Hi Reader,
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How has your January been so far?
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I was hoping to write sooner but between getting sick over the holidays, a huge flood last week that caused some pretty serious water damage in our home which is going to cost thousands in repair, and the motor getting blown in our car which has rendered it pretty much not worth repairing, it hasn't been the amazing start that I had hoped for in 2025. 😅
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I've been excited to unveil some new products and courses with you but all these (not so) little fires have forced me to focus my attentions elsewhere, but I promise - I'll be sharing those with you very soon.
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Another unfortunate turn of events was Design Cuts shutting down like a thief in the night. They sent an email around 1 am (UK time) saying they had closed their doors, leaving their customers unable to log in to access their purchases. This has caused a huge outcry in the community, with angry people on Reddit even calling for lawsuits.
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Some of the designers on Design Cuts like Nathan Brown Kris Lauren and others immediately stepped up to say they'll honor any purchases made on the site and to forward receipts.
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This instagram post has contact info for many of the designers. I touched base with Nathan Brown via the contact form on his website and he emailed me the next day asking me to forward receipts with the name of the products. I've been slowly compiling the list of items I've bought so I've only sent one of my purchases to him (which happens to be the first thing I ever bought from Design Cuts) and he already set me up with an account and access to my download.
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Since the site is now shut down, it makes it impossible to figure out what you bought or who you bought it from. If you're feeling completely overwhelmed as to what to do to get your purchases restored, I've got you covered!
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Here's the exact steps as to what I've been doing. (And if you prefer to watch the process, scroll down to the end of this section.)
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First, do a search in your email for the words - design cuts invoice - and locate your receipts which will give you the name of the products you bought.
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Then in your search browser, type in the exact name of that product and add the words Design Cuts to your search term.
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The first thing that should show up in your search browser is the item over on Design Cuts. However, when you click on that link, it will take you to Creative Market, which has taken over Design Cuts.
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If that item is sold on Creative Market, you'll see the name of the designer or company that created the product. If you don't see the item listed, it may redirect you to a page which has the info on Design Cuts going out of business letter. This is where it gets slightly more complicated.
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At face value, it seems like you'd be SOL and wouldn't be able to access your purchases. However, I promise you it's still doable! It just requires a bit more effort.
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Essentially, they put up this page in hopes you'll just give up and go away. But fear not, you have me. And I don't give up that easy. 😆
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Instead of just slinking away and accepting defeat, go to this website which will help you to locate any products you purchased on Design Cuts along with who the designer is. I haven't gone through all my purchases yet. (That will take some time!) But so far, everything I have searched for has populated, and is working like a charm.
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So basically, what you'll need to do is go back to that Google search and instead of clicking through as per usual, (which will redirect you to Creative Market) right click on your mouse and select "copy link address" instead.
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Now go to this link:
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​https://web.archive.org/web/20220501173641/https://www.designcuts.com/​
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Take the url you just copied, and paste the link into the section shown by the red arrow:

Here's the tricky part. If you cut and paste the link as Google gives it to you (with all the gobbledygook at the end) it won't work.
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What you need to do is remove everything in the URL after the main product string. This is everything after the slash which consists of the question mark and everything after that. (See red underline above.)
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Here's an example of a bundle I searched for:
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Instead of the link that Google will give you:
​https://www.designcuts.com/product/the-5-summer-bonanza-bundle/?srsltid=AfmBOoqfmKu-GbCfK5PE5bZNvwYbMUXQAXmUNcDySvyyiI9gEyugcb8F​
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Type in:
​https://www.designcuts.com/product/the-creative-5-bonanza-bundle/​
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So erase this part of the url in red:
​https://www.designcuts.com/product/the-5-summer-bonanza-bundle/?srsltid=AfmBOoqfmKu-GbCfK5PE5bZNvwYbMUXQAXmUNcDySvyyiI9gEyugcb8F​
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Hit enter and the page will come up showing you the product.

