It's been a long time!

Wow! It has been a long time since I have blogged. Things have been crazy busy around here as usual.

I will have some cool updates for you later this week, but I wanted to share this exciting news. Jennifer McGuire made mention of one of my little stamps on her blog. Jennifer is an amazing scrapbooker, designer and author. She designs stamps for Hero Arts, is a Garden Girl for Two Peas in a Bucket, wrote this book, is a designer for Autumn Leaves, and so much more.

Check out her blog and her amazing talent!

We are back in action

I wanted to update you and let you know we are back open for business (we have been since Monday). I am in the process of getting all of our labels listed. It is taking longer than I planned, sorry!

By Monday most of them should be up and you will have received a newsletter with a coupon for those labels. It will be good for one week. So be on the lookout for it.

Want to see these labels I am talking about? CLICK HERE!

On a roll

Sweet Papery will be closed for Spring Break. We will be soaking up the sun on a lovely beach somewhere in Mexico. Far away from a computer and the phone. Unfortunately that will only be happening in my dreams.

The truth: We are taking a short break to make some changes and updates to our store (and to spend time with our family), but the most exciting thing we will be doing is getting ready to launch a brand new product line. We have heard your cries and pleads, and are pleased to finally announce Sweet Papery will be offering stickers and labels along side our rubber stamps. Now you will have the option to purchase one of our unique designs as a rubber stamp or a sticker! Can't decide? You better just buy both!

Our professional quality glossy labels and stickers will be come on a roll and will be offered in quantities starting at 100. I really, really love our stamps, but I am even more in love with these labels. They are super fun and I know you will love them too. The possibilities truly are endless.

If you aren't signed up for our newsletter, I will let you in on a little secret, you better do it now. We will be offering a promotional price on our labels during the launch week, but that offer will only be available to our newsletter subscribers. So, what are you waiting for? Huh? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP! Come on, I said clickity click here. Don't make me tell you again. You don't want to miss it. It will be good, I promise.

That little box is the packaging for our wooden handle rubber stamps. Now we print our own labels and we can print some for you too.

etsy shopping = fun finds

I am always on etsy. Always. The reason of course is because of my store there, but while I am relisting items, answering people's questions, sending proofs, I am also browsing my customer's stores and checking out who they have marked as a favorite. This is bad for someone who likes to shop. Here are three things I bought yesterday:

These fabulous blue felt eggs for my son's Easter basket from Go Buggy
I have been wanting a carton of eggs from her for months now and when I saw she added these sweet blue eggs I knew I had to get them.

Aren't these vintage letterpress F's super cool? I am going to display them in my office/shipping room. Check out Angiepea's shop for lots more. I really like this Frida one.

I bought this print to hang in my office from a lovely gal in New Zealand. Check out Bernadette's store sugarloop for other cool prints.

There were a few more things I bought, but I can't show you because they are gifts for people who just might read this blog! Also, in case you can't tell, my new year's resolution didn't last for very long.

And the winner is......

Thanks to everyone who commented on the "Apart from the competition" post. I got some great ideas!

I used a random number generator to pick the winner of a "handmade by" stamp and the number was 4.

So the winner is................................ALISON


Congratulations Alison.

Venuszine: As seen in

I made my first appearance in a real life publication! My rubber stamps are featured in the new issue of VenusZine as a source for DYI businesses. WAHOO!

It was so fun to get my comp issue and flip through it until, lo and behold there were my stamps. I hope this means more exposure for my growing business. These are very exciting times.

Are you wondering what ZenusZine is? It is a indie culture magazine featuring women, music, art, film, fashion, and me! Okay, maybe not me, but this issue does feature a little of me!

Apart from the competition

As a small business owner, I am constantly trying to find ways to set myself apart from my competition. I want people to buy from me and I have to give them a reason why I am better than the cheaper alternative or the bigger store.

I came across this website someone had posted on their blog. I was immediately touched by the story and I love this idea.


