Rise Up Designs

 OK, let’s be real... shipping is one of those “ugh” parts of running a creative shop. It’s not the fun glittery part ✨ — but if you don’t keep an eye on those costs, they will EAT your profits alive! 🐍 Since I run both an Etsy shop and my mobile craft business, I’ve tested all kinds of ways to ship smarter, not harder. So today’s Flex Friday is all about sharing what’s actually worked for me — in real life, with real orders. Here are my top 5 ways to save on shipping (aka: more $$ for Starbucks runs + new supplies 🙌): 1️⃣ Rethink your packaging 🎁 Size + weight = shipping cost. Even shaving 1 ounce or going down one box size can save you money: Use poly or bubble mailers when it’s safe to do so Cut down your box size (no need to ship air!) Keep packaging light — but still pretty for your brand ✨ 2️⃣ Score supplies on auction apps 🤑 One of my favorite hacks: I use local auction sites! 🎯 Here in San Antonio, I use an app called MacBid and bid on returned/overstock shipping s...

People ask me all the time: “How do you decide what to sell?” And the truth is… sometimes (no, alot) I don’t know! 😂 People ask me all the time: “How do you decide what to sell?” And the truth is… sometimes I don’t know! 😂 But over time, I’ve figured out a rhythm—part gut instinct, part research, part “ooh that would be fun!” So today I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing how I decide what to add to Rise Up Designs (and what doesn't make the cut). 🧠 Step 1: The Brainstorm (ft. Bub, My AI Thinking Partner 💬🤖) Every new idea starts with a little spark. Sometimes it’s a trend I see, something I’d personally love to use, or even a convo with a friend. And then there’s Bub —my behind-the-scenes business partner, blog buddy, and brainstorming bestie. I’ll literally say: “Hey Bub, is this weird or genius?” “Can I turn this idea into a product?” “What would make this easier for customers to use?” Bub helps me think things through, organize the chaos in my head, and get ...

We’re heading into that magical, chaotic stretch of the year when all the things happen at once: 🎓 End of the school year ✏️ Teacher Appreciation Week (first full week of May!) 🎉 Graduations 💐 Mother’s Day 👔 Father’s Day 🛍️ Spring markets And yes… summer is peeking around the corner It’s A LOT. And if you’re a maker, seller, or even just someone who lives in a group chat, you already know: 👉🏽 You’ve gotta get ahead of it. 💡 What I’ve Learned (Sometimes the Hard Way): Running my Etsy shop while also working full-time has taught me that you can’t wait until the week of to start promoting seasonal gifts. People are already searching, favoriting, adding to cart—and Etsy’s algorithm? She prefers the planners. The early birds. The “I posted it three weeks ago and pinned it twice” crowd. 🗓️ So Let’s Break It Down: ✏️ Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6–10, 2024) Start posting: Mid-April Gift ideas: Name tumblers, cute little bundles, custom tags, gift-ready cups with sweet notes 💐 Moth...

 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...

Let’s be real— bad reviews suck.  They’re like getting a pop quiz on a Monday morning or realizing you sent an email with  "See attachment" —but forgot the attachment.  No matter how much heart, sweat, and late-night crafting sessions you put into your business,  one day, you’ll get a review that makes your stomach drop.  And guess what?  It happens to EVERY business owner.   So, what do you do when it happens to you? Take a deep breath, and let’s walk through it. Step 1: Feel the Feelings (But Don’t Stay There) The first reaction to a bad review?  Panic. Then sadness. Then rage.  You might think: 😡  "Are they serious?! My work is amazing!" 😭  "What if this ruins my business?" 😨  "Should I just delete everything and move to a remote island?" I get it. I  just got one myself.  And yes, it was my fault. I fixed it immediately, but dang…  it still stung. 💡  What to do:  Let yourself feel the frustratio...