Leah Loret de Mola’s Continuing Journey with Design Suite: Finding Fulfillment Through The Challenges of Hard Work

Thanks to Carina Gardner’s Design Bootcamp, Leah Loret de Mola was able to take her already creative path, and find further skill and success in her career. Leah discusses with Carina in this podcast about her journey in joining the program and how helpful it truly has been.

Beginning the podcast, Leah starts out saying, “I found Carina Gardner Bootcamp and did the live bootcamp and it basically really fit with my experience because I knew Illustrator. It was like one step ahead of having to start over again.”

 

Leah began her journey with some limited knowledge in designing, but didn’t know what to do with it. For those who have some creative and designing experience already, your journey can be very similar to Leah’s! She goes on explaining her experience in committing to do Design Bootcamp:

 

“It was great. It was one hour every day, five days a week. I made sure I scheduled it like an appointment as something I had to do. I loved the live bootcamp, I’ve only done it live so I can’t speak for anything else, but it made a difference because it was really interactive in terms of the chat, and Carina speaking to people that were there live and answering questions on the spot. I think the exciting part for me was building a career in design, and I just didn’t know how to get there, and here was Carina saying ‘I will get you there, and this is how to do it!’… It was just so exciting… I could do it on my own time and grow my business for myself, versus having to work for someone else.”

The Design Bootcamp was an enjoyable and knowledge-filling experience for Leah, and will be for anyone who is committed to it like her. The price of Design Bootcamp is extremely worth it for those who apply what they have learned from it. Leah, for example, was able to make money almost immediately from her creations after joining the program. Throughout the rest of her journey over the past months, there has been on and off success, making the process difficult, but fulfilling.

 

“I was really lucky, I got some sales at the beginning. I worked really hard in the program for 6 months… it really paid off because I’ve been able to breathe for a little bit and still be able to feel like I’m not missing out on some designs that are up right now as I struggled with where to go… eventually it’ll get there but it’s hard.” Carina chimed in on this conversation by saying, “All of us have to get used to the sucky feeling before the win comes because there’s no such thing as overnight success.”

 

Just like Leah, those who are persistent and stick with the process will find great success, personal fulfillment, and satisfaction in their work. Any idea of a product to create and sell can be brought to life through Design Bootcamp, and the Design Suite Mastermind program that Leah joined. Although it is a challenging task to take on, there is so much to gain from these resources of becoming a profitable designer. 

Overall, Leah has described her journey so far by saying, “it’s been quite a rollercoaster, I didn’t know what to expect… I feel like I can sit here now and say it doesn’t seem like I did a lot, but when I thought about where I was last year at this exact time before I joined the program when I was just figuring out what to do, and I look now, it’s a huge accomplishment. Regardless of sales, it’s just more like that first step to hopefully getting past the first year. I would say it’s been a huge year of building and just seeing where I want to go, and it’s changed and it’s pivoted and I’ve struggled with a lot because you’re really testing ‘how hard do I want to work?’ and ‘how bad do I want this?’ because you’re putting in a lot of time… it’s just a lot of committing… it says a lot about where you’ll go long term.”

By joining the Design Bootcamp, you can unlock your creativity further, no matter how much experience you do or don’t have! To sign up for a bootcamp like Leah, click here  

To look at Leah’s work, you can access her website here

To watch the full interview with Leah and Carina, click here

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Dawn K’s Journey of Creativity, Passion, and Profit with Design Suite

In a world where the pursuit of creativity often takes a backseat to the demands of daily life, Dawn K gives inspiration on a podcast with Carina Gardner by sharing her heartfelt journey of pursuing her dreams. This led to the unexpected events of making money, along with the success and fulfillment that has changed her life. 

Dawn’s story resonates deeply with anyone who has ever felt the tug of creative longing amidst the chaos of everyday responsibilities. She had always been one who loved to sew and create, and wanted more from it. She explains the process she went through of deciding to go for it and make the time:

“I was looking at Instagram and saw an ad from [Carina Gardner Inc.] and I said ‘okay, I’ve been saying I want a way to make money from this room… and this could be an option’. I was skeptical, but I said, ‘given the cost, I don’t have much to lose, and let’s go for it.’ And I went through Design Bootcamp, and each day I was tuning in after work, sometimes I’d watch if I had a lunch break, if I had a little bit of time I’d try to watch. And each day I went, ‘oh my goodness, oh this is amazing!’ and there were so many breakthroughs… also just what the possibilities were and what that potential was. And the fact that I felt like I didn’t know how to get there a year ago… to know that there was a way to do it is really what got me hooked and it got me to sign up, and it changed my life.”

 

Ever wanted to be a surface pattern designer? Learn more at www.designsuitecourses.com/designbootcamp

 

The journey that Dawn went on from a hesitant skeptic to a thriving entrepreneur is a testament to the transformative power of the Design Suite program. By doing Design Bootcamp, and then moving on to Design Suite, was huge for Dawn. It allowed her to have time to create all of the projects she had been dreaming of for a long time. She brought a business to life out of it while still having a 40 hour week job as well. Passion was ignited, and she was committed. Design Suite truly is an excellent way to spark the fire of creativity, and bring it into action.

“I’m now making money, and when I started Design Suite, I was looking at all the people who are or who were where I am now… I would start looking up everybody going, ‘oh my goodness oh my goodness oh their work is so good, and look what they’ve accomplished!’ I didn’t think I would be in that same position, but if you put in the work and you put in the time, and you’re consistent about it, you can accomplish more than you ever thought possible,” Dawn eloquently says. 

