Tag: Redbubble

I’m back, but don’t hold your breath.

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Hi everyone! It has been a few months since I wrote a blog post, which should be no surprise to anyone by now. I know I have been away forway too long, and I am trying to make it up to you all. I didn’t mean to leave you hanging like a forgotten Labubu. Life is just… ugh, a total mess. I lost my laptop mouse, so I am typing this on the family desktop computer. Normally, I wouldn’t have time for a personal blog update, but when the husband’s away… the wife will write, or at least pretend to! 😝 I’m back for now, but don’t count on me blogging regularly. I have #ADD brain (high functioning, no meds). I don’t know when I’ll find my laptop mouse, but its got to be somewhere in the house (hey… it rhymes!). Speaking of which, I need to finish refining and uploading my poems but I don’t want to get carried away and risk blogging burnout again. Just be happy there’s something new to read, okay?

Image: This is how I feel when I’m trying to write a blog post. Image source unknown.

Redbubble Broke My Heart 💔

Redbubble was my side hustle and it ate up most of my free time when I wasn’t gaming. Now? It’s more like #Deadbubble —it’s not going to be my side hustle for much longer. Remember my little sticker shop? I made 116 unique designs since I joined, and poured my soul into these whimsical designs. I used what little commissions I made for coffee money (hello, caffeine addiction), in-game purchases for my Infinity Nikki obsession, and to support small artists on Etsy. Last week, Redbubble sent us the most disrespectful email I’ve ever seen. Redbubble’s fee changes, starting September 1st, 2025, is straight-up unethical, taking up to 50% of artists’ earnings, plus an extra 50% if you dare set your margins above 20%. That’s almost ALL of our profit margins, which is straight-up theft and a slap-in-the-face to small artists like me. I joined Redbubble because it seemed fun to design aesthetically pleasing stickers and merch, using the knowledge and skills that I learned about image scaling, resolution, and vector design. To date, I’ve sold 190 stickers and 8 buttons. You’d think that is a lot of money, but I don’t make much in commissions.

Still, it was nice to have little $20 payouts from Redbubble every few months.

Redbubble artists are leaving in droves and I don’t blame them. I’m not closing my shop, but I can’t keep up with their greed and need to offset it in some way, which only adds to my side hustle struggle. That coffee money is coming to an end, and not only that, but my passive income is coming to an end. There’s currently $8.20 sitting in my account that Redbubble is holding hostage until I reach the $20 threshold. At this rate, come September, it’s going to take forever to even make $20. Redbubble’s new scheme for Standard and Premium tiers reeks of a scam at this point…. artist income no more!

🌸 My Redbubble Shop: @sereneluna 🌸

I left that message for anyone who stumbles upon my shop to warn them about what’s actually going on. I doubt it will be enough to bring about change, but it did force me to re-evaluate where I should put my time and energy. I mostly post my thoughts on Twitter/𝕏 (@serene_hilz) because it helps me with my scattered #ADD thoughts. Perhaps, it’s time to share my thoughts with you guys through long-form content, which ironically helps me manage my ADD (the one without the hyperactivity). You can also find me on Bluesky if Twitter/𝕏 isn’t your thing (@sereneluna.bsky.social) but DMs are deactivated on Bluesky.

Grateful for You, Always ❤️

I’m not giving up on my Redbubble shop entirely, but I’m pivoting to blogging to keep my creative block at bay while I search for a new side hustle. By the way, I started Ko-fi crowdfunding to fuel my caffeine addiction, so if you want to support me ($5 CAD or $3.50 USD is just a suggestion), I’d be forever grateful (link below ↓). The money will go toward keeping this blog alive—blogging ain’t cheap, folks!

If you can donate to help me improve this site, I would be really grateful! (◡‿◡✿)

I’m grateful for you, my readers and subscribers, for sticking around despite my silence. The sound of silence is uncomfortable, isn’t it? (cue the crickets….) Despite being MIA for months, this blog still manages to get organic traffic, which was another reason why I upgraded my WordPress Plan yet again. Like all of my hobbies, this one might not last because blogging burnout is real, but I see potential and hopefully, the start of something beautiful. 🐇💕

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

About that December 2024 Recap….

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Hi everyone! I am coming out of hibernation and opened WordPress on my laptop for the first time since December 2024. I realize how much I’ve missed connecting with all of you through my posts and updates. I’ve also missed leaving comments on your blog posts. Reading your blogs on a regular basis has been something I missed too. In case you missed my last blog post from December 2024, you can read it here. I never did update you on which goals I ended up accomplishing. Honestly, I don’t really remember the details because I didn’t write them down.

