Creativity Day 12 - Presentation

"It is not enough to stay busy.  So, too, are the ants.  The question is what you are busy about."

Henry David Thoreau

As a business woman I participate in numerous Holiday craft shows so how I present my products is always part of the sale experience.  I also like to put my best foot forward when I mail a customer their purchase they have made through my Etsy shop, I think it adds a positive note to the mail order experience.  Sometimes even though we feel that we have explained how something is used or think that it should be obvious to a customer that is not always the case.  The addition to a package of suggestions or instructions is always a helpful and thoughtful thing to do.  So, last night, as part of my creativity project,  I decided to design an insert for my fabric postcards.  I worked on a design that would have product and business info on one end of the sheet that would fold over to the front of the cellophane packaging and instructions and/or suggestions for use of item on the back of the package.

I made a text box at the top with the name of the item and business info that I rotated so that when it was printed out this section looks upside down.  I then added the instructions/suggestions info to read right side up and added a couple of photos to help with visual instructions.

Once edges are trimmed with a ruler and rotary cutter(used for paper only) I fold the top section and staple it in place on the postcard packaging and add a piece of double stick tape to hold the back flap secure.  Using these clear wrappers keeps the postcards clean and makes the end product look much more professional and since I do craft shows it makes it possible for customers to handle the items and still keeps my merchandise clean.

Taking a few extra steps might just close that next sale and customers appreciate a professional presentation especially when they are buying handcrafted items.

Presentation is everything!  Lets put our best foot forward in everything we do.  How do you make your products shine?  Share or comment please.

Learning to Juggle

Lately I have been trying to multi-task and I feel like I am becoming quite the juggler.  I do feel like I live at the circus sometimes so I guess this is a good outlook on my life right now.

 I spent the last month making items to sell, custom work, gift quilts and all this at the same time I was decorating, cooking, baking and shopping. 

Just as I thought life was going to settle down I realized I still have custom orders to finish, make items for my Etsy shop, a gift quilt to make and I am still cooking, cleaning and shopping.  Life is never dull around here and thank God I don't have little ones to run after or else I would really be in trouble.

my UFO project

Some of my Quiltsy Team members on Etsy have actually listed the number of UFOs they will work on this year, but honestly, I am overwhelmed by the  task of making a list.  I admire them for their commitment and their ability to organize themselves in this manner but for me that would require more time than I feel I have in one day. 

Mult-tasking, I guess the reality of the word is being able to work on more than one thing at a time and still accomplish a goal of finishing.  I don't know if I will ever be able to be a true multi-tasker in the real meaning of the word as I understand it. Maybe I am wrong but if you don't finish anything are you truly multi-tasking or just disorganized?  Time will tell if I am a true multi-tasker, but at least for today I feel like I am accomplishing a few smaller goals.