Growing Up - Truth Tuesday

Yeah, I'm an adult.  I have been for a while.  But, the funny thing about growing up is that the older you get, the more you realize you still have a lot of growing to do.  I don't think we ever reach a final destination of maturity.  It's constant growth.

image via

This has even translated into what I do with my small business.  It started up in 2008 and has gone through many changes.  I have "re-branded" 3 times and I can honestly say that this is the first time I feel comfortable and like my online identity finally represents me.  It's taken me 4 years to stop trying to mimic other people's success and realize that I just have to concentrate on growing up as a person and as an artist.  I can't get distracted with other people.  And it feels good!

This is just a glimpse of the transitions my shop and blog have seen:

A bit of an identity crisis?  I think so!  But for the first time ever I feel really confident and comfortable with my branding.  It's very simple and clean and very much me!

So, I have taken it all the way through into my packaging.  Since the beginning I've wanted to be a "responsible" person and use recycled or repurposed and reusable packaging.  I have slowly worked that all in and created a cohesive set of packaging for my products.  It's been quite a ride of baby steps.  But I think I'm finally up and walking. ;)

This is how the packaging for my paper earrings, rings and pins looks:

And this is how the packaging for my single cards looks.  I mail them in rigid mailers to prevent damage to the paper graphics.  Soon, however, I will be transitioning to recycled kraft rigid mailers.  For now I don't have actual business cards.  But I am liking the look and feel of my simple kraft cards.  The front has all my info and the back has a little thank you note.  I am seeing more and more DIY-ish influences in the business card aspect and I'm totally digging it because it's okay to be yourself and DIY till you can't no more!

Did you notice the cupcake stamp on the thank you tag?  That's from here.  

I also use kraft boxes for mailing out multiple card orders.  (But I forgot to snap a pic of those.) 

Anyway, I just thought I'd share some of my process.  

At the end of the day it always feels much better to just be yourself!

Keep keeping it SWEET! ;)