The Funny yet humbling reality of starting a Craft Club 😅💃🏽✨

Can I tell you all a little secret?

Starting a craft club has been one of the most exciting things I’ve ever done… and also one of the most humbling.

When I first announced Happy Hangout Craft Club, the responses were everything a small business owner dreams about.

“OMG, I’m so coming!”

“This is SUCH a cute idea!”

“Send me the link!”

“I’m definitely buying a ticket!”

Me? I immediately started picturing a room full of people, laughter, scissors mysteriously disappearing every five minutes, washi tape stuck to everyone’s sleeves, and someone asking, “Who stole my glue stick?” It was a beautiful vision.

Then reality walked in like an unexpected guest.

The notifications got… quiet.

Apparently, “I’m buying my ticket tonight” has become a time zone I wasn’t aware of.

—I know life happens. Bills happen. Schedules change. Priorities shift. I’ve done it too. 

Honestly, this blog is just my little corner of the internet where I get to share the heart of what it’s been like becoming a small business owner.

Because there are some lessons you don’t really understand until you’re the one standing behind the checkout button.

Supporting a small business is different than cheering one on.

It’s easy to hit the ❤️ button.

It’s easy to leave a comment saying, “I’m so proud of you!”

It’s a little harder when there’s an actual ticket, product, or service attached to it.

And that’s okay.

Here’s something I hope friends, family, and anyone reading this knows: you never have to pretend you’re going to purchase something.

Seriously.

I’d much rather hear, “I can’t make it,” or “It’s not in my budget right now,” than hear, “I’m buying it tomorrow!” for the seventh tomorrow in a row.

You know what’s funny?

Nobody walks into Target, fills a cart, smiles at the cashier, and says, “Don’t worry, I’ll come back next Tuesday and buy all of this.”

We simply don’t buy it.

No promises.

No awkward explanations.

No false hope.

And honestly, I think small business owners deserve that same kindness.

Not because we expect everyone to buy from us, but because honesty is so much more valuable than good intentions that never become action.

My business has always been about genuine connection. Whether someone buys a ticket, shares a post, tells a friend, or simply wishes me well, I want it to come from a real place—not from feeling obligated or pressured.

One thing this journey has taught me already is discernment.

Not in a negative way, but in a healthy way.

People’s excitement and people’s actions don’t always match, and that’s okay. As business owners, we simply learn not to build our expectations on words alone. We learn to appreciate support when it shows up, however it shows up.

It’s a lesson I’ll carry with me long after this first event.

Another thing I’ve realized is how differently we support the things we love.

We’ll buy concert tickets months in advance.

We’ll stand in line for a new phone.

We’ll happily spend money at our favorite coffee shop or big-box retailer without thinking twice.

We’ll repost celebrities, influencers, and major brands because we’re genuinely excited about what they’re doing.

But when someone in our own circle starts building something from scratch, support can suddenly become… complicated.

Again, no judgment.

Just an observation from someone experiencing it for the first time.

Sometimes the people you expect to show up are simply cheering from the sidelines, while complete strangers are the ones walking through the front door.

And honestly?

That’s kind of beautiful.

I’ve heard so many small business owners say that strangers become some of their biggest supporters, and I never fully understood it until now.

There’s something incredibly special about someone you’ve never met believing in your dream enough to invest in it.

So today, I want to say thank you.

Thank you to one person ( you know who you are 😊)  who believed in this little dream enough to purchase a ticket.

One ticket.

Some people might read that and think, “Only one?”

I read it and think, “One person believed in me.”

And that’s worth celebrating.

Of course, I’m hoping more people decide to join us. I hope Happy Hangout Craft Club gets to host its very first event and that it’s filled with laughter, creativity, and memories we’ll all remember long after the glue dries.

I’m praying that happens.

But if it doesn’t?

That’s okay too. 

I’ll happily refund that ticket, thank that amazing supporter for believing in me, and try again another time.

Because dreams don’t expire just because the first chapter doesn’t go exactly how we write it.

Sometimes they simply need a little more time.

To every small business owner reading this, keep creating.

Keep posting.

Keep believing.

Keep showing up, even when it feels quiet.

Your people are out there!

And maybe they’re finding you a little slower than you hoped—but they’re finding you.

As for me?

I’ll keep collecting stickers, collecting craft supplies, planning craft nights, and believing that the right people will eventually find their way to the craft table.

And when they do…

I promise we’ll have enough craft supplies for everyone.

I hope that when people read this, they don’t walk away feeling guilty. Truly!  I hope they walk away with a greater appreciation for what it feels like to build something from nothing. If this blog reminds even one person to be intentional with their words, honest with their support, and a little more mindful, then it has already done exactly what I hoped it would.

Here’s to creating, connecting, and continuing to believe in the little dreams that deserve a chance to grow. After all, every big business was once someone’s small beginning. 💛