. Sometimes it’s long hours. Sometimes it’s late nights with tissue paper, shipping boxes, tape, and a stack of labels staring you down. Sometimes it’s just you—a team of one—doing it all. But here’s the thing: when you’re committed to what you’re passionate about, the hard days still mean something. 💖 The Lessons in the Busy Weeks Remember your “why”: Whether it’s creativity, freedom, or making something special for someone else—hold onto that. Commitment matters: Customers count on you, and showing up consistently builds trust and loyalty. Take care of yourself, too: ...

When I launched my Etsy shop in February, I honestly just wanted to get my creations out into the world—wraps, glasses, totes, and tumblers that reflected heart, hustle, and a little sparkle. Fast forward to today, and I’m celebrating some serious milestones: 📊 2025 Stats So Far 10,500+ Views 4,680 Visits 250 Orders $2,021 Revenue Y’all. That’s nearly $2,000 in less than six months —from my craft table to mailboxes across the country. I’ve packed every single order myself, usually late at night after working my full-time job. I’ve learned a ton (and cracked a few straws along the way 😅), but I wouldn’t change a thing. 💡 What I’ve Learned People want to DIY – One of the biggest surprises was how many customers preferred wrap-only kits vs. premade glasses. That pivot taught me to listen to the market, not just my own preferences. Every customer matters – Whether it’s a $5 sticker or a $25 tumbler set, I’m building relationships, not just revenue. Consistenc...

Okay okay— can we talk about what just happened?? I woke up, opened my Etsy dashboard, and saw something that made me do a double take before the coffee even hit: FIVE SHIRTS SOLD. OVERNIGHT. Like, while I was literally asleep. 😴👕✨ Even better? They were two different designs —three of one, two of another. That’s not a fluke. That’s a flex. 🎉 This Was a High I Didn’t See Coming I just recently added print-on-demand (POD) to my shop. It was one of those quiet decisions like, “Let’s just test this and see what happens.” Spoiler alert: THIS happened. And it was magic. It reminded me that sometimes, the things we quietly create behind the scenes are the exact things people are out there looking for. ⚙️ But POD Has Rules... And You Gotta Follow Them If you’re using systems like  Printify , or any other POD platform—let me hit you with some tough love: The setup matters. A lot. They’re not hard to use, but they are specific. If you don’t follow the instructions o...

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...

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...

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. ...