Behind the Design: How Challenges Shaped Our Latest Collection

The Journey Behind Our New Collection

Every great product has a story, and our new collection is no exception. This journey was full of twists, turns, and unexpected detours. It wasn’t just about bringing your requests for more affordable kits to life; it became a true adventure that stretched us creatively and logistically. While I’ll spare you every detail, I want to share some of the biggest highlights (and a few surprises) we encountered along the way!!

It all started with one goal: to create smaller kits that would be perfect for gifts or first-time projects. We planned to launch them in June for our Business Birthday (a date we made up to celebrate our journey!!). But here we are in September, and well, plans didn’t exactly go as we expected. All those 2024 goals we laid out in January? They nearly immediately took flight at Superman speed, right out the window. But in the end, as with most things in life, it all worked out exactly as it should.

A Surprising Opportunity

Let me take you back to February, when we had an unexpected opportunity to meet with a Walmart buyer. Yes, Walmart—the biggest retailer in the world. This was not on our radar at all, but when opportunity knocks, you don’t say no. We hadn’t even started on the new kits yet, but we figured, "Why not? Let’s fast-track this!!" So we rushed to pull everything together in time for the meeting.

  

Although Walmart wasn’t the right fit at that moment, we walked away grateful for the experience and all the lessons we learned. That early push set the foundation for what would come, as we realized we needed much more time than we originally thought to get these designs just right.

At the same time, we were facing another big challenge—we needed to switch our entire website to Shopify. In many ways, it felt like we were starting from scratch. Hence, there’s only this one blog post here for now, even though I’ve written several others. Unfortunately, they didn’t seamlessly transfer over to the new platform, and I’ll have to copy/paste and reformat each one—something I haven’t quite had the time (or patience!) to tackle yet (and to be honest, I'm not liking this platform for blogging as much, so it'll take some time to get used to). But that’s life as a small business, right?

No platform is perfect, but this transition was definitely a necessary step and we hope it feels like a smoother, more streamlined shopping experience for you. Nick kept you in mind as he designed this site to make browsing, purchasing, and customizing your kits easier than ever. 

From Failure to Breakthroughs

 

The first design went through countless revisions and tests. We envisioned a system where all the pieces would easily pop out and connect. But even the smallest variations in wood width caused major inconsistencies. Too much room for errors!! Despite these setbacks, we created a limited run for the Atlanta Pinners Conference. Lucky attendees got their hands on those early versions, but we knew mass production required a lot more work.

Back to the drawing board we went, and after many brainstorming sessions, we found our breakthrough: brads!! If you don't know what that is, I didn't know either. I suggested we try, "Those small metal nail things that poke through paper and fold open on the back side"... Yeah, those are brads!! These tiny fasteners work perfectly and made the kits easier to assemble and reassemble. With that issue solved, I could finally dive into the fun part—designing. What started as 4 designs quickly became 8 because, well, I couldn’t narrow down all the ideas!!

   

Packaging and Design Features

In addition to the new designs, we wanted to make this collection retail-friendly, which meant designing custom boxes for each kit. This was completely new territory for us and a big investment of time, money, and resources, but we knew it was essential for leveling up Picto Kits. After multiple test runs, I’m excited to share the final packaging, which tells the story of our kits to anyone discovering us for the first time. 

  

Now, let’s talk about the exciting features of this collection:

• Sleek walnut back frame: A polished look, whether you paint it or not.
• Two display options: Hang it using the top hole or use the kickstand for a flat surface.
• No more tape: Pieces now pop out one by one thanks to tiny notches.
• Brads for easy assembly: We’ve replaced the screws with brad fasteners for quicker, simpler construction.
• Individual packaging: Each design comes in its own box, with clear photos and instructions.
• New “How To” video: A step-by-step guide for assembling the kits with ease.
• Fabric choices: Pre-packaged fabrics are included, but you can also choose the "No Fabric" option at a discount.
• Engraved details: Intricate engravings add character
  • You can leave them as they are for a clean, finished look, or, for those brave creatives looking to take things to the next level, you can paint or color them in to add a personal touch and even more creativity.
• Unique stories: Each design has its own inspiring message to uplift you on your creative journey.

 

A Personal Note

On a personal note... Nick and I have been really intentionally growing in our faith this year. For the first time in my life (it only took 41 years. Ha), I started reading the Bible, and the Lord has been revealing so much to me. I finally feel like I have a real relationship with God, and it’s been an incredible journey. There’s so much more I want to share about this, but I’ll save that story for another time. For now, I’ll just say that this has inspired me deeply, and I hope that joy and love shines through in everything we create. We’re only able to do what we do because of God’s gifts and blessings, and we hope our work reflects His Glory.

We’ve poured our hearts, creativity, and countless hours into making this new collection the best it can be, and we couldn’t be more excited to finally share it with you. Thank you for being a part of our journey and for allowing us to do what we love!! Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just starting out, there’s something in this collection for everyone. Ready to see it for yourself? Head over to our shop now and explore the new designs. We hope these bring you as much joy as we felt creating them. We can’t wait to see what you create!! 

With Love & Gratitude,

Alyssa & Nick