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If you have trouble locating purchases using my technique, I recorded this video to walk you through it. If you want the shorter, less rambling version, click here.
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If you still have issues, drop me a line at lara @ talesfromtherouge dot com and I will help you find the item you're looking for.
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I've used this to search for generic sounding products like "Ultimate Watercolor Brush Set" to find out who the creator was. (Nathan Brown)
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I've also used the link to search for all those bundles I bought to see what they contained. My next step will be going through each item and seeing if I can get those purchases restored.
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The designers have mentioned they will honor any purchases made. Whether or not they will do that for bundles is anyone's guess considering how deeply discounted those collections are, but it's worth a shot.
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And if you're anything like me and hardly download any of the purchases you haven't used, if you have other things you've bought from sites like Design Cuts, I'd recommend downloading those sooner than later in case this happens again on other sites.
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I already went to Mighty Deals and noticed my password isn't working (and I didn't get an email to reset my password, even though it said it was sent) so that's not good. (If you have bought something from Mighty Deals and aren't able to log on, let me know.) I still haven't heard back from them so I'm wondering if they're experiencing the same fate as DC.
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Either way, I hope my little walkthrough will you figure out what you purchased so you can claim your products. Of course, this is going to be annoyingly time consuming but it's better than losing everything.
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There has been talk that Tom, the founder of Design Cuts, is working on getting everyone access to their downloads but I'm not holding out much hope for that considering the way they chose to close their doors. If they couldn't be bothered to give people a heads up, I'm highly doubtful they'll suddenly go out of their way to help anyone claim the products they purchased.

ENDS TONIGHT: AFFILIATE MARKETING SORTED!

Jan Small's Ultimate Affiliate Marketing Spreadsheet is available only until midnight PST.

This is the perfect tool for those who earn an income from recommending products and services to others (or for those who want to.)

Affiliate marketing is one of the best ways for beginners to get started in the online space as well as an awesome way for anyone with an audience to earn additional revenue.

This super useful spreadsheet has a place to log all the details needed to run an effective affiliate business, including commission earned, expenditure, potential and current affiliate partners and product links, records of whether payments earned have been made, and all affiliate campaigns whether in your own content, on social media or via paid ads.

You can use the spreadsheet yourself for your own affiliate marketing as well. Plus it also comes with PLR commercial rights so you can edit it if you wish (30-page PDF instruction booklet included) and sell it in your store.

The spreadsheet uses the free Google Sheets app and customers don't need spreadsheet knowledge to use the product as instructions are provided in the spreadsheet itself.

Until tonight, you can grab the spreadsheet at $17 during launch (regularly $37) with coupon code AMLAUNCH.

There's also a bump offer on the checkout page of an optional seller's pack for $7 to help sellers get the product to market quickly.

It includes an instruction booklet (in editable Canva template format) to create a PDF for customers, 10 product mockups in two formats (rectangular and square), 130+ relevant keywords, and a sample product description specifically written to sell this product.

You'll also get the chance to buy a matching blogging spreadsheet and seller's pack bundle for $27. (regular price $44)

Make sure you grab this if you've wanted to get your affiliate marketing business sorted. This ends tonight - Monday, January 20th at 11:59 PST.

✨ BONUS - If you purchase Jan's planner, get 50% of your purchase back in Lara Loot to spend on my shop page with no expiry. New additions (including trainings and courses) coming soon! If you purchase the bump and the upsell, add another $10.

NEW: MONEY BY DESIGN CLUB

✨ It's finally here! After months of planning, Kate Danielle's Money by Design Club is officially open for founding members! 🎉

This is your chance to be part of something truly special—a faith-driven community designed to help you grow, thrive, and align your business with your purpose.

What's Inside the Money by Design Club?

Here's what you'll gain as a member:

✔️ Bi-Monthly Live Calls: Get personalized guidance and clarity for your next steps.

✔️ Faith-Driven Support: Align your goals with God's plan for your business.

✔️ Accountability & Growth: Stay consistent and motivated alongside like-minded women.

✔️ Exclusive Founding Member Perks:

As a founding member, you'll automatically join the Visionary Board, giving you premium benefits like access to a business directory, spotlights in emails, and the chance to shape the future of the community.

Why Join Now?

Becoming a founding member means locking in your exclusive rate of just $19 per month.

As a founding member, you'll also join the Visionary Board, giving you early access to premium perks like:

Inclusion in a member directory to showcase your business.

Spotlights in Kate's emails to help you grow your visibility.

A say in shaping the future of the community.

These perks will become part of a higher-tier membership in the future, but you get them included at this special rate!