Not only were her dreams made a reality, but there were benefits of making money, and personal progress that came from it. Dawn states that, “In terms of what attracted me to Design Suite  it was… the mentorship… being able to turn stuff in and get better every single time is huge for me in terms of progress… It was a personal choice that what I really wanted to do was fabric design, and I found that, through Design Suite.”

Overall, the decision that Dawn made to join the Design Suite program, and follow her dreams led to incredible outcomes and happiness she wouldn’t have otherwise found. Not only personal fulfillment and growth, but an open door to making money from her own designs, shortly after joining Design Suite. To end the podcast, Dawn closed with some words to anyone who is considering the design bootcamp or Design Suite by saying, “If you want a creative career, and you’re on the fence, and you’re listening to this podcast, check out Design Bootcamp. If you’re unsure, but you know you really want it and have the grit, just go for it, it is worth it, and it’s life changing.”

Interested in design bootcamp just like Dawn was? Here is the link she followed to sign up! https://www.designsuitecourses.com/designbootcamp?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fcarina-gardner-32e8.mykajabi.com%2Fa%2F2147517829%2FzAfwGmrU 

 

You can find Dawn’s work from her Etsy profile here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/dawnkdesigns/?etsrc=sdt 

If you want to watch the entire video with Dawn K and Carina Gardner, follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TACMev4AiIo 

Or listen to the podcast:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/2040698/13865727-episode-372-life-changing-creativity-with-dawn-k.mp3?download=true

If you have been following along and have never joined a Design Bootcamp, I’m going to encourage you to sign up! It’s 5 hours of workshops and we have live versions going on often so that you can come and ask questions. Go to www.designsuitecourses.com/designbootcamp

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Interview with Designer Holly Jones & Giveaway from My Cute Stamps

I have a very special interview with designer Holly Jones today! She is the owner and creator of My Cute Stamps, an absolutely DARLING store with her beautiful clear stamps! She also has a fabulous blog Creating Cupcakes. She’s also offered a darling stamp set to be given away to someone! Let’s meet her:

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CarinaWhat kind of “designer” do you consider yourself? 

Holly: I started out as a graphic designer but as I worked at various jobs, I soon realized that I preferred Illustration over design. Now I consider myself an Illustrator.

Carina: Do you consider yourself a “creative” person?
HollyYes, growing up my dad owned a small print shop. I preferred playing with his trash (discarded papers, glue, inks, & etc.) more than I enjoyed playing with any of my toys. I love to learn new creative skills. I enjoy drawing, stamping, paper crafting, knitting, jewelry making, the list goes on & on.

CarinaDo you always feel creative?

HollyMost of the time. Most days I feel like there isn’t enough time to create everything I want to create.

Carina:  What kind of jobs have you had?

HollyMy 3 favorite jobs include: 1) Working at the computer lab it college. This is where I learned to use the computer & graphic design programs. I didn’t have a computer of my own until a few years ago, so it was fun to be able to use one everyday at work. 2) Being a “live in Nanny”. I got to explore the Eastern states with a great family whom I still keep in contact with. 3) Designer & Illustrator for Stampin’ Up! I worked here designing papers, products & stamp sets. I really enjoyed the environment and my fun and creative co-workers.

Carina: Tell me about being a mom and your “design work”.

Holly:  I work at home with my 2 cute girls. I wouldn’t trade it for anything, It can be challenging at times. My girls are both young and demand a lot of attention, so I really don’t get much work done until they go to bed at night. My oldest daughter is 4. She loves crafts, she has recently been interested in drawing her own stamp sets. She keeps asking when we will be selling her cute designs. I don’t think it will be much longer before she’s ahead of me in her creative skills.

Carina: What do you do now?

Holly:  Right now my husband and I have two businesses, Vinyl Wall Art & My Cute Stamps. He does most of the orders & technical stuff, while I do all the design work and marketing. I’m currently designing some new Reposition-able vinyl for Vinyl Wall Art, and getting our display for the Stamp business ready for the Salt Lake Scrapbook USA expo which takes place next week.

Carina: Tell me more about My Cute Stamps? What made you get started with that?

HollyInitially, I started doing Wall Art because I had a 2 year non-compete contract with Stampin’ Up! I still enjoy designing wall art, but I missed designing for the craft industry. My non-compete contract with Stampin’ Up! ended in October (the same month as my birthday) My husband thought it would be fun to order me some stamps that I designed in celebration of both occasions. I really loved designing the stamps, and had forgotten how much I love to design products for the crafting industry. I posted some of my stamp designs on the internet, and the response was fabulous, so we decided to set it up as a business. I’m really glad we did. I’m having a great time coming up with new set ideas & new product ideas (coming soon.)

Carina: What is your favorite stamp set?

Holly: It would be Eek! A Monster!

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Carina: Where do you see yourself in 10 years with your designwork?

HollyI hope to have an entire line of products within the next 10 years. More than just stamps, perhaps coordinating papers, and craft kits.

Carina: What makes My Cute Stamps Unique?

Holly: When I design new stamps, I really try to keep in mind how the stamps will be used. I try to make each set as versatile as possible. I want the end user to be able to use each set for multiple occasions and projects. 

GIVEAWAY FROM HOLLY!

A big thank you to Holly for doing the interview! And she has been really generous to giveaway this darling stamp set: Spunky Nature Stamp Set! It’s my favorite set! 

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What do you have to do to win it? Comment on this blog and your name will be entered into the drawing! If you go over to check out My Cute Stamps and tell me your favorite set, I’ll put your name in twice! Easy! This giveaway will end on Saturday at 9AM MST and winners will be announced on Saturday morning at 10AM MST.  Good luck!

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