Helpful Scrapbooking Tips

Terry Fitzroy discusses ways to Spice up Your Memories with Scrapbooking Paper in the following article: http://www.creativetimesmagazine.com/article/Spice+up+Your+Memories+With+Scrapbooking+Paper

Whether you’re just now catching the scrapbooking fever, have been thinking about beginning a scrapbook or have a scrapbook for EVERY occasion imaginable, you will enjoy this article about the selections of fun materials that are available for you.

Boot Sewing Patterns

I thought these boot patterns were so cute when I ran across them this morning. Be sure to check out the other boot patterns and more at www.patternmart.com.



Aunt Marthas Boot TZ
Price: US$7.50






Primitive Folk Art Halloween Mouse Doll in Stocking with Wings PPP
Price: US$6.50






TRP Very Primitive Grungy Halloween Witch Boots On a Pumpkin E-pattern
Price: US$7.50

Americana Patterns

Feeling a little patriotic this morning, I figured we should all get prepared for the upcoming patriotic season. It will soon be Memorial Day, then Flag Day with Independence Day following closely behind. There are pages and pages of Americana patterns at www.patternmart.com for you to select from.



americana flags and stars ornies pattern
Price: US$5.00






AMERICANA NEEDLEPUNCH PAIR
Price: US$5.00






Americana Uncle Sam Hat ~ Flag ~ Candle Lamp
Price: US$12.00

Needlpoint Techniques

Carolyn McNeil enlightens us with the differences between needlepoint creations in the following article: “What is Needlepoint?” http://www.patternmart.com/article/What+Is+Needlepoint__q__. In the article, Carolyn discusses tapestry and different embroidery terms that you may find helpful.

Carolyn also explains the five basic needlepoint stitches in the following article: http://www.patternmart.com/article/The+Five+Basic+Types+of+Needlepoint+Stitches
Combining these stitches on canvas can make a very attractive finished piece.

Many people enjoy needlepoint as it can be done almost anywhere and any time. Most stitches are easily learned and the work piece itself can be easily toted to the doctor’s office, on the plane, in front of the TV and many more places.

Grungy Patterns

Below is a mere sampling of the grungy patterns offered at www.patternmart.com. For those of you who really like this appearance, there are 7 pages of grungy patterns offered by the designers.



Mirabell and Her Melon #228
Price: US$7.99






PM Primitive Grungy Daisies, Crow & Ladybug Wreath Door Hanger E-pattern
Price: US$7.50






TRP Very Primitive Grungy Quilt Bag Lamp With Snowmen, Crow & Candy Canes E-pattern
Price: US$8.00

Sunflower Patterns

Sunflowers are in the spotlight today. You'll find several more sunflower patterns at www.patternmart.com. While you're there, be sure to look at the free and new patterns our talented designers are offering.



Sunflowerz and Crowz
Price: US$3.50






Sunflower with Bumble Bee PM 064
Price: US$6.50






Sunflowers and Crow
Price: US$6.00

Sewing Helpers

While looking through some sewing catalogs, I noticed a couple of handy quilting helpers that I want to share with you. I hope you’ll find this information helpful.

To hold quilt layers together (appliqués, blocks or full quilts), use basting spray from the sewing section of your local hobby and craft store. This is an easy way to temporarily hold layers in place until you can sew them without the use of all those annoying – and painful – pins or the hours you could spend basting with a thread and needle. This also makes it easy to rearrange anything that hasn’t been sewn yet. After you’re finished sewing, throw the item into the wash and the basting spray is washed away.

A chalk pounce is much quicker to mark your quilts for quilting rather than spending all that time stenciling the pattern on with a marker. Simply rub the pounce across the stencil and it marks your fabric for quilting. Much of the chalk is removed by steam ironing the quilt when you’re finished quilting. However, check the product label as there are different removal methods.

The following is simply a quick way to remove those threads from ripped seams that anyone who sews can use. After ripping out seams, you can easily and quickly get rid of the excessive mess by pressing a piece of tape over the length of the ripped threads and when you pull up the tape, those messy threads come up with it.

Head over to www.patternmart.com to find your next project pattern.

Spring Patterns

Below are some spring patterns that are sure to bring smiles to anyone's face. These and many more spring patterns are available at www.patternmart.com.