Check it out here: The Simple Truths of Service

What are some things you can do get customers lining up to buy from you over and over again? I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

Here are some things I came up with:

1. Hold special invitation only events -- these can even be online sneak previews.
2. Send personalized thank you cards. I bought the cutest felt food from BeckyM on etsy and I got a handmade card with my order. It made me feel really special.
3. Send a card to customers on their birthday with a special offer just for them
4. Offer a frequent buyer program. For example, if a customer buys x number of products from you they receive a $15 store credit.
5. Send out personalized newsletters with exclusive discounts. I use Constant Contact to stay in touch with my customers. They have easy to use, professional template designs. I let my newsletter subscribers be the first to know of new products and I give them exclusive discounts that I don't offer any where else. In fact, yesterday I had a leap year sale and only announced it in my newsletter. Do you know how many sales I got? SIXTY-NINE! That is over a 500% increase of my average day of sales. (Send an email to sweetpapery@gmail.com if you would like me to refer you. If I send you a link to sign up you will receive 60 days for free and a $30 credit!)

Please post your ideas and have a chance to win a "handmade by" stamp from my store. Only one entry per person and I will randomly draw a winner on Tuesday, March 4th at 9 p.m. CST and announce them here on Wednesday.

Sweet Sticks are back

Our personalized pencils are back with a brand new look!

I like all of our packaging to be have the same style and quality that our customers have come to know and appreciate in our products. That is why I am pleased to debut the new packaging for our set of 25 customized pencils.

They come packaged in a nifty clear box with a label designed by me. Next makeover will be to our self inking stamps. Stay tuned for more!

Etsy Top Seller - for today atleast

Today was an exciting day for me. I sold 19 items and I actually made the etsytools list as a top seller.

I am as busy as ever and working on exciting new projects for Sweet Papery. We have some fun new products we will be offering very soon and some collaboration efforts with other etsy sellers!

Make sure you are signed up for our newsletter so you will be the first to know and to receive exclusive discounts.

Passing of my father

My father passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, January 19th. I left the next day to travel across the country to be with my family. I have been away from the "Sweet Studio" and apologize for my lack of communication. Please bare with me as I try to catch up on all my correspondence and orders.

Thanks for your patience and understanding.
Farrah

We have set up a blog in for people to share their memories of my father. If you are interested in viewing what a great man he was you can go to: www.earlsnow.com

Great little Valentine's Gift

I have a new product up in my store. It is called "Sweet Treat" and I am in love with it.

This makes the perfect Valentine gift for the crafter in your life, the scrapbooking friend, the card making guru, the ribbon obsessed neighbor, the sweetest teacher you know. You get the idea. That list could go on and on. I say just buy it for yourself!

It is a cute little jar filled to the brim with yummy red and white ribbons. It has different types of red ribbon with white stitching, red and white gingham ribbon, and the cutest ever red and white pom pom ribbon. For a total of 24 ft. Tied to the outside of the jar is a small "love tattoo" stamp.

I only have about 5 available, so hurry and buy yours today!

Your talents showcased + a contest

We have started working on our website and are excited about it's launch later this year.

We know you are using our stamps in many creative ways and would love to showcase your talents on our website for others to be inspired by. Please send your images to sweetpapery@gmail.com with "images" in the subject line.

Everyone who sends an image by the January 31st deadline will be entered to win a fabulous prize package worth over $50!! We can't wait to see what you have been creating!

Limited Edition "Sweet Kit"

I am really excited about our new "Sweet Kits". At the beginning of each month we will be featuring a new unique kit with fun goodies inside that will be available in limited quantities.

Here is our first kit. It includes a "handmade by" stamp, 9 yards of ribbon, 10 yards of baker's string, 10 scalloped tags, and a small inkpad! Buy it for yourself or it makes a perfect gift for the creative person in your life. I can even ship it straight to them with a note from you.

Happy New Year!

Sweet Papery is back open for business after a short break during the holidays. We hope you had a safe and wonderful holiday.

Thanks for all your support since our start up in mid 2007. We are looking forward to a great year in 2008 with many new designs and products in store. Our store is not fully stocked yet, but will be over the next few days. Be on the look out for a new favorite product of mine to launch soon.

If you haven't signed up for our newsletter, now is a great time to do it. Click here to sign up.