Mad About Molds

October 5, 2012

The countdown has begun! – October Issue of My Molds!

Trouble viewing this mail? Click here to read it online.

My Molds Newsletter

News that Inspires Imagination!

Dear Subscribers,

Are you kidding?! How did it get to be October already?! We hope that you are enjoying everything Fall has to offer you, and that you are seriously thinking about Holiday projects. We urge you to take a peek at what we have to offer and maybe we can help you out in making your plan of action.

When you’re ready to get started you’re going to need focus! So, be sure to check out this month’s article. “Getting Through Your To-Do List!” It will help you stay on task and keep on track!

Please take the time to sit back and enjoy this issue of My Molds!

All the best,

Marjorie with Mad About Molds

October 2012 Issue

Fun Links:

Contact Us!

Shop@MadAboutMolds.com

www.MadAboutMolds.com

Find Us on Facebook

Comments Welcomed!

How are we doing?

Let us know what you are thinking!

Shop@MadAboutMolds.com

ANNOUNCMENTS

Are you a Fan?

We made a few changes to our Facebook presents. We now have a Facebook page. (or a fan page) instead of a profile. What does that mean to you? Well, you have to “Like” us to be able to see our many tips and first-hand notifications about things we think you would want to know about. You have more privacy on your profile and more updates on your feed-page from us. So

If you are not already a Fan, be sure to look us up HERE!

And if you are, you are our biggest Fans!!

FEATURED MOLDS	Oh… Cameos! They are everywhere! They are both classic and traditional, and people love them. • Tips for using cameo molds • Samples of cameo molds • Shop for cameo molds I hope this helps you out. Cameos do take practice, but they are worth it in the end!

THIS MONTH’S ARTICLE	Getting Through Your To-Do List! With everything going on this month and that I see ahead – hello, deadlines – I have to be quite organized to get it all done. Here are some tips for accomplishing all that’s on your to-do list. 1. Start with a written plan. Clear, written goals are essential. What is the major goal and what are the sub-tasks? It lets me focus easily and assures I don’t forget anything. 2. Prioritize the tasks and set deadlines. You need to determine when all the sub-tasks need to be done for the goal to be completed. I also like to build in a little extra time. And, you might find out that not everything on your list will get done, so focus first on those activities that have the greatest impact on results. 3. Make a daily schedule. Take time either first thing in the morning or the night before to plan your day. Then take daily action toward your goals. How you work toward your goals will vary. You may like to work on one project to completion or divide your day into large blocks for different tasks. 4. Create and use systems if possible. I allow extra time if needed. 5. Not everything on your list will get done. Remember the 80/20 rule. Twenty percent of your activity results in 80 percent of your results. Concentrate on work in the 80 percent; that’s where your ROI (return on investment) will be. 6. And, finally, let go of perfectionism. This is a hard one for me. One of my mentors says to work to “good enough.” It might be that you set a timer for some of the tasks and what you accomplish in that time is “good enough.” One of my favorite resources for getting things done is Nirvana.com. There’s many other recourses online, but this one works for us. How do you handle getting everything done on your 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.

When it comes to service, we break the mold!

Thank You!

September 11, 2012

Have More Fun! – August/September Issue of My Molds!

Trouble viewing this mail? Click here to read it online.

My Molds Newsletter

News that Inspires Imagination!

The Preferred Place for Clay Push Molds

Dear Subscribers,

Can you believe that it’s September already!? That means most of us will have more time to spend doing the things we love. Like creating! So be sure you have the molds needed for when you get the urge to make something fantastic!

You can help Mad About Molds to continue bringing you the best in craft ideas and assistance by forwarding this newsletter to your crafty friends.

New readers, Click here to Subscribe.

When you’re ready to start a big project of selling or gifting your new creations be sure to read this month’s article first. It has all the tips to help you be productive and the best you can be. “How to Work Smarter, Faster & Have More Fun!”

Please take the time to sit back and enjoy this issue of My Molds!

All the best,

Marjorie with Mad About Molds

“inspire”

August 2012 Issue

Fun Links:

Contact Us!

Shop@MadAboutMolds.com

www.MadAboutMolds.com

Find Marcy on Facebook

Comments Welcomed!

How are we doing?

Let us know what you are thinking!

Shop@MadAboutMolds.com

FEATURED MOLDS	Great Balls of Fun! Show off your team spirit by making accessories that reflect you’re in the game. Here just a few examples of what we have to offer. Each mold is numbered to help you search for the ones you need.

OUR FAVORITES	Just a few of our favorites! We just wanted to share with you a few of our molds that are favorites with our customers. These molds seem to be the ones that are loved by many. Everyone has their own style, so if these aren’t what you are looking for remember that we do have 1,000 molds to choose from on our website at www.MadAboutMolds.com.

