Seven Steps to Saying No – April Issue of My Molds!

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My Molds Newsletter News that Inspires Imagination! The Preferred Place for Clay Push Molds
	Dear Subscribers, Now that April is here, it’s time to seriously think about showing off your Spring colors and spending that new inspiration on some wonderful and new works of art. Think about creating jewelry adorned with flower buds, birds and bugs! Or make some pretty wind-chimes, wreath ornaments or flip-flop clips! There’s no end to the ideas that can be created using our molds. While you’re thinking about this, don’t let your creative time get away from you. This is the time to make things happen and to let your imagination go wild. They are the times when you’re at your best and you feel your best. No is a word that should be used with no guilt or explanations. Read our article this month on “Seven Steps to Saying No” to learn the tools for managing your time. Please take the time to sit back and enjoy this issue of My Molds! Until next time, Marjorie with Mad About Molds Take time to enjoy the small things…. 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!			April 2012 Issue Fun Links Home Free Stuff Free Downloads Creative Ideas Gallery Instructions Subscribe Newsletter Archives Molding Accessories Mobile Site Contact Us Shop@MadAboutMolds.com www.MadAboutMolds.com Find Marcy on Facebook
	NEW MOLDS “Something for Everyone!” As promised we are delivering more new molds for you to choose from! We try to offer something for everyone with our selection of 1,000 molds on our website. If you don’t see what you are looking for, it’s likely that you will find it and much more at www.MadAboutMolds.com. View ALL of our NEW Molds here! Or search by number from our search box online.
	NEW SAMPLES!	Just for FUN! We have a few more ideas for you this month. If you don’t already own these molds you might want to look into getting some, because these projects are very popular with our customers. All the mold numbers are shown below with links to the page where you can purchase them, making them easy to find. If you haven’t ordered from us for awhile you will be happy to see how easy ordering is now. Shown is an assortment of oriental type of designs that are so fun to make, because they have simple finishes that are explained in our FAQ section later in this newsletter. Be sure to share your creations with your friends and family and tell them how much fun molding can be! We’d love to hear about what you do with your molds. Send us your emails and ideas, and if you have any tips to share with this group please let us know. We would love to show off your expertise! Samples made from Molds 481, 487, 493, 494 & 543.
	FAQ’S	Frequently Asked Questions! Q. I’m not sure how to make my castings look so pretty. How do you get the finishes shown on your castings? A. When thinking about the finish you would like to achieve when making castings from your molds there are about four main types for you to consider. 1. The best results for a rich deep metallic finish is PMC (Precious Metal Clay) It comes in both silver and gold, and you use it the same as you would clay, except in the way that you cure it. Be sure to remove your casting from your mold before curing it. 2. Another way would be to add a gold-leaf finish over a baked clay casting. Golf-leaf can be found in many metallic colors and can have a beautiful finish. 3. The easiest way to achieve a colored finish from neon, pearl or metallic would be to use colored clay to make your casting. No other steps would be needed unless you wish to add a clear coat sealer or an antiquing medium. 4. And our last option is how most of our samples are made in our gallery photos. White clay painted with acrylic paints. We like to add many finishes over the paint to give a prettier effect such as pearl or sparkle sealer or a antiquing finish. Don't feel intimidated by painting castings as they are surprisingly easy to get nice results. Just think of it as painting from the bottom up. First a apply a thin base color over the entire casting, then paint the details on top with desired colors and finish with a top coat of the techniques mentioned above. Good luck with you projects and we hope this helps you out. Have fun creating! Q. I’m interested in making cameos for the jewelry that I make. How do you make your Cameos look so nice? A. Making cameos takes practice, but they are worth it in the end. We have posted a page for those of you who need more information on making cameos here. You can also check out the cameos we have on our gallery page for some more ideas here. We did not make the cameo pictures on the website. They were submitted by some of our very talented customers. Q. I’m just getting started with molds. How do I get started with everything I need to know? A. Here's the link for written instructions for using our molds: Our easy instructions shows you how to use our molds with a perfectly flat back every time. Be sure to watch the video at the top of the page. It shows you how to make a mold casting in less than 30 seconds. It's the fastest way to understand the process of using our molds. We hope this helps you make the most of your molds and to see how fun molding can be! Q. What is the difference between the push molds and the flexible molds? Is there a type that would work best for