I love how these turned out on the “clear” sticker paper (it’s more of a frosted glass finish) although, unfortunately, the “paper” was so thick that my Cricut didn’t cut through the circles using my usual settings for making stickers. This is trial #3.
With my trials this time, I didn’t fill up the entire sticker page. I used to do that and when the alignment or cutting depth is off, the entire sheet is wasted. Believe me, it took a lot of effort to hold back! Funny enough, the reason I filled up the page in the past was because I was trying NOT to waste the sheet of paper. 😅
Cutting circles sound so simple but it boggled me for a bit when I tried to make round stickers. I didn’t draw the circles freehand and used the preset shapes in SketchBook and Procreate – so they were perfect circles…but Cricut didn’t agree with them. It’ll cut them pretty jagged around the edges and it frustrated me to no end trying to figure out why it’s cutting that way. In the end, with the help of Julia and Mr Google (a big thank you to all those who share your knowledge for free!), I am finally able to get my Cricut to cut perfect circles for me. It definitely takes a lot of patience to test something out when you do everything in-house.
Anyway, I didn’t really have a plan to make any Christmas related things for my shop (what a grinch, aye? 🤪) but since I doodled this, I thought it’ll be nice to give this out as freebies leading up to Christmas. As my Christmas wish for you. 😊
II have sent out a few last week (printed on glossy photo paper) as I don’t think the current clear sticker paper is working out for me. I’ve ordered Avarrix Clear Vinyl Sticker Paper and I hope it’ll be thinner than what I have on hand now (it says 50 microns but I have no idea how thick my current one is to know if it’s thinner or thicker). Will see what happens when the sticker paper arrives. At least I have a template that works now!
Shop has been slow and quiet these days. I should take the time to figure out what I want to focus on as I have too many ideas and they may not necessarily be good for me and/or the shop. It’s all very unorganised and chaotic, even. Is it weird that I have no idea what I’d want as my logo or what sort of branding to have? I think most people seem to have this thought out first before anything else and here I am, still clueless. 🧐
I know I often say I stock things that I like in the shop so that the backup plan would be, if I can’t sell them all, I can still use them. However, I think I’ve been spending a bit too much recently out of compulsion rather than proper planning. A little too reckless, I’d dare say. It’s all driven by a consumer mindset, no business thoughts at all (if I’m being completely honest).
Watch any tutorial for building a business and they will tell you to have focus/niche…I have anything but. 😅
Well, that was travelling a bit WAAAAAYYYY off topic, wasn’t it? 😅
Speaking of direction, shop and Christmas – I did not have anything planned to match the sales events happening around this time of year (Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas, Boxing Day, New Year’s, etc). I mean, I think these would’ve been planned for from months ago. I know of other small businesses launching their 2022 calendars and planners in October (and that was apparently late already! 😳). I’m not sure if I’d ever get to leave my day job before retirement age. It is somewhat of a romantic dream (at this point of time) to be able to do something else, something completely different – that is enough to support myself (and my bunnies, of course).
As much as my actions may be chaotic and impulsive, I consider myself pragmatic. I have never been good in art classes back in school and my creativity cannot be called upon on demand. I’m not sure of what other skills I have. I know I can follow instructions pretty well – especially if it’s something I can look at. This is why YouTube is a game changer for someone who is a visual learner like me. I can’t teach (have no patience) and have nothing to teach, anyway! Mel and I have spoken about “what else can we do?” quite a few times now. We always end up seeing each other back at work. ☺️
Maybe in the new year, I’d have a clearer idea of what I want for my little shop. Slowly try and build an audience/traffic to my own site – I’ll try out Julie’s advice to do one thing a month (between stationery and crafting – as I couldn’t decide!). Will see if I will be patient enough as I often want to have 5 things going on at the same time. 😜
Next week, I will tell you of Tokki’s story. Hopefully.
