You are here: Home / Archives for Work from Home

Spring Earrings at Simply Sweet Creations

March 3, 2010 11 Comments

Today I’m showing off some of the latest earrings I’ve made.  I spend of lot of time doing Simply Sweet Home and doing all my husband’s bookkeeping and other office stuff for his business, leaving me very little time to craft, let alone try to run a “successful” craft/jewelry shop, but I’m trying. It’s definitely a work in progress and a crazy balancing act which I’m still trying to figure out.  Anyway, these are some of my latest earrings which will be on sale in my shop.  Some of them are already listed and others will be listed this week or next.  They’re all perfect for spring and I hope you’ll come by and take a look: http://jhrivers.etsy.com/

The first pair (above) are the Peachy Pearl Earrings.

These are the Creamy Dangle Earrings.

These are My Lucky Day Dangle Earrings.

These are the Pretty Princess Earrings.

These are the Spring Butterfly Earrings.
These are the Petite Blue Earrings.

—————————–
I’m posting a link to this post at:
It’s So Very Creative hosted by It’s So Very Cheri
Make it for Monday hosted by Cottage Instincts
Made it Mondays hosted by The Persimmon Perch
Making the World Cuter Monday hosted by Making the World Cuter
Make Your Monday hosted by Twice Remembered
Metamorphosis Monday hosted by Between Naps on the Porch
DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land
Market Yourself Monday is hosted by Sumos Sweet Stuff
Marketing Mondays is hosted by The Trendy Treehouse
What Your Working with Wednesday is hosted by Me and My Bucket
Tip Me Tuesday is hosted by Tip Junkie
Week End Review is hosted by Tator Tots & Jello
Star on Saturday is hosted by Craft-Werk

Filed Under: crafts, jewelry, Simply Sweet Creations, Work from Home

Does Your Kitchen Look Like a Post-It Commercial? Declutter Your Fridge and Bulletin Boards Today!

February 17, 2010 6 Comments
Do you guys post stuff on your fridge? Or do you have bulletin board in your kitchen for posting important items? I’ve always tried to keep our refrigerator neat and clutter-free, just posting something on it here and there. On the side of our fridge, I posted a few “important coupons” and some diabetes-related stuff for my husband who was just diagnosed back in November. Then all of a sudden…Boom! The refrigerator starts looking like a cluttered desk! A couple of weeks ago I was doing a general decluttering in the house, and I decided that this just wasn’t working:
I removed all the papers, coupons, and some of the magnets, leaving my little Menu Planner Board, a couple of magnetic notepads, and just a couple of cute magnets behind on the fridge. Much better!
So where did all the papers go?? They were moved to a secret location known only to a select few. I’m pleased to present the inside of the cabinet doors.
I remember when I was little my mom had a list of important phone numbers posted inside of our cabinets and a calendar. It’s a great place to post things where you can see them, yet still keep them hidden from the rest of the world. (And now every time hubby opens the cabinet to get out his meds, his blood sugar testing chart is right there in his face.)
And here’s my favorite part! I have a coupon binder for most of my coupons, but I like to keep a few really good ones out so that I will not forget to use them. I took all the coupons off the refrigerator and placed them in this “handy dandy coupon pocket.”

To make the pocket, I simply took a business envelope and folded back the flap. Then I just placed tape on the edges of the envelope (bottom & sides) and hung it up inside the cabinet. Because the envelope is extra wide you can place a bunch of coupons side by side and overlap them one behind the the other so that you can see several at one time. Here there’s only 6-7 coupons, but I’ve since added a bunch of others to the pack. This is also a great way to keep up with appointment cards.
So there you have it! A solution for decluttering that pesky fridge or bulletin board while taking advantage of all that empty (& hidden) space within your cabinets!

-Jerri

—————————–
I’m posting a link to this post at:
It’s So Very Creative hosted by It’s So Very Cheri
Making the World Cuter Monday hosted by Making the World Cuter
Metamorphosis Monday hosted by Between Naps on the Porch
DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land
Tackle it Tuesday is hosted by: 5 Minutes for Mom

Filed Under: cleaning, organizing, Work from Home

Work At Home Wednesday: Business Card Giveaway

February 9, 2010 33 Comments

If you have an etsy shop, a blog, or another business, or even if you’re “just” a mom, you should definitely take advantage of this new giveaway.