me? A. There are differences in using our hard and flexible molds and it’s good to think about how you are going to use them to know which kind to get. It depends mainly on the type of casting you choose to work with as to what type you should purchase. Our hard molds (the kind found on all our shopping pages) are made of a clay that hardens when cured. They are very durable and can withstand a long life. Our flexible molds (found on the flexible molds page) are made of flexible clay that allows for the casting to be removed easily. However it is important that you are careful when removing the casting, because the movement can produce a deformed casting. Be sure to read the instructions on the flexible molds page on our website for more details. We make these molds individually one-by-one, each handmade mold is inspected and needs to meet our high standard before shipping to you. Our unique process insures a clean, smooth and uniform mold. The items that we choose to mold are based on minimal undercuts when being molded, insuring you a quality casted piece.
	ANNOUNCMENTS	Are you looking for a Deal? Our Mad About Molds Outlet offers incredible prices on a variety of molds. New molds just posted. While Supplies Last Only. 25 to 75% Off! Why Buy from our Outlet? · To sample molds at a discount. · So the kids can have fun with you! · To experiment with your favorite castings. CHECK THEM OUT HERE! If you’re lucky enough to own an iPad… … our website is configured to be shown in the full screen, so you can sit back and relax while browsing for molds wherever & whenever you like. *Correction in Last Month’s Newsletter It has been brought to our attention that the pictures in last month’s newsletter did not load correctly for some people. If you were one of them, we are sorry for any frustration. If you had trouble you may click here to view it online now. We hope this finds you well, and we look forward to your comments, suggestions or tips. As always, we would love to hear from you. Thank you.
	THIS MONTH’S ARTICLE	“Seven Steps to Saying No” Over the years I’ve wrestled with saying “no” to many requests. When I was two years old, I’m sure I didn’t have that problem. Just ask my mom! As I grew up, I think the people pleaser in me showed up, and “no” seldom found its way into my vocabulary. As an adult, I have a distinct memory about learning how to say “no.” I was doing volunteer work at a local museum for a major fund-raising event. I was responsible getting volunteers for my committee. I still remember the woman I asked who instead of just saying “no” said, “No, I can’t help you now, but when the event takes place I’ll be glad to work.” Gosh, that no really didn’t sound so much like a no. Yes can be the right answer many times, but none of us has unlimited time available to say yes to everything. It’s knowing when to say yes or no and then how to say it that makes the difference. Here are seven ideas to help you say “no.” 1. Does the request moves you closer to your goals? If it does, that’s great. Commit the time needed. If it doesn’t, it should be easy to say no. 2. How does the time commitment for a “yes” affect your priorities? Sometimes we might like to say yes, but the time away from our stated priorities is a sacrifice that we aren’t willing to make. One example might be that your priority for family time requires you to say no to requests that interfere with that. And, don’t forget that commitments to yourself count as priorities; don’t give up time you need to rejuvenate or “fill the well.” 3. It’s OK to think about the request. You can tell the person you’ll give some thought to their request and then get back to them. This gives you time to consider the request, see how it fits into your goals, priorities and commitments. 4. Don’t apologize for saying “no.” Often people will say, “I’m sorry, but I can’t because….” It’s not necessary to give a reason why you can’t. It’s your time you are guarding. If you feel the need to explain, a simple “I can’t at this time” should work. 5. Offer an option. If you want to be involved in an activity that will take too much of your time, think of how you can do something small that will be less stressful. That’s what the woman who taught me how to say “no” did. For example, if you’re asked to be responsible for arranging for snacks for your child’s soccer team for the season, offer to bring snacks for one game. 6. Try to be aware of when someone is going to ask you for something. If you are on a committee or part of a group, it’s much easier to let the chair/group know ahead of time that you are already committed and can’t take on something else. 7. Practice saying no. Try it when you are asked for personal information when you shop. Try it with telemarketers. 1. And, once you’ve said no, just move on. In all likelihood, you’ll feel better and much less stressed, and the person who asked just moves onto the next name on her list.
	Feel free to send this newsletter to a friend. 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 our Newsletter, please reply to this message with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line. To ensure that you keep receiving our e-mails to your inbox add shop@madaboutmolds.com to your address book or safe list. Copyright © 2012 | Mad About Molds, 624 3rd Ave., Brewster MN 56119
	When it comes to service, we break the mold! Thank You!

