Bring on 2012

2011 was an amazing year for Memories for Life! Adding my laser engraved items really helped to grow my business! I created lots of new items and made my scrapbook-making more efficient. I'm ready to take on 2012!

Here are this year's goals!

Blog Goals:

*Blog 4-5 Times Per Week

I was happy with my blogging goal for last year and want to continue to blog about the same amount this year.

*Blog Followers: 325 Followers

I originally thought 300 was a good goal, but wanted to challenge myself. 350 was my next thought, but I was afraid this may be a stretch, so 325 it is :)

Shop Goals:

*Etsy Sales: 366 Sales in 2012

This is definitely a stretch compared to my goals last year! But I want to make an average of 1 sale a day. I had 309 sales last year and I plan to add lots of new ideas to my shop, so I feel a sale a day is within reach for me. Wish me luck here!

*Shop Hearts: 750

Last year I far exceeded my goal, so again, I'm adding a bit of a stretch goal. This is about 11-12 new shop heats per month. The last part of 2011 was awesome for new shop hearts, so I hope all of 2012 is the same way!!!

Other Goals:

*Think about a new name for my shop. I would like to keep the "Memories for Life" part in there though.

*Redo my shop and blog banners to reflect my new name.

*Look into efficient advertising (focus on wedding items at first)

*Local advertising.

I found that once I got the word out about my products, people went nuts for them. Finding the most effective method will be the hardest part

*Work with local organizations on fundraising ideas.

I will sell the items to them at wholesale for them to make a profit for fundraising activities. (And this may be my best way for local advertising!)

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What are your goals for 2012? I'd love to hear about them in the comments!

A Look at 2011

Each year I set goals for my blog and Etsy Shop and share them with all of you. I feel that putting my goals out there for everyone to read gives them more power and helps keep me on track.

Today I'll share how 2011 went and tomorrow I'll share for new goals for 2012!

Blog Goals:

*Blog 3-5 times per week: SUCCESS!

I had 275 posts in 2011 which averages out to over 5 posts per week!

*Get my followers up to 150: SUCCESS!

I am at 249 Followers!!!

I contribute this to visiting a lot of new blogs this year, having a giveaway in April and contributing regularly in the Etsy Blog Team forums.

Shop Goals:

*150 Etsy Sales: SUCCESS!

I actually had 309 Sales in 2011!!! I far exceeded my goals and expectations for 2011!!! By getting my laser engraver and expanding my inventory, I really opened my audience and the sales show it!

*450 Shop Hearts: SUCCESS!

I currently have 614 shop hearts! And I again contribute this to adding so many new items and attracting new buyers.

Other goals:

*Add new products: SUCCESS!

My Wood Guest Books, Personalized Bottle Stoppers and Photo Ornaments were great hits!

*Add another consignment shop: SUCCESS!

I started selling at another local winery and have had better success at this one than I did at the first one!

*Add a new show venue: SUCCESS!

My booth partner and I added another show that occurs in both the spring and fall. They were our best shows of the year!

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As you can see, 2011 was an amazing year! I never would have imagined that my new laser engraver would grow my business in such a way! I hope 2012 is just as great!

Stop back tomorrow to see my goals for 2012. And I'd love to hear how your year went and your new goals for 2012 in the comments!

Wordless Wednesday - Too Funny!

A Look Back on 2010

People say you should not look back, but keep moving forward. On most occasions I agree with this motto, but I feel there are times to look back and reflect as well. You can learn so much by looking at your past to see where you want your future to go.

Looking Back (8x10 Art Print)

by CMirandaDesigns

I looked back at my 2010 goals and was very happy to see the outcomes. Here are the stats:

• Goal to blog everyday (365 posts). Actual posts-362. Almost 40 more posts than 2009!
• Goal of 100 followers to my blog. Actual-108 :)
• Sales goal of 120 Etsy sales. Actual-105. What I lacked in Etsy sales, I greatly made up for in local sales :) And I added another gift shop in 2010 as well!
• Goal of 350 hearts in my Etsy shop. Actual-363! WooHoo! 2010 was a great year and I hope 2011 continues to be the same :) I'm usually one to say "Out with the old and in with the new" but I hope 2011 continues as well as 2010 left off :)I'll post my 2011 goals soon and I'd love to hear yours as well!

