You're planning the cutest themed birthday party for your little one, and you want everything to be perfect right down to the party favors.
Well, my friend, Nicole, from Art 2 the Extreme, has been offering the Original Rainbow Crayon™ on Etsy for the past 11 years so she's got you covered with super cute crayons in a multitude of colorful shapes!
With so many cute designs and custom options, how will you choose just one?
I chatted with Nicole, who also has 2 little ones at home, about her handmade business and she shared about her life as a small business owner.
What inspired you to start making rainbow crayons?
I was an elementary Art teacher for 10 years. During my first year of teaching, I planned a lesson with my Kindergarten artists around texture rubbings and Earth Day. The first Rainbow Crayon was created in wax cups and horrible as they were, they worked well and the kids LOVED them! From there, I began creating basic shapes like hearts and stars, opening an Etsy shop in November of 2007.
Are there certain colors and/or patterns that inspire you the most?
My favorite color is teal. I love using white and a tiny bit of black in my creations because it produces great swirls and allows for better blending of the colors when using the crayons. I like anything bright, really!
What are some of your top sellers?
By far, the most popular seller is our Personalized Original Rainbow Crayon Name sets. We were the first shop to create these years ago and they continue to be the top seller each year because they make such great gifts, wedding favors, birthday treats, and stocking stuffers.
Our next best seller and another original idea are our Mini Donut sets. They look like real donuts and are perfect for the foodie lover or the birthday boy or girl having a donut party!
My personal favorite and original mold design from 2018 are the Crayon Stix. They are perfect for hands both big and small, won’t roll off of a restaurant table, and are a great “basic” crayon. We even customize a larger version with names or words!
We are digging deeper into the 100% custom molds in 2019. We have some test events and clients that we are working with currently, but soon you will be able to order your logo, event name, business name, etc. in crayon!
What has been the most satisfying part of running your own business?
I think the most satisfying part of running my own business is to see how far it has come in the last 11 years or so. It is amazing to me that I was able to be the first at this idea and build one crayon shape into over 500 shapes, while being able to stay at home with my boys and provide for my family. Much of my success has come from meeting so many wonderful makers, influencers, and customers that support small businesses and kept the fire going, especially in the last 2 years when this has all “blown up.” We have so many amazing partnerships and announcements on the horizon, so check back in a few months to see what the excitement is all about!
Where can local customers find you this fall in Indiana?
I will be at the Bloomington Handmade Market (November 10) and Yelp’s Totally Bazaar (December 8). There will be 1-2 more shows possibly, but our schedule is very full this year. For those of you near Los Angeles, I am a part of a really amazing event at Mr. Bones Pumpkin patch on October 6th. More details to come soon if you check back on our social media pages.
To get your own Original Rainbow Crayon™ delights, visit Nicole at one of these links below:
Website: www.art2theextreme.com
Instagram: @art2theextreme
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arttotheextreme
Get your FREE Nursery printables from little splashes of color here!
