Brainstorming for Promos

I've been thinking about promo items lately. I like the idea of giving your customer just a little something extra to say "Thank You", but it's hard to find things that won't get tossed in the trash or break the bank.

Now, there are tons of great sellers on etsy that do a fantastic business making cool promos, such as buttons, magnets, etc... But, as a DIYer with crafty tendencies, I like to find things that I can make. The most recent thing I made were magnets. I'm also in the process of making some matchbook notepads. If anyone would like a tutorial on these, just let me know.


I think the best thing is to try and be creative and keep in mind what the customer is buying. Are you selling aprons? How about printing out your grandmother's famous oatmeal cookie recipe on cardstock and enclosing it? Is it Springtime? How about picking up some flower seed packets at the dollar store and putting your own printed label on the package? My next plan for a promo to go with my Market Totes is to do a grocery list with a magnet on the back to stick on the fridge.

I looked through the etsy forums on this subject, and here are some of the other popular ideas...

• bookmarks
• silver cleaning cloths
  
• soap samples
• stickers
• key ring charms

I found a few articles as well -

• Matchbook notebooks and gift tags at Bliss by Heather.
• Using pictures to customize your promo items at Hello Craft.
• Storque article on finding creative ideas for promo items.
• Moo Cards - always popular.

If you have any other ideas for thoughtful promo items, please leave a comment. I would love to gather more ideas on this subject.

I think I can do this.

I love this modern bookcase makeover at BHG. I know exactly where it will go in my living room.

(My husband will be so excited that I have yet another project planned.)

As seen on whipup.net this morning...

"warning more knitted penises after the jump"

link

It's just one of those sentences that you realize you have never heard before, and probably never again.

New Iced Coffee method - cold drip

Yesterday I picked up the new In Style magazine (the one with Jennifer Garner on the cover) and in the very, very back was a smart idea about a new way to make iced coffee using a chilled method. I tried it and it worked so well, I had to share.

This uses a "cold drip" method. Basically, you pour 8 cups of cold water into 3/4 lb. of ground coffee and place in the fridge overnight. Then strain (I simply poured it into my coffee maker, which was turned off, and let it drip through). You will then have a very concentrated cold coffee, which according to the article, can be stored in your fridge for up to two weeks.

To make your iced coffee, they say "Pour into a tall, narrow glass of ice, filling it 2 to 3 inches from the bottom, and top with milk or water." I also added some refrigerated creamer with Hazelnut flavor and a packet of Sweet-n-Low.

I didn't have 3/4 lb., but closer to 1/3 lb, so I just sort of halved the recipe. They also recommend using filtered water, not tap, so I used bottled.

Very, very good. Every time I try to make iced coffee, one of the following usually happens:

• I forget and half a pot of coffee cooks for about 3 hours.
• I pour some of the coffee into a cup and put it in the freezer to chill, only to find a CoffeePop waiting for me later.
• I pour too-warm coffee over ice and, ew....

Basically, I have some timing issues. But this method solves all my probs! It's ready when I am ready! And it tastes really, really good. I think it would be great for using for blended coffee drinks as well. Might have to try that this afternoon.

Enjoy!

Tweet?

I've spent so much time in the last 24 hours reading about Twitter and How to best use Twitter and Here are all the applications you need to know about for Twitter and Here is the meaning for all those weird punctuation thingies on Twitter that actually tweeting has taken on the feeling of doing the dishes.

Today will be all about having FUN WITH TWITTER!!!

FUN FRIDAY TWEETS!

WHEEE!!!

(It is supposed to be fun, right?)

Etsy day, promo items, and Twitter

Tomorrow is Etsy Day! However, since I'm going to be the gal about town today, yet homebound tomorrow, I decided that Etsy day would be today for me.

I decided to print the sign that was made by shugirl for this special day, but I didn't want to drain my color printer cartridge with all the orange, so I made a black and white version to print on some colored cardstock. Feel free to take it and make your own.

I think it came out pretty good!

I happened to have some extra cardstock because I've been making promo magnets.


If anyone hasn't made these before, they are super simple. You need flat back glass marbles (found in the floral dept. for cheap!), cardstock, Mod Podge, round craft magnets (available everywhere) and E6000 adhesive (craft dept, comes in a gray squeeze tube with a pointed nozzle).

The rest is time consuming, but easy. Print your business name or whatever you wish on the cardstock. Use plain paper the first few times to make sure the size is right before you use your beautiful cardstock. The design will need to be just a touch smaller than the glass marble.

Print your designs and cut to size. Apply Mod Podge to the back of the marble, put the design in place, and Mod Podge again over the entire back. Let dry. Glue the magnets to the back using E-6000. Let dry.

TADA!!! Promo items!!!

Yesterday, I spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to make my blog bloggier. It's getting there, but I'm not totally satisfied. The picture for the header is still a little fuzzy. And I am going to start on Flickr soon, because, well, everyone else is?

I also made a button for my sidebar for Twitter. Once again, if you would like to use this for your own blog, feel free to take it.

I broke Blogger.

I actually broke my old blog (serves me right for thinking I could tweak the html) and so I moved to this one. You can find my old blog here.