5 Reasons to Celebrate Cricut's 10-Year Anniversary!

Don't miss the Cricut 10 Year Anniversary Celebration Kickoff Event
Get incredible deals at the Cricut 10 Year Anniversary Sale!

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. 

Cricut wants to celebrate their 10th Anniversary with a sale! Here are 5 reasons you'll want to shop Cricut this week (4/20 - 4/26):

1. Up to 40% off supplies

2. FREE shipping - with no order minimum (with promo code FREECRICUTSHIPPING)

3. Clearance items starting at $1

4. Explore Air bundles starting at $229

5. Almost all cartridges and images on sale (Cricut.com only, does not include Design Space)

April Mystery Box!

4 Reasons to Get April's Premium Mystery Box from Cricut

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. 


Get the Cricut Premium April Mystery Box before it's gone!


Cricut's April Mystery Box is finally here! And there are four key reasons you want to get your hands on one!

1. The value of this month's mystery box is $175.93 but you'll be able to get it for only $49.99 (all sales are final)!

2. As you know, Cricut's Mystery Boxes are very popular because they contain such great stuff! So the 2nd reason is that supplies are limited! These boxes sell out fast. 

3. Mystery Boxes typically include fun cartridges, cards and accessories. Premium Mystery Boxes include all that, often in greater quantities, plus so much more!

4. They are super fun to receive and open! 

Purchase it for yourself or as a gift and solve the mystery of what's inside! 

Inspiration Versus Copycat

Being an artist and maker can be a challenge.  I exist somewhere between creative drought and creative monsoon.  There are days that I can’t stop the ideas for new projects from flowing out of me and then are days that I fight the urge to pull up Pinterest or Etsy and just copy something I see.  Who would know, right?  If I make the project with a vintage twist, no one will be the wiser, right?  I’d get something cranked out to fill a spot in my shop and I might make some money.  Win all around—except that it isn’t a win at all.  

I know that in this day and age, I can easily search the web and sites like Pinterest and Etsy for projects.  I also know that lots of people are making a few bucks simply cranking out the projects they literally copy from online.  But the truth is, there is a huge difference between inspiration and copying a project.  Inspiration leaves room for you to see something deeper—to see the spirit of a project.  It is organic and the final product reflects you as the artist.  It’s your heart and your soul.  Inspiration is where you find that “sweet spot” where what you love and what you do for a living meet.  Copying is simply a version of the original.  It lacks originality.  It lacks ownership.  It lacks soul.   And the truth is, anyone can just copy a project.  It takes the vision and spirit of an artist to see inspiration and then create something altogether new. 

I think one of the biggest misconceptions brought about by the Internet is that if you see it online, it’s free for the taking.  It’s the very thought process that leads to the second biggest misconception that taking someone else’s work and simply changing it up a bit makes it your original work.  That’s not true at all.  That area is what copyright lawyers refer to as the “gray area” in our industry.  It’s the zone where you could in fact get in trouble for calling your glass block design an original work when all you did was change the color of vinyl you used and the font.  It’s the zone where you might never get caught, but ethics need to reign rather than the lure of money.  It’s the realm of our business that makes the distinction between artists and copycats, or what I refer to as “cookie cutter” products. 

I’m guessing that at this point, several people are yelling at me through their computer screens.  And that is OK, because I’m about to get even more real.  I want to be successful in my business venture.  I’ve learned over the past four years or so that I was meant to be an entrepreneur, but that does not mean that I am willing to compromise my integrity to reach my goal.  I flat out refuse to copy the work that someone else took the time to dream up.  They put their heart and soul into that vision—that art.  It’s not my right to take credit for their work because I am not willing to spend some time stretching myself and reaching outside the box to think up my own art.  And moreover, it’s illegal.  Spending time coming up with my own projects takes me no more time than it does to hop online and get sucked into the time waster known as Pinterest.  OK, some days it’s fun to totally zone out looking at anything and everything, but I have things to do, paper to use, and glitter to spread all over the house. 

I own two Cricut Explore machines.  I literally have access to tens of thousands of design options that I purchase commercial and personal license for by buying a yearly subscription Cricut Access™.  The hard work is done—SVG files are there for me to make into original designs that reflect my heart and soul.  In addition, there are at least a handful of reputable SVG cutting file designers in the market like Dreaming Tree, SVGCuts, Kadoodle Bug, and many more.  I literally have zero excuses for not making my own projects.  ZERO.  I know many of you have the same machine and you pay $99.00 per year for your subscription.  So let me ask you this:  why are you wasting your hard-earned money on a high quality die cut machine and another $99.00 per year if all you are going to do is copy someone else’s work?  (That’s a real question.)  I work hard for the money I earn and my husband works hard for the money he earns.  I am not about to waste a penny of it.  I’ve literally paid for both of my machines just by making things that I used to run to the craft store to buy. 