December Goals | Winter 2024

No Motivation for Anything

I am not proud of completely abandoning my blog. What you witnessed here was my last blog post that I had written. Yes, it dates back to my goals for December 2024. To summarize how December went, everyone in my immediate family got sick during Christmas break except me. Usually, my immune system is terrible, but for some reason, I didn’t get sick, so that remains a mystery. That being said, I was sick last week and spent this week recovering from a nasty head cold.🤷‍♀ ️

Rethinking My Game Plan

I recently discovered that a work colleague of mine is making good money with digital marketing. She was kind and told me what it’s about without gate keeping her strategy, but I don’t want to get into digital marketing. I also don’t want to actively use Instagram or TikTok to sell courses. However, this makes my #Redbubble side hustle feel more like a waste of time than ever before. My Redbubble earnings are peanuts compared to my colleague’s impressive 5-figure income from her side hustle. This realization also made me rethink my entire strategy. On top of everything, the algorithm on #Redbubble is punishing me for being inactive on their site. It would mean the world to me if you check out my little shop on there. I am 2 likes away from reaching 2,000 favorited items! ❤

🌸 My Redbubble Shop: @sereneluna 🌸


♡ You can browse all of my 108 designs here: http://shorturl.at/otvxQ

The CAD prices have changed due to recent inflation. Unfortunately, the inflation that we are all experiencing to some degree has impacted many small businesses and their pricing strategies. Thus, I had to offset the costs to maintain my profit margins. It was also necessary to justify continuing with this side hustle, because otherwise, what’s the point of doing it? I know that I am passionate about this side hustle and want to keep doing it. And the best part? It’s zero inventory so less clutter (except digital clutter) in my house. If I make zero sales by the end of the month, I’ll probably readjust the prices back to what they were before. I truly value my customers and want to keep my prices affordable.

Honestly, I think it’s more of an algorithm issue. It’s not as much of a price issue because visibility and reach often play a crucial role in sales performance. Right now, my prices are set to $2.04 CAD. The Canadian Dollar is so bad right now. This makes it difficult for me to sustain this hobby (time + effort) without making these adjustments. I am hopeful that as market conditions improve, I can revert to more competitive pricing.

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ FINAL THOUGHTS ♥

I know this is an unconventional blog post yet again. I want to explain why I haven’t been blogging lately. I’m feeling overwhelmed with everything in my life right now and I need to determine what I need to do to get my life in order and back on track. I’m also struggling with depression and anxiety, which makes it hard to find motivation. I often blame the long winters and lack of sunshine in Alberta, but I also hold myself accountable. Still, I’m trying to remain hopeful, even when I feel lost. My goal for this year is to create at least one digital product related to this blog, aimed at people who, like me, are struggling with mental health and trying to get their lives on track. Not only that, but I want to figure out how to market it, preferably in USD.

Do you struggle with everyday life? Do you feel completely lost like I do? Do you feel scatterbrained with no clear path? Feel free to leave a comment below ↓ I would be grateful if you followed me on Twitter/𝕏 (@serene_hilz). This is, of course, if you aren’t already a follower. It is harder than ever to grow on that platform. I really enjoy using it to connect with like-minded bloggers.

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

I am Taking Sticker Requests

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I am taking requests for designs that you would like to see in my #Redbubble shop. If you have any specific requests, please feel free to leave a comment below or privately message me through the form provided in the Contact Info section of my blog. There is a form available for you to fill out, which allows me to reply to you via email. My main focus is on creating stickers, but I also offer custom designs for t-shirts, notebooks, and other merchandise. I do not charge extra for sticker requests.

All stickers are priced at $1.63 CAD when you purchase any 10 stickers from my shop. Additionally, there is a 25% discount on all stickers when you buy a minimum of 4 stickers. Currently, my shop offers a selection of 79 unique sticker designs for you to choose from. Don’t forget to check out the ongoing sales and discounts on Redbubble as there are often sitewide sales.

👉You can browse my designs here: http://shorturl.at/otvxQ

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Here are the things I won’t do:

❌ Celebrities: Due to potential copyright issues, I avoid creating content related to celebrities to ensure I don’t violate any rules and risk being banned.
❌ People: I prefer to focus on anime and cartoon-style illustrations rather than realistic portrayals of individuals. I won’t create a cartoon version of you. I believe it’s best to leave that to the professionals who specialize in commissioned art portraits.
❌ Writing: I won’t do writing or lettering. It involves too much extra work, and I simply don’t have the patience or skills for it.
❌ Trademarks: On Redbubble, you can explore a diverse collection of copyrighted and trademarked art, including popular ones like Disney and Hello Kitty. However, I would advise against posting such content as it carries the risk of getting banned.
❌ Realism: It is not my preferred style as I lean towards a more playful and cartoonish approach. My shop is meant to be lighthearted and not too serious. I should mention that I am not fond of designs that have excessive detailing or realism. There are other talented artists who specialize in that style.

Here are the things I will do:

✔️Kawaii theme: I love anything cute, especially cats, but I am open to working with other animals as well. In the past, I have even added foxes upon someone’s request.
✔️Animals: They don’t need to be kawaii, but personally, I have a preference for the kawaii style. However, if you prefer a different art style, I can certainly try my best to accommodate your request.
✔️Abstract scenery: I can create scenic art, but I prefer not to focus on specific landmarks. As for flowers, I absolutely adore them, especially cherry blossoms.
✔️Japanese art style: You may have noticed this art style in my shop. That’s because I love this style!
✔️Fantasy: I enjoy designing whimsical creatures like mermaid-cats (also known as merkitties), moon cats (a combination of cats and moons), and creating astronomy-inspired art, among other things.

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(っ◔◡◔)っ Please Note: If you can, please support me by purchasing a sticker design or merchandise from my shop. Your support would mean a lot to me. Even though I earn a few pennies with each purchase which may not seem like much, it gradually accumulates over time. Most importantly, it helps cover the expenses associated with pursuing this art hobby and side hustle. I am sincerely grateful to each and every one of you who has made a purchase from my shop.

➤ Click here to visit my Redbubble shop 🐈‍⬛💕