April Showers Umbrella - Spring Home
Price: US$7.50






Folk Art Flower Girl - 11 1/2 inches
Price: US$7.50






Prim Garden Bunny Shelf Sitter E-Pattern
Price: US$5.00

Wood Patterns & Supplies

If you want to try your hand at some wooden patterns or simply need a few wood supplies for other projects, we have those and much more at www.patternmart.com.



Primitive Chicken Coup Cupboard Bench Pattern
Price: US$8.00






Antique Wooden Spools
Price: US$5.75






uncle sam flowerbox
Price: US$5.00

How to Keep Your Customers Returning for More

Once you start selling your items online, you need a way to keep your customers returning to buy more. Below are a few helpful guidelines that may help you. These are free to low-cost advertising methods that are very effective when performed regularly.

1. Add new items on a regular basis – at least once a week.

2. Always be courteous to your customers and thank them for their purchases.

3. Join forums that have something in common with items that you sell. This is a great way to spread the word about your new business, learn things that you may not know about running an online business, and get support from others.

4. Keep a list of your customers and their email addresses in case you need to send out an occasional brief email with business updates (i.e. if you’re moving from Ebay to your own website or to mention new types of items you are offering). When you send your thank you email to them, inform them that you will send updates via email from time to time.

5. A business newsletter is a wonderful way to keep your customers – or potential customers - informed of more frequent business updates. Offer an easy way for people to sign up for the newsletter. It can be as simple as asking them to email you with their personal information.

6. Assure your subscribers that their information will be kept confidential and give them a way to opt out. Replying to the newsletter with “unsubscribe” in the subject line is the most common opt-out option.

7. Give your newsletter subscribers exclusive offers such as percentages off for a time period, buy one - get one deals, or offer prize give-aways (if eligible in your state) to those who make purchases. The ideas here are endless and your customers will not want to unsubscribe if they are getting exclusive deals.

8. Start a blog. This is a great way to keep your customers updated and another way for new customers to find you. It doesn’t have to take up a lot of your time. Add a couple of short posts each week. Along with your business updates, offer the readers something that will keep them returning such as inspirational stories, craft tips, house cleaning tips, recipes, or a good old-fashioned laugh.

Once you do all of this, your best source of advertising will fall into place – word of mouth. Your customers will tell their friends and they will tell their friends, etc. Others will begin to blog about you, your site(s) and the items you sell. I hope you have found this information helpful. Good luck!

www.patternmart.com

Strawberry Patch & New Shopping Cart

When spring arrives, we begin thinking about gardening. Strawberries are many a gardener's favorite. However, if you don't have a green thumb or you simply don't enjoy digging in the dirt, don't worry. You can make a few strawberries with the patterns below. Visit www.patternmart.com to find more patterns for your indoor "garden".

Also, we're excited to announce that a shopping cart has been added to Pattern Mart so that you can now make multiple purchases from one designer and make one payment to that designer. To find out more about the shopping cart feature, visit the following page. http://www.patternmart.com/orderinginfo.php



Strawberry Pocket with Crow
Price: US$6.99






Strawberry Bowl Fillers Ornies
Price: US$6.50






Strawberry Duo (PM412)
Price: US$4.50

Clothespin Ornie Patterns

What a fun way to display your ornies! Whether using the clothespin as a base or attaching the clothespin later, either way allows more opportunity to display your creations. Find more ornie patterns at www.patternmart.com.



Clothes Pin Patriotic Eagle Ornies-Let Freedom Reign--- OTBP
Price: US$7.50






Clothespin Ornies
Price: US$6.50






MINI CLOTHESPIN ORNIES
Price: US$5.00

Selling Homemade Crafts

If you’ve been contemplating selling your homemade crafts online, you may find the following article to be very helpful. It offers inspiring advice to those who are looking to start a home-based business with their homemade crafts. http://www.patternmart.com/article/Home+Business+Selling+Handmade+Crafts+-+5+Steps+to+Success

Although success doesn’t happen over night for most people, I believe the author’s advice will give your new business the boost it needs to make it successful quickly. Research is probably your best tool to find the best ways to advertise, best places to sell and the best way to present your products. Consider websites that are already successful and have an established customer base to build your business on such as Ebay, Etsy and Pattern Mart. In the beginning, these are nice alternatives to struggling with learning difficult programs, advertising headaches, and the high costs that can be involved in running your own website. No matter which path you consider be sure to list new items on a regular basis to keep your customers interested and returning. Happy Selling!
www.patternmart.com