Today I’m happy to offer you guys a chance to win 500 Business Cards from Uprinting!

I love business cards. If you have a blog or business you should never leave home without them! Why? Because you never know when you might run in to a potential client, customer, or new reader. And I can promise you, the first thing people always ask is, “Do you have a card?” And even if they don’t ask, they’ll still be very impressed when they ask for your web address and you hand them your official business card.

Uprinting is the place to go to buy business cards online and for all your online printing needs, and I’m always proud to promote their products here! Here’s the details on the prize that’s up for grabs:

One Simply Sweet Home reader will recieve

500 Business Cards (Use these any way you see fit!)

Sizes: 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 3”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.5 x 3.5” (skinny card)

Paper: 14 pt gloss cardstock, 14 pt matte cardstock or 13 pt recycled uncoated cardstock

Specifications: Full Color Both Sides; Offset Press; 3 Business Day Printing

Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping

Eligibility: Limited to US Residents only

Giveaway Closed.

Additional Entries:
-Two entries for following me publicly on blogger.
-Two entries for following me on twitter
-One entry for tweeting about this giveaway (up to one tweet a day).-One entry if you entered the Holey Donuts Giveway.
-One entry for joining my feedblitz mailing list, or 2 entries if you are already a member prior to this giveaway.
-One entry for subscribing in a reader.
-One entry for becoming a fan of Simply Sweet Home on facebook.
-One entry for following or subscribing to Simply Sweet Creations.
-Two entries for writing about this giveaway on your blog and linking back to Simply Sweet Home.

(Just leave comments for each additional entry, and please leave a user name/link or something so that I can verify. Thanks!)
Other Rules: Don’t forget, if you don’t have a blog or a profile with a visible email address, please include your email address in your comment so that I can contact you if you win. (Can’t stress this enough!)

-Jerri

Filed Under: Giveaways, Sponsors, Work from Home

Work At Home Wednesday: Valentine Gift Baskets

February 3, 2010 5 Comments
It’s amazing to see how a few small items can be packaged together to create something wonderful. Homemade Gift Baskets are the perfect gift idea for those of you who want to buy something nice from a retail store and still maintain a personalized and thoughtful touch. And the best thing about them is that they are easy to make regardless of your crafting skills and they can be made even on the smallest budget. Today I’ll be sharing some baskets I put together and listing some things you can put in your baskets, along with some tips.


What You Need:
Baskets
Stuffing – tissue paper and paper/foil shreds or “grass”
Ribbons/bows (optional)
Cellophane (optional)
Gift Tag (optional)
Little Items to put in the baskets

Items to Put In Baskets:
Candy
Stuffed animals/Toys
Themed pens/pencils
Notepads
Lotions/Perfumes/Soaps
Candles
Jewelry
Baked Items
Coffee cups
Books/magazines
Puzzle Books
Cute Socks or Slippers
Picture Frames
Photo Album
Glass figurines & collectibles
Hobby stuff
Specialty coffees or teas
Homemade items


Places to find Inexpensive Items: If you’re on a budget there are a lot of places to get your supplies for fairly cheap.

The Dollar Tree is a great place to get cheap baskets, your basket “stuffing,” and the gift items to put in your basket.

Hobby Lobby and Micheal’s also carry baskets and the supplies you’ll need to beautify your baskets, and you should be able to get these items on sale in the next two weeks.

Wal-Mart & Target are great places to get your basket supplies. And if you’d like to make some gift baskets but are on a budget, the Dollar Bin at Target always has an excellent selection of seasonal items.


Shopping Ahead: Since I’ve started blogging, I often get a lot of holiday ideas after I’ve already made what I’m going to make for the current holiday, so I find myself saving a lot of ideas for later. If this is the case with you as well, and you like buying stuff ahead of time, I recommend going to Wal-Mart the day after Valentine’s and buying some stuffed animals while they’re 50% off. Then you can pack them up and use them in gift baskets next year.


