Archive for December, 2011
This contributor post was written by Tiffany Moore.
Even though you’re likely stuck in the midst of holiday craziness, the time is here to start thinking about 2012 and how to set yourself up for success in the coming year. Today I’m offering three steps that will focus your efforts and to help ensure that 2012 is the best, most successful year to date in your creative business:
1. Set your intention for 2012
Spend some time figuring out what you want 2012 to look like for you. Not just your creative business, but your entire life. Who do you want to be? How do you want to spend your time? What goals (both personal and professional) would you like to accomplish? See What’s your Vison to help clarify if you need some tips.
2. Calendar out your big goals
Take a calendar and write out your goals for the year. Do you have a stationery business, but can’t seem to stay ahead of the holidays? Take a look at the year as a whole and determine now when you’ll need to get started on those mother’s day cards to get them to your wholesale accounts on time.
This is a great tool for helping you establish deadlines and processes as well as to help you figure out what jobs you’re able to say yes to as the year commences. The key is to stay deliberate and in control of your business, instead of having to approach it from a reactive standpoint.
3. Reflect & Repair
Now is the time to sit down and look at what worked and what didn’t work in 2012. Once you recognize what didn’t work, take some time to come up with a game plan for the new year.
For example, if you have no clear way of tracking the financial components of your various income streams (full disclosure: I’m totally guilty of this myself), now is the time to devise a system for 2012 so that you don’t find yourself scrambling in February to backtrack and set something up on the fly.
The key is to start with systems in place on January 1 so that the year will run as smoothly as possible. It can be done, I assure you!
Resource Roundup:
Jessica Swift’s printable 2012 Goal & Intentions Kit
Jennifer Lee’s Right Brain Business Plan
Craft Inc. Business Planner
Outright for small business accounting (Note: I have heard amazing things about this system and will be checking it out shortly. I’ll definitely report back to let you know what I think!)
Ali Edwards’ One Little Word 2012
What are YOU doing to set yourself up for success next year? Do you have any helpful resources to share?
I’d love to hear about them in the comments!
*image via stefanie renee photography: pink royal typewriter
Tiffany Moore, co-founder of Teahouse Studio is an artist, life coach, change agent and magic maker. She helps creatives live their happiest, most sparkly lives (starting NOW) and thinks that everyone in the world is beautiful, including you.
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Registration has already started and the course begins January 30, 2012. Take a stake in your business’s future and check out Indie Shopography and support our sponsors who make this blog possible.
Here’s a little pick me up for your Monday break time. Featuring hand knotted jewelry, with colorful and clean lines, Osage Orange Studio has necklaces + bracelets that are just the right amount of fancy to get you through the week. I love what Linda, the designer behind the line, has to say about her designs, “My goal is to achieve a beautiful color combination with the materials I use. I’ve always loved playing with color and working with the subtleties between different shades. My jewelry is influenced by my background in design and tends to be simple and minimal with a sense of order.” And something else simple just for you: Enjoy free shipping when you enter code papernstitch!
This contributor post was written by Patty of P.S. it’s in the details.
I could just eat him up! He is so sweet and fun to make. Meet Mr. Gingerbread Man – he looks like the real cookie, but he’s made from recycled cardboard. The ‘sugar’ coating is actually coarse crystal glitter.
I make similar gingerbread people decorations for my Etsy store using kraft paper. We’ll be using cardboard here (some creative recycling!) for a sturdier body. I’ll be showing you how to make the boy, but you could also make a girl (add a fun bow to her head!). Or, you could go traditional red and green or even all white! The decorating possiblities are endless!
Here are the materials you’ll need…. 1. cardboard 2. brown ink 3. three assorted buttons 4. glitter glue and coarse crystal glitter 5. white pen 6. sequin trim 7. common crafting supplies: scissors, pencil, small paint brush, mini glue dots 8. the gingerbread man template (provided in post)
Here is how you make it:
1. Trace the gingerbread man template onto cardboard.
2. Cut him out.
3. Ink around his edges with the brown ink. It adds depth and makes him look like a perfectly baked cookie.
4. Use a white pen to add the ‘icing’. Draw a line around his body and add eyes and a big smile. (I used a broad tip uni-ball Signo pen.)
5. Add his buttons with mini glue dots.
6. Add mini glue dots to his wrists and ankles and add the sequin trim. (You could also use a ric-rac trim or a ribbon.)
7. Use the paint brush to add glitter glue to his feet, hands and body, up to his neck. Stay inside the white lines.
8. Sprinkle with the glitter, and then shake off the excess.
9. Let him dry. The glue will turn clear once it dries completely.
Isn’t he cute? Just remember – you can’t eat him, no matter how good he looks! But you can use him to decorate your home for Christmas. Or, make a bunch and give them as gifts, use on tags or add to a present as a great little detail. Make him into an ornament or a refrigerator magnet – be creative!
I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!
About Patty: Patty Schaffer is the owner of P.S. it’s in the details, an Etsy shop where you can find creative paper things that will make you ooooo and ahhh! Her shop specializes in paper accents for scrapbooking, card making, gift giving and home decor. Patty also shares DIY and craft projects, news on upcoming shop releases and other fun things on her blog, Capture the Details.
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I was so busy last week I didn’t get a chance to let you know that the new exhibition is up (went up on Thursday). This is the last exhibition of the year and exhibitors have been adding their best gifts for the season. I’ve created a bunch of gift guides to help you complete your shopping for the holidays. So if you need some ideas, you can visit the full list of holiday gift guides here.
And here are a few specific shops I recommend exploring…
(left to right. top.) Blackbird Letterpress ; D.I.M. by Mostly Clothes ; Michelemaule ; Man vs Ink (bottom) Too Cute Custom Crafts ; Ooh Pretty Shiny ; Urban Revisions ; Osage Orange Studio
If you like what you see, please help spread the word by sharing on facebook or twitter via the social media buttons below.
All it takes is a touch, a splash of color, a little something to turn an outfit around. The Blooming Thread is chock full of these little touches for the moments in your life. Whether it is the perfect accent for your wedding, like the Coral Enamel Locket or a simple addition to your every day coif with a felt hair pin set.
Special Promo: Free holiday gift with purchase! Purchase $70 or more and receive 1 free enamel locket of your choice. (*total must be $70 before shipping fees). Just note the color you would like when checking out. Sale ends 12/20. So hurry over…
Visit The Blooming Thread on Etsy now to check out Ryan’s entire collection of jewelry, brooches, and more.
Have an amazing weekend!
