Tips to Achieving Your Goals – July/August Issue of My Molds!

My Molds Newsletter News that Inspires Imagination!

By MAD ABOUT MOLDS.com - When it comes to service, we break the mold! The Preferred Place for Clay Push Molds

July/August 2011 Newsletter Hello Crafter, We have been very hard at work and we can’t wait to show you what we have in store for you! But first you need to get inspired! How do you feel when you have created something for the first time? It’s an amazing feeling isn’t it? What’s even more fun is sharing your feeling with friends. We encourage you to give this feeling away to make you feel even better! What about selling your creations? Making money from them is exciting and very rewording! We hope that our molds can make you the best you can be! Continue reading to learn more about using your time wisely in our article “Tips to Achieving Your Goals” Achieve big results with your goal setting! You won’t want to miss this! So sit back and enjoy this issue of My Molds! Until next time, Marjorie with Mad About Molds As always, we thank you for your time, you’re wonderful comments and your generous support! We enjoy sharing what we do and we love to hear what you think! Tips & Tricks How much Clay! One of the biggest problems that people have when using molds is that they just plain use too much clay. The result is that the face becomes thick and the edges look ragged. If you try to trim it, you may get fingerprints or smush it. Although freezing the clay can make it easier to work with. To control the look of the edges, press the clay into the mold. Then push it towards the center of the mold until you see the outside outline of the mold all around the clay. See our free mold making movie to learn how we do ours with a perfectly flat back every time. When using a mold for the first time, how much clay should you use? Do a trial run. What's it going to hurt? Push clay into the mold, then pull it out. Image too big? Do it again with less clay. Image to small? Do it again with more clay. Remember, it's okay to practice. Another Tip! Can I make beads from Molds? Yes, you can! Beading is still as popular as ever. If you are using clay just run a needle through your casting where you want the hole to be. If it is difficult to handle without distorting the image, just partially freeze it for awhile before making the hole to keep it's shape better. Molded shapes make great focal or centerpiece beads, or dangles for earrings and charms. The possibilities are endless! TIP: Do you know what you can all do with clay? Did you know that you can polish, sand, drill, carve, paint or glaze Sculpey clay? Think of the possibilities! One more Tip! Eliminating Fingerprints from Clay Creations: You can smooth out fingerprints on clay surfaces by putting a thin dusting of cornstarch or baby powder on your finger and gently smooth out any marks in a circular motion. Fun Links Home Free Stuff Creative Ideas Gallery Instructions Subscribe Newsletter Archives Molding Accessories Contact Us Shop@MadAboutMolds.com www.MadAboutMolds.com Find Marcy on Facebook This Month’s Article: Tips to Achieving Your Goals Did you spend time in the last few weeks setting goals both personally and for your business? Are you making progress on them? Are your goals written? That’s a big key to achieving them. Written goals have the odds stacked in their favor. I think it’s because you spend time to get clear about what you want, and that lets you focus on your end result. Here are some more tips to achieving big results with your goal setting. 1. Make at least one goal a stretch goal. The definition of a stretch goal would be one that is big and possible, one might seem unattainable with your current skill set, one that will cause you to grow. What this does is challenge you to think outside the box. It also energizes and excites you as you figure out how you’ll achieve it. 2. Figure out why the goal is so important to you and what you’ll give up to make it happen. For example, if one of your goals is to increase your income by 10%, it might be important because you want to remodel your studio. If you know your why, it will help keep you stay focused on your goal. At the same time consider if you need to give up something to help in the effort. Again using the same example, maybe you need to give up that after-dinner TV show and read something that can help you build your business. 3. Chunk down each goal into tasks. Look at the date when you choose to have your goal complete and work backwards with a list of tasks. Breaking it down makes it seemless formidable and keeps you on track. 4. Take action and track it. It sounds simple, yet people don’t always take action. Chunking it down helps a lot here. I also like to use a tracking form to check off where I am on my goals. Using our example above, you could start to chart your income each week. That way you can see if you are on track, and, if not, consider what you can change to meet your goal. 5. Find an accountability partner. It helps if you have someone on your side, cheering and prodding. I am in a mini-mastermind group with three of the women from the high-level mastermind I was in last year. We all know each others’ businesses and can offer input and a gentle push if we’re behind. 6. Reward yourself. If you are making progress on your goals, treat yourself to something. You could even decide your reward ahead of time. Back to our example, maybe you get a massage if your financial goal is on track at the end of the month. Good luck with achieving your goals. And, feel free to share your ideas on the here. When it comes to service, we break the mold! You received this newsletter because you subscribed to this newsletter. Do you know someone who might be interested in receiving this monthly newsletter? Forward this email to them. If you received this newsletter from a friend and want to sign up for your own copy, please click here. If you would like to change your email address please request the change here. We don't want to lose touch with you! We will not sell, trade or give away your personal information or email address. If you no longer wish to receive the My Molds Newsletter, please reply to this message with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line. We apologize for any inconvenience. To ensure that you keep receiving our e-mails to your inbox add shop@madaboutmolds.com to your address book or safe list. Copyright © 2011 | Mad About Molds, 624 3rd Ave., Brewster MN 56119 Thank You!

