In online entrepreneurship, successful people can inspire others who want to start their own businesses. One such inspiring story is that of Kelly Crean, the creator of Pjs and Paint.
Pjs and Paint is a thriving printables blog, where Kelly shares her passion for design. Through this business, she has created a 6-figure income for herself.
Kelly has a unique combination of artistic talent, business skills, and strong determination. Using these qualities, she has carved out a successful niche for herself in the competitive world of blogging.
Kelly Crean
From fine art to freelance design
Kelly started out with a degree in Fine Art. However, she soon realized that the typical paths of teaching art or working in art galleries did not fit her goals and ambitions. Rather than being discouraged, Kelly took action. She taught herself graphic design and launched a freelance design career in 2013.
Kelly's talent and hard work paid off quickly. She started working with high-profile clients and was able to earn a six-figure income through her freelance design work.
Even though Kelly's initial degree was in fine art, she was able to teach herself new skills in graphic design. This allowed her to pivot her career path and find great success as a freelance designer.
Rather than sticking to the traditional art-related jobs, Kelly took the initiative to learn a new skill set that was more aligned with her goals and aspirations. This adaptability and willingness to learn new things played a big role in her early freelance success.
The challenges of motherhood and entrepreneurship
In 2018, Kelly welcomed her first son into the world. This transition to motherhood brought new demands and responsibilities that collided with the rigors of running her successful freelance design business.
Balancing the needs of a newborn baby with the deadlines and expectations of her design clients proved to be an immense challenge for Kelly. The conflicting demands of motherhood and entrepreneurship became overwhelming.
This new phase of life forced Kelly to reevaluate her career path. The responsibilities of caring for a child while also meeting the requirements of her freelance work created a difficult situation that required her to make some changes.
The arrival of her son disrupted the previous balance Kelly had struck as a solo entrepreneur. This transition in Kelly's life led her to take a step back and reassess the direction she wanted her career and personal life to go. The demands of both motherhood and entrepreneurship created a need for Kelly to make some adjustments.
Exploring new ventures
Determined to find a way to combine her love for design with the flexibility she needed as a new mother, Kelly began exploring various business ideas. From blogs to Etsy shops, she tried her hand at multiple ventures, each one providing valuable lessons and experiences. But it was her printables blog, Pjs and Paint, that truly captured her heart and showed the most promise.
Launching Pjs and Paint and its growth
Pjs and Paint was born out of Kelly's desire to create a resource for parents and teachers seeking engaging and educational printables for their children. By leveraging her graphic design skills and her keen understanding of her target audience, Kelly began creating a library of high-quality printables that quickly gained traction.
Less than a year after launching Pjs and Paint, Kelly achieved a significant milestone: acceptance into Mediavine, a leading ad network for bloggers. This accomplishment not only validated her hard work but also motivated her to double down on her efforts to transform her blog into a thriving business.
Balancing freelance work and blogging
For the next two years after having her son, Kelly had to manage both her freelance design work and the demands of growing her Pjs and Paint blog.
This was a very challenging time for Kelly. It required her to work long hours and stay extremely dedicated to both her business ventures.
Despite the difficulties, Kelly never lost her passion for her blog. She continued to put her heart and soul into creating valuable content for her audience on Pjs and Paint.
Even though it was tough juggling the freelance design work and the blog, Kelly remained committed to both. She poured a lot of time and effort into making Pjs and Paint successful, alongside maintaining her freelance design business.
It was a delicate balance, but Kelly's determination and love for her blog work helped her get through this demanding period of managing multiple responsibilities as an entrepreneur and new mom.
Making the leap to full-time blogging
In 2021, after her second child was born, Kelly made an important decision. Her income from Mediavine had been increasing, and this gave her the confidence to leave her freelance job. She decided to focus on her blog, Pjs and Paint, as her full-time work. This was a big risk, but it ended up being an important moment in her journey as a business owner.
Diversifying income streams
Kelly's success with her blog Pjs and Paint is due to her careful approach to making money from it. Advertising through Mediavine is the main source of her income. But she has also diversified her income streams to include other things like:
- Selling her own digital products
- Affiliate marketing (earning commissions by promoting other companies' products)
- Sponsorships
- Having a YouTube channel
This mix of different income sources has not only increased her total earnings, but also helps protect her business against changes in the online world. Having multiple income streams creates a safety net for her.
The power of email marketing
A big part of Kelly's success has been her focus on email marketing. She has built an email list with an amazing 106,000 active subscribers. This email list is a huge asset for driving traffic to her blog and generating income.
When Kelly sends out her email newsletter, she sees a big spike - around 3 times the normal amount - in both website traffic and income. Her strategy of including a free printable freebie with every blog post has been very effective at getting readers to sign up for her email list.
The large, engaged email list has become a powerful tool that helps amplify the impact of everything else Kelly does with her blog.
Navigating the challenges of blogging
Despite her impressive achievements, Kelly is quick to acknowledge the challenges she has faced along the way. Building a successful blog requires far more work than many people realize, and the constantly evolving nature of the internet and social media demands a high level of flexibility and adaptability. Kelly has learned to embrace change and pivot when necessary, a skill that has served her well in the fast-paced world of online business.
Overcoming obstacles and learning from feedback
One of the most valuable lessons Kelly has learned is the importance of taking negative feedback in stride. Rather than being discouraged by critical comments, she has learned to approach them with an open mind, looking for opportunities to improve her blog and better serve her audience. By embracing constructive criticism and making strategic changes, Kelly has seen her revenue skyrocket, proving that sometimes the most significant growth comes from the most challenging moments.
The importance of work-life balance
As Kelly's blog has flourished, she has also gained a deeper understanding of the importance of work-life balance. In the early days of her entrepreneurial journey, she found herself working long hours, sacrificing personal time in the name of growing her business. However, she has come to realize that a more balanced approach not only leads to greater happiness but also increased productivity.
Inspiring others to pursue their dreams
Kelly's story serves as a powerful reminder that success is not an overnight phenomenon, but rather the result of consistent effort, adaptability, and a willingness to learn from both triumphs and setbacks. Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to take their time, embrace the journey, and most importantly, to pursue a business that truly aligns with their passions.
The future of Pjs and Paint
Kelly's blog Pjs and Paint is continuing to be very successful. She is dedicated to creating great content that provides value for her audience. And she is also looking for new ways to expand and grow her business even further.
With a strong foundation already in place, and a dedicated group of loyal readers, the future looks bright for Pjs and Paint. Kelly is positioned well to keep building on the success she has already achieved with her printables blog.
Conclusion
Kelly Crean's journey from fine art graduate to successful blog owner is a testament to the power of perseverance, passion, and adaptability. Through her blog, Pjs and Paint, she has not only created a thriving business that generates over $100,000 per year but also a resource that brings joy and value to countless parents, teachers, and children around the world.
As we reflect on Kelly's story, we are reminded that the path to entrepreneurial success is rarely a straight line. It is a journey filled with twists, turns, and unexpected challenges. But with determination, a willingness to learn, and a commitment to serving others, anyone can turn their dreams into a reality.
So, to all the aspiring entrepreneurs out there, take a page from Kelly Crean's book. Embrace your passions, stay adaptable, and never stop learning. Your own success story is waiting to be written, one blog post, one printable, and one email subscriber at a time.
