Introduction

As with a lot of people, I had to swap gears when COVID happened, I had my own face painting and balloon animals business. Working with mostly schools, cities, and businesses. I crafted all my own materials for my business, as well as all my branding materials. 

When 2020 hit, I started making things to give because I was home a lot. Many of my friends needed some encouragement, so I made pop-up cards. 

When things started opening back up. I decided that maybe people would want to buy pop-up cards, but it's better to see them in person. So I went to a farmers market with some of my pop cards. At the same time, I had bought an entry level laser and had made a few engraved cutting boards to go with the cards. Well, let's just say I sold out of cutting boards. And didn't sell any pop-up cards. Hence, the laser journey started in 2022. I averaged 25 pop up booths a year from 2022 to 2024. 

Since then, I have grown with my knowledge of lasers and creative techniques. Using different materials, mixing media and experimenting. I have been expanding to signage for weddings/parties and businesses. With in the near future, an investment in a uv laser. It would allow me to engrave glass for brewery's and winery's, engrave metal and plastic. Something to look forward to. 

With the machinery I have at the moment, the main processes I use when creating are:

- Laser Cut and Engraved (Mostly Wood and Acrylic)

- Sublimation (Hardboard, Acrylic, Tumblers, Mugs, etc)

- Heat Pressed

- Electronically Cut (Stickers, Paper, Vinyl, etc)

- Digital Graphics Design

Equipment as of 1/24/25

- Omtech Polar Co2 Laser

- Htvront Autopress 2 Heat Press

- 2 Silhouette Portait 4s Cutter

- 1 Silhouette Cameo 3 Cutter

- 1 Silhouette Cameo MII (24 in Vinyl Cutter)

- 1 Epson F170 Sublimation Printer 

- 1 Epson Standard Eco Tank Printer 

- 1 Canon Standard Eco Tank Printer

- Thermal Label Maker

- All the Bits and Bobs to Make Things

 

Along with the crafting side of me, another huge part of my life is that I'm one of Jehovahs Witnesses. It is actually my main focus. So that involves studying the Bible personally and as a group twice a week, my full time ministry, volunteer construction, help out the different ones in my congregation as well as other in the surrounding areas. I'm very active with that. So that takes a lot of my time, and really, that's my prime focus. The crafting actually helps support that, while keeping my time flexible. 

With my flexible life style, it allows me to be more available for my family as well. From 2015 to 2023, my mom and I took care of my grandparents. Which was a full time job in itself. But I don't regret any of it. I am often see watching my young cousins and visiting my other grandparents. 

I've enjoyed the journey, and I look forward to many more projects in the future.