The Time Is Coming ....

..... for me to launch the website!! Yaaay!! Now, I know I haven't given any updates recently, but to be honest, I have been struggling to motivate myself to get moving on it. But, having had a bit of time on my hands recently, I have bitten the bullet, and got on with it. To be fair, some of the time has been spent making a great deal of cards to put on the website - about 175 to be precise (although using the word "about" doesn't really make it precise).

Anyway, the first big move was to set up the bank account. I did that a while ago - all seemed quite straightforward, until a couple of weeks later when I had a letter demanding another piece of paper evidence or they would have to close the account. Needless to say, I wasn't overly impressed and went down to the Bank the same day. I was all set to tell them where to put their Business Account, but was kind of thrown when the guy seemed to know all about me, my business and the letter, before I'd barely spoken a word. Turns out that the person I'd seen when I'd set up the account wasn't the Business Advisor, and consequently she made a couple of mistakes on my application. This caused my business to be flagged as "high risk" - when in fact it isn't. He was most unhappy that I had been sent a letter, as he had literally just e-mailed head office about it, and thought he had sorted it. He felt I should never have been sent the letter, so got straight on the phone. Anyway, upshot is, I still have my account, and two days later, the largest box of chocolates I have ever seen in my life arrived on my doorstep. 3/4kg (yes that's right - 3/4kg) of Thornton's chocolates and a card with an apology for the stress I had been caused!! Mmmm - they have kept me going during the hours sat at the computer setting up the website.

So, bank account sorted, next step was a PayPal account. That was quite straightforward - or at least it has been so far. I suppose time will tell when I get any orders!!

After the mammoth cardmaking sessions (literally days), each card had to photographed, bagged and labelled. It takes a lot longer than you think - well, a lot longer than I thought, anyway. But, hopefully in future I can make a few on a regular basis to put on there. Having said that, I do have a large batch of Christmas cards to make soon.

So, I now had everything ready to start the website. It's taken a while to get used to the website software - but think I have a reasonable handle on it now. Hopefully it will be easy to navigate, and clearly set out. But I suppose you lot will be the judge of that.

So, the shop was set up - but that thorny issue of postage reared it's ugly head again. Another re-think was needed in order to fit in with the options available to me on PayPal, but I am reasonably happy with it now. I wish I could offer free P&P, but I don't think it's financially viable for me!!

Finally, I have had to consider issues such as privacy of information, returns and refunds - among other little things that I've discovered, regarding Internet and distance selling. Thankfully, a lovely lady who runs a successful website from which I regularly order some of my crafting goodies, kindly allowed me to use the way she has approached these issues as the guideline for mine. She has given me some tips, and shown me where to look. So a big thanks to the lovely lady I know as Winspiration!! Definately an Inspiration!!!

So, I now just need to have a final run through to make sure it's all working - and have today's work proof read by my lovely husband - and then we're all set for launch.

So ...... watch this space!!!

Cxxx

.... and back down south again!!

Just thought I'd update you and let you know I got home OK. The lovely Welshmen fixed my tyre just in time for me to get to my course before it started. I've had a very tiring - but very worthwhile - three days increasing my invertebrate knowledge (and getting very wet and bitten to death in the process), and investigating new and different ways of engaging the kiddies when learning about creepy crawlies!!

And along the way, I have consumed an inordinate amount of food!!! Blimey!! Cooked lunch, homemade cake at afternoon tea, and a three course dinner - and that was just the first day!! Add in a cooked breakfast on the following two days as well, and I have never eaten so much food in such a short space of time!!

So now I arrived back from a very damp Wales to a very warm and dry Dorset !! No mishaps on this journey. But was a much nicer one not just because of that. On the way up, I had taken advice from family about the best way to get there, and so had programmed my sat nav to go via these places - basically motorways for a lot of it. On the way back I decided to just let the sat nav take me where it wanted (I know my lovely sister-in-law has fallen out with her sat nav, but I have a great affection for mine and trust it implicitly - well, most of the time). I don't mind driving long distances, but I don't really like motorways, and the roadworks I went through on the way up looked to have the potential to be worse going home.

As it turned out I've had a lovely trip including a lot of reminiscing. I drove all the way through Wales from North to South, passing through mid Wales (as you obviously would!!) where we spent many childhood holidays with friends of my parents. Passed one of the parks we used to play in and it reminded me of winter snowball fights we had there!! Then further down, I crossed the New Severn Crossing. When I was doing my teacher training in Bristol, it was still being constructed (showing my age now!!) and we did a project looking at bridges and how it could be incorporated into the curriculum through maths and design technology! Yawn!!!!!

Then I picked up the route I used to travel back to Dorset from Bristol when I went home from Uni, remembering the exact point at the side of the road where I threw up on one particular journey! My Mum had come to collect me after I got a really nasty chest infection - and I was feeling very poorly!!

And nearer to home, I passed the little village pub where my husband and I had our first two dates!! It all really helped to pass a very long journey. And hopefully, the Red Bull shot will wear off soon, and I will be able to get the sleep that I know my body is in desperate need of!!

Cxxx

A journey north!!

Well, this post has nothing to do with setting up the website, but just had to let you know about my day. I am currently sat in a very lovely B&B in Criccieth, North Wales, having left home at 10am this morning.

I had done really well, was almost there - just outside of Porthmadog so I discovered later - when disaster struck.