It’s easy to get sucked into the “but Pinterest just makes my life easier” routine.  Isn’t the whole point of handmade goods and art to break the cycle of people thinking that they have to shop from a big box store?  Yes!  It is!  So, what are you doing to break the cycle?  What makes your product stand out above the rest?  How do you find your niche and stand out in a sea of glittered Christmas ornaments, glittered wine glasses, and lighted glass blocks with vinyl designs?  You can’t keep doing what everyone else is doing and then get upset when your sales fall flat or someone else is at the same show selling the same type of craft that you brought to sell.  Anyone in retail sales or retail marketing will tell you that you need to find something that makes you unique and special—something that says, “You want this.  You need this.  Buy this.”  Seriously.  Have you done a Google search or Etsy search for your items.  I did a quick search just now for handmade, glittered wine glasses and I literally got over 9,000 hits folks.  No wonder you’re frustrated.  No wonder people are coming to you and saying, “Your prices are too high.  I just found someone else who is only charging X for the same product.”  Friends, you can’t get mad at the consumer when you made the choice to make the same product that literally thousands of other crafters are making and selling.  That failure is on you.  Yep, I typed that in my outside voice.  I’ll say it again:  That failure is on you.  Tough to hear isn’t it?  I know—because I’ve heard it before from my mentors and I’ve said those words to myself before too. 

So, now that you’re good and upset with me—yes, I do know that some of you are upset reading this blog post—let me share with you how I avoid coming down with “Pinterest/Etsy Copycat Syndrome.” 

•   Be a constant student.  Read some of the great books out there on making, marketing, and selling handmade goods.  I am happy to share the books that have been the most influential in my journey.
• Learn the difference between inspiration and copying.  Really.  Look up the definitions, then make a sign that you can hang in your workspace to remind yourself of the difference.
• Find a mentor.  One of the best gifts that I have ever been given along my journey is a mentor.  My mentor is always there for me.  She shares her experiences—success and failures—and she challenges me to be the best version of Joy the artist. 
• Network.  I deliberately spend time at shows meeting new artists, makers, and business owners.  I surround myself by the strong ones and I soak up everything they can share with me like a sponge.  I also lean on the folks in my life with gifts in different areas of business.  My brother-in-law is a patent lawyer and he knows copyright law too.  If he can’t help me, he refers me to a good copyright lawyer.  My brother is in business marketing.  I value his input and expertise from years of experience.  And I have a friend who is an accountant and tax preparer.  I lean on her for her expertise in this critical part of small business.
• Evaluate products and designs regularly.  It is essential that you critique your product line.  What is selling?  What isn’t selling?  You can be on trend without being a copycat.  And if a product isn’t selling, it’s time for some change.  Ask yourself what products you see having longevity.  What products do you make that are just a fad or a seasonal trend?  I learned early on in the vintage market that the key to my success was to mix in vintage treasures with my handmade products and I also have some handmade soft goods like pillows.  And I produce items that are market specific too.  In a couple weeks I’m headed to my second show for the year.  I know that I have a lot of farmers and outdoorsmen coming to the show.  So you can bet I’ll be making some products that target that audience.
• Think outside of the box.  You are never going to grow as an artist or as a business if all you do is rely on Pinterest, Etsy, and what everyone else is making.  Anyone can copy a project.  And there is a place in your life for DIY projects—personal use only, not for sale.  Dig deep.  What makes your heart swell when you are creating?  What items have you made with Cricut SVG cutting files that reflected your soul?  What makes you special?  I promise—no I guarantee—that you have something inside you just waiting to come out and be expressed in art. 
• Find a creative community that encourages you.  There are a lot of great creative communities in social media that can help carry you through the evenings spent beating your head against the creative wall.  I highly recommend a strong, nurturing, and creative Facebook group called Cricut Explore and More.  I know the owner, Narelle Darley, and the entire admin team.  They are some of the most talented people that I know with lots of technical and creative experience.  The community they have created is nothing shy of amazing.  You can also join my Facebook group called The Joy of Marketing Your Crafts.  My admin, Barbara Kollmer Guy, and I have a blast sharing our business experience, tips, and tools with an outstanding community of artist and makers. 

      My journey has not been without it’s share of failures and I fully expect more.  I am a dreamer, an artist, and a maker.  And I am very realistic.  For every successful project I make, I’ve had plenty that have been thrown straight in the trash.  I muddle through the droughts and I rely on my creative village to help get me through.  And while I know that this blog post may not sit well with some of my readers, if I help even one person see their way to their true potential, then it was all worth it. 

