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Small Business

Custom Orders – Where do I begin?!

Business • May 23, 2017

If you’ve followed us for any amount of time you’ll know how much we LOVE our custom orders! You’ll be surprised to know that we actually get very few custom requests. Although designing is a big passion sometimes it’s the smallest details on a custom order that really makes this exciting!

Below are a few of the great items we currently (and will soon) offer at your disposal!

  • Vinyl Decals – Options are limitless for vinyl decals. We offer 100+ color options as well as transparent and glittered vinyl. Decals are designed to be applied to any non-porous surface. It’s suprising to find out but decals are designed to be permanent and extremely easy to install!
  • Custom Products – Browsing our site you’ll notice we have a variety of options! Acrylic Skinny Tumblers, 32oz water bottles, stainless steel water bottles and even coffee mugs! Truly we have something for everyone. Our products are listed with pre-made designs but we offer a custom option for each product.
  • Seasonal Items – These items are available exclusively on our FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM pages. These are valentines day mailboxesteacher appreciation items, and even kids water bottles! Lots of great items that cycle on and off our shelves that we can’t possibly keep in stock on our website.

We are also continuously expanding our product base. Many great things are coming soon here at GOD GIVE ME TRUTH!

  • Heat Transfer – COMING SOON! We are excited to announce that beginning in July of 2017 we will be able to offer custom heat transfer options for you. This includes anything from t-shirts to bags. We are going to be able to offer so many beautiful options from standard to glitter to even flocked HTV options!
  • SVG Designs – COMING SOON! We’v been asked numerous times to provide the files we use to design our products to other designers. Coming in the file we will offer exclusive custom deigns for designers to create their own products.

If none of these are in your sights than I strongly encourage you to check out our CONTACT page to create your custom order today!

How To Apply Custom Vinyl

Business , Vinyl • Jan 15, 2017

Nothing worse than the excitement over a new purchase! You get it home, open it up and OOPS! You’ve accidentally ruined it. We have all been there. The majority of our products here at GOD GIVE ME TRUTH come with the vinyl already properly applied but we also sell custom vinyl decals too! This means you can have a decal designed to your specifications. Learning how to apply the decal is important or you’ve essentially thrown away your money.

Your decal comes with transfer tape applied to help you easily install it. Because of this your decal should be applied as soon as possible to prevent any transfer issues from the tape to your product of choice. Car decals should be applied only to surfaces with temperatures between 50 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit and should be allowed to cure for 24 hours before getting wet.

 

STEP ONE: Rub the decal to be sure the transfer tape is properly adhered. Use a popsicle stick, credit card, etc. to ensure that the property amount of pressure is applied.

 

STEP TWO: Clean and dry the desired application area. Decals will stick best to clean and smooth services. Rubbing alcohol is recommended. Let dry!

 

STEP THREE: Remove the paper backing (generally blue) slowly to make sure the vinyl stays adhered to the transparent transfer tape.

 

STEP FOUR: Carefully position the vinyl decal to the desired area. GO SLOW. Once the vinyl sticks it will be nearly impossible to reposition without destroying it. Again, take your time!

 

STEP FIVE: Rub the vinyl from side to side to eliminate any air bubbles. If the decal is large it’s best to work your pressure from the middle of the decal to the outside to push out the air bubbles.

 

STEP SIX: Use a hard edged object like a credit card or popsicle stick to make sure that the entire vinyl decal fully adhered to the surface. Simply apply pressure back and forth. You cannot hurt the vinyl while the transfer tape is still attached. Pay extra attention to small letters.

 

STEP SEVEN: SLOWLY remove the transfer tape. Make sure that no part of the vinyl remains on the transfer tape. If it does, simply lay it back down and apply more pressure. If you have a lot of letters it can take some time and patience.

 

STEP EIGHT: Check for air bubbles. In most cases small bubbles can be worked to the edge of the decal using the same tool you used in step six. If large bubbles remain, give a day or so for them to disappear on their own. If they do not, turn on your defroster (if its a car decal) or apply heat to the vinyl using a blow dryer and very gently work out the bubble (remember, your transfer tape is gone). If that does not work, a small pin can be used to pop the hole and allow out the air. The hole will not be visible your using a small enough needle.

Remember, if you get stuck run into issues or just have questions REACH OUT VIA OUR CONTACT FORM for assistance. Once applied the decal cannot be removed so it’s crucial that you take your time and apply correctly. If done right the decal will last as long as stated when purchasing the product. I hope this helps!

Planning 101 : Paper Vs. Digital

Business , Crafting , Personal , Planner , Reviews • Jan 4, 2017

Making and selling planner supplies I’ve often been asked about my planning preferences are. The most common question is asking whether or not I use a paper planner or do i go digital? I’ve always struggled with planner peace to be honest and have spent years researching the topic. I’m a very tech savvy person but i’ve been drawn to the pen and paper method all my life.

In 2017 i’ve decided to really focus on digital planning. It’s a huge change for me but I think it’s one that I truly believe will benefit me, my business and even my career. Keep reading if your interested in the pros and cons of each method.

Paper Planning

This has been my preferred method for the past 28 years. I’ve really dedicated a lot of time in the past three years particularly to perfecting my paper planning. I’ve invested a great deal in tools to help with the planning process. I love the creativity involved! I’ve regularly used stamps, stickers and washi tape to really make it my own. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to find the perfect paper.

I would suggest Inkwell Press to anyone looking for the best paper planner. I can’t speak enough about how amazing not only this company but their product’s also are. They offer both A5 inserts if you have your own planner (such as a Filofax) and they have spiral bound planners. Both loose and prebound products come in two designs. Their products are available online at their website or at Office Max locations near you.

