Rise Up Designs

This time of year gets wild. Between my full-time job, side hustle, holiday parties, shopping, wrapping, planning, and trying to show up for everyone—I’ve been juggling more than usual. And if you’re anything like me, you probably haven’t stopped to check in on the most important piece of the puzzle: yourself. That’s what this week’s Sippin’ Sunday is all about. It’s not always easy to admit when you’re stretched thin. But taking a minute to breathe, to rest, to recalibrate? That’s not just helpful—it’s necessary. We pour into our work, our homes, our families, our customers. Let’s not forget to pour back into ourselves, too. So as the season ramps up, here’s your little nudge to ask: Have you eaten today? Are you hydrated? Have you taken five minutes for you? Can something wait until tomorrow? You can’t wrap all the presents, ship all the orders, and host all the things if you’re running on fumes. You deserve the same care and joy you bring to others. 🫶 Take care of you.

  This Flex Friday is simple — just gratitude . Nothing huge happened this week, no big events or major prep days, but I still had steady Etsy sales , sweet customer messages, and little reminders that people truly support what I do. And honestly? That’s more than enough to celebrate. 💖 I’m heading into this weekend with my last market of the season , and I’m feeling thankful… thankful for the people who shop small, who share my posts, who cheer me on, who believe in handmade, and who remind me why I started this journey. Flex Friday doesn’t always have to be about hustle — sometimes it’s about heart . Here’s to the weekend, new opportunities, and finishing the year strong. ✨

This Flex Friday is a little different — softer, slower, and filled with gratitude. Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and for me, that means stepping back from the hustle and leaning into the people who matter most. Next week, I’m taking time off to be with family — cooking, laughing, resting, and just being. Because no matter how busy life gets, no matter how many orders, events, or markets I’m prepping for, this time of year reminds me of something simple and powerful: Your work can wait. Your people cannot. So I’ll be skipping Flex Friday and Sippin’ Sunday next week — not because the creativity stops, but because this season calls for presence, peace, and connection. I’ll be back the Sunday after Thanksgiving with new updates, new energy, and probably a tummy full of leftovers. 😄🦃 This Week’s Reminder 🧡 Give thanks for the people who fuel you — the ones who lift you, support you, encourage you… and even the ones who doubt you, because sometimes they’re the reason...

This week, World Mental Health Day landed right in the middle of a hectic season—and it was a reminder I didn’t know I needed. Between prepping for holiday markets, running Rise Up Designs, crafting orders, hosting mobile parties, and keeping up with everyday life… it’s easy to forget to check in with yourself. But the truth is: when you are the business, your energy, your clarity, your peace—they matter more than any product drop or social post. So today, I’m giving myself a little space to breathe. To slow down. To say “I’m doing enough. I am enough.” And if you’re reading this and feeling stretched thin, overwhelmed, or like you’re running on fumes—I see you. Take that pause. Even a small one. Your future self will thank you. 💛

  This week was all about reflection —a natural follow-up to last weekend’s pop-up. After all the excitement, it was time to slow down, take stock, and make sure everything was in order. I started by going through all my inventory—double-checking counts, making sure nothing was damaged, and seeing which items sold the most. It’s a simple process, but it matters. Because knowing what worked (and what didn’t) helps shape what comes next. What I Focused on This Week: ✨ New bundles: I’m already planning and creating new sets for the upcoming pop-ups in October, November, and December. Customers love when things come together—like a complete set or a ready-made gift—and I love giving them a great deal. 🎁 ✨ Craft party prep: I’ve got craft parties lined up for October and November, so staying organized now means less stress later. ✨ Oopsie listings: I even pulled a few imperfect items from Etsy—ones missing a lid or with a small tear—and listed them at a deep discount. It’s a gr...

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...

This week, I’ve been thinking about how important it is to have a support system—especially when you’re building something from the ground up. Support looks different for everyone. Sometimes it’s your family reminding you how far you’ve come. Sometimes it’s your friends hyping up your latest product drop. And sometimes… it’s that fellow crafter on Instagram you’ve never met in person, but who always shares your posts or checks in to say,  “Keep going.” Whether it’s a pep talk when doubt creeps in, an extra pair of hands at a pop-up, or a quick message that says,  “You’ve got this,” —it matters. A lot. So if you’ve ever supported Rise Up Designs with your words, your clicks, your orders, or your encouragement: Thank you. You're part of my why. Here’s to showing up for each other—and remembering we don’t have to do it all alone. 💛

 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: ...

This weekend, I took a break from the hustle of Rise Up Designs to support my niece at her artistic roller-skating competition in Waco, TX — and I came back with something unexpected: A heart full of inspiration… and a phone full of photos and ideas. 😍 I didn’t bring my Cricut, my tumblers, or my sticker stash. What d id I  bring? My eyes, my heart, and a quiet reminder that even when you’re not “on,” creativity doesn’t clock out. What I Noticed from the Sidelines: 🎨 The bright, joyful color palettes in every costume — from neons and glitter to soft pastels and bold contrasts. Instant design inspo. 👟 The skaters ranged from tiny beginners to full-grown adults — all ages , all abilities , all showing up . 💪🏽 The dedication was unreal. Every spin, every jump, every flourish — the result of months (years!) of practice. I watched families cheer, kids adjust costumes, and competitors walk off after a routine with smiles and tears. And it hit me: This is a whole creative c...

Okay, so today’s Sip & Scroll is a little less glitter and a little more real talk over coffee. ☕ Because if you’ve been seeing the word “tariff” floating around lately and wondering what it has to do with your favorite small biz shops… Well—hi, it me. Jecca. A small biz owner who’s definitely starting to feel it. 🚨 What’s Happening? Long story short: Tariffs (aka extra taxes on imported goods) have started increasing on some of the very supplies many of us use—things like: Blank cups UVDTF wraps Keychains Packaging And even some craft tools A lot of these are made outside the U.S. and brought in by vendors here—so when their prices go up… ours do too. 💸 What I’m Seeing In My Shop Right now, I’m still able to keep my prices fair—but I’m watching the cost of materials creep up in the background. It’s subtle… until you realize your order total from your favorite vendor jumped $40 and you didn’t even buy more stuff. 😅 It affects: How often I restock Whether I can offer freebies or...