My CBF Book Week costume inspired a fun new side hustle with my Cricut

Mum Jess went viral thanks to a passive-aggressive T-shirt she made for her daughter. It was so popular, that people sent her their orders - and she gladly took them.

Remember when Book Week rolled around a few years ago and the internet lapped up NSW Mum Jess's passive-aggressive costume for her daughter?

It was a simple black T-shirt with the iconic grin of The Grinch with the words "Book Week Grinch" on the front of the top and "I shall dress up for no occasion!" on the back.

It screamed CBF and the post went viral because all parents around the nation could relate to the dread of trying to find a costume.

Well, she's back!

The mum's post was so popular, people began to send her requests and now the mum-of-three, who hails from Harrington, turned her fun little idea into a side hustle that earns her some decent money. 

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The book week costume that started the clever side hustle. Images: Supplied

An unlikely side hustle with Cricut

"I was surprised at the response my daughter Amy's Book Week outfit attracted. I never imagined that it would be the start of a new chapter for me," the crafty mum tells Kidspot.

"I have always followed careers that capture my heart - childcare and now a small business which started on our kitchen table with my Cricut."

While she has always loved getting creative, Jess didn't realise she could make a career out of her fun designs until one day when she was waiting for her son to go into surgery to get his tonsils removed. 

"A few weeks after Amy’s book week costume went viral, my son Hayden required tonsil surgery. We spent prolonged periods of time in the hospital room, then a two-week recovery period in a caravan park situated near the hospital," she recalls. 

"While I waited by my son's bed, Cricut Design Space on my phone allowed me to fiddle and work out how to manipulate images and design my own creations. At first it was things like my 'first surgery shirt', then I ventured onto designing local designs for my hometown (at this point just for enjoyment)."

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Personalised gifts for the whole family - even the dog! Images: Supplied

A fun side hustle is born

One rainy day with nothing to do while on their recovery holiday, Jess and Hayden decided to print stubby holders and take them up to the caravan park reception and see if they would be interested in purchasing six of them.

"We figured this would pay for our next packet of bait for fishing when the weather was fine," she laughs. 

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Not only did the park manager say yes, they asked for more and if there were any other products on offer. 

"We asked what she would be interested in and she responded with 'hats'. This is what led us to purchase the new (at the time) Cricut Hat Press. For the remainder of our stay, we cut iron on decals and customised stubby holders caps and hats.

During their stay, Jess had a feeling the idea would take off so while away, she applied for an ABN and started a business Facebook page. 

And the rest, as they say, is history. 

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Personalised gifts for the whole family

Fast forward 12 months and Jess expanded her creations to include bespoke wooden items, mugs, Christmas decorations, dog tags and much more. And it's not just friends and the caravan park who she is taking orders from. 

"We sell a range of products in our local pharmacy, newsagency, and caravan park," she says. 

Personalising items for customers using her Cricut machine has not only allowed Jess to carry on doing something she loves but also work her own hours. 

"Cricut allows me to work flexible hours. My workday begins when the children are asleep and finished as they wake. This has allowed me to be there for swimming carnivals, athletics days and bus drop off," she adds. 

Christmas goodies are on offer too. Images: Supplied

While the side hustle has also allowed her to master the work/life juggle, the most important outcome isn't from the money she is making. 

"There were only three things I wanted from this: One was to be a role model to my children showing you can make a few dollars doing exactly what you love and of course just to have fun doing it," she says.

As for the third? That is yet to come. 

"I still have one other on the bucket list - mainly because our twelve-year-old son thinks his mum is not cool enough to make it happen - and that is to make a YouTube clip or maybe a TikTok video." 

Originally published as My CBF Book Week costume inspired a fun new side hustle with my Cricut