But here's the thing: Doors are only open for ONE WEEK, and this exclusive offer won't last.

Kate is here to help build your dream business together, one step at a time. Join now as a founding member for $19 a month, and after that, this deal is gone forever.

✨BONUS - Grab Kate's membership for $19 and I'll match your purchase in Lara Loot which you can use on my shop page with no expiry.

Michelle Rohr is back with a brand new program called Banish Your Blind Spots.
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Banish Your Blind Spots is the system and approach that Michelle has personally used to break free from patterns that do not serve the highest expression of herself.
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These patterns - such as perfectionism, doubting our intuition, and people-pleasing - are coping mechanisms our younger selves constructed to feel safe.
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However, it's not true safety. These patterns have a way of creating insidious blind spots across all areas of our life that cause us to make choices which cut us off from what we desire and what we deserve again and again.
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Banish Your Blind Spots is about you finally giving yourself the self-awareness, space, and system to honor your right to love and respect every part of your experience of life - down to the smallest detail in every single area. The self-neglect ends here.

✨ BONUS - Purchase Say Yes to Desire and get 25% of your purchase back in Lara Loot on my shop page with no expiry. For Banish Your Blind Spots, you'll get 40% of your purchase back in credit.

NEW: MICHELLE'S BOOK CLUB! ​
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Michelle is also kicking off her first ever book club series on January 23rd in her membership, Say Yes to Desire.
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I've been in this membership since 2021 and I can't say enough good things about it! Michelle is always switching things up and adding more value for her members.
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And now, she's kicking off a book club series, where we'll be exploring "Too Much" - by Terri Cole, a powerful book about healing from codependency and reclaiming our power and authentic selves.

Click the button below to check out the Tea Party membership (which includes so much more) along with our first ever book club that kicks off on January 23rd at noon EST!

✨BONUS - If you sign up for Say Yes to Desire, I'll give you 25% of your purchase back in Lara Loot on my shop page with no expiry. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about her membership.

NEW: SWEET TREATS
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​Katherine's newest kit in her Limitless Design Kits Monthly Membership has just arrived.

Fall head over heels with the new Sweet Sentiments Valentine's Day Design Kit. This kit is a charming collection of whimsical and heartfelt elements, designed to inspire sweet sentiments and celebrate the beauty of love, kindness, and friendship. Whether designing Valentine's Day cards, creating sweet gifts, or simply looking to add a touch of love to your projects, this design kit has everything you'll need!❤️
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With all the latest concerns over copyright, usage rights, and outsourcing art from questionable sources, a few members have asked if she makes the graphics in her kits. The answer is YES, she personally illustrates/draws/paints the graphics.
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All of her personal hand-drawn or painted illustrations and high-resolution elements can be used to create PLR, digital products, physical products, and TEMPLATES (to name a few) which is MUCH MORE than any typical commercial use license.

Along with the individual elements, she's also included a few different types of graphics to help you create scenes.
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These design kits are only available for one month inside the membership so you have until the 14th to pick these up. Katherine will then be offering them for sale at the current regular price of $97.
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You'll automatically receive $482 worth of bonuses that come with MRR rights, meaning you can turn these kits around and not only sell them commercially, but as PLR without restrictions!
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MRR or master resell rights means you can sell these items commercially to others who can also sell them commercially. Normally, with PLR, you can sell them to others for personal use only.
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This means you can use these products to create your very own PLR. It's also perfect if you've been wanting to get into a bundle but don't have a creative bone in your body and aren't sure what you would be able to offer with PLR rights - now you'll be able to thanks to Katherine's gorgeous resources.
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Best of all, you can use these elements without fear of infringing on someone's license, which is much more generous than a standard commercial use license, and use them for to create PLR digital products, physical products, and templates (to name a few) - and yes, even stickers!

Check out everything you get on the sales page. This kit will be available at the discounted price of $27 until February 14th.

✨BONUS - If you purchase Katherine's kit, I'll give you give you 50% of your purchase back in Lara Loot which you can use on my shop page with no expiry.

THE RUNDOWN: LARA'S LIKES​
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​Here are some other goodies that are worth checking out!
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All qualify for Lara Loot which you can use in my shop page with no expiry. New additions (including trainings and courses) coming soon!

