The Unexpected Zoo Trip That Launched My Most Successful Makeup Bags
Hi there, everyone! It’s been far too long since I’ve shared what’s really happening behind…
When you choose handmade personalised gifts from Thunder Lizard, you’re not just picking something off a shelf. Every item is designed, made, and packaged by hand, right here in my log cabin workshop at the end of the garden.
This is where the magic happens—my little slice of creative chaos, tucked away at the bottom of the garden.
A lot of my best ideas start with a simple question: “Mum, I want….?” or “Mum, can I have…?” My four-year-old is never short on inspiration. If he wants a bag with dinosaurs, or a t-shirt that’s just like his favourite, I’m straight into design mode. I also get brilliant requests from customers, whether it’s a particular theme, a different take on a design they have seen, or something to go along with a gig or party they are attending. These moments often lead to my favourite products.
I spend plenty of time browsing Etsy and other sites, not to copy, but to make sure what I’m making hasn’t been done to death already. Every design you see in my shop – from bespoke children’s clothing to personalised accessories – is my own work from start to finish. I usually sketch ideas out in Inkscape, polish them up in Affinity, then it’s time to bring them to life.
This is just some of the vinyl I keep on hand, so many colours, so many possibilities!
If it’s one of my custom vinyl designs, it goes through the Cricut cutter; if it’s for sublimation, like a mug or water bottle, I print it on my specialist printer.
Every name and every design are personalised, right down to the colours and the font you choose.
If you look closely at my desk, you’ll spot my own Personalised Leopard Print Mouse Mat. I use my products every day, so I know how well they hold up, and if you fancy your own, you can use the link (or just search “leopard” on the website).
Once I have a design, I get to work cutting, pressing, or printing each piece by hand. Here’s where the perfectionist in me takes over. If it doesn’t come out exactly right, it usually gets a trip up the garden while I mutter under my breath, before I come back and try again.
Some days it’s glitter everywhere. Every piece gets checked and weeded by hand, and if it’s not perfect, it gets done again.
Nothing leaves my workshop unless I’d be happy to give it to my own family. Sometimes it takes a few goes, but I know my customers appreciate the care that goes into every order.
After a final check, every item is carefully wrapped, like a little present, ready to be opened.
I’m proud to use eco-friendly packaging wherever possible, even down to the biodegradable plastic wrap.
Every order is packed in recycled, biodegradable mailers because I want your gift to be special without costing the earth.
For me, creating handmade personalised gifts isn’t just about making things, it’s about making things that mean something, both to you and the person receiving them. That’s the magic of personalised gifts, and it’s what keeps me going on the tough days, even when I’m covered in bits of vinyl and my tea’s gone cold.
Thank you for supporting Thunder Lizard, and for letting a small family business be part of your special moments.
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