-Jerri

—————————–
I’m posting a link to this post at:
It’s So Very Creative hosted by It’s So Very Cheri
Make it for Monday hosted by Cottage Instincts
Made it Mondays hosted by The Persimmon Perch
Making the World Cuter Monday hosted by Making the World Cuter
Make Your Monday hosted by Twice Remembered
Metamorphosis Monday hosted by Between Naps on the Porch
DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land
WFMW at We Are That Family
Strut Your Stuff Valentine’s Party at Somewhat Simple

Filed Under: crafts, Work from Home

WAHW: Hot Chocolate Gift Sets

January 27, 2010 6 Comments
My mom gave me this chocolate set a little while back. She won it at a charity event. Isn’t it cute? I love going through store aisles and seeing all the gift sets available at Christmas and Valentine’s, but when you stop and think about it, they sell a lot of these not because it’s a great value for the money but because it’s convenient.

But if we all just took a little time, we could make our own gift sets and make something that’s a lot more personal, and we could save money along the way. So I decided I would use the items out of this gift set and put together a couple of tutorials so that you guys can make your gift sets for Valentine’s Day or even for next Christmas (if you’re thinking that far ahead).



Gift Option One: Option one would make a great couples gift. Or give it to that special friend who just adores chocolate.

What You Need:

1 or 2 coffee cups (You can usually find something cute at the dollar store.)
bottles or jars (Buy new at wal-mart. Or rinse out and reuse a sauce jar.)
hot chocolate packets
marshmallows
sugar or sprinkles (optional)
labels (make these with scrapbook supplies or create them using your photo/print shop programs)
1 basket
tissue or paper shreds to line the basket
funnel (if using bottles)

Instructions: Empty a few hot chocolate packets into a jar or bottle. (I like Swiss Miss.) If you desire, do the same with marshmallows and/or granulated sugar (or sprinkles–pink or red would be really cute for Valentine’s!)



Use scrapbook supplies or your photoshop software to create your own custom labels. Print these out on sticker paper for easy application. If you don’t have sticker paper, use regular paper and attach with glue or mod podge. If you desire you can also make a tag with heating instructions (get these off your hot chocolate packets.)

Line a gift basket with tissue paper, paper shreds, Valentine “grass,” or other material. Arrange your jars/bottles and mugs in the basket as desired. For a little extra pizazz, decorate the basket with bow, or wrap with cellophane and bow.


Here’s the example I made: This one just contains the two coffee cups and one bottle of hot chocolate mix. And I really do like the bottle because it seems very romantic…sorta reminds me of wine or champagne set. But I know the jars would be just as cute!



Gift Option 2: If you want an even less expensive and quick gift. Or if you’re looking for something that you can make in bulk for coworkers, teachers, or church friends, try this option. (Sorry, I have no pics for this.)

What You Need:

1 Coffee Cup

2 or 3 packs hot chocolate mix

Clear plastic treat bags

Ribbon

Tags (design these with photoshop)

cellophane (optional)

Instructions: Empty your hot chocolate mix into a treat bag, and tie the bag up with ribbon. Place the baggie inside your coffee cup. Then create a tag with heating instructions for the hot chocolate. Print out your tag. Punch a hole in the corner of the tag, and use a ribbon to tie it to your cup handle or attach it to the baggie. (You could also wrap up the cup with cellophane. Tie it with a ribbon, and attach your tag to the outside.)

Above is another basket. It’s a little bigger than the first one. And of course, you could always add some candies to the basket or anything else you deem appropriate (perhaps a book), if you need something to make the basket seem more full.

If you like gift baskets, be sure to come back next week, as I’ll be sharing several that I’ve made.

-Jerri

—————————–

I’m posting a link to this post for next week’s editions of:

It’s So Very Creative hosted by It’s So Very Cheri

Make it for Monday hosted by Cottage Instincts

Made it Mondays hosted by The Persimmon Perch

Making the World Cuter Monday hosted by Making the World Cuter

Make Your Monday hosted by Twice Remembered

Metamorphosis Monday hosted by Between Naps on the Porch

DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land

WFMW at We Are That Family

Valentine Party hosted by Hoosier Homemade

Filed Under: crafts, Valentine's Day, Work from Home

WAHW: Goal Setting and Scheduling Time in 2010

January 13, 2010 5 Comments
Each new year we make a list of goals or projects for the year, but by March many of these fall by the wayside (if not before then). The key to achieving your new year’s resolutions and completing your projects for the year is to set attainable goals and schedule time to work on all your projects and goals.

