May 31, 2011

May 31st - It's my birthday

Today I turn 31 years old. Unlike last year when I turned 30 this birthday is cool. Last year I totally freaked out that I turned 30. This year its all good, I have embraced it. I already celebrated with friends this week - dinner + dancing. I also celebrated while I was back in Iowa. I will also be celebrating again tonight with Larry. Dinner, a movie and gifts.

May 26, 2011

Around the office

I have a couple new additions to my office space that are making my life that much easier + fun. It is the simple things in life that make me happy :)

I wanted a vintage stamp holder but didn't want to spend the money. I found this broom holder at the .99 cent store! Score 1 for me! I actually bought 2 of them and took 2 hooks from one added to the other. I had Larry mount it to wall under my pen holders for easy access.

A magnetic knife rack from Ikea is now holding my scissors and mini spatula (for die cutter) in my office. It works great. I love using things in new ways.


I found this old beauty back in Sioux City. It came back with me in my suitcase.
I cant wait to use it again. I even still had 4 color rolls to use with it.

My newest addition - Mini tape gun. I have wanted one of these for a long time. My cool mom purchased this for me as a early birthday gift.

May 25, 2011

Branding + Business: Part 2 Packaging

I wanted to continue to talk about my business re-branding. This round is about the customer experience with packaging.

I had 3 custom stamps made:
1: My return address in the same matching font on my business card.It is so much more cost effective then printing labels on my home printer all the time.

2: The address block. If you are like me I can't write in straight line unless I have lines so I had a stamp made.I made it with 4 lines since international addresses are at least for 4 lines.

3: Thank you stamp. I place this cute circle stamp on every item package that goes out.



6x9 Kraft envelope stamped - most of my orders are mailed in these.
I buy these kraft envelopes in bulk online.



Packaged product. All items are placed in cellophane bags with a business card.
On the front side I attach my branded Thank you circle.

All cellophane bags are purchased in bulk online. I use 3 different sizes.



The "Thank you" stamp matchs the idea of the round business card and also use the same font.
The fun thing is I can use any color card stock to change the look.
 

I try and mail everything from home if at all possible (saves on mileage and gas). I have a small shipping scale (purchased on ebay) and buy different stamp values at the post office. That way if a package is under $2.00 to mail I can mail it from home. I also get to use fun stamps you don't normally see.

Now you see what the custom sees. Everything matches all the way from online until they get the package in the mail.

Vendors used for stamps:
Terbearco
CustomMadeStuff

If you missed the 1st post you find it here.

May 24, 2011

New in etsy shop

I have created a new place card version using the popular birds as a accent. These new place cards have plenty of room for writing and also stand freely with the tent design.  With all paper embellishments I can cut them from any color and you can order however many you need.




May 23, 2011

Gnome Adventures - Sioux City, IA - home

I went home to Sioux City, IA a couple weeks ago. I went back for a couple reasons - 1st my cousin Krissi graduated college (the same college I went to) and 2nd - to say goodbye to my childhood home. My dad has retired and they are moving out to California. Which means selling the home in Sioux City. I had a wonderful time back home. I know I will always go back, I just don't know how often. Of course to document my trip the gnome came with me to some of my favorite places.

When I come home my parents are always at the airport waiting with a balloon.
This was the 1st thing I saw walking up to meet them.

I mostly took the gnome with me while I ate my way through Sioux City. This is a local pizza place I love.

Pizza and bread sticks. They make their bread sticks with bacon bits on top - yummy :)

A different day we went to Tastee Inn ~ Out. Yes you did read the sign correctly - "Meat To Go"
 
Tastee is a loose meat sandwich. They don't make those out in California.

Krissi and I out on the town to celebrate her graduation.
My family threw a early birthday party for me.

We had Morningside Pizza - another fav pizza place. I guess I really love pizza.
My aunt Nancy, superman (dog) and the gnome.
Hi - Nancy's students :) She met the gnome.
My parents and I.
The homestead

The gnome came along with me while I took hundreds of photos of the house (Inside and out).


My playhouse my dad built me in the very early 80's. He let me pick the color.
Lime green was my fav color back then. I still love green.


May 19, 2011

Branding: Before and After

As you saw last week, I had some new business cards made. When it's time to get new business cards sometimes its time for a whole new look. When I looking online for a business card prices I saw GotPrint had new shaped cards. I knew when I saw the circle design that was going to be my new card. It fits my business perfectly since I create die cuts. This was the 1st stepping stone to re-branding my whole my business.

Before - These were the cards I had made 1 year ago
I used my new business card design to redesign all my business identities. Etsy shop graphics, blog graphics, Facebook & Twitter graphics. Everything online and offline should match.

I used the same elements of my old design but freshened it up and making it a little more simple with just one design element - retro star as I like to call it. I also used the same font. I already had rubber stamps made with the font that I use for my return address & thank yous. The circle card is already a feature in it's self so I didn't feel like I needed a whole lot more. I kept the same color palette as the old look but made the green color my accent color (Green also happens to be my favorite color).

I will be sharing photos of my rubber stamps and packaging  in another upcoming post on branding.

After - Circle business cards

May 10, 2011

Featured on GotPrint Today

I am featured on the GotPrint blog today featuring my new round business cards.

Please go take a look if you would.


May 5, 2011

Pinterest Pins: Words To Remember

 If you thought the regular old internet could suck you in for hours at time? Well I have news for you, nothing compares to Pinterest. I could browse that site all day long if I could.

One thing I find myself drawn to on the site is all the great posters, sayings, thoughts and words. Wonderful creative goodness to read everywhere. I "pin" all these to remind myself that I can do it, that I can create, and only I can make my dreams happen.



1.Dreams
2.Never give up
3.Much to be done

You can follow what I find on Pinterest here.

May 4, 2011

Free Printable Mom mini note cards

Mother's day is just a few days away. Tell your mom the little reasons why you love her with these mini note cards.They are a just a little bigger than business card size (2" x 3.5"). You will receive 8 cards each with a different color boarder. 


There are four different prompts:
  • Mom you ROCK because. . .
  • Mom I love you because. . .
  • Mom you are the best because. . . 
  • Mom enjoy this day because. .
Download the pdf  • print on cardstock • write why you love your mom


Fun ideas:
  • Place around the house for her to find through out the day (Purse, book, flower pot, kitchen table, etc)
  • Attach to her gift(s)
  • Put a couple in with her card (or make card using these)
  • Go right up to her and hand them to her

May 3, 2011

Hello to my Birthday Month: May

Photo taken by yours truly at Bellagio gardens
Do you know where April went? It sure seemed to fly by.

Highlights of April:
  • 17 Days at the gym or P90X yoga
  • Made sales goals for Etsy 
  • Finished my new branding for my shop 
  • Had a wonderful time in Las Vegas
  • Read: The girl with the dragon tattoo ( Loved it)
April was a crazy busy month. I hoping May is a little more relaxed than last month.

Plans for May:
  • A 12 hour scrapbooking event with a friend of mine this weekend. 
  • Attend the Queen Bee  Market also this weekend
  • A trip home to Sioux City, IA
  • New sales goals for Etsy shop
  • Going to read: The girl who played with fire 
  • Celebrate my birthday at the end of the month