THIS MONTH’S ARTICLE	How to Work Smarter, Faster & Have More Fun! Summer vacation is nearing an end, and the holidays are right around the corner, and your craft inventory is not where it should be for upcoming projects.... Relax and take a deep breath - Time is on your side. With some simple time saving strategies you will be able to produce more in less time, and enjoy the process. 1. Take time before beginning your latest project to gather all of the necessary tools and materials. Much time is wasted looking for that one essential tool that you just KNEW was there. 2. Get yourself a healthful snack and plenty of water. Refreshments are necessary to keep alert, healthy, and working at optimum level. 3. Clear the decks. A clean space will create a lower stress environment. You will think clearer, feel calmer and more organized, and be better able to locate items necessary to the project at hand. 4. Set up an assembly line. What ? Aren't assembly lines what they have at big manufacturing companies ? Yes, but you can create a mini assembly line at home. By using the same strategy as the larger companies but on a smaller scale, you will be able to produce much more than you can by completing one item at a time. For example: Cut out multiples of each item, base paint all the red sections then move on to the green, add all the buttons then all the raffia .... Set up your assembly line in whatever way will be the most comfortable and efficient for you. 5. Turn up the music. Something lively that keeps you moving at a brisk pace. 6. Keep moving. While the paint or glue is drying, do something else. Just keep going ... Each small step will mount up. 7. Don't save that step for tomorrow. Even if it's something small, get as much done as you can - NOW. When you get back to work the next day, those small steps that you already accomplished will save time and stress. 8. Take photographs. Even if you are POSITIVE that you will remember how you made those items, take photos. Not only for the purpose of time saving, but also record keeping and as a portfolio of your work. 9. Tag the items. Don't wait until later ... They aren't done 'til you tag 'em. 10. Take breaks. It's easy to get caught up in the creative process, time just seems to fly by. Make sure you take time out, walk away and get a fresh perspective. If not you may end up daydreaming and slowing down. There you have it - Ten easy strategies to speed up production and make the most of your creativity and time.

When it comes to service, we break the mold!

Thank You!

July 11, 2012

Little Pretties for Summer Time – July Issue of My Molds!

Trouble viewing this mail? Click here to read it online.

My Molds Newsletter

News that Inspires Imagination!

The Preferred Place for Clay Push Molds

Dear Subscribers,

I hope this newsletter finds my customers and friends in full swing of SUMMER! We hope you are enjoying time in the sun at the beach, the backyard or wherever you spend your time during the summer. And we also hope you still have some time for creative time. We are excited to show you some ideas to inspire you.

We know crafters need to think ahead to be ready when the holidays are here. So be sure to check our holiday pages so you don’t miss any crafting opportunities.

You can help Mad About Molds continue bringing you the best in craft ideas and assistance by forwarding this newsletter to your crafty friends.

New readers, Click here to Subscribe.

Drop me a line if you want to talk anything molds… We would love to take care of all your molding needs.

If you have a business and your need some inspiration read this month’s article below for great ideas to grow in your business. “Do you work “On” or “In” you’re Business?”

Please take the time to sit back and enjoy this issue of My Molds!

All the best,

Marjorie with Mad About Molds

To Imagine Is Everything!

July 2012 Issue

Fun Links:

Contact Us!

Shop@MadAboutMolds.com

www.MadAboutMolds.com

Find Marcy on Facebook

Comments Welcomed!

How are we doing?

Let us know what you are thinking!

Shop@MadAboutMolds.com

FEATURED MOLDS	Little Pretties at Mad About Molds! Turn summer bursts of creativity into beautiful works of art that you can wear. We normally use acrylic craft paints to achieve the metallic finish on our castings. Many of our descriptions show samples of items made with our molds as a thumbnail that can be enlarged next to the item descriptions. All of these pictures our Gallery pages. You can also learn how to achieve these beautiful metal finishes by using Precious Metal Clay on this page of our website. 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 would be 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 a colored clay to make your casting. No other step 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. I hope this helps you out, and if you take the time to check out these techniques you should be able to get wonderful results with our molds. Good luck with your projects and we hope this helps you out. Have fun creating!

SUMMER MOLDS	Just Like Summer Time! When it hot outside it’s nice to be inside making things that remind you of summer all year around. These molds will give you a few ideas of memories spent at the lake, beach or anywhere in the sun. Now is the time to get ready for some fun molding with new Summer inspiration! All of our Marine & Nautical Molds can be found on this page.

