Bit Off More Than I Could Chew (…But the Dogs Were Worth It)

The backstory

There’s a local dog rescue I try to support whenever I can. I’ve fostered two pups and adopted one, so… soft spot activated. The director and I are both from up north, so her straight-to-the-point style speaks to my soul.

She reached out for more volunteer shirts. Easy. Order vinyl, press, done. Then: “Could you also do business cards for the adoption center?”

Me: “Sure, I can.”

Also me (later): “Have I done them yet? …nope.” 😂

Scope creep (the friendly kind)

I mocked up a clean, on-brand card for the rescue. For a minute she almost went with another print service because she thought I’d be pricey. I sent my (very) discounted quote—because puppies—and she flipped from 100 to 300 cards on the spot.

So after dinner I turned my desk into a tiny print shop.

The late-night process

• Design: finalized fonts, spacing, and QR handling so scanners don’t struggle.
• Production: printed 300 on premium white cardstock (crisp, bright, reliable).
• Cricut pass: built a custom cut template in Design Space for consistent edges—no eyeballing.
• Quality checks: stack alignment, edge burrs, and a quick scan test on multiple phones.

Little upgrades I’m excited about next time

• Premium “photo-on-cardstock” option: print the design on high-quality photo paper and mount it to cardstock for luxe density and color pop.
• Rounded corner option: softer hand feel and pocket-safe.
• Double-sided printing: room for a mini map, QR, or care instructions without cluttering the front.
• Thicker stocks (coming): I’ll add heavier cardstock as I scale, but for now I’m enhancing the heck out of what I’ve got.
• Holographic overlays: optional holo finish for subtle shimmer without sacrificing scanability.

Why I keep saying yes

It’s not just paper and vinyl—it’s dogs finding homes faster because info is clear, cards look legit, and volunteers feel geared up. That’s worth a late night and an extra pot of coffee.

If you’re a fellow maker, a few pro tips

1. Template once, cry never: make a master cut file with bleed/trim lines and lock it down.
2. QR hygiene: high contrast, ~0.8–1.0" square, clean quiet zone. Test with 2–3 phones.
3. Test print first: when possible, run a draft on regular copy paper to check margins, scale, and QR size before touching your good stock.
4. Track your brain: I’m using OneNote now to log settings, materials, and “next time” tweaks so repeat jobs get faster and cleaner.

A thank-you

Huge love to our local rescue crew for trusting me (again) and for all the messy, beautiful work they do. You keep wagging tails wagging. 🐾