New Resources Section At PCL

A new section has been added to RESOURCES: Forums/Groups/Social. The first entry added is the crafting website GetCrafty. What they say about themselves:

Welcome to the Arts & Crafts Forum at GetCrafty.com. Our site is a friendly community dedicated to all things Arts & Crafts related, just some of the subjects we cover here are: Crafts, Paper Craft, Crafting, Kids Crafts, Craft Ideas, Christmas Crafts, Crafts for Kids, Craft Supplies, Craft Shows, Halloween Craft, Easy Crafts and more.

This website is active. I counted 23 posts made today and at least 7 yesterday. As with most social sites today, spam proliferates. Bypass the posts on egg donation, cryptocurrency and sports betting and pick out the creative threads that inspire you.

Free Image Monday: Hearts Backgrounds & Printable Papers

 

Today's free image is a cotton-candy pink, distressed hearts background or printable paper. The dimensions are 3600 x 3600 px and it is a JPEG file. 

Download It Here From My Files At Microsoft OneDrive:

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AucUJVHYQ3s5jEh7cZxgMnDK89XS?e=yNWLjM

Then click the download link at the top of the OneDrive page.

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The bonus image is also a delightful hearts background in bokeh reds, peaches, oranges and white. The dimensions are 1920 x 1920 px and it is a JPEG file.

Download It Here From My Files At Microsoft OneDrive:

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AucUJVHYQ3s5jEfaWoTg4UrU-ksi?e=UyW1fK

Then click the download link at the top of the OneDrive page.

................................................................. 

Comment if you have problems getting the images.

HAPPY CREATING!

 

 

I suggest that you edit the images or add them to your own designs to make them unique to your brand. This is important especially if you are using them in products that you are selling. 

After all, free images may be currently used, as is, by any number of sellers. Editing them or adding them to your own designs will help prevent your potential customers from confusing you with another seller.

You want your customers to return to your shop because what you have is unique. Don't lose them to another shop because they mistakenly thought they were buying from you because the products have duplicate designs. 

I share images from the Web and from my own studio. While I cannot guarantee that my internet-obtained, free images are copyright free, I only share images that are labeled on the internet as being for personal and commercial use, without need for a commercial license, compensation or attribution. You can always do your own research on any free image that you obtain from Printaphoria & Creative Living.

Image Sources:

Pixabay.com

Zipper Pouch Brand Labels Best Positioning For More Sales

I was on Instagram when I ran across these lovely, colorful zipper pouches with the combo fabrics. See the black and white fabric brand labels attached to the outside? They are a cute touch, right? Well, I wouldn't put my labels on the outside. It would be too easy for people to snip them off because they don't like them there and there would go my chance and investment for brand identity. Who would snip them off? Who cares?, you ask. Obviously, you'd be surprised.

For people like me, those who like things somewhat perfect, neat and so-so, it would be eternally annoying to see the tag on the outside whenever the pouch was reached for. My first reaction would be to want to turn it inside out so that the tag would be inside, where it belongs. After a few times of remembering that the pouch is already right side out, I'd have to snip off the tag. My nerves couldn't tolerate it.

Now being a maker myself and knowing how important brand identity is, I'd probably tack the snipped label to the inside with a needle and thread. Rather than being in the majority this time, I know I'd be in the minority of those who would do that. Most would chuck that snipped ID into the round file. Later, they would not be able to recall who made the pouch when asked where one could be bought.

You say, Well, I wouldn't mind the tag being on the outside. I would forget it's there. With reference to marketing efforts and dollars invested, what matters is how many generally would mind? The average person feels that tags belong either in the back, underneath or on the inside. It would be a simple matter for an annoyed customer to correct this by unintentionally cutting away a maker's chance at a piggyback sale.

I'd sew my zipper pouch labels into the inside, where the average person feels they should be. Though temporary, I'd use my hang tags for the outside brand identification. To give my cloth labels more visibility on the inside, I'd sew them to the zipper seam, rather than into the side bottom area. I'd make sure the label was laying flat to the top inside under the zipper. It would then be seen as soon as the pouch was opened. 

Better for my disposable hang tags to be temporary than my snipped cloth labels. Stubbornness equals loss. Wisdom and adaptability equals more sales.