So Suzy Podcast

We are headed out to our very first card retreat that I have not hosted! The Stamp Junkies are descending upon Gina K's, Village Paper & Ink in Wisconsin for a ton of fun, lots of laughs and some major card making. On today's episode, we talk about getting ready for going to a Retreat, supplies to bring and how I created my amazing lists!

What to Bring - Check out our Preparing Your Go Bag podcast for more detailed information

Be Courteous - Use a purse hook to hang your Bunkie Bag from the table so it doesn't take up so much space on the table.

Isn't this just the cutest? List with the envelope pocket

List is 5" x 2.75"

Envelope Pocket is 3" x 4"

Supplies Used

Lavinia Freya's Fairy House Stamp

Brutus Monroe Clickable Letter Stamps

Gina K CardStock

So Suzy Stamp Peacock Plumes Ink Bites

Next week is our last week for our Planner Series, to be eligible to win one of our 9 fabulous prizes, please head on over and leave a comment on which Planner option is your favorite!

My Sweet Petunia

Quo Vadis

Paper Clip Planet

Welcome back to Week 4 of our Planner Series with Jessica Marie Design. Jessica designs and creates Printable Planners that you can simply download and print or if you need something custom, she can design planner pages that work for you and your needs. I have been using Jessica for several years and she never fails to wow me with her ability to take what's in my head and make something invaluable for my planning needs. Plus, she shares with us a few of her planner hacks on how YOU can decide which planner is best for YOUR lifestyle.

Special thanks to our sponsors: Quo Vadis and Paper Clip Planet

It's Made It Happen Monday with Katy Weade co-founder of Blitsy! Today we talk with Katy on how Blitsy came to life, how to get your products onto their site, secret of something super fabulous coming out soon and where Blitsy is going in the future!

Listening to your followers and customers is an integral part of the success of you, your brand and your business. Understanding what they want and need will help to garner their loyalty and allow you to grow and continue to to offer value added content and products. Find out the importance of listening to your customers and followers in today's podcast.

"Not listening to your customers is equal to not looking at your fuel gauge before heading off for a road trip."

• Customers asked she provided
• Value to the consumer and manufacturer

"Not only does Kymona's series benefit her followers, but the companies whose products she was featuring also found value in her Did You Know? series."

• MISTI
• Mini MISTI
• Memory MISTI

"By listening to her customers, Iliana has made not only a fabulous tool, but better business decisions because of the feedback from her customer."

• Quality over Trendy
• High quality, long lasting signature toppers that will satisfy her customers

"Annie chose to listen to her brand and satisfy her customers with their need for quality versus trendy products."

• Get to the AFCI mid-year buying event in July
• Get ready for the holiday buying season now

• Get your designs ready now for the holidays
• Launch your holiday stamps in September/October

• Know your market, your customer and the theme
• Think logically

• What do your customers want?
• What would they like to know?
• How will they find, identify and know you?
• Why do they want what you have?
• And if they don't...what DO they want?

"Sometimes it is about satisfying the customers you have versus finding ones who want what you offer."

Kymona Tracey

Justine Hovey

My Sweet Petunia/MISTI

Paper Clip Planet

Price. Market. Sell. Your Handmade Cards Online Class

My Sweet Petunia

My Sweet Petunia

Welcome to week 3 of our Planner Series with Audra Bolster from Kindred Stamps. Today, we are exploring the reasons behind decorating your planner, supplies available and best inks to use. When I think of decorating a planner, my brain immediately goes to "personal planner" and certainly not one for business. However, seeing the need for business stamps and direct sales planner stamps, Audra designed several planner stamps to fill that need. They are great for small businesses, direct sales, Etsy shop owners and so much more.

Why is decorating your planner so popular right now?

It adds uniqueness to your planner and you can add whimsy by stamping and coloring.

-Audra Bolster, Kindred Stamps

Types of Planner Stamps Kindred Stamps carries

• Everyday Unicorn
• Theme Park Vacation
• Small Business
• Direct Sales
• Book Club
• Care Instructions

Best Ink - VersaFine Pigment Ink

Favorite Planner - Erin Condren

Favorite Planner Stamp Sets - Small Business and Unicorn

1. Your favorite planner
2. Bag for all of your supplies
3. VersaFine Ink
4. Favorite Pen

Website

Facebook

Facebook Group

Instagram

We are continuing with our Planner Series theme in today's Made It Happen Monday podcast with Ashley Shelly Trotier from Ashley Shelly. Ashley creates some fabulous planners that are designed to help you "create your best days". Today, we hear the story behind her business, the planners she creates and the products she has coming out in the near future.

The Ashley Shelly Planners are created by Ashley Shelly to help people "Create Your Best Days". Each planner is printed on 80lb bright white paper, perfect for decorating and using all year round, plus she has her special 'Creative Spread" to help you find your focus for the month ahead.

She also carries

• Dot grid notebooks - NEW
• Budget Planner
• Notebook Bestie
• Daily Peace Journal

Favorite Pen - Le Pen & PaperMate Ink Joy .7

Favorite Notebook Cover - Ombre Pineapple

Favorite Part of Owning a Business - Allows her to create her best days

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Let's face it, we are busy people. Life has a tendency to get in the way, responsibilities pile up and time flies by. What we want to do doesn't always match up with what we have to do, but what if you were able to combine creativity with something you MUST do?

If you are short on time available to you, think about your creative flow and crafting habits:

• Do you need time to gather supplies?
• Does it take you 30-45 minutes perusing Pinterest for inspiration?
• Is your craft space needing some major clean up before you start?

