We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Isabela Bunij a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Isabela, appreciate you joining us today. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later?

I started my faith-based business in September of 2023, and am now 9 months into being a small business owner! I initially had this idea of starting a faith-based business during 2020, during the peak of the pandemic. Even though i had creative outlets like photography, crafting, writing and drawing, I didn’t know how to use that creativity for a business. In 2020, I was still a college student, trying to make enough money to pay rent and eat a decent meal. I began brainstorming a business name and logo to go with it. My first business name was titled “Angelic Behavior”. After sticking with that name as an idea in my head for a couple years, I later changed it to “Created for Heaven” with a tag line of “Designed with Purpose.” I feel much more fulfilled with the name that I chose, because my mission is to bring glory back to God and make His name known.

I am glad that I started at the time that I did, in 2023, because if I had started my business when I initially thought of it, my ideas would have been everywhere, and I wouldn’t have had a solid plan as to what I wanted to sell. Now that I allowed God to guide me in this business process, I realized I am much more passionate about what I am doing and the purpose behind my products. Overall, I am glad that I opened up when I did. Even though I didn’t have it all figured out, I knew to trust the process, make mistakes, and keep holding onto the promise that God will guide me.

Isabela, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have always loved to be creative. I grew up with the dream that I would be a Vogue or Elle magazine photographer one day. I wholeheartedly believe that that dream could have happened if I didn’t go a different direction in college. In college I started as a Photography Arts major, and then changed it to Business Marketing. With this major I wanted to work as a social media marketer for big brand names. And although my career is still on its journey, I am proud to say that I am slowly making my dreams come true but in a completely different way than what I initially planned.

In my business, Created For Heaven, I make digital wall art, design stickers, and use my Cricut to create fun and brightly colored designs on keychains and bookmarks. My primary platform to sell on is Etsy (Created for Heaven) and Redbubble (Created 4 Heaven) and my designs are all created freehand by me through apps like Procreate & Canva.

As I become more skilled in my business, with the correct resources and connections, I plan to expand my business to apparel. I would love to sell unique t-shirts, crewnecks, hats, tote bags and more with Created for Heaven’s designs on them. Looking back, this is what I was meant to do. Not only can I use my photography skills to market my business, but I also have the business knowledge from college to execute this idea well.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative, is getting to see my customers love their products! The joy that it brings them, and the way that it reminds them of the love Jesus has for them is truly why I do what I do. Whenever I sit down to let my creativity flow, I feel at peace and feel fulfilled in what I am doing. I work full time on top of my small business, and a lot of times my full-time job can be tiring. Whenever i get the opportunity to sit down and work on some new designs or take out my Cricut and make new products, i feel rejuvenated. Work shouldn’t always feel like work, and it is important for me to make this small business as fun and as authentic to me as possible!

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My desire for my small business is to show the love and joy of Jesus, through my designs. I want to remind people that they were designed with a purpose here on this earth and that they were created for heavenly things. My mission is to spread the gospel of Jesus, whether that is through a beautiful piece of artwork in your home or by a simple keychain that you carry with you wherever you go. Everything that I do, is not for myself and my own gain, but to truly give glory back to God. When i remind myself of this mission, it keeps me going. When I take the focus off of myself, and back onto the One who created me, then I find that my creativity flows much more organically.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @created.for.heaven
• Other: Etsy (CreatedforHeaven): https://createdforheaven.etsy.com
  Redbubble (Created4Heaven): https://www.redbubble.com/people/Created4Heaven/shop?utm_source=rb-native-app&utm_campaign=share-artist&utm_medium=ios