“Do you know where your time goes?” May/June Issue of My Molds!

My Molds Newsletter

News that Inspires Imagination!

MAD ABOUT MOLDS.com - When it comes to service, we break the mold!

The Preferred Place for Clay Push Molds

Home | Gallery | Instructions | Subscribe | Newsletter Archives | Contact Us

May/.June 2011 Newsletter

Are you following us on Facebook? Stay up to date on our latest news, products and activities. f Fun Links: Molding Accessories - Free Stuff - Creative Ideas - Gallery

Hello Crafter, So what are you going to do this Summer? That question seems to be asked a lot, so why not have an answer ready. I’m going to be making all kinds of goodies with my new molds from Mad About Molds! :) We have a huge selection of molds for just about anyone’s interest. As you think about the carefree days of summer, remember that crafting is only enhanced when you enjoy the simple things that nature brings into your life. It doesn’t cost a thing to open your eyes to the colors blooming all around you. Let your mind run wild and enjoy longer days and refreshing new ideas. Continue reading to learn more about using your time wisely in our article “Do you know where your time goes?” If you’re always rushing around doing this and that, it’s a great read to calm your mind and enjoy your days. You won’t want to miss this! So sit back and enjoy this issue of My Molds! Until next time, Marjorie with Mad About Molds As always, we thank you for your time, you’re wonderful comments and your generous support! We enjoy sharing what we do and we love to hear what you think! Announcements: As time goes by and browsers are updated, things change. Because of this, website publishing programs need to be updated as well, so we made the changes needed to keep up with the times. An advantage of this is that many new enhancements have been added to our website for your viewing experience. We are happy to announce that our revised website is done! You will be happy to see the same layout, but with lots of extra benefits! It’s more compatible with different browsers and the gallery pictures can be enlarged in the same window. There are many other changes that you won't be able to see, but the outcome is a better working website just for you. So enjoy! :) Visit us today to see our new look! As always, we thank you for your comments! We appreciate hearing about any problems you might have with our site and we love to hear what you think! What Are Clay Push Molds? Have you ever been at a loss of words when someone asks you… “What are Clay Push Molds anyway?” Well now we have made it easy for you! We made up a small definition for you to use when you are at a loss for words. Click to enlarge. What do our Molds look like? If you haven’t ordered from us yet, you might wonder what are molds look like. Here’s a nice image that will help you understand. Sometimes a picture is worth a million words, so this should help you out. Also many of you may have clients or teach classes using our molds. Feel free to use this image as a handout for those interested in using our molds. We also have business cards and brochures if you need any. Click to enlarge. This Month’s Article: Do You Know Where Your Time Goes? Since time is always short for me – it’s important to pay attention to how efficient I am with my time. I can’t remember who said that you get more done in the day before your vacation than you do in the whole week before. I definitely think there’s some truth in that statement. For me, part of the reason I shift into overdrive before I leave is that I like to return to a clean slate. It would be great to work more efficiently more of the time. Here are a few tips that might help you do that: 1. Track how you spend your time. At the end of each day and at the end of each week compare the percentage of your time used toward fulfilling your mission and achieving your goals with that spent elsewhere. 2. Set your priorities for each day. Select your three top goals for the day and work to complete those. If you are clear about what you want to accomplish, it’s easier to say no to something that comes up that doesn’t fit into you time. 3. Keep a copy of your mission and goals where you can see them. If you keep the end in mind, it’s easier to keep distractions at bay. 4. Learn to say “no” more often! 5. Use caller id and/or let your answering machine take a message. You can allot a certain amount of time at the end of the day to return the calls. 6. Limit time on social networking sites. Connecting through these sites is important for connecting, but they can be big time vampires. Set aside 30 minutes each day for Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, etc., and then stay off the sites the rest of the day. See our past Newsletters!

When it comes to service, we break the mold!

You received this newsletter because you subscribed to this newsletter. Do you know someone who might be interested in receiving this monthly newsletter? Forward this email to them. If you received this newsletter from a friend and want to sign up for your own copy, please click here. If you would like to change your email address please request the change here. We don't want to lose touch with you! We will not sell, trade or give away your personal information or email address. If you no longer wish to receive the My Molds Newsletter, please reply to this message with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line. We apologize for any inconvenience.

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Copyright © 2011 | Mad About Molds, 624 3^rd Ave., Brewster MN 56119

Thank You!

