Published August 30th, 2026

Raven Swartz's journey with crafting began many decades ago, nestled between the gentle hands of her grandmother and the steady brushstrokes of her mother. From those early lessons, a lifelong passion for making things both beautiful and useful took root. Over fifty years later, Raven blends the time-honored techniques she learned in childhood with modern methods like 3D printing and resin art, creating pieces that carry a unique touch and a personal story. Her work is a reflection of deep experience and careful attention, shaped by a family tradition but always evolving. Raven's approach invites you into a creative partnership, where every handmade item is crafted with patience and understanding, turning your ideas into something truly one of a kind. This blend of heritage and innovation is the heart of Kreations by R & B, and it guides every step of the custom order journey.

Introducing Kreations by R & B and the Art of Handmade Custom Crafts

We grew into Kreations by R & B long before the name existed. Our hands learned from a grandmother who saved every scrap of yarn, and a mother who painted late into the night. Over more than fifty years, that quiet family habit turned into a steady practice of making things that feel personal and useful.

Our work still starts the old way: a sketch in a notebook, a hook, a brush, a block of wood on the table. Then we layer in newer methods-3D printing for precise forms, resin art for depth and shine, mixed media to pull it together. That mix of tradition and modern technique lets us treat custom requests with both patience and accuracy.

Across handmade crafts, resin art, 3D printed items, paintings, and wood creations, each piece carries that same line of heritage. When someone orders online, they are stepping into that long, steady rhythm of making.

Understanding the Different Product Categories and Their Unique Needs

Once someone steps into our online shop, the first crossroads is choosing the kind of piece they want. Each category behaves differently, so the way an order is described needs to match the way that item is made. The clearer that match, the smoother the custom process runs.

Our broadest group is what we think of as handmade crafts: custom jewelry, incense burners, planters, and small decor. These depend on size, weight, and daily use. A delicate pair of earrings asks for notes about metal sensitivity, preferred length, and closure style. An incense burner or planter needs clear details on stick or cone incense, or plant type and whether it lives indoors or outdoors. When those basics are settled, colors and patterns fall into place more easily and avoiding disappointment in handmade craft orders becomes simpler.

Resin art-coasters, trays, wall pieces-has its own logic. Resin has depth and shine, but it cures into a fixed shape and thickness. For coasters and trays, heat resistance, edge height, and surface texture matter as much as color. A wall panel needs clarity on orientation, hanging hardware, and how bold or subtle the pattern should feel from across a room. The more specific the vision, the less room there is for customized craft order errors once the resin sets.

3D printed items, like phone stands and miniatures, start in the digital file before they ever exist on the table. Here, measurements and function rule the day. A phone stand needs the right angle, device size, and whether a case is usually on or off. Miniatures ask for scale, pose style, and how much fine detail is wanted, because tiny elements show differently once printed and painted. Any fuzziness in these notes often turns into errors in handmade craft orders down the line.

Then there are 2D paintings and wood creations. Paintings lean on mood, palette, and placement. A piece meant for a quiet corner wants different contrast and size than one over a busy sofa. Wood work-whether a small plaque, a carved accent, or a mixed-material wall hanger-depends on species, finish, and weight. Wood grain, stain color, and how it will be mounted all change the making process. Naming those needs early keeps the request grounded in what the material does best and keeps the finished piece closer to the picture held in mind.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Customization Requests

Once the right category is chosen, the next trouble spot is often the way instructions arrive. Most problems in handmade custom orders start long before we ever pick up a tool; they start with gaps or guesswork in the request.

The first common mistake is vague descriptions. Phrases like "make it pretty" or "something boho" leave too much space between what is imagined and what we build. A resin tray described only as "blue with sparkle" could range from pale sea glass to deep midnight with heavy glitter. Without anchors-shade, mood, where it will sit-both sides are guessing.

