Sorry to disappear on ya'll like that! As I hinted to in a previous post Brett and I are starting our market booth and online shop. I have been on the go with work and setting up our shop. Amazing how quickly a week goes by!!
I was asked to blog about our dive into owning a creative business and share some of our tips. Let me tell you, there is a lot to this!!!!!
We decided a few weeks ago that we want to sell our projects and art. We had been thinking about selling at the Idalia Market Place and online for over a year and last month We decided to do it! We put aside our common excuse of "do we have time?" and just did it!
This Saturday I give my application for our first booth. We will be at the Idalia Market Place on June 15th! So exciting to have a date!
I am not even joking but after we handed the money over we jumped into the FJ Cruiser and panicked a little. We didn't have a name for our booth..... crafts were not done..... taxes??... license??... It kind of hit us at once.
Brett is not a planner but I am :) He is the creative one and I have my moments. We decided to divide and conquer. He would get started on our projects and I would get started on compulsively researching and planning everything.
Quickly my list grew to this
*biz name
*Domain- purchase
*contact Volusion about switching my store front
*set up email
*set up facebook
*set up twitter
*create a banner
*create a few smaller signs
*bank acct
*city license
*state license
*accounting software
*press release
*metal dogs (brett)
*my crafts
*switch paypal reader to biz name
*bags
*biz cards
*price tags
*cash holder
*displays
*custom order form (brett metal dogs)
This was off the top of my head! Then I panicked for a minute.
After relaxing and watching some hockey I started to tackle this list. To help me wrap my brain around the list I decided to put things in order of importance.
#1- Name
A business name should reflect your business. Our booth and store will mostly metal work, crafts and recycled art. After some research we decided on "Gone Junkin'"
#2- Facebook, Twitter and Domain Name
While researching our store name gonejunkin.com and gonejunkin usernames were already taken so we decided to use gonejunkinnm.com and gonejunkinnm. gonejunkin.com is really not used and since we are adding nm to a username our attorney said that was not a violation.
Now I will say if gonejunkin.com was used as a store or blog we would have chosen another name. We would never use a name someone already has. That isn't cool :( My advice is to research everything before you officially decide on a name, address, etc.
Tomorrow I will get into setting up a storefront with Volusion, why I use them and licenses.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Minted Giveaway!!
Who is ready for a giveaway????
Minted contacted me last week and offered a $50 credit for one lucky subscriber to Mandy Jean Chic!
What is Minted??
"Minted is a global community of independent graphic designers and an online store that prints and sells the best of their designs in the form of paper goods. We believe that great design lives and thrives in the hands of indie designers that people may not have access to through traditional retailers. Our goal is to use technology to allow our community to discover the work of great designers from all over the world. And at the same time, create a place where designers can get exposure and build their careers.
Minted holds monthly design challenges for stationery, invitations, calendars, and other categories and all graphic designers are invited to enter. The Minted community selects the best designs in a highly competitive process, which gives us a top selection of the freshest, finest cards in the world. Winning designers earn cash prizes, a place in the Minted collection, and commissions on all sales of their designs.
At Minted, we love the idea that our products will find their way into your most personal celebrations, and we don't take that honor lightly. That's why we only use fine paper stock, rich inks, and crisp printing methods. We guess you could say that quality is an obsession for us. We stand behind our products with a 100% satisfaction guarantee."
Currently I am in the market for some business cards for our new Idalia Market Booth and online boutique. This is my favorite design. Ya'll know I've never met a mason jar I didn't like :)
They also have an awesome selection of invitations and announcements. I don't have kids and no kids are planned for the future but checkout these cute birth announcements!
Are you looking for stationary? Yep.. Minted as super chic options!
HOW DO YOU ENTER FOR THIS GREAT GIVEAWAY?
Rafflecopter was giving me fits today so I will keep this super simple. Leave a comment for each entry and on May 20th I will have my hubby draw a number. As long as you've done what you say you've done you will win $50 to minted! :)
MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ON ALL COMMENTS
1 entry for the following:
Like Mandy Jean Chic via Facebook HERE
Follow Mandy Jean Chic via Bloglovin HERE
Follow Mandy Jean Chic via Youtube HERE
Follow Mandy Jean Chic via Instagram HERE
Follow Mandy Jean Chic via Pinterest HERE
Follow Mandy Jean Chic via Twitter HERE
1 entry for the following:
Like Minted on Facebook HERE
Follow Minted via Pinterest HERE
Follow Minted via Twitter HERE
Visit Minted and leave a comment with your favorite announcement or invitation
Visit Minted and leave a comment with your favorite business card
Pin your favorite Minted product on Pinterest (please leave link in comment on Mandy Jean Chic)
Monday, May 13, 2013
Money Saving Monday- Does Your Bank Respect You?
Does your bank respect you or does your bank swindle all your hard earned money with fees???
Think about that for a second.....
Do you pay a monthly fee because of your balance?
Do you get hit with a fee if you use your debit card frequently??
Does your bank have any identify theft protection???
Are you earning any interest????