Mad About Molds.com

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"When it comes to service, we break the mold!"

Get More Done: Try Single-Tasking – April Issue of My Molds!

My Molds Newsletter

News that Inspires Imagination!

MAD ABOUT MOLDS.com - When it comes to service, we break the mold!

The Preferred Place for Clay Push Molds

Home | Gallery | Instructions | Subscribe | Newsletter Archives | Contact Us

April 2011 Newsletter

Are you following us on Facebook? Stay up to date on our latest news, products and activities. f Fun Links: Molding Accessories - Free Stuff - Creative Ideas - Gallery Questions? Contact us - Creative Ideas - Molding Tools

Hello Crafter, Summer is fast approaching and the colors are bright fun and very creative! As you think about the carefree days of summer, remember that crafting is only enhanced when you enjoy the simple things that nature brings into your life. It doesn’t cost a thing to open your eyes to the colors blooming all around you. Let your mind run wild and enjoy longer days and refreshing new ideas. Continue reading to learn more about using your time wisely in our article “Single-Tasking.” If you’re always rushing around doing this and that, it’s a great read to calm your mind and enjoy your days. You won’t want to miss this! So sit back and enjoy this issue of My Molds! Until next time, Marjorie with Mad About Molds As always, we thank you for your time, you’re wonderful comments and your generous support! We enjoy sharing what we do and we love to hear what you think! Announcements: We are planning on adding a nice selection of new molds this year, but first we are in the process of redesigning our website, so please be patient and watch for them here. You will be happy to see what we have coming. Also keep in mind that a few molds will be discontinued to make room for the new molds. So if there’s something you “have to have” you might want to consider getting it before it’s gone. Now that we are 6 years old it’s time to makes a few changes. Many of you have commented on how nice our website looks after the new layout was introduced this past year. Now we are working on some details that will make the website work better for you no matter what browser you use or settings. When it’s complete you will be able to easily enlarge the pictures without leaving the shopping page to save your place and save you time in navigating our website. Keep watching for our newsletters and we will announce when the work is complete. If you like Mad About Molds you will love our other websites! Featured Molds: After this winter, who wouldn’t be excited about Summer! Now is the time to start thinking about accessories that extenuate “Fun in the Sun!” Think about using cool summer colors such as blues and greens to make pieces that go with the bright new colors of summer! Here’s just a sample of some of the summer time molds we have available. Do you need some Creative Inspiration? Need a smile? Check out these very creative pictures! They are sure to get you laughing, wondering, inspired, motivated, amazed and completely fascinated! It's got all the eye-candy anyone could wish for. This Month’s Article: Get More Done: Try Single-Tasking Are you a multitasker? Do you read your e-mail while you’re on the phone and at the same time bind your quilt? We’ve all been there, and I’m hoping to put my multitasking in the past. According to Harvard Business Review blogger Paul Atchley, studies show that multitaskers are less efficient, perhaps by as much as 40%, than they think. He says that it takes an average of 15 minutes – and I’ve read numbers as high as 40 minutes – to reorient oneself to the main task. Wow – 15 minutes! Can you imagine how much time you waste on a daily basis trying to get back to the task at hand? If you want to break your multitasking habit, here are four tips: 1. Focus on one task at a time. Atchley says our attention starts to wane after 18 minutes. He suggests that if that happens and you switch to a different task, make notes about the first task to make it easier when you go back. I think that if your attention wanes, it might be time for a quick stretch and then quickly re-focus on the same task. 2. Since I mentioned focusing on a task, be sure to divide your project into doable tasks. Set a timer for the task. I find it easier to focus if I have specifically set the time aside. 3. Eliminate distractions. This could be closing the door to your studio, letting the answering machine pick up the calls, stopping the audible tones of your e-mail. What’s key is paying attention – again focus – to your task. 4. Stick with it until it’s done and done right. And, if you think multi-tasking is only a problem today, here’s a good quote from Lord Chesterton, attributed to a letter to his son in the 1740s: “There is time enough for everything in the course of the day if you do but one thing at once; but there is not time enough in the year if you will do two things at a time.” Good luck single-tasking. See our past Newsletters!

When it comes to service, we break the mold!

You received this newsletter because you subscribed to this newsletter. Do you know someone who might be interested in receiving this monthly newsletter? Forward this email to them. If you received this newsletter from a friend and want to sign up for your own copy, please click here. If you would like to change your email address please request the change here. We don't want to lose touch with you! We will not sell, trade or give away your personal information or email address. If you no longer wish to receive the My Molds Newsletter, please reply to this message with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line. We apologize for any inconvenience.

To ensure that you keep receiving our e-mails to your inbox add shop@madaboutmolds.com to your address book or safe list.

Copyright © 2011 | Mad About Molds, 624 3^rd Ave., Brewster MN 56119

Thank You!