“I learned this, at least, by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”   —Henry David Thoreau

The Importance of Making & Selling Quality Products

Artists and makers face many challenges in the retail world.  Pricing, foot traffic, online sales, and our very reputations rely on the quality of product we make and sell.  We must always consider the fact that we are competing in a ‘bigger-badder-faster” retail world where mass manufactured goods reign supreme.  In such a retail setting, the quality of our supplies and the quality of our finished products are paramount to the success of our businesses.  

I made the choice early on in my business journey that I would never cut corners on quality supplies and whenever possible, I wanted to purchase supplies from other small businesses.  You might be thinking, “But I can’t afford high quality supplies.”  Yes, you can.  You have to decide to make this a priority.  

In order to make this possible, I had to think outside of the box.  How was I going to afford the best supplies?  I didn’t have a big business loan.  I literally started out using what I had on hand and creating what I could with those supplies.  I’m thrifty by nature, so coupons and sales were an easy way to buy my favorite supplies.  I scoured online websites and comparison-shopped.  I checked popular sites like Amazon (I have Prime which means I don’t pay any shipping).  RetailMeNot is my favorite coupon code resource.  I have found that many times, shopping directly from company websites saves me the most money.  If you have a business license and a Tax ID number, many companies allow you to shop wholesale which means you don’t pay any sales tax and many times you get better pricing.  Additionally, I’ve learned the power of the trade.  I do lots of trading with fellow crafts people.  I have one customer that does business with me solely in trade.  I love it!  She brings me fun vintage treasures to repurpose or tear apart and use in my projects.  I keep a ledger for the value of the goods she brings me and then we trade in product that I have made or she places custom orders.  It’s been a win-win for both of us.  It saves us money.  We both get the things we need or want, and best of all, we both feel good helping each other out in our business endeavors.  

Once you’ve determined the best way to obtain high quality supplies and materials, it’s time to turn your attention to the quality of the product(s) you make.  Before you list a product or put it on display at a show, ask yourself the following questions:

• Is this my best work?
• Is this a product that I would buy? (Consider just the quality of the work done.)

If your answer is “No” to either of these questions, then you need to take the time to make the changes necessary to ensure your very best quality of product is put up for sale.  If it’s a sign, are the margins even?  Is the text centered?  Are there any areas that need to be retouched with paint?  Is the vinyl bubbling up or peeling?  Is this tumbler BPA free?  Are all of my embellishments securely glued in place?  If it’s a banner, is my stringing material fraying?  Did I catch all the hot glue “threads?” If you're a writer, did you proofread before posting or submitting your piece?  Did you meet your customer's needs?  Are you on topic?

The bottom line is this:  attention to detail and quality supplies are everything in our line of work.  In order to stand out above the mass-produced, cookie cutter gifts, décor, and media, we must have an edge.  Using high quality supplies and selling the highest quality of products gives us that edge.  It’s the first impression our customers will have of us as artists and it’s the one and only chance we have to win return customers.  Using high quality supplies doesn’t mean you have to price yourself out of the market.  Be creative.  Think outside the box.  Be thrifty—not cheap—and remember that while you may not make a large margin on big-ticket items, high quality, handmade “smalls” have huge margins and it all evens out in the end. 

Yes, Price Matters

It's a touchy subject, but one I think is really important and one we should discuss: devaluing our work and our time. I just had a real life experience to hit the point home.

My husband got me a special order. It's for a custom, 12x16 sign that will be given as a gift. She needs it quick. She went to Etsy and found the sign for $20, but it wouldn't have been a quick turn around. I nearly lost the sale because my price was $40, plus a 10% military discount. Luckily I was able to show the quality of my work from my FB page, portfolio, and the quality of the materials I use. I also guarantee my work.

Please, when pricing your work, please consider the following:

1. You are setting up a very uncomfortable situation when you devalue your work. Without meaning to, you are undercutting fellow artists and making it look as though they are gouging people. 

2. When you do not value your time and talent, you are giving away your valuable time and materials. Remember, if you spend $5 on materials and then only double that to figure your price, you aren't making anything because you forgot to factor in your hourly wage. Would you allow a business to treat you that way if you were their employee? (not typed or asked in a snotty voice, LOL. Asked honestly.) If someone doesn't value your time, you need to be willing to let the sale walk away because they don't value YOU.

3. We are not here to be in competition with each other. Don't let the lure of $$$ make you compromise your value and integrity. We should be building each other up, not tearing each other down. Don't be *that* artist. If we don't value ourselves, no one will.

