Behind the Scenes of My Etsy Shop! 💌

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Fulfilling Orders for Etsy
3. Starting the Day with Breakfast
4. Background Entertainment with Audible
5. Listing and Printing the Orders
6. Cutting Stickers with Cricut and Silhouette Machines
7. Challenges and Comparisons with the Silhouette Machine
8. Taking a Break and Going to Michaels
9. Packaging Stickers and Calendars
10. Exploring Alternatives to Plastic Packaging
11. Adding Gold Details to Calendars
12. Setting Up a Working Station
13. The Joy of Packaging Orders
14. Stamping Envelopes with a Custom Stamp
15. Wrapping Up and Going to the Post Office

Fulfilling Orders for Etsy: A Behind-the-Scenes Look

Introduction

Welcome back to my channel! In today's video, I wanted to do something a little different and take you through my process of fulfilling orders for my Etsy shop. I'll be sharing what a typical day looks like for me as I work on fulfilling a backlog of orders from the recent Black Friday sale. So grab a snack, sit back, and join me for a behind-the-scenes look at how I bring my handmade creations to life.

Starting the Day with Breakfast

Before diving into a busy day of order fulfillment, I like to begin with a hearty breakfast. Today, I'm enjoying some delicious waffles to fuel me for the tasks ahead. As I savor my breakfast, I open my Audible app, which I've been using for a while now. Audible is actually sponsoring this video, and it's a great companion for the long hours I'll be spending making stickers.

Background Entertainment with Audible

When I spend hours creating stickers, I often like to have something playing in the background to help pass the time without being visually distracting. Today, I've decided to start listening to "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt. You can get three months of Audible for just $6.95 a month by visiting audible.com/jennyjournals or texting Jenny Journals to 500-500. It's a limited-time offer, so make sure to check it out!

Listing and Printing the Orders

One of the first steps in fulfilling Etsy orders is listing out everything I need to make. I use an Excel sheet to organize the prints and stickers that need to be created. On the right side, I list the prints, and on the left side, I list the stickers. Now it's time to print them all out, which will take a considerable amount of time. I'll be relying on my trusty printer, which will be working non-stop throughout the day.

To ensure the stickers are of top quality, I start by cleaning my sticker mats with a lint roller. Then, I proceed to cut out all the stickers using my Cricut machine and Silhouette Cameo. The online label company sent me the Silhouette Cameo to test with their paper, and I'll be comparing it to the Cricut machine in a future video. However, I have encountered some challenges with the Silhouette machine, resulting in deleted orders due to issues with the blade. For now, I manually adjust the blade settings to continue the sticker production.

Taking a Break and Going to Michaels

After spending a significant amount of time cutting stickers, I decide to take a break and visit Michaels. It's essential for me to step away from my workspace occasionally, especially during busy Etsy order periods. I find that going on walks, car rides, or even running errands helps me refresh my mind and maintain productivity. Michaels is dog-friendly, so I bring my adorable dog, Sophie, with me. The employees there have even started recognizing her, which adds a fun touch to our visits.

Packaging Stickers and Calendars

Returning from Michaels, I continue cutting stickers and preparing them for packaging. I use clear bags from clearbags.com to protect and showcase the stickers. However, I am conscious of the plastic waste produced and aim to find alternative packaging options in the future. If you have any suggestions, please let me know in the comments below!

Once the stickers are cut, I move on to packaging the calendars. I add gold touches to the prints using a fine-tech paint palette and a gold Gelly Roll pen. The combination of these two provides the perfect gold detailing for my calendars. I let them dry on a dresser, and then I'll package them up.

Setting Up a Working Station

To streamline the packaging process, I set up a dedicated working station. This includes having my calendars and stickers within reach, along with gold washi tape, vellum sheets, envelopes, and my laptop displaying the order details. I also have my winter-themed thank-you cards and crystal ball stickers ready to add a personal touch to each order.

The Joy of Packaging Orders

Packaging is undoubtedly my favorite part of the order fulfillment process. I take great pleasure in assembling each package, adding the final touches, and ensuring that every order is packaged with care. It's satisfying to see the culmination of my hard work come together in a thoughtfully crafted package. I believe it adds an extra level of personalization that customers appreciate. After all, receiving a package that feels special and customized is a delight in itself.

Stamping Envelopes with a Custom Stamp

To further enhance the packaging, I use a custom hand-carved stamp to decorate the envelopes. I created this stamp a few months ago, and it has become a signature touch on all my envelopes. Customers have even shared their creativity by incorporating the stamped designs into their bullet journals. It's a small detail that adds a touch of handmade charm to every order.

Wrapping Up and Going to the Post Office

After completing the final packaging for the day, I'm almost ready to ship out the orders. I gather all the stamped envelopes and place them in a bag for my trip to the post office. However, since I have a flight later in the day, I'll be cutting my work day short, taking a break from the fulfillment process to tend to other responsibilities. Nevertheless, the satisfaction of completing a significant portion of the orders is gratifying.

And that concludes my two-day journey of fulfilling Etsy orders. I hope you enjoyed this behind-the-scenes look at my process and gained some insights into the work that goes into running a small business. I'd like to express my gratitude to Audible for sponsoring this video and to all of you who have supported my shop throughout the years. Your support means the world to me, and I'm incredibly grateful for each and every one of you.

Thank you for watching, and I'll see you in the next video!