Are You Whelmed? – March Issue of My Molds!

My Molds Newsletter News that Inspires Imagination! By MadAboutMolds.com The Preferred Place for Clay Push Molds

Hello Crafter, March is near and that means Spring! Spring means New beginnings! And boy do we have new molds and casting samples to show you! We think you will LOVE them, so read on! We are excited to show you what we have been doing! So are you feeling over-whelmed with your to-do list? If so this month’s article may be just for you! “Are You Whelmed?” Continue reading to learn how to take control of your day. Please take the time to sit back and enjoy this issue of My Molds! Until next time, Marjorie with Mad About Molds Being colorful is what makes you YOU! 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! March 2012 Issue Fun Links Home Free Stuff Free Downloads Creative Ideas Gallery Instructions Subscribe Newsletter Archives Molding Accessories Mobile Site Contact Us Shop@MadAboutMolds.com www.MadAboutMolds.com Find Marcy on Facebook NEW MOLDS! Owls for everyone! With all the owls we are suddenly seeing at every turn, we were inspired to add a few more to our site. We can see why they are so popular as they seem to have personalities of their own. What a HOOT! Samples made from Molds #207, 522, 149 & 164. View ALL of our NEW Molds here! Or search by number from our search box online. And if owls aren’t your thing, remember we have a selection of 1,000 molds on our website. If you don’t see what you are looking for, it’s likely that you will find it and much more at www.MadAboutMolds.com. NEW CREATIONS Just for FUN! Don’t you just love new ideas? Many of you may already own these molds, so these new projects may inspire you to get them out again. If not, we are including the mold numbers below for you to add them to your collection. Shown is just a random selection of castings that we had on hand in our office, but we painted them all in muted colors to create a beautiful collection. The end result is a collection that would be suitable for all kinds of projects! Let us know if you come up with any ideas that could be used on our website. We would love to see them! Samples made from Molds #098, 184, 365, 435, 919, 923 & 962. THIS MONTH’S ARTICLE Are You Whelmed? Are you overwhelmed? My husband once worked with a client who created what he termed the “whelmed” model, that space between underwhelmed and overwhelmed, where you are in “the zone.” People who are whelmed are clear about what they do and are determined to get it done. I can always tell when I’m in the whelmed zone. I feel really productive, energized and thrilled at what I’ve accomplished at the end of the day. Just like all of you, I do feel overwhelmed at times. It can happen when I’m trying to meet deadlines or getting ready for my next next class. Here are six tips to help you move out of overwhelm and into whelm: 1. Learn how to recognize when you are getting into overwhelm. If you can tell you are on the verge – or already there - then you take action. First thing I like to do is take a breath, or as I’ve been know to tell myself, “Get a grip.” 2. Remember to look at the facts. Sometimes we confuse our impressions of what needs to be done with the truth. Write down everything that needs to be done. 3. Focus is key. You need to be clear about what your goals are. Is everything on your “to-do” list really necessary? Take a look at the list you created above and follow the “four Ds.” If something is not a priority, see if you can Delete it from the list. Next, look for those items you can Delegate to someone else. Third, what can you Defer until sometime later without creating problems? And, for those items you can defer, again consider if they are really necessary. 4. OK, you’ve probably winnowed down your list to something that might be a bit more manageable. Now, what are the three top priorities on your list? Put a time for them in your calendar. And, allow more time than you think. This is one of the reasons I can get into overwhelm, trying to do more than I physically can in the allotted time. 5. Now get going with the list. This is the fourth “D” – Do - and let go of perfection as you work on your list. I have a sign in my office that says, “Progress, not Perfection.” Some people use the term Imperfect Action here. 6. And remember at the end of the day, if something doesn’t get done, you are probably the only one who knows it. I learned that one from my mother, who told me as I was stressed out about some little something that wasn’t what I expected for my wedding day. She reminded me that the only one who knew that the color on my wedding cake didn’t exactly match the color on the bridesmaid’s dresses was me. Here’s a favorite quote that sums up for me the feeling of being “whelmed”: “Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It’s not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it’s when you’ve had everything to do, and you’ve done it.” Margaret Thatcher When it comes to service, we break the mold! Feel free to send this newsletter to a friend. 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 our Newsletter, please reply to this message with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line. To ensure that you keep receiving our e-mails to your inbox add shop@madaboutmolds.com to your address book or safe list. Copyright © 2012 Mad About Molds, 624 3rd Ave., Brewster MN 56119 Thank You!