The next issue is incomplete details, especially where size and function drive the design. Handmade incense burners, planters, and 3D printed stands all depend on measurements. Ordering a phone stand without noting device size or case thickness invites wobble. Asking for a planter without plant type or location leaves drainage, depth, and weight up in the air.

Another strain comes from unrealistic expectations about complexity, timing, or what a material can handle. Resin will not behave like flexible rubber. Wood carries knots, grain, and small shifts. Expecting a palm-sized 3D print to show the same facial detail as a large sculpture sets the stage for disappointment before the first layer is laid down.

How To Give Clear, Useful Instructions

Strong custom notes usually do three things:

Reference specific examples. Point to a previous piece, a color combination, or a style (bold, minimal, soft). That gives a starting map.
Include measurements and limits. For 3D printed items, list height, width, and what it needs to fit around or support. For wall art and wood hangings, share wall size, available space, and how high it will sit.
Use photos for inspiration, not replicas. An image of a landscape, a favorite room, or a pattern on fabric says more than a long paragraph. Mark what matters most—color, shape, or general mood.

Each product category asks for its own kind of clarity. Resin pieces want notes on thickness and shine, 3D prints rely on exact numbers, paintings lean on palette and emotion, and wood calls for finish and mounting details. Thoughtful, specific guidance narrows the gap between the idea held in mind and the piece that finally arrives on the doorstep.

The Importance of Material Awareness: What Every Buyer Should Know

After the category is clear and the notes feel solid, the next quiet trouble spot is the material itself. Every medium behaves like its own character at the workbench. Ignoring those quirks is one of the most common pitfalls when ordering handmade crafts online, and it often shows up only after the box is opened.

Wood, for instance, is alive in its own slow way. Grain shifts, knots appear, and color varies from board to board. Two plaques cut from the same species will never match like printed paper. Wood also reacts to light and humidity. A piece hung in a sunny window will mellow and deepen over time, while one in a damp corner may move slightly. Gentle dusting and the right cleaner keep the finish sound; harsh scrubbing or soaking risks swelling or clouding the surface.

Resin sits at the other end of the spectrum. Once cured, it holds its shape, edge, and thickness. It loves shine and depth but dislikes high heat and sharp blows. A resin coaster or tray near a hot stove or left in a parked car may warp or mark. Microbubbles, light ripples, or subtle swirls are normal, not defects; they are part of how liquid becomes solid. Cleaning needs a soft cloth and mild soap, not abrasive pads.

Metals and fabrics each tell their own story. Metal jewelry or accents may darken or patina with skin oils and air, especially copper and brass. Some finishes are sealed to slow that change, others are meant to age. Fabrics stretch, fade, and pill at different rates depending on fiber content. A soft cotton banner invites gentle hand-washing and air drying; a heavier canvas wall hanging accepts more handling but still dislikes harsh detergents.

3D print filaments behave differently again. Some are rigid and light, better for display pieces or stands that keep their shape under steady weight. Others have a bit of flex and handle small knocks better but feel less crisp at edges. Layer lines are part of the process, like brushstrokes in a painting. They should be even and tidy, but they will not vanish unless extra sanding and finishing are built into the design.

Natural variation and small imperfections thread through all of these materials. Wood shifts in grain, resin cures with subtle waves, metal tarnishes, fabric softens, and printed layers show their pattern. When those traits are expected, they feel like character; when they come as a surprise, they read as flaws.

The simplest way to avoid that mismatch is to ask for specifics before ordering. We encourage people to request a plain description of the main material, any sealants or topcoats, and basic care steps. Questions like "How will this age on a sunny shelf?" or "Is this safe near steam or splashes?" often reveal details that matter more than color names. Tying those answers back to the earlier choice of category-wood plaque, resin tray, printed stand, or fabric piece-keeps expectations grounded in what the material can honestly do, and lets the finished craft live a longer, easier life once it leaves our table.

Payment, Delivery, and Setting Realistic Expectations

After materials and design are clear, the next layer of a smooth order lives in payment, timing, and how the piece travels from our table to your hands. These parts feel less romantic than color or grain, but they shape satisfaction just as strongly as any brushstroke.

