I have many Arts and Craft books on my kindle app and also in my bookcase!  I just bought a book today called  "License to Draw" by Ronnie Walter and I am going to start reading it.  I would like to read a little each day making "reading" part of my daily routine.  I love to hear others stories, tips and ideas because it really inspires me!

I know I have read this saying many times but now I need to make sure I am doing it!  That is to "do something everyday for your business whether it is big or small".  So since today was a busy day I decided to do something small and add  the  "100 Top Digital Stamping Sites" link to my 2 Cute Ink Digi shop, so when people are browsing they can also rate the shop!   I have had this badge on my blog but I think it makes more sense to have on my actual shop!

So my first plan in achieving my goals is to sketch as much as I can!  I would like to be able to sketch daily and let my creativity poor out!  Sometimes my best sketches come out when I don't have an exact idea of what to sketch.  For instance this baby turtle came about when I was drawing a country girl turtle and then I had an idea for a camo shell turtle but I had no clue how to "draw" camo.   So I turned my camo shell turtle idea into a cute baby turtle!  Which I fell in love with and plan to put this design in my "Preemie Rubber Stamp Line" ! :)

Time has flown by once again this year and many changes have happened as well.  But one thing has always stayed the same each year and that is my desire to create art making money from home.  Now each year I have done this but not enough to exactly live on, but more as extra income.
I am ready more than ever to turn my creative hobby(s) into a full-time stable business, but the question is how?  I have read other artists and crafters success stories in art licensing or from etsy, and I want to be them.  Every time I walk into a walmart or target and see the children's clothing I say to myself  "My artwork is just as good and I can do that".  
The questions is how do I go from where I am now to where I want to be?
So I have decided the first thing I need to answer is what do I REALLY want to be doing?  I have been thinking and thinking and thinking about this question but I can 't come up with just one answer.  

1. I enjoy creating digital stamps- my own ideas and other ideas, this is very freeing as artist because I can do what I want plus, I had a DT members card published in a magazine this year which was a great accomplishment!

2. I enjoy licensing designs to embroidery- this is my main source  of income, it has helped me create some of my best art and has been challenging and rewarding.

3. I want to see my art on kids clothing-  I would like to work for a company or start my own product line on Zazzle, society 6 etc.

4.  I want to create my 'Preemie Line" of rubber stamps- I want to create a physical product and give back.

5.  I want to explore the handmade world and dabble into clay art- make artistic and funky pieces of wearable art!

I have come to the conclusion that most of what I want to do is creating "products" and then selling them.  Whether it be line art for a digital stamps or embroidery, to colored art for Zazzle, physical rubber stamps or clay jewelry.  I have one stable(ish) thing out of the batch and that is licensing to embroidery.  I have one company that I work with that constantly wants new images.  This is my main focus because I know the money will be there.  It is the closest thing to actually going to work and knowing you get a paycheck in two weeks.  But it is not 100% guaranteed and won't last forever.  This is why I want to excel in more or all of  the above.

Well I know 1 thing I need to do and that is to secure another embroidery account like I have.  This will help with the stable income as I work on the rest of my ideas. Plus I can double dip and use my embroidery line art for digital stamps and of course throw in some of my own ideas and designs for digital stamps.   Plus then throw those  digi designs into my "License My Art for embroidery etsy shop"

Alright so I have embroidery and digital stamps about covered.
Next is art licensing and/or Zazzle, Cafe Press etc.

I was thinking to build designs from some of my favorite digital stamps and try to create sets that I could possibly use to put in an art licensing portfolio.  Art licensing is about collections, themes borders and patterns (something i still need to get a grasp on) but maybe I can work on both hand and hand.  What ever I create for my Zazzle Shop I can also put in my art licensing portfolio.  

Ok art licensing and Zazzle Shop have been established now for Rubber Stamp line.

Creating a Rubber Stamp Line is a little tricky, you need to have income to make the stamps and package etc.  I started a GoFundMe to help with funding and did get a few donations but nothing to really jump start the process, but from that I was contacted by a stamp company that may want to help out that just might work.   If I go this route The 55.00 dollars that was made will go directly into advertising and marketing to help spread the word about the "Preemie Line".  Or I can continue to create my sketches and ink the designs and try to reach a higher funding amount so I can pay for the stamps to be made and sell them in my own etsy shop.
(something that I would like to do again as I once did when I first started out).

I have 2 options I can think about for my rubber stamp line so now all that is left is my clay jewelry idea.

Not to long ago I started experimenting with polymer clay and I originally wanted to make pendants but I stumbled across making clay rings and started creating!  I really love the fact of making rings because you can see it all the time when you are wearing it!   I have this vision to create rings and see where it takes me.  I have ALWAYS wanted to be in a craft fair and this may be just what I need to make to be in one!

So I know NOW what I WANT TO DO, it is time to sit back and work on a plan to achieve these goals!  I find sometimes when I start to write things out it helps me sort things out!

I hope you follow me on my journey in 2014 as I take steps to achieve my goals!

A new year is just around the corner and I thought a year end sale would be fun!  This gives everyone a chance to snag their favorite 2 Cute Ink digital stamps for half price! :)  I hope everyone has a great holiday and can't wait to see what the new year brings!  

I just love how my little winter fox looks as an appliqué from Bunnycup Embroidery!  I just love the fabric choice with the brown lines!   Seeing my art turned into embroidery and appliqué always gets me inspired!

I have another cute digital stamp today called "Winter Fox".  This little fox is keeping warm with is scarf, hat and mittens!  Winter Fox digital stamp is now available in the 2 Cute Ink Digi Shop!

I am excited to release a new digital stamp today called "Fox Present"!  This little fox is popping out of a christmas present and can't wait to open more gifts!  Fox Present digital stamp is now available in the 2 Cute Ink Digi Shop.

So since I couldn't figure out how to add cowboy boots to my turtle I was determined to think of a character that I could add boots to easily.  So I decided on a little bird with long legs!  I was thinking of making this into a girl  birdie and adding eyelashes and maybe even a cute skirt but for now I just left it like this.

Right now I am working on some cute country critters!  So last night I pulled out my sketchbook and started creating a turtle.  I wanted to give this little turtle some cowboy boots but I couldn't make it work!  So he got a little cowboy hat and a checker patterned shell instead.  I was thinking it would be cool if I can adapt "patterns" in the shell for I think it would be fun to create some designs inspired by Jim Shore's fun sculpture work.  I wanted to add something on his back but nothing came to mind.  Would love to hear ideas or suggestions :)