Mid-Year Review...A Little Late

Gosh, August already! I had planned on doing a mid-year review the first part of July, but I guess that's come and gone! July was kind of a crazy month around here, so I'm hoping that August is a little less hectic and a little more organized!

I like to review my goals a few times during the year to see how things are going and see what needs the most work. So far I am happy with where I am for my 2010 goals :) Some are falling short while others are right on track!

• 2010 Sales: Goal: 120/Actual: 45
• This one may be hard to reach by the end of the year, but I'm okay with that. I have stayed busy all year, so the # doesn't bother me. Plus, I still have Christmas orders coming up to make up some of my goal.

• Hearts: Goal: 350/Actual: 321
• This goal is right on track...maybe even better :) Wonder if I can reach 400 by year end?

• Blog Posts: Goal: Blog Everyday/Actual: Missing 2 Days
• I have done really well with blogging everyday. The only two days I missed were due to computer issues and blogger issues. What this tells me...schedule posts in advance. If these posts would have been scheduled, I woud have met my goal.

• Blog Followers: Goal: 100/Acutal: 95
• This is another goal that is right on track. I have sat at 95 for quite some time now, so I hope to increase this number steadily before the end of the year.

How are your 2010 goals going?

Featured EtsyBlogger: CREATEaTHOUGHT

I would first like to congratulate CREATEaTHOUGHT on being this month's Featured EtsyBlogger! Yay! I would also like to show you my favorite things from her shop :) I absolutely love the journals she makes! There are so many different styles and many of them are upcycled too! Here's my fave: Another favorite of mine is this pair of Pet and Dog Buttons! Big surprise I'd love these right :) I love fun jewelry...stuff that starts a conversation. CREATEaTHOUGHT has so many great conversation piece rings in her shop...and here's my fave: You should really stop by and take a look at her adorable shop and wonderful item! And while you're out browsing...check out her blog as well :)

Friday Feature...DesignByNora

Our featured EtsyBlogger for March is the talented Nora of DesignByNora. Nora has a BA in Art, concentrating on Graphic Design...but she makes really cute polymer clay earrings too!

Also in Nora's shop are purses made by her uncle. This is my fave!

On Nora's blog you will find Question of the Day posts as well as What's New? Wednesday's. For her Wednesday posts...she features Etsians who have less than 10 sales and helps to promote them...how cool is that :)

Please stop by Nora's shop and blog and check out her great work!

Add your blog to Facebook

I just found another new application today on Facebook. I am able to add my blog and get followers through there as well. It was very easy to set up and add to my profile :)

Here is the link: http://apps.facebook.com/blognetworks/blog/memories_for_life_scrapbooks/

and my screenshot:

They require you to add their widget to your blog for verification that you own the blog, but you can remove it after verification. I decided to remove mine since I already have a widget for followers. I wish they offered a smaller widget because the one they have is rather large. I know it takes more time to download blogs with many widgets, so I want to only add widgets that are useful to my blog.

Have you found any new applications lately? What is your favorite? Do you think this will be a useful tool? Let me hear it :)

Thanks for the Inspiration!!!

I have to thank Bri at TheCraftBegins for the inspiration behind this new layout :) I entered one of her blog contests and unfortunately did not win. You want to know the cool part though...she sent me a consolation prize just for entering!!! How thoughtful was that!

She actually sent me a felted pin...but you know me...I made it into a scrapbook embellishment :) The colors of the flower were the inspiration for the color combo on this layout. I hardly ever use these colors, but they were so great for a page about our spring walk that it was just too perfect!