• LAST DAY: Today is the final day to grab Bundle Ready With Kit at launch pricing from Aimee over at the Aimee K Agency. If you’re ready to get your first product into a bundle but don’t have a shop yet, this training walks you through creating a landing page, upsell page, listing a product for sale, offering discounts, and connecting everything seamlessly.
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  Use coupon code BUNDLEREADY0125 to grab this training for $17 ($30 off) until midnight. Includes two bonus trainings: How to Create an Email Template and How to Create an Email Sequence.
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  If you don't have Kit (formerly ConvertKit), this is the software I've been using to send my newsletters since 2021 and I highly recommend it! You can get a FREE account good for your first 1,000 subscribers here.
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  Aimee also has gone ahead and created Bundle with Mailerlite, for those who prefer this platform. This is available at launch pricing using coupon code BUNDLEREADYML until January 27th.
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• HOLY CRIKEY! Claudia Orengo from the Passive Income Growth Academy just shared the news that she made over $26,000 in commissions in November from only one of the companies her designs are showcased on. Yep. You heard that right. In one month, she got 2,475 orders and was paid over $26k in commissions. This doesn't include December which will be even more. If you're interested in learning how she did it, sign up for PIGA, her low cost membership which gives you all the tools you need to do what Claudia does.
  (My bonus: A one-time bonus of 50% of your purchase in Lara Loot.)
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• SURVIVOR ON TAP: Besides having epic Applebee meltdowns on Survivor, the lovely Liz Wilcox is kicking off an exciting LIVE Welcome Sequence Workshop called Foundations Week, starting January 27th. She's dedicating a full week of her time where you'll be able to get the best tips on creating your welcome sequence and the basics of list building to set you up for email success for 2025. You'll also get direct access to her to review your welcome sequence and field any questions you have. You'll also get Building Blocks of List Building Challenge for free. A full week with Liz on tap for just $49 smackeroonies.
  (My bonus: 50% of your purchase in Lara Loot.)
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• TRANSLATE GOALS TO CASH: Leanne Scott from Passive Income Superstars has just launched The Profit Predictor. Learn how to set realistic launch goals that are unique to your audience then use our handy calculator to see exactly how those goals translate into cash in the bank! Grab this for $37.
  (My bonus: 50% of your purchase in Lara Loot.)
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• WINTER WELLNESS PLAN: MaryJo over at Cool Bean has just released her new Winter Wellness Planner. For just $9, this planner includes everything you need to embrace wellness this winter.
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  If you LOVE MaryJo's products, make sure you check out her new membership, the Template Supply Club which costs $12 a month or $30 a quarter where you'll have a brand new supply of beautifully designed Canva templates. Plus you can pick up January AND December's content for one low price.
  (My bonus: Grab the three month membership and get back $15 in Lara Loot.)

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Happy Tales!

Lara xo

My name is Lara and I'm the owner of Tales From the Rouge - inspired by a magical enclave in the Rouge Valley in the east end of Toronto, Canada. I'm a writer/television producer and a wife and mom who loves photography, nature, and my ever-expanding collection of antique typewriters. I'm inspired by nature on a daily basis and draw inspiration from my surroundings which trickles down to my creations.

✨ My Favorite Biz Tools ✨

*TC Bonus: If you purchase Thrivecart using my link, I'm offering TWO 40 minute Biz Coaching sessions. If you upgrade to Pro, I'll add in a third session! Currently, I am not accepting coaching clients so this is your chance to work with me directly. 😻

✨ Tales From the Rouge Fun things ✨

You are receiving this newsletter after signing up for one of my paper packs in a free or paid bundle or giveaway. I hope you'll stay and enjoy my newsletter containing useful health and wellness tips, fun stories along with awesome promos and gifts! However, if you don’t want to stick around, just hit that unsubscribe button at the bottom of this email. I do hope you hang out for a bit to see what the fuss is all about!​
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Disclaimer:

I often recommend products and services that I use or that have been recommended to me by people I trust. In many cases these recommendations are accompanied by an affiliate link, which provides me with a referral commission if you click through and make a purchase.

The information presented here is for educational purposes only. Before taking any action that may affect your health, finances, or well-being, please check with your own doctor, health-care provider, financial and business advisers. Always do your own due diligence.

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