Keys to Goal Setting:

1. Set realistic, attainable goals.


2. Set goals that can be easily measured.
-Examples:
* I will post 5 times a week on my blog.
* I will get 50 new followers this month.
*I will get 5 sales a week.
* I will meal plan each week.
*I will try a new recipe each week.

3. Give yourself a time frame or deadline to achieve your goals.
-Examples:
*By the end of the month I will have my first sale.
*By the end of the month I’ll have 10 new craft projects completed.
*I will declutter one closet each week.

4. Schedule time to work on your projects and goals. In other words, treat it like a job. This can be as general or specific as you’d like it to be, but you should make scheduled time for all your endeavors and be consistent.
-Examples:
*I will post on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
*Each morning I will spend two hours working on my blog or networking.
*Each day I will clean one room in the house.
*Each morning I will list new items in my shop.

5. Write down your schedule and/or document your work.
-Keep a planner to write down your schedule and the tasks you want to perform each day.
-In your planner, in a separate notebook, or a on a blog, make a list of what you do each day. This will help you to measure your progress and will help you to stay on task.

————————————

Great Calendar For You: For those of you who have goals to declutter and keep a cleaner house this year, you may want to have a look at this year’s Declutter Calendar over at My Simpler Life. The calender gives you a different task to do each day to help keep your house clean and clutter free. You could also have a look at this calendar and then make your own with your specific needs and tasks in mind.

-Jerri


Filed Under: Business, organizing, planning, Work from Home

Work at Home Wednesday: Sock Sachets

January 6, 2010 3 Comments
This week I’m letting my resolutions and goals for the year begin, which includes coming up with a new schedule for my blogging and working to make this site a little more organized and structured.

On Wednesdays my plan is to do posts dealing with work at home topics. This could be anything from housekeeping tips and household projects to organizing or craft projects and even business ideas, tips, etc.for work-at-home-moms. And if I’m able to stay consistent with it and people like the future, I may turn it in to a linky event. What do you think?

For today’s post we have a simple and frugal project, and if you’re a packrat like me, you’ll definitely appreciate this. If you have old socks or baby booties around your house, why not turn them into sachets?
Sachets are so great to place around your home and in drawers for a fresh and pleasant scent, and by using socks or booties, you can save money and even create a personal keepsake.
Just take a really cute baby booty or sock that your child has outgrown and fill it with a little potpourri. (Find this at Wal-mart or the Dollar Store.) You could also use other scented items, including spices from your pantry. Cinnamon or nutmeg would be nice, and I read about an example where they used oregano & basil…interesting!
Or you could use anything else around your house with a pleasant scent. We had some lavender scented bath crystals, so I used some of these to make a sachet. Also, if you’re allergic or don’t like scented potpouri, you can put baking soda inside your sachets. There’s no fragrance to irritate you, and it will help deodarize your drawers and home.
After you’ve filled your sock or booty, tie it up with a cute ribbon. It makes a great keepsake for your home, or you could use them as gifts. Grandmothers would love to get one of these, and you could always add a couple of these to baby shower gift basket.
If you don’t have any kids, or you’re not too concerned with making anything cute, this is also a great project to use with just plain old socks. (You know the ones that should have been thrown away months ago!) Just take some scissors and cut off the toes off the sock (basically halfway between the toes and the heel. Then fill the sock with desired fragrance, and use a ribbon to tie it up, or tie the sock in a simple knot.

Does anyone else know some of some frugal craft or household projects made with things found around the house? I’d love some new ideas!

-Jerri


————————
I am pleased to link up this post at the following:
Works for Me Wednesday at We Are THAT Family
Hooked on Fridays at Hooked on Houses
DIY Monday at A Soft Place to Land

It’s So Very Creative hosted by It’s So Very Cheri
Make it for Monday hosted by Cottage Instincts
Made it Mondays hosted by The Persimmon Perch
Making the World Cuter Monday hosted by Making the World Cuter
Make Your Monday hosted by Twice Remembered
Metamorphosis Monday hosted by Between Naps on the Porch

Filed Under: cleaning, crafts, Home/Garden, Work from Home
« Previous Page

To the Top