Rise Up Designs

The Sunday after Thanksgiving usually means rest for some—but not this time around. My little shop has been in full-blown holiday hustle mode. Where I used to average around 10 orders a week, I’ve been packing and prepping 10 orders a day lately 😅 and loving every chaotic minute of it. A huge milestone this week? I got my first international orders—one from Mexico and one from the United Kingdom. Y’ALL. I literally gasped when I saw the addresses. The idea that something I crafted with my own two hands is now heading out into the world beyond the U.S.? That feeling is hard to describe… but it’s somewhere between teary-eyed pride and squealing excitement. I’ve got my last market of the season coming up and I’m hosting a cozy little open house for friends to swing by and grab last-minute gifts (and maybe a cup of cafecito). I’m feeling a mix of blessed, anxious, and excited—just grateful for the love, support, and the wild joy that creating brings. Let’s go finish this year strong. 💪...

 OK, so I did a thing I’ve never done before...I paid to boost one of my TikTok videos. 👀 I know...I know...I’m not someone who throws money at ads all the time — I’m a small business, and I like to keep things lean. But I’ve been curious… what would happen if I gave a solid video a little paid push? I decided to test it out with a behind-the-scenes packing video (because who doesn’t love seeing the magic happen?), and y’all — the difference was noticeable. 📈 Here’s what changed: On average, my TikToks get around 100 views The boosted video? It hit 2,000+ views I saw a spike in Etsy traffic, like alot! Sales jumped from 1–2 a day to 5 in one day , and that stayed steady for a few days after RIGHT!? I also tried boosting a post on Instagram and Facebook , and while I did see traffic, it wasn’t nearly as impactful as TikTok - or maybe it takes more time. TikTok definitely gave me the boost. What I think made it work: I picked a video that was already doing ...

Let’s talk about it—tariffs. 😩 I’m not here to get political, but I am here to be real: these new tariff hikes on imported goods? Yeah, they’re starting to squeeze small businesses like mine. Whether it's glass cans, bamboo lids, UV DTF wraps, or the little things like straws and packaging—it adds up . Fast. I recently had to do what I’ve been putting off: adjust my prices. Just a little, but it was tough. I know how hard people work for their money, and I don’t take any sale lightly. So if you're one of my customers, just know—this decision came with a lot of thought (and a few sighs). 👉🏼 Why the increase? Because the cost of almost everything has gone up for makers like me. And when you’re a one-woman show hand-making, packing, creating content, and running two businesses, you feel it in your bones (and your budget). 👉🏼 What doesn’t change? The heart, the care, the sparkle ✨ that goes into every order. I still include: Clear instructions with each wrap A l...