When mask-wearing became a regular part of our 2020 lives, I shared a huge list of free pattern DIY masks. It quickly became one of my most popular posts. Like many, I sewed up a bunch of masks, some for my family and many to donate. A good friend started selling masks and I decided to support her. Then I put my Cricut to use to embellish a plain mask for O-Man. Mask madness quickly became MaskkMadness! Yes, with 2 K’s.
Time Flies When You’re Having Fun
Or really busy…
But it flies the fastest when you’re really busy doing something that is fun!
Everyday life was changing. I’m not currently going into other people’s homes for renovations. I was finally feeling I had the time to begin to sell some of my creations. My friend Ellen and I had talked about her helping to promote them and spread the word.
Despite being able to write about things I make, I actually struggle with asking people to buy things I make… and yes, I worked in marketing and sales for many years!
So I was gearing up to start making signs and be in a place to take orders that I could turn around in a timely manner. Spending hours in my garage, and hardly posting anything here this summer.
In the midst of all of this, O-Man was refusing to wear a mask that was appropriately sized for him, insisting the plain navy one was boring compared to his adult-sized camo one.
To solve the problem, I used my Cricut and heat press vinyl to put a lacrosse image on the side of the boring navy mask.
Nothing major, but it did the trick. I showed Ellen, who’s eyes lit up!
Ellen said she had people asking if her masks could be customized. Our first order was just for a name on the mask, just after the Fourth of July.
I started with several images I had purchased from Design Bundles or already had access to with my Cricut Design Space. By the end of July, we had sold 120 customized masks!
80 Designs and Growing
As people began requesting themes and ideas for masks, I started designing my own images. I’m trying to work through a design course so I can improve my skills, but most of what I have done is self-taught. But, that’s pretty much how I’ve always done things!
In August, we started taking bulk orders for other small businesses and adding some mask accessories.
My already cluttered and disorganized craft room has begun to burst at the seams!
And the kids went back to school… in their bedrooms! Tasha is doing a dual enrollment for the local technical school along with high school. She’s studying graphic design… I keep telling her she needs to learn quick and start helping me!
IronFish is still working from home as well. We have middle school, high school, votech, and college all happening alongside two full-time jobs (because I’m working at least 40 hours a week now)!
At any given moment, the least amount of computers we have running is seven. SEVEN!
And we actually have nine computers in the house. I’m not counting tablets and phones. Yes, we have a massive amount of screen time going on here. But that’s a whole ‘nother topic. Lol.
Organized Chaos
Before the masks business exploded, I had begun working with my friend Sara on my time management skills. Knowing I was going to be changing directions business-wise for at least a few months, I proactively looked for help.
I know myself, I will always find a project to keep me busy and procrastinate things I should be doing… especially if those things are… cleaning!
Sara is a time management professional, the last two weeks alone have shown me how much more productive I can be with her guidance. And boy, do I need it.
The never quite organized craft room needs to be overhauled to better function for my current business needs.
Plus, my brain is ready to explode from all the partially written blog posts floating around in my head.
Speaking of which, I could go on. But I’m going to stop for today. I have 35 masks to get made and 6 new design requests to create!
Part of my time management training is to use blocks of time to accomplish my goals. Blogging more regularly is high on my goals list.
MaskkMadness
In the meantime, if you want to see the mask Ellen and I offer, please join our Facebook Group MaskkMadness… stop by and let me know what kind of mask I can design for you!
Here are a few of my favorite designs.