Who Are You “Being” – February Issue of My Molds!

My Molds Newsletter News that Inspires Imagination! By MadAboutMolds.com The Preferred Place for Clay Push Molds

Hello Crafter, It’s the month of LOVE… and hopefully happiness for all of you! Boy, do we LOVE Molds! We just had our 7th Birthday here at Mad About Molds and we are so excited to show you what we have been busy with this month! Seven years ago in February we had a dream to be THE place to go for Clay Push Molds. Our hope was to create a place where there’s something for everyone, and today we love what we do and we celebrate the dream of giving our customers the passion to create with the help of Mad About Molds. We have NEW molds, New trends, NEW creations and an awesome article about “Being You!” Continue reading to learn about how to be yourself and who you are meant to be. Please take the time to 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! February 2012 Issue Fun Links Home Free Stuff Free Downloads Creative Ideas Gallery Instructions Subscribe Newsletter Archives Molding Accessories Mobile Site Contact Us Shop@MadAboutMolds.com www.MadAboutMolds.com Find Marcy on Facebook NEW MOLDS! Something for everyone! As promised we are delivering 20 new molds for you to choose from! We try to offer something for everyone with our selection of 1,000 molds on our website. If you don’t see what you are looking for, it’s likely that you will find it and much more at www.MadAboutMolds.com. View ALL of our NEW Molds here! Or search by number from our search box online. NEW CREATIONS Just for FUN! Don’t you just love new ideas? Many of you may already own these molds, so these new projects may inspire you to get them out again. If not, we are including the mold numbers below for you to add them to your collection. Shown is just a random selection of castings that we had on hand in our office, but we painted them all in the same four colors to create a Valentine’s theme. (Hot Pink, Chocolate Brown, Cream and Green) The end result is a collection that would be suitable for all kinds of projects such as candies, cupcake-toppers, party favors, Valentine embellishments and much more! Let us know if you come up with any ideas that could be used on our website. We would love to see them! 038 153 360 608 896 And here’s one more sample even though it’s not in our Valentine theme. This a Christmas ornament that was made a few years ago, and somehow it never got the attention it deserves. This is a good example of using a mold without removing the excess clay around the edges of the casting. As you can see it frames the shape nicely if you don’t want to fuss with detailed edges. 716 THIS MONTH’S ARTICLE Who Are You “Being”? When I go to my local studio, I see a tile hanging by the door. It says Just Be! I’ve seen it for years now and never really gave it a lot of thought. What does it mean to “just be”? On one level it means to be present in the moment, without distraction, still. And, that’s probably what we’re supposed to consider when we see the tile and begin our practice in the studio. But who is it that you want to be? I don’t know if you are familiar with the Be-Do-Have principle. I think I first heard of it years ago. Early on most of us learn that if we do whatever, we will have whatever and then we’ll be whatever. That’s DO-HAVE-BE; it really should be BE-DO-HAVE. You first need to figure out what kind of person you want to be. Being is how you create the life that you want. “Who Are You?” Most of us say, “I’m a wife, a mom, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a quilter, a writer, a cook, etc.” But who are we really and who do we want to be? It can take some to figure it out. Spend some time thinking about who you are and who you want to be. For me, I want to be a person of integrity, filled with joy and gratitude. I want to be generous and open and spirited. Since I know the person I want to be, it makes it easier for me to do things in accord with that. My actions are based on who I want to “be” and what a person of that “being” would do. So, who do you want to be? You need to listen to your inner voice to find out. And, to do that you need to Just Be! Here are two quotes on being that I like: 1. It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are. 2. I think of life itself now as a wonderful play that I’ve written for myself, and so my purpose is to have the utmost fun playing my part. Spring 2012 Fashion Trends It may still be Winter, but I am already ready for Spring. The best part of the warmer weather? All of the gorgeous new fashion trends – and this year’s are some of the best I’ve seen for awhile. Floral patterns, pastels, tribal prints – tons of fun patterns and feminine color palettes that will instantly liven up a wardrobe. Below are some of Spring 2012′s fashion trends straight from the runway and from some of the most coveted designers in the fashion world. Runway fashion is a little extreme but you can expect more “real world” variations of these trends to hit store racks very soon! When it comes to service, we break the mold! Feel free to send this newsletter to a friend. 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 our Newsletter, please reply to this message with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line. 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!

