Rise Up Designs

This week I stepped a little outside my usual creative lane—and honestly, it was kind of exciting. I don’t do T-shirts very often. I have a Cricut and a heat press, and I’ve used them here and there for simple designs—usually gifts for friends or family. But this week? I had the chance to take on a project for a local bank right here in town. Vinyl cutting, weeding, pressing… all the things. It was a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. There’s something satisfying about the rhythm of it—design, cut, press, repeat. The final product wasn’t flashy or over-the-top, but it felt good to deliver something clean, crisp, and custom. What surprised me most was how this little detour energized me. It reminded me that even if I don’t do shirts all the time, I still can. The creative spark doesn’t always look like glitter or tumblers—it shows up in small presses and unexpected opportunities, too. So today I’m sipping on a sense of accomplishment—and gratitude. For new chances. For returning tools ...

Today, I gave myself permission to do something simple but important: create for the sake of creating. No deadlines. No “Will this sell?” mindset. No pressure to post or promote. (No spreadsheets, no Etsy panic, no praying to the Pinterest algorithm gods.🧎🏻‍♀️‍➡️) Just me, my little workshop, a few supplies, and the joy of making something just because it fills my cup. ✨✨ (Also, my literal cup. I was definitely sipping coffee while doing it. Priorities. ☕) Making Space for Creativity (and Maybe a Little Mess) It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle. Create a product. List it online. Market it. Sell it. Stress-eat snacks while refreshing your Etsy dashboard. (Been there. Bought the T-shirt. Ate the snacks.) But at the core of it all, I’m a creator first . That’s who I am. That’s who I’ve always been. And sometimes, it’s important to honor that part of myself without expecting anything in return (other than maybe a little glitter glue stuck in my hair). The Power of Creating for YOU S...

Let’s be real—running a small business doesn’t stop just because you’ve got plans, a trip, or in my case… a weekend cheering on my superstar niece Gracie at her roller skating competition. (She crushed it, by the way. Proud Tia Moment™.) But even while I was away from home, my shop didn’t slow down—I got four or five Etsy orders in a matter of days. And you know what? I made it work. You can absolutely handle orders while you’re on the go—with a little planning, a little communication, and a lot of grace. Here’s how I do it: 🕰️ Step 1: Build in Buffer Time Before I even packed my bag, I updated my Etsy processing times. I always give myself a cushion—usually 1 to 2 business days—so that if life throws me a detour (or a glitter explosion), I’ve got time to breathe and still meet expectations. That extra day of processing time? It’s not about slacking—it’s about delivering without panic. 💬 Step 2: Communicate Like a Human (Not a Bot) Etsy does automatically notify customers when you sh...

This past Saturday, I officially launched something I’ve been dreaming about for a while: my first mobile crafting party —aka:  Wrap & Rise Craft Parties ! 🥳🖌️✨ I packed up tumblers, keychains, bookmarks, UVDTF wraps, supplies, and snacks 🍷🧀, and brought the whole creative experience  to  a group of amazing women… and y’all—it was  magic .  💫 💕 Here’s What Made It So Special: It was chill. 😌 It was fun. 🎶 It was wine, snacks, music, and laughter. 🍷🍓🎉 But most of all—it was  creative.  🎨✨ Everyone got to: Pick their own tumbler wrap  🥤 Choose their keychain design  🔑 Make a custom bookmark  📖 ...and bring their vision to life. The best part? They  loved  that it was hands-on. I kept hearing things like: “This was so fun - oh, this one is sooooo you!” “I didn’t know I was this creative!” “I love that we got to make something ourselves.” That - right there? That’s why I wanted to do this in the first place. 💖 ?...