Leap of Faith:How I Turned My Hobby Into An Etsy Business
Why I Started My Etsy Shop
To say it took a leap of faith for me to start my Etsy shop is an understatement! But if I’m being honest, it was so much more than that. What started as a fun and casual idea to sell a few cute designs on the internet turned into one of the biggest personal challenges — and blessings — of my life.
Sure, I worried about making my first sale. I wondered if people would like my designs, or worse — what if they weren’t nice about it? But deep down, this wasn’t about Etsy sales or reviews. It was about proving to myself that I could be more than just “Mom.”
Getting My “Color” Back
Fun fact: when flamingos have babies, the stress of motherhood causes them to lose their bright pink color. As the baby chick grows, the mama flamingo gradually gets her color back.
LittleMamaPrintables is my way of getting my color back after six wonderful, exhausting, and identity-shifting years of motherhood. . Some may think it's silly to sell coloring pages online, but for me and my family…it’s much deeper than that.
From Zero Sales To 2,000 — A Lesson In Humility And Hustle
I still remember scrolling through Etsy, seeing a similar shop with 42 sales, and thinking: If I could just get there, I’d be thrilled. At the time, I had a grand total of zero sales! It seemed like such a big accomplishment and I was happy if that's all I ever achieved. But I’m also a huge perfectionist, so naturally I didn’t tell anyone but my husband about my little shop. If I was going to fail, no one else had to know (probably not the healthiest mindset — but hey, it gave me the freedom to start without pressure).
At first, I sold baby shower games and party printables. But it didn’t feel quite right. So I pivoted and leaned into something that felt a little more “me” — Christian coloring pages and Sunday school printables. This shift is when I finally made my first sale!
I don’t believe it was a coincidence. It was God gently nudging me in the direction He wanted me to go.
My First Sale… Plus A Couple Thousand More
After three long months of crickets, my first sale came in August 2023 — while I was sitting on the beach with my family.
Fast forward to today: I’ve made over 2,000 sales in less than two years! Every single order feels like a blessing, and I’m so grateful for the people around the world who have supported my Etsy shop.
Is It Worth It? Would I Recommend Starting An Etsy Shop?
Short answer? Yes. 100 times yes.
But with a little honesty mixed in.
But the truth is, there were plenty of times I wanted to quit. I kept moving the goalpost on when I’d “finally” tell my family about my shop. First it was 50 sales…100… then 200. (Spoiler: I didn’t tell anyone until I hit 350 sales.)
But because I believed in myself — even when it felt impossible — my little printable shop has now reached homes and churches across the world.
The best part? I get to spread the word of God through my printables in a way I never would have imagined. If y’all knew me in real life, you’d know I’m not the girl preaching on stage. But through this shop, God gave me a quiet and creative way to be obedient and to share His love.
I’m not sure what the future looks like for LittleMamaPrintables but I know that I have a God who has a plan and I can’t wait to continue this journey with y’all!
To Anyone Waiting for That First Sale
If you’re sitting there with an open Etsy shop and zero sales, feeling like it’ll never happen — don’t give up. I believe in you!
It’s so tempting to call it quits when things are slow. But trust me when I say, the process is worth it. Every struggle, every refresh of that Etsy dashboard, and every sale that finally comes through… it’s worth it.
Your dream matters. Your shop matters. And you’re capable of more than you know.
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