Prints for a Purpose Store

If you're a friend of mine on Facebook, you've probably seen my posts about "Prints for a Purpose". I LOVE designing/creating and decided to use this as a way to help raise money for our move to Taiwan.

I'll be honest for a minute though...it's been scary. While I LOVE doing designing, the thought of having people see these creations and like them or not like them (and ultimately buy or not buy them) petrifies me. I don't like putting myself or my designs out there. At all. I've been making things like these prints for a long time, but it's always been for personal use or once we brought Maleeya home, I made some for her.

But I've let fear control my life for a long time. I worked for a telephone book company up until about a year ago and was just getting into designing ads (and I use the term designing very loosely as they were just text-based ads) and I absolutely loved it. But to be a graphic designer at that company required a graphics degree. And while I may have been able to apply but I don't know that I would have been able to get the job. So suddenly I felt inadequate.

However I wanted to help our family as much as I could with moving expenses so I took a leap of faith and released just a few prints. And while the response was not overwhelming, I did get a few orders. So I branched out and created a Facebook page and Instagram account (@PrintsforaPurpose). After a few more orders I started looking into a website that would allow customers an easier way to order. Enter Storenvy.

I thought I would open a shop on Etsy, but didn't like their fee structure (and apparently there's someone out there with a shop by my business name, although I never could find it). After checking into a few options I settled on Storenvy. There are absolutely no fees to list items. The only fees you incur will be those from PayPal. (And you have those with Etsy as well.) It's been a little stressful to get the store set up, but there are lots of options in the design of it, which is nice. I think I have it tentatively set up, so if you want to check it out, just go here (or there's a logo in the upper right-hand corner that will take you there as well). I have a sweet deal going on now, too, the first person to purchase a print through the store will receive another one (of my choosing) absolutely free! So hurry over! I also have it set up where if I meet you in person to deliver your print and you don't have cash, I can take your payment through PayPal with just a quick swipe of your card, too.

So if you've been scared of sharing your talent, I understand. But if you let go of that fear, I think you'll be amazed at what you can do!