I hope this challenges each of you and gives you some great food for thought!

Hello and welcome to my new blog!  After lots of encouragement from some of my favorite friends in my creative, handmade village, I decided to start my own blog focusing on the growth and marketing of my business.  Handmade goods are a truly a labor of love and if you want to be taken seriously in a market flooded by cheap, cookie cutter goods, you have to be willing to work hard and you always have to be a student.  So, here we are.  The Joy of Marketing Your Crafts blog, and now--my own Facebook group too.


I started my business in January 2014 with my cousin.  We literally had an idea, we talked a bit about what we wanted to focus on and what each of us brought to the business, and then we jumped in with both feet.  Our first show was the swap meet in Packwood, WA.  We worked our buns off each making 100+ items each.  We did pretty well for being the new girls, and it ended up launching us into other business opportunities.  Just a couple months after the swap meet, I took the business to our local flea market here in Bremerton, WA (hosted by the Uptown Mercantile & Marketplace) and my cousin ended our year with a show at her home in Yakima, WA.  Our first year, we focused on getting our name out.  We decided on a business name and we had a logo designed along with all the online elements we might need.  Then, we purchased our domain name and launched a website.

In January 2015, we met to reflect on our first year.  We focused on our branding, and we decided on the shows we wanted to apply for so we could get our calendar set for the year.  A couple months later, my cousin made the decision to leave the business and go a different route with her small farm and I decided I was in for the long haul.  So off I went to see what 2015 might have in store for me.  And boy was it a heck of a journey!  In 2015, I launched a blog on my webpage and my Facebook business page saw significant growth.  I was invited to participate in some of the biggest vintage shows in the Pacific Northwest. Two of the shows I attended are in the Top 25 Vintage Markets in the country.  I closed out 2015 with two fall shows and in the midst, something completely unexpected happened.  On November 1, 2015, I opened the first brick and mortar location for At My Cousin's House.  And since then, I've been open five days a week and teaching lots of sold out, vintage inspired holiday and home decor classes.

I have learned so much the past two years.  I've grown as a business owner and as an artist.  I've made some fabulous new friends, and my creative village has grown both in size and in friendship.  I have a core group of class attendees who make me smile and guarantee my weeks end on a high note.  And above all, I have the joy and the honor of sharing the things I've learned with all of you.  I hope that you will find my blog and my Facebook group helpful and welcoming.  And most of all, I hope that you have fun.

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined."  Henry David Thoreau

The Joy of Marketing Your Crafts, on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/206270489722880/

Returns, Exchanges, Custom Orders, Classes and More: You Need to Have Policies

Before you start selling online or at shows, it's important to decide on your official business policies such as Returns/Exchanges, Custom Orders, and Classes. Here are some great tips for writing your policies and for getting them out to the masses on your social media platforms:

1. Research. Visit similar artist and maker's websites. Read their policies. Think about the policies we agree to when we shop with big box retailers. What do you like? What do you not like? What are you not wiling to compromise on? All of these are essential brainstorming questions. 

2. Get it all in writing. Once you have written your policy, have several people proofread for you. The human brain automatically autocorrects, so it's important to get more eyes on your writing. You are being represented by the words you share and there is no such thing as a real deletion on the internet. Once it's out there, it's out there for good. Check your grammar. Check your spelling. Always, always put your best forward for the world to see--just like you do with your handmade goods. 

3. K.I.S.S. Keep it simple!!! If you write policies the likes of Facebook and Twitter, you will lose your customers and you will lose sales. People don't have time to read lengthy policies. They want it simple, plain, and straightforward. 

4. Share it. Once you have everything finalized, be sure you share it on your social media platforms. Pin it on your FB page. If you send out customer emails, it might be worth a special email. Include your policies as Note posts on Facebook and in your business description.  And repost them now and again to keep the information fresh for your customers.  Get the word out!!

5. Don't recreate the wheel. You don't have to come up with a new way to handle returns or exchanges. Find the policy that fits you best and use it. Work smarter, not harder.

6. Be consistent. If you constantly make exceptions to your policy or if you are changing it all the time, you lose integrity. And your reputation is everything in this world. You have a policy. STICK TO IT. That means for friends, family, and strangers. Period. If you want to be respected, you have to act like a "real" business.

7. No Guilt. You are a small business owner. You are a talented artist and maker. And you are no less valuable than the big box store that makes our movement important. Repeat after me: "I matter!" And when you doubt yourself and your policies, remember that you are a consumer and as a consumer, you are bound by retail policies too. You're not doing anything that every other business isn't doing.