The biggest strength of paper planning is the paper and pen itself. Absolutely nothing can replace that feeling. It’s similar to reading a paperback book versus reading a book on a tech device such as a kindle. That feeling of a fresh piece of paper just can’t be replaced by a glowing screen.

The biggest limitation to traditional is the lack of convenience. I can’t tell you how many times I was talking with someone, sitting at a restaurant or even at the grocery store and needing to write something down in my planner (or pull something from it) but yet I didn’t have it on me. It was home, in the car, etc. It just was never where I needed it to be.

Another con for me was the obsession. Not to sound like a complete psycho but it’s easy to get caught up in all the extras. Michaels has even dedicated an entire section to their stores in late 2016 (of course when i decide to go digital). Etsy as well sells a ton of homemade and handcrafted supplies for your planner. Again, not good for the wallet, lol.

Digital Planning

I think the biggest benefit to digital planning is the convenience. I can use my Mac, iPad, Surface, iPhone or even iCloud.Com and be able to access my calendar, contacts, emails and to-do lists with ease. I run into the occasional sync issue (no wifi at work) but i’ve never had an issue with something getting lost or something getting overwritten. They all work together.

I’m a fan of Microsoft Outlook for managing my calendar, email and tasks. I’ve been using OneNote as well to capture various notes and items throughout the day. I purchased a surface from Groupon around black Friday. That along with the accompanying surface pen have been great. OneNote is smart enough to take my handwriting and convert it to standard text that can be searchable on any other device.

Another positive is the cost. Regardless of the planner your choosing it’s going to cost money every year. The accessories cost money as well. I’ve spent a lot of money over the past few years (oops) on things I truly love but i’m stuck with now that i’m going digital.

When your using a digital method you have everything in one place. Microsoft Office works on both a Mac and a PC. The programs can even work simultaneously across both systems. I use a Mac at home and PC at work so having them talk to each other is a great benefit. This goes with the syncing across devices but it’s a benefit worth mentioning if you user different platforms.

Did I mention recurring items? That’s the one thing that I never could get a grasp on with paper planning. Recurring items! I’ve tried anything from sticky notes to dry erase pages but I just can’t find a way to not have to write the same thing repeatedly each week. When your digital there are so many ways to have a task or calendar event repeat itself over and over again. It makes it impossible to forget!

The biggest drawback is the lack of creativity. I can’t color pages or add my own flair. Digital planning can be very boring but I think that’s what your trading off for efficiency. Sure, you can use color coding but it’s just not the same as the personalization you can get with paper planning.

I think cost could also be a drawback. I’ve got all of these tech items but if you don’t then it’s going to hold you back. I didn’t decide to go digital until I got the Microsoft Surface last month. That was the final puzzle piece to make me feel like I was ready to move forward.

In The End

The planning method that you choose will only be efficient if you actually use it. So many times i’ve bought a planner, i’ll use it for an extended period but then basically forget that it exists. I’ll take the time to color code a calendar and setup recurring items just to delete and move on. When i get a rhythm going is when the method i’m using becomes successful. I’m looking forward to experimenting more with digital planning and will continue to update this post with any future insights that I have on the topic.

What do you prefer? Digital or paper? I’ve read so many posts but always look forward to the feedback of those actually using the products and methods!

Happy New Year – 2017

Holidays , Personal • Jan 1, 2017

2017

It’s always crazy to think that the holiday season is over. So much work and so much energy for a few weeks of festivities and a few dinners with family and friends. You then get that awkward week between Christmas and New Years. The last week won’t make or break your yearly work goals and your not ready to accept that 2017 is going to bring an all new slate of goals. I have to admit though.. It’s worth it!

But then your also hit with New Years Resolutions. Do I make them? Do I skip them? Do I even know what my resolutions where from this year? Regardless I always take the time to make resolutions. I do my best to set realistic expectations for myself though. I’m not going to change the world but I can change the impact I’m making on myself and others around me.

I’m starting to ramble so let me bring it back, lol. My small side business has grown tremendously from a small idea to .. Well .. THIS!. I couldn’t be happier. My numbers don’t begin to compare to others around me but I’m happy. I took an idea and made money from it! My resolutions are going to center around this site and the customer base I’ve built around it.

Starting a business isn’t easy. To be honest I don’t feel that it was initially my intention to even do. I realized right away that a small business wasn’t just making things that I enjoy but so much more. I can make the items but then I have to actually deliver them to my customers. Boxes, bags and shipping supplies came as a surprise (oddly enough). Having stock of the items that my customers wanted was crucial along with the customer service I provided if there were any bumps along the road.

I believe that customers will come if you have the right product and the proper back end support to handle the business. In 2017 I’m going to work on the back end logistics that customers will never see. I hope to be reflecting a year from now on the success I’m striving for.

I wish everyone a happy and safe new year! Are you starting resolutions?

New Site Design

Business , Etsy , GGMT • Nov 19, 2016

blogpost2016-nov-19

I’m excited to finally release a new site design! It features everything the site had before along with an integration to my shop items. I apologize if some of the updates are coming up slowly. It’s taken me a little bit longer than expected to learn the features of the new theme.

Etsy has truly been great to me and i’ve had somewhat moderate success but I know i’m going to outgrow their services at some point. My fees have seemed to be somewhat heavy for such a small shop but i’ve understood their important (marketing, storefront, etc). I can imagine paying the amount of fees i’ve been paying as my business continues to grow. On a small item the fee eats the majority of the product. Profit is the end goal (someday) but right now any income that’s coming in is going straight to product upgrades and stock merchandise.

I hope that everyone enjoys the new layout! I look forward to any feedback. Thank you as well to http://helloyoudesigns.com/ for the beautiful design and assistance with any setup and this beautiful stock image above.