We were lucky to catch up with Kristina Sosnowski recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kristina thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

I think success is a combination of a few key elements: passion, perseverance, and adaptability.

Passion: You have to truly love what you’re doing. When you’re passionate about your work, it doesn’t feel like work—it feels like purpose. This passion drives you through the long hours and challenges because you know you’re creating something meaningful. For me, knowing that Snazzy Dazzy Crayons brings joy to kids makes all the effort worthwhile.

Perseverance: Success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, consistency, and a lot of hard work. You’ll face setbacks, but it’s how you respond to them that defines your success. Stay focused on your long-term goals, and keep pushing forward, even when things get tough.

Adaptability: The ability to evolve and change is essential. Markets shift, customer needs change, and new opportunities arise. Being able to pivot when necessary and constantly improve your offerings is key to staying relevant and growing your business.

Ultimately, success is a journey of continuous learning, fueled by a mix of determination and love for what you do. Surrounding yourself with supportive people and staying open to new ideas also plays a huge role in the process.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Kristina Sosnowski, the crayon creator behind Snazzy Dazzy Crayons, a business born from my love for creativity and bringing joy to kids through color and craft. Based in sunny Arizona, I focus on designing unique, handmade crayons and fun paint kits that make for the perfect party favors or creative activities for kids’ events.

I started this journey because I’ve always loved working with my hands and seeing the joy that colorful, fun creations can bring to children. It all began when I was looking for something special for my own kids and realized how much potential there was to create customized, theme-based crayon sets and paint kits that weren’t just fun, but truly personalized and meaningful.

What We Provide: At Snazzy Dazzy Crayons, we offer:

Customized Crayons: From adorable shapes like animals, dinosaurs, and sea creatures to seasonal and holiday-themed crayons like pumpkins and snowflakes.
DIY Paint Kits: Plaster paint kits that come with everything kids need to create their own masterpieces, available in themes from monster trucks to mermaids.
Party Favors: Our products are a huge hit at birthday parties, seasonal celebrations, and classroom activities.
What Problems We Solve: For moms, party planners, educators, and small business owners, we offer a solution to the question, “How do I make this event memorable and unique?” Our crayons and kits keep kids engaged and entertained while providing a creative outlet that’s perfect for parties, events, and giveaways.

What Sets Us Apart: I think what really makes Snazzy Dazzy Crayons stand out is the personal touch and attention to detail in every product. Each set of crayons or paint kit is handcrafted, and I take the time to ensure they are not only high-quality but tailored to the specific theme or event. My goal is to deliver something that sparks joy, adds a creative flair to any occasion, and stays memorable long after the event is over. We also offer customization options to ensure that our products perfectly match a customer’s theme or vision.

What I’m Most Proud Of: I’m proud of the connection I’ve built with my customers. Knowing that my crayons and paint kits are being used in birthday parties, schools, and special events across the country is incredibly rewarding. I love hearing from parents who share stories about how much their kids enjoyed the products, or from party planners who say our crayons were the highlight of the event.

What I Want You to Know: At the heart of Snazzy Dazzy Crayons is a deep passion for making kids smile and helping families, educators, and event organizers add a special, creative touch to their celebrations. Our products are designed to inspire creativity and fun, and I’m always open to new ideas and collaborations to make your vision come to life. Whether you’re a mom looking for the perfect party favor, a teacher in need of a creative classroom activity, or a small business looking to offer something unique, I’d love to work with you!

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

How It Scaled: I started selling small batches on Etsy, just as a side hustle while still balancing other commitments. The response was far better than I ever anticipated! Parents loved how my crayons and kits were more than just supplies—they were interactive, creative experiences for kids. Over time, I added more themed sets, paint kits, and seasonal designs, and things really started to pick up.

Key milestones along the way:

First Major Order: The first time I received a bulk order for a large birthday party was a huge moment. It made me realize there was a real demand for unique, customizable party favors.

Word of Mouth & Social Media: As more people discovered Snazzy Dazzy Crayons, both online and through social media, word started to spread. Positive reviews and repeat customers played a big role in scaling up.

Expanding Products: Adding the DIY paint kits was another key turning point. They opened up a whole new area of business for me, especially with parents and party planners looking for engaging activities that kids could do at parties or at home.

Wholesale Partnerships: Eventually, I began to connect with small businesses and boutiques who wanted to carry my products, which helped me scale even further and allowed me to transition into making Snazzy Dazzy Crayons my full-time career.

I’m so grateful for how far the business has come. Looking back, the key to my growth was focusing on quality, creativity, and building strong relationships with customers. I truly believe that passion and persistence can turn a side hustle into something much bigger if you’re willing to put in the time and effort!

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.

Yes, I do manufacture my products! From the very beginning, I’ve been hands-on in creating every crayon and paint kit that comes from Snazzy Dazzy Crayons. I started out making these products entirely by hand in my home, and the process has been a huge learning experience over time.

How I Got Started: When I first began, I didn’t have a background in manufacturing, but I’ve always been creative and loved working with my hands. I started by experimenting with crayon molds, figuring out which designs were fun for kids and easy to work with. I learned about different wax types and pigments to ensure the crayons were safe, vibrant, and durable. For the paint kits, I researched plaster materials and non-toxic paints that would be safe for kids while still providing a great craft experience.

Lessons Learned:

Start Small and Learn by Doing: I didn’t know everything when I started, but learning by doing helped me understand the intricacies of manufacturing. Whether it was experimenting with new molds or improving the efficiency of my process, each step helped me refine the way I produce my products.

Material Sourcing is Key: One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the importance of finding high-quality materials. The crayons and paint kits are designed for kids, so ensuring safety and quality is non-negotiable. I’ve learned to work with trusted suppliers for non-toxic, kid-friendly wax, pigments, plaster, and paint.

Adapt and Scale Thoughtfully: As demand grew, I had to figure out how to scale without losing the personal touch that sets Snazzy Dazzy Crayons apart. I haven’t outsourced production, but I’ve learned to simplify and optimize certain parts of the process, like batching materials or using better tools and molds.

Stay True to Your Vision: Even though scaling up production has been necessary, I’ve made it a point to keep things as handmade and customizable as possible. I’ve learned that what customers love most is the personal, creative touch that goes into each product. It’s what sets my brand apart.

Overall, it’s been a rewarding experience to manage the production process from start to finish. It has allowed me to stay close to my products and ensure the quality is always up to the highest standards.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.snazzydazzycrayons.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snazzydazzycrayons
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnazzyCrayons
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/snazzydazzycrayons