ANNOUNCMENTS	Useful Geeky Information So with any website store there’s always things going on in the background that you may not notice unless someone points it out to you. All of this information is not required to order from us, but some of it might help you appreciate everything we have to offer you. • Ecwid now has 42 storefront translations! If this helps you out we are happy to offer it. • Sale and promotional prices! Everyone love’s discounts and deals. Now when we put a product on sale you will see will be shown a “struck out” to demonstrate how much the current price is better. We think it is a great tool and we hope you will like it too. • Share your purchase! Almost everybody around us has accounts in social networks. People use such accounts to showcase their personalities. To show who you are! For example if you “like” Facebook pages not just to get the status updates in your news feed, but to express yourself via liking particular brands. I.e. you don’t like Converse just because you like their shoes, but because this brand represents a special life style that you want to follow. People love to share pages and links, as it expresses yourself. Not many of us will admit this, though, but our shares are always highly influenced by our image we want to show to our friends. • Faster checkout for Google Chrome users! Our website now supports experimental Google Chrome feature that allows Chrome users to fill checkout forms in much faster, easier and smarter: literally in a single click. So now any Chrome user who stored his personal information in Chrome can fill a checkout forms in a single click. You just start to fill in any field of the form, select a stored address and all fields in the form are filled in properly. Very convenient and fast, no more boring typing of the same text again and again. • Improved behavior for the zero-total orders! People love free things. So we offer free intangible goods, such as monograms, vintage tags and labels, free decorative fonts and more! They can all be found here! Before we couldn’t allow orders with zero total, unless our customer choose payment method "Personal check" so no charges would be made to your account. But now you can order these free items anyway you wish. Item will also be sent immediately without any wait times for approval. This feature makes the ability to get these freebies much more efficient and convenient for you. Thank you all for your support, ideas and suggestions and stay tuned for more great features coming soon.

THIS MONTH’S ARTICLE	Do you work “On” or “In” you’re Business? Do you work on your business or in your business? We can’t grow our business if we spend all our time doing the work in the business; i.e., being the technicians or doers. We have to learn and utilize management and entrepreneurial skills to build the business. Your goal should be to have your business work for you, not you working for it. So, is all your time spent “doing” the business? Here are four ways to strive toward working on your business: 1. Develop a clear vision about the path your company will take. This clarity is critical for you and for any people that you hire, whether full-time or on a project basis. 2. Take time to work on your business. I’ve heard from numerous people in business – that you need to spend two-to three hours marketing your business for every hour you spend fabricating your art. The best approach here is to set aside the time that works for you to do this. It could be three hours every morning or it could be every Monday and Tuesday. And sometimes you need to try working on your business in a different surrounding. I have a friend who goes to the local café each week to work on her business. The goal is set a time consistently to do it. 3. Look for ways to create systems in your business. This could be anything from a system to contact potential buyers to a system to process orders. Systems make a difference in how much time you don’t spend as a technician or doer. 4. Work on yourself. In addition to spending time working on your business, you need to work on yourself. “Work harder on yourself than you do on your job. The major value in life is not what you get. The major value in life is what you become.” And, who you become as a person spills over into your business.

When it comes to service, we break the mold!

Thank You!

October 5, 2012

The countdown has begun! – October Issue of My Molds!

Are you a Fan?

Oh… Cameos!

• Tips for using cameo molds

• Samples of cameo molds

• Shop for cameo molds

Getting Through Your To-Do List!With everything going on this month and that I see ahead – hello, deadlines – I have to be quite organized to get it all done. Here are some tips for accomplishing all that’s on your to-do list.

1. Start with a written plan. Clear, written goals are essential. What is the major goal and what are the sub-tasks? It lets me focus easily and assures I don’t forget anything.

3. Make a daily schedule. Take time either first thing in the morning or the night before to plan your day. Then take daily action toward your goals. How you work toward your goals will vary. You may like to work on one project to completion or divide your day into large blocks for different tasks.

4. Create and use systems if possible. I allow extra time if needed.

5. Not everything on your list will get done. Remember the 80/20 rule. Twenty percent of your activity results in 80 percent of your results. Concentrate on work in the 80 percent; that’s where your ROI (return on investment) will be.

6. And, finally, let go of perfectionism. This is a hard one for me. One of my mentors says to work to “good enough.” It might be that you set a timer for some of the tasks and what you accomplish in that time is “good enough.”

One of my favorite resources for getting things done is Nirvana.com. There’s many other recourses online, but this one works for us.

How do you handle getting everything done on your list?

September 11, 2012

Have More Fun! – August/September Issue of My Molds!

Great Balls of Fun!

How to Work Smarter, Faster & Have More Fun!

July 11, 2012

Little Pretties for Summer Time – July Issue of My Molds!

Little Pretties at Mad About Molds!

Useful Geeky Information

• Ecwid now has 42 storefront translations! If this helps you out we are happy to offer it.

• Sale and promotional prices! Everyone love’s discounts and deals. Now when we put a product on sale you will see will be shown a “struck out” to demonstrate how much the current price is better. We think it is a great tool and we hope you will like it too.

• Improved behavior for the zero-total orders! People love free things. So we offer free intangible goods, such as monograms, vintage tags and labels, free decorative fonts and more! They can all be found here!

Before we couldn’t allow orders with zero total, unless our customer choose payment method "Personal check" so no charges would be made to your account. But now you can order these free items anyway you wish. Item will also be sent immediately without any wait times for approval.

This feature makes the ability to get these freebies much more efficient and convenient for you.

Thank you all for your support, ideas and suggestions and stay tuned for more great features coming soon.

Getting Through Your To-Do List!

With everything going on this month and that I see ahead – hello, deadlines – I have to be quite organized to get it all done. Here are some tips for accomplishing all that’s on your to-do list.