We start with payment because it sets the boundary for what is possible. Handmade work often runs on secure digital invoices or trusted payment platforms. That protects both sides: funds sit in a traceable place, and the order details match the amount paid. Rushed requests that skip written agreements, or split plans like "I'll send the rest later," tend to tangle timelines and communication.

Time is the next fragile point. A custom resin tray or 3D printed stand does not move at the pace of a warehouse shelf. Resin needs curing windows; paint needs drying; wood finishes need days, not hours, to settle. Expecting instant shipping from a made-to-order incense burner or planter invites stress. A clear lead time usually includes three parts: design confirmation, making, and final curing or sealing before packing.

Delivery adds its own choices. Some pieces pack light and simple; others, like layered resin art or wood wall hangings, need padding and sturdy boxes. Shipping often includes tracking and basic insurance, especially for one-of-a-kind work. Local pickup, where it exists, trades shipping risk for a set meeting time and place, but still depends on the same drying and finishing windows.

Realistic expectations about appearance matter just as much as timing. Handmade pieces carry small shifts: a resin swirl that drifts slightly, wood grain that bends around a knot, a 3D print with visible but clean layer lines. Expecting factory-flat surfaces or identical twins to a reference photo almost always leads to disappointment. Clear customization notes and honest material descriptions narrow that gap, but they do not erase the handmade signature.

Communication threads through all of this. Once instructions and materials are set, we outline the steps: when design sketches or mockups appear, when no more changes are possible, when curing or drying blocks adjustments, and when packing begins. Questions about changing colors midstream, or shrinking the size after printing has started, often cost extra time and, sometimes, a restart. Knowing which parts of the process stay flexible, and which lock in, keeps expectations steady.

When secure payment, agreed lead times, and delivery plans all sit alongside clear notes and material knowledge, practical snags ease. The finished craft then arrives not as a surprise, but as the physical echo of the idea that started it.

How Kreations by R & B Supports Your Handmade Craft Journey

Our habits were shaped long before online carts and tracking numbers. That slow training shows up now in how we guide custom orders, not just in how we cut wood or pour resin. Kreations by R & B grew out of a family line of makers who worked by hand for decades before the business name ever appeared, and that long view shapes how we walk people through each step.

We start with quiet, free conversations. Before a payment link goes out, we invite questions about size, use, and material so common online mistakes—vague notes, ignoring material specifics in handmade crafts, or rushing timing—get caught early. Those talks often turn scattered ideas into a simple sketch, a clear color group, or a short list of must-haves and nice-to-haves.

From there, we lean on detailed writeups for each type of work. Resin trays note thickness and heat limits. 3D printed stands list filament type, weight range, and visible layer lines. Wood pieces spell out species, finish, and how they hang. That kind of plain language description keeps surprises small once the box opens.

Custom orders sit on their own rail. We keep messages, reference photos, and measurements together, then share checkpoints: design approval, no-change points, and expected ship windows. Years of working both at local markets in Jacksonville, NC and online across the country taught us that steady updates are as important as a sharp blade or level print bed. Clear paths for questions and changes keep the order from drifting, and turn the whole process into a calmer, more enjoyable part of living with handmade work.

Ordering handmade crafts online invites a special kind of collaboration, one where clarity and care shape the path from idea to cherished possession. We've seen how avoiding vague instructions, understanding the unique traits of each material, and setting realistic expectations can transform the process into a joyful experience. When you take the time to share detailed notes and ask questions early, you help ensure the piece you receive feels truly personal and crafted with intention. At Kreations by R & B, we welcome you to explore our diverse categories-from resin art to 3D printed stands and wood creations-and to reach out for guidance as you begin your custom order journey. With over fifty years of hands-on expertise, we're here to help your vision take form with warmth and precision. Let's start this creative adventure together, turning your ideas into unique treasures made to last and inspire.

Stick burners