Rise Up Designs

You ever look around at all the progress you’ve made — and still feel like you're trying to keep up with your own dreams? Yeah. Me too. This week, I hit some huge milestones: ✨ My biggest sales month yet ✨ Over 350 followers on Instagram ✨ Month 2 as a Star Seller on Etsy ✨ Launched my mobile craft party website 🎉 And while I am proud (like, squeal-out-loud proud), I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t also… a little overwhelmed. Because sometimes, right behind the “Wow, I’m doing it!” feeling is a sneaky little voice that says: “Can you really keep this up?” “Is this too much?” “What if the next thing flops?” Here’s the thing I’m learning: Doubt doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It just means you’re doing something that matters. 💛 I think it’s okay — healthy even — to pause and admit, “Hey, this is a lot.” Because chasing your dreams while working a full-time job, nurturing your creativity, showing up for your family, and managing all the things? That’s not easy....

Sometimes the biggest wins don’t come from big crowds or big booths… They come from a two-hour craft fair at an elementary school , under paper flowers, surrounded by community, family, and the unexpected magic of handmade joy. This week’s flex? A Fiesta-themed event hosted by my niece Gracie’s school , and y’all — it ended up being everything. Gracie, the Accidental CEO 👧🏻✨ Knowing she might get a little bored, I brought Gracie some silicone beads to play with while she sat at my booth. You know, just something to keep her busy. Cut to: Gracie crafting up the cutest little keychains you’ve ever seen , and casually laying them out on the table like she’s been doing markets for years. No sign. No price. Just sitting there being adorable. Then it happened… A woman walked by, picked one up and said, “Oh my gosh… these keychains are BEAUTIFUL!” 😍 I blinked. Gracie blinked. I said, “Yep! They’re for sale!” ( Internally: Are they? They are now. ) The lady BOUGHT it. Gra...

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 ...

Flex Friday Edition Let’s talk about something no one really wants to talk about but absolutely needs to: Maintenance. Not for your car (although… maybe check those tires too), but for your craft equipment. More specifically—my Epson F170 sublimation printer , aka: my quiet co-worker who lives on the shelf and sometimes throws a tantrum when I ignore her for too long. 🖨️ 😅 Why This Matters (AKA: Learn from Me So You Don’t Cry Later) I love creating. I love crafting. I love dreaming up designs, applying wraps, making tumblers, and hearing people say, “OMG this is SO cute!” What I don’t love? ❌ Weird color streaks ❌ Clogged print heads ❌ Mystery lines across my designs And guess what causes that? Neglect. (Sorry, Epson. I swear it’s not personal.) 🛠️ My Setup & What I’ve Learned I use the Epson F170 for sublimation work and let me tell you—it’s a great little machine when you treat her right. But if I forget to run nozzle checks or skip maintenance for a few d...