Exploring Life & Business with Tia Davis of Tia’s Craft Studio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tia Davis. 

Hi Tia, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
As a kid, I was always creative. I thank my mom for encouraging me to try new things because I sang in choir, I was in band, I loved writing poetry- really a little bit of everything. So, in my adult life, creativity was not much to do with my day job but when I get home, it’s time to unwind. I started to dabble in card making before COVID, but during lockdown, I dealt with depression, and it was really an outlet for me to reach out to others. It is relatively inexpensive to get started and I learned many new techniques through YouTube. Everyone who saw my cards would comment that it was a gift, and I never really thought of it that way. So, I’ve really tried to lean into this talent and share it with the world. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The hardest part about starting anything in the digital age is social media. It can often be toxic, and I really had begun to disengage from social media when I started my professional career. So, getting back into Facebook and navigating the hashtags is still something I’m working on. It’s also the stereotype that card-making and scrapbooking is for a certain group of people that I am not a part of. I have found that there are many people who wish they had the skill to scrapbook or make paper crafts. Limiting beliefs only create mental barriers. I say- let’s tear them all down! 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We specialize in handmade greeting cards and personalized gifts. Now that it is such quicker to send an “HBD” text, I believe sending a card via snail mail is so much more thoughtful and means more to the recipient- even though we still rely of Facebook to tell me it is your birthday. I think back to just a few years ago when we hated getting mail and we were excited to get an email. Now, we are so inendated with email we are happy to get a card from a friend. Even if it is just to say hello. 

I always say that giving cards away gives more joy than to keep them in a box for inventory. We have donated over 300 handmade cards to charities such as “Send a Smile” and “Care Card Connection” that gives cards to sick children who need their day brightened. 

There is a gallery of work on Instagram @tiamakescrafts or the website tiamakescrafts.com. We make personalized mugs, tumblers, and wooden decor signs. I really enjoy when someone calls and says, I need 50 thank you cards for my sister’s bridal shower, or I need 75 bookmarks for a women’s conference. Special orders can be whatever you need them to be. We believe all of our items look professionally made with that handmade touch that makes them special. I am also happy to teach classes on card making locally here in Michigan or virtually! 

What matters most to you?
I believe it is my life purpose to shine light into the world- though anything I do. We spend our younger years trying to fit in and our older years trying to stand out. I think it is so important for everyone to know- you matter, I’m thinking about you and it’s ok. Sending greeting cards is part of that. Regardless of the message inside the card- what every recipient knows is that they matter, someone was thinking about them and it’s going to be ok. 

Contact Info:

• Website: tiamakescrafts.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiamakescrafts
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tiamakescrafts
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq0vEdZtW_QPARahk6aCJzw/videos