I could go on and on but I really don't want you to call your bank today angry :)
Every bank is run differently and has different regulations but if your bank is nickeling and dime your account maybe it is time to bank shop???
My private checking account is with a local bank here in New Mexico but i also keep a savings account with checking privileges at a large national bank. Why 2 banks??
My local bank pays a higher interest rate on my checking account and has no fees for transfers from savings. Even if it is an overdraft situation! Now I will say I've had my checking account with them for years and I don't know if this is still available but for me it is awesome!!
Why the 2nd account?? If for some reason I am traveling and I have an issue I wanted a bank that I could go to in an emergency situation. Also, they pay a higher interest rate on a basic savings account.
I encourage everyone to take a look at your bank. Are they working for you or are they sucking your account dry $3 at a time.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Happy Mothers Day!
Happy Mothers Day!
Happy Mothers Day to all the dog mommas too!! Brett and I do not have kids and have no intentions of having kids but I still get to celebrate Mothers Day because of these wise guys.
They may not be human but they are my children. I take them to swim camps, doctors appointments, school (obedience), wake up for midnight bathroom breaks, Hank must eat promptly at 7:30 and 4:30 or the world will hear about it and I love them.
My dogs are so much more than dogs to me. When people say "yeah I have to take my darn dog to the vet or i think I am going to giveaway my dog" it upsets me because your dog loves you more than you will ever know. If you treat your dog well they will be by your side no matter what the situation is. Their whole reason for existing is to be a companion animal.
If you can't treat your dog as a member of your family DON'T GET A DOG. Don't get a cat. Heck don't even get a fish!
My kids are way more than companions! They are my world.
So HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL THE DOG MOMMAS!!!!
This morning I had a wonderful surprise waiting for me from my husband and kids.
Brett made a MAC run all by himself and he did good!!!!!! I told him a few days ago that I am loving coral/pink lipstick. For Mothers Day he purchased me a Mineralize Lipstick and lipliner. What a great hubby!!!
Lipstick: Mineralize LADY AT PLAY
Lip Pencil: LASTING SENSATION
I am a happy girl :) I haven't tried these on yet as we are cleaning house today and prepping for our market place booth but tomorrow I will test these out! I already am in love with them :)
How did you spend your Mothers Day?
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Saturday Thrifting Haul
This morning Brett and I set out to hit some yard sales and a couple of thrift stores. We are both in the mood for some new projects and to score some treasures!
8 Picture Frames- Yard Sale $2.00 Brett will be creating some pencil sketches for our market booth and needed some frames. He is an amazing artist!
Cute little cabinet- Yard Sale $3.00 Not sure what I am to do with it yet. I was thinking jewelry storage. Any ideas???
Camera Bag- Yard Sale $2.00 Brett was needing a bag for his GoPro equipment and scored a great deal!
After hitting a few yard sales I headed over to Goodwill and scored big!!!!!!!!!!!!
2 COACH purses(both vintage leather)- $9.99 each
Super cute side table- Goodwill $4.99 I will be giving this fellow a face lift :) I already have the paint picked out.
Have you been thrifting lately?? Did you find any treasures???
I am still in shock I got these two vintage coach purses. After I clean them up I am not sure I want to sell them :( Vintage Coach has a special place in my heart.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Thursday Obsessions
Favorite need to do. I need to have Brett build pedestals for our washer and dryer. He is also really tall so maybe this would help him too :)
Favorite summer outfit
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Favorite Office Chic. Maybe alittle longer shorts ;)
Favorite Kitchen Island
Favorite Eye Makeup
Favorite Hair Color
Favorite Man Fashion. I wish I could get hubby to be a hipster
Favorite Party Idea- A S'more Bar!
Favorite Bedroom
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Under $20 Ribbon Rack
I've needed ribbon and paper storage for my craft room for years. I've never taken the time to search for a rack and i've kept my paper and ribbon stuck in a box. Out of site, out of mind. :( I never used any of it and would buy new whenever I needed something. Such a waste of money!!
Brett and I headed over to The Home Depot for some backyard supplies and I left with supplies for my rack. :)
What you need:
2 1"x2"x6' Pine Boards. Always check to make sure your boards are straight
1 pack of 1.5" Nails
7 Dowel Rods. Size depends on your cup hooks
1 Pack of large cup hooks
2 cans of spray paint
hammer
drill press (optional)
level
tape measurer
Total cost $18.67 (not including tools)
#1- Paint boards and dowel rods
#2- Measure your largest roll of paper or whatever you want to hang. Leave about 2 or 3 inches on each side. Trim dowel rods to fit
#3- Using drill press place holes for nails every 12 inches
#4-Using level nail board to wall. Measure and nail 2nd board. 
#5- Place cup hooks about 6 inches apart or measure the depth of your largest roll.
Ta da!!!!! I chose to make my rack floor length so I have room to grow but you can totally adjust this to any length or diameter you would like. This can be customized to fit your craft room.
My rack has 3 purposes. It holds my ribbon, craft paper and tissue paper. I love keeping my tissue paper folded over so it does not crease. :)
I can't believe how much space this has saved me and I am so in love with it!
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