I used scalloped cardstock for the base of the page to add a little fun detail. The next layer is patterned paper and then another layer of cardstock. I traced a punched circle and cut it out by hand to make the orange scallop borders on the top and bottom of the green cardstock. I used lots of cute buttons and flowers to go along with the flower that Bri sent and made sure to put everything in visual triangles. The felted flower, the flower at the top right corner, and the flowers at the bottom left corner all create a visual triangle. Also, the buttons do the same thing. The buttons at the top right, bottom left, and then the one in the middle of my O for the title. This is something I always try and do on my pages to draw the viewers eye into the page :)

I was so glad I created this page :) I may have photos from 5 years ago that need scrapbooked still, but these more recent photos were more inspiring and I wanted to get them put together. Did you know that's okay? To scrapbook out of order? Of course it is! There are no rules to scrapbooking remember...just have fun :)

♥♥♥Blog Sale...Feel the Love♥♥♥

With Valentine's Day only 10 days away...I thought I would offer my wonderful readers a special sale :) I love Valentine's and I love my readers...so what better idea! Now through Feb. 14 get 14% off these FOUR albums. Just type in "bloglove" in the message to seller and I will refund your money through Paypal :) Now...don't you feel loved :)

Meet Ruthie of RoseWorksJewelry

Today I would like to introduce you to one ambitious girl: Ruthie :) Not only does she run RoseWorksJewelry and has started a second shop with her mom called kstreasures...she also has three (yes, three!) blogs: http://roseworksjewelry.blogspot.com/ http://www.roseworkstreasury.blogspot.com/ http://ajedismusings.blogspot.com/ Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that she also hosts a radio show called Artisan Spotlight. Now that's a lot for one girl to do! I'm almost exhausted just telling you about it :) I really find Ruthie inspiring! She is such an active team member in our EtsyBloggers Team and is always giving complements and words of encouragement. She is always upbeat and has something positive to share :) She started making jewelry because some health issues kept her home more and she needed something to fill her days. She took what could have been a negative time in her life and turned it into a wonderful experience :) Thanks Ruthie for showing us all that remaining positive is the way to be :) And now for my favorite items from her shops :) RoseWorksJewelry: I love her Purple and Spiral Earrings and her Multicolored Agate Strand Bracelet. kstreasures (Kindred Spirit Treasures): And from her new shop, I love this Serenely White Cell Phone Holder made by her mom and this Thinking Spring - Cell Phone Charm, Zipper Pull, or Key Chain made by Ruthie.

Now go check out her wonderful items and leave her some great comments on her blogs :)

Spotted Cow Soaps-December Featured EtsyBlogger

Wow! Can you say YUM!!! Absolutely everything in Ms. Moo's shop looks good enough to eat! Take this yummy Gingerbread Whipped Sugar Scrub for example...it is making me hungry just looking at it! And the best part is, you get to rub it all over your body :) Mmmmm! My absolute favorite way to unwind is in a hot bubble bath. How about you? While you're there, why not have a party! Or at least enjoy some champagne anyway...some Sparkling Champagne Bubble Bath that is! Who hates lotion that leaves that greasy feeling on your hands...ME! I can't have greasy fingers while scrapbooking...so Spotted Cow has come up with the perfect solution. Her Tranquil Spa Lotion has the perfect formula to leave you feeling oh so soft...without the greasiness! I hope you will stop by and visit Spottedcowsoaps and see what she has to say at her blog. I dare you not to drool :)

Storybeader: November's Featured EtsyBlogger :)

Good Sunday morning all :) Today I would like to introduce you to this month's featured EtsyBlogger: Storybeader. Storybeader, aka Deb, makes beautiful jewelry for her Etsy store. But the coolest thing I think she does is adds a special haiku with each necklace specifically written for that piece of jewelry! It's that extra little touch that I find so special :) Here are a couple of my favorites from her store:

I totally love all the colors in this fantastic Turtle Treasure Necklace!!! It could be worn with SO many outfits that it would never be left in the jewelry box :) Put this baby on your wish list in a hurry!

I wear so much turquoise that I couldn't help but show you this beauty :) This Turquoise and Coral Necklace would add a new color combo to my wardrobe with that rich coral...I just love it :)

Also, check out Storybeader's Blog where her latest post shows one of her wonderful works in progress, the finished piece, and of course...the haiku to go along with it :)

Stop by and see storybeader...and have a wonderful Sunday :)