Trends & Classics! – January Issue of My Molds!

My Molds Newsletter News that Inspires Imagination! By MadAboutMolds.com The Preferred Place for Clay Push Molds

Hello Crafter, As you may already know February is my favorite month of the year. For me, it’s a time to Love, Dream and Hope! Seven years ago in February we had a dream to be THE place to go for Clay Push Molds. Our hope was to create a place where there’s something for everyone, and today we love what we do and we celebrate the dream of giving our customers the passion to create with the help of Mad About Molds. Continue reading to learn how to be style in 2012 with our article “Trends & Classics” We hope this helps you be more confident when making color choices with your art. 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! January 2012 Issue Fun Links Home Free Stuff Free Downloads Creative Ideas Gallery Instructions Subscribe Newsletter Archives Molding Accessories Mobile Site Contact Us Shop@MadAboutMolds.com www.MadAboutMolds.com Find Marcy on Facebook WE LOVE MOLDS! Tis the season to LOVE our Molds! Valentines is coming and we have TONS of heart molds to help it make memorable. View them ALL here! FREE!!! Who doesn’t love free stuff? We have FREE Downloads! Yes they are FReeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Here's a bunch of fun downloads for you to get busy with! All for free on our website! Vintage Calling Cards & Trade Cards (Download) Ornamental and Alphabet Sets (Download) Antique Map Image (Download) Vintage Seed Packets Image (Download) 22 Vintage Floral Prints (Download) 15 Vintage Labels & Frames (Download) Illustrated Alphabet Letter Forms (Download) 12 Scrapbooking Fonts (Download) Monograms & Ciphers Ebook (Download) 750 Monograms (Download) 100 Craft Themed Wallpapers (Download) THIS MONTH’S ARTICLE Trend Spotter: Colors for 2012 Here are five color trends for 2012 that we're already starting to see on the runway for Spring and Fall collections: vintage metallics, layered neutrals, charming pastels, tangerine tango, and black and white. Trends & Classics At the start of each new year we hear the same questions: What are the new trends? What are the new colors? What are the hot sellers expected to be? Fads and trends should be a big consideration, but not the primary focus when planning new lines for the upcoming year. Of course, this varies depending on what you manufacture. Perhaps your business relies heavily on the latest "hot" trends. But many homes are decorated in a traditional fashion, utilizing sturdy fabrics and darker colors that do not reveal repeated use as much as the lighter tones. Colder climates with a cooler light tend to favor darker colors, while warmer areas tend to go lighter. Even so, when a home is occupied by young children and pets, practicality becomes a priority . Many homeowners don't change their colors and decor on a seasonal or yearly basis. The classics are constant, and this makes it easier when planning those new lines. Certain flowers are perennial favorites, sunflowers for instance. They have an extended lifespan - They work well for Spring, Summer, and Fall crafting and decor. Roses remain stylish no matter what time of year. Off-white, yellow-to-gold, burgundy or wine, the mid-to-deep blues, beige-to-browns, hunter green: These are some of the standards that can be found in many homes. Fabrics that can safely go in the washer and dryer are another consideration. Easter bunnies, Santa’s, snowmen, reindeer, witches, jack o'lanterns, and scarecrows - are some of the seasonal classics that will return every year. Some shoppers may favor a certain enduring style - Country for example. Cows and roosters may come and go as trends, but for the traditional country home, they will always be "in". Learn all you can about the latest fads and trends, become a "trend detective". But don't create your entire line around the latest animal print, or the newest shades of lime green and hot turquoise. You wouldn't want to have your inventory tied up in things that may not sell. Test marketing: See if the latest trends will sell in your sales areas. Give it a chance ... Adjust the prices, re-arrange your displays. Add sparingly, if it sells, add more. Think about your own home, and those of your friends and family - Are they trend conscious? Which items tend to change? When new items are purchased, do they stay with the same styles and colors, or go for something trendy? Stay alert to what shoppers are drawn to look at, and what they actually purchase. Many times what sparks an interest, and what will sell, are two very different things? Remember that old saying ..."The customer is always right"? Pay attention to your customers, they will tell you what you need to know. When it comes to service, we break the mold! Feel free to send this newsletter to a friend. 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 our Newsletter, please reply to this message with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line. 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!