After many months of mulling it over, I decided to bite the bullet and open my own Etsy shop, Scrap It Studio! With the help of my new Cricut Explore Air (which I love!), I'm creating custom party banners, perfect for photo booths and table decor.

Managing the store, promoting products, and coming up with new product ideas has been an interesting experience so far--in a good way. I've been experimenting with ads on Pinterest and promoted products on Etsy. I've transformed my hand lettering Instagram account into a platform for introducing new products and showcasing my design process.

When my first order came in, I was shocked! Someone took a chance on a store which had zero orders or reviews. And then I had to come up with a way to package my product. It had to match my shop's style, while ensuring the banners would not bend or rip. One (or three) trips to the craft store later, I found my style.

I'm really excited about the potential of this store. Do I think it will become my full-time job? Not exactly. But can I have fun and make a little extra cash on the side? Sure can! Looking forward, I'd like to add even more products to my shop and expand into the realm of cupcake toppers and photo booth decor. The options for paper party decor are endless!