If you are struggling to find time, think about what would best serve your times and needs:

• Do you need pops of creativity?
• Would you prefer large chunks of time to create?
• Are you constantly on the go and need something portable?

Kelly Creates

Kelly Creates Facebook Group

Rhodia Bullet Journal

Bunkie Bag

Sponsored By My Sweet Petunia and the MISTI

Welcome to week 2 of our Planner Series! Today, we are talking with Helen Colebrook from Journal with Purpose and how she uses her Bullet Journal to plan her days. When I first found Helen on Instagram, I was completely enamored of her simple layout style, the way she combined work with home and her blog post on Using Your Bullet Journal to Get More of the Good Stuff Done. I have always wanted to use a bullet journal since the first time I saw a picture of my friend, Krys Salvetta using hers. After my interview with Helen, I am happy to report that I finally bought not one but TEN bullet journals, I am seriously addicted.

During our interview with Helen, she takes us through what she loves about using a bullet journal for her planning, how she stays organized, tips and tricks and some of her favorites.

The Bullet Journal is referred to as an "analog system for the digital age" by Ryder Carroll, the creator of the Bullet Journal. According to Helen, she loves its simplicity, because you can use it anyway you want. If you want to just use it for lists, keeping track of your schedule, using it as an art journal or a combination of all the above, the bullet journal is a true reflection of you.

It's peaceful, not a chore.

Helen Colebrook - Journal with Purpose

Check out how Helen uses her Bullet Journal with her Traveler's Notebook.

Plus, her fabulous Tip-in card that she uses for her main goals for the week.

See the pictures of the Traveling Bullet Journal, the spreads from the people involved and where it is now. Traveling BuJo Updates

You can also search for #thetravelingbujo on instagram.

Favorite Pen - Staedtler Multi Pigment Liner

Favorite Ways to Decorate - Washi Tape, Planner Stickers and doodling

Favorite Use - Gratitude and Memory Pages

Use your last page in your Bujo as a pen test page to make sure it works nicely in your bullet journal.

Rhodia Bullet Journal - Heavier paper and allows for more art journaling, watercoloring, Tombow Dual Brush Pens work GREAT! (Personally, I like the A5 size)

Staedtler Pigment Liners - great for writing, but also for watercoloring and using with Tombows

Using Your Bullet Journal to Get More of the Good Stuff Done

Traveling BuJo

Ryder Carroll

Ninja Traveling

Blog

Instagram

YouTube

Pinterest

On last week's podcast, we talked about the importance of planning for the holiday's. Today, we have Keli Bell-Cole from AFCI talking about their mid-year buying event! AFCI and SPC have put together an amazing event for those retailers who need to get ready for the 3rd and 4th quarters. Hear about the Mixed Media Event, how to attend and the benefits of going from Keli. Find out how I epically failed the first year our shop opened for the holidays. (It wasn't pretty!) The Mixed Media Event is an intimate buying opportunity for retailers ONLY. This is your time to build those relationship with your vendors and distributors.

What is the Mixed Media Event?

Mid-year buying event for retailers to order their 3rd & 4th quarter supplies for their shops.

When is the Mixed Media Event?

July 17th - Education

July 18th - 20th - Show Floor

Salt Palace Convention Center

Salt Lake City, UT

How do I register?

Head on over to AFCI.global and click the registration button.

Mixed Media Event is free for all SPC and AFCI members and $35 for non-members

Can your business afford to not be ready for the holidays?

Benefits from a Mid-Year Buying Event

Keli explains how a mid-year buying event helps retailers with planning and the mindset of getting ready for the the last half of the year.

Third and fourth quarter sales can make or break a business.

Keli Bell-Cole, AFCI

This is an intimate and exclusive buying event for retailers. Not only can shop owners purchase inventory for the holiday season, but you can take advantage of the education program and build relationships with your vendors and distributors.

Hotel Registration - Deadline June 16th!

Education Program

Register for the Mixed Media Event

Become a Member

AFCI

For questions regarding the Mixed Media Event call Keli Bell-Cole - (201) 835-1202 or email her at kbell-cole (at) afci (dot) global

Call AFCI directly - (201) 835-1200

Depending on your needs and motivation, starting your holiday planning now could be instrumental to your success. It doesn't matter if you are planning your holiday cards, classes, getting items ready for craft fairs, designing stamps for holiday releases or purchasing inventory for your shop. Proper planning is critical for you, your business and your customers. In today's show, we go over the critical timelines for stamp companies, shop owners and crafters when it comes to putting together your holiday plan.

Stamp Companies

• Contact your manufacturer now to find out about lead times for manufacturing
• Submit your Christmas designs to your manufacturer now!
• Get the stamps to your Design Team and industry influencers no later than the last week of July
• Release Christmas/Holiday stamps beginning to mid September

Shop Owners

• Attend AFCI's mid-year buying event in July
• Order your holiday inventory ASAP
• Create Christmas cards for Christmas Card Classes in September
• Consider hosting a Craft Fair 101 Class in September
• Order more MISTI's
• Post cards for the Christmas Card Class on October 1st
• Schedule your classes for beginning of November

Crafters

• Work on your plan for the craft fair season; how many cards, the styles and how many fairs you want to attend
• Start working on your themed cards now
• Put together a timeline for working on the cards
• Have all themed cards finished by September
• Work on Christmas Cards starting in September and October
• Have all cards finished by mid-October
• Put finishing touches on booth design

Regardless if you are a stamp company, shop owner or card maker, your success boils down to planning.

MISTI

AFCI Mixed Media Event

Price. Market. Sell. Your Handmade Cards Class

Need our help?

Our podcast is sponsored by My Sweet Petunia and the MISTI.