But, let me take you a bit further back up the road, when I first noticed my car acting "funny" - every time I steered left there was a rubbing sound - and I didn't really need to turn the wheel very far left either! Well, with thoughts of all sorts of problems from wheel bearings to suspension (not that I know anything about cars!!) I decided to pull over at the next safe place. I was praying that I would find nothing, and that the car would be OK to get me here and maybe home again of Friday. Having said that, I was already envisaging being towed all the way back to Dorset - how on earth would I be able to hold a conversation with a complete stranger for that long?

Well, that safe place seemed to take ages to appear. So, was sat in a queue just outside of Porthmadog at temporary traffic lights, when a man coming the other way stops to tell me I have a flat tyre!!! Feeling somewhat relieved that the puzzle had been solved, I spied, on the opposite side of the road, the entrance to a derelict building, so pulled over there - the car actually struggling to get moving again.

So, knowing what to do, but not whether I could actually manage to do it, I proceeded to unload the contents of my boot (of course I'd packed EVERYTHING into the boot) onto the side of the road. One lovely lady, sat in the queue in her car, called out to me, asking if I wanted help. How sweet. I politely refused as I was sure I'd manage, and we both commented on the fact that no men had bothered offering to help me!! So, with my wordly possessions strewn around, I managed to get the jack out, but then proceeded to struggle with the tyre itself. I was just about to admit defeat and call the RAC (all the while wondering where the hell I would tell them I was), when one of the workman from the roadworks came over to see if I needed help!! Doh!! Of course I did!! He said his boss had seen me struggling and had sent him over to give me a hand. He kindly put the spare on with no fuss or bother and directed me to the nearest garage - it was at this point that I found I was just outside of Porthmadog (pronounced Portmadoc) and that there was a garage there that would be able to sort my tyre out. And it was on the way to Criccieth (pronounced Crickith) so wouldn't have to go out of my way!!

The two lovely Welshmen in there now have my tyre (which they tell me I made a great job of destroying), and will have it ready to refit to my car at 9.15am tomorrow morning!! Bless them!! Expect it will cost me a fortune but never mind!! They were very worried about my spare, and I can understand why. It's one of those small ones designed to take up less room in the boot, and only useful in emergencies. They were telling me to go slowly, particularly on the bends. When you look at the car, I can only describe it as looking like it has a peg leg!!

So, am now in my hotel room, where I'm staying tonight before heading off to the centre where the course is taking place. Have phoned to warn them I will be late. Have just had a very nutritious dinner in my room of pot noodle and jaffa cakes - I'm not one for going out to restaurants on my own anyway. Good job, as I don't want to drive any more than I need to. Hopefully the next three days at the centre, will see me well fed to make up for it.

Hopefully, my car will be sorted tomorrow, and with any luck there isn't any other damage!! The course had better be worth it after all that!! Cxxx

A Weighty Problem!!

Hello All

Another long time since my last post!! Been very busy in my day job, so this has taken a back seat somewhat.

I have however been continuing my progress towards completing the website. This month's project has been to look into how much I would charge for P&P. I want something easy for the customer to understand, and for me to deal with. I don't really want to have to make frequent trips to the post office - I would like to be able to package any orders up, put enough stamps on to cover postage, then put it in the postbox on the way to work.


Have spent many hours weighing loads of my cards to find average weights for each size card. Then seeing how many of each I can get into different size envelopes. Then trying to work out how much postage that would be. Then getting into a right old pickle with which cards fitted into which envelopes - and how many?? And what if there was a mix of sizes?? I'm still in a tangle with it.

Because, although I've got some costings, I now wonder should I charge a fixed amount regardless of how many cards are ordered, or should I go for x amount for up to y cards? And should that be for any size cards. And should there be a sliding scale eg x for y cards, w for z cards, a for b cards (Sorry, I know I'm getting frustrated with things when my logical/maths background kicks in and things start becoming algebraic equations).

And, as a crafter and on-line shopper myself, how much would I be prepared to pay for a similar product?

Although not having sorted charges out, I was pretty confident that there were only three sizes of envelope that would be any good, so I went ahead and ordered some. Well, more than some. Quite a few actually - cheaper to bulk buy. Mmmmmm!! Another large box to find a home for!!

But, having received them, and all set to experiment with sending various combinations through the post to myself, I find that my spacial awareness has sorely let me down. And my plan of being able to post them myself is unlikely to get off the ground. The envelopes are too big for the post box!!! Dohhhhhh!!!! How stupid.

So, am now trying to work out how often I would be able to get to the post office, so I can say "delivery within x-y days" - which could be never, if I don't get these things sorted.

And in amongst all this palaver, I find that, in order to submit tax returns, I need to have much more detailed records - and I need to do a stock take to work out what my crafty stash is currently worth. (Not sure I actually want to know - especially if I have to admit it to the other half)!!!

Oh well, it gives me something to think about.

Meanwhile, I'm still working on commissioned cards, so here's my latest. An 8" boxed Wedding Card.

Enjoy - be in touch again soonish!!!

Cxx

The Card


The top of the lid of the box


Close up of the topper on the lid of the box


Inside of the lid of the box


Inside of the base of the box

Picture .... not so perfect....?

Ok, so while I ponder the more serious questions of money (and another that's cropped up - post and packing), I decided to try to perfect the technique of photographing my cards accurately.

I've always photographed my cards, as a record for myself of all my designs. But now I need to be able to take pictures that accurately represent my cards - and are not just a blurred representation that only I recognise.

It may seem fairly simple to you, and I'm sure my husband would agree (in his spare time he takes wildlife photos - one just recently published in our local paper!!), but I'm more of a snapshot kinda girl! Friends, family, holidays - that sort of stuff. So this is going to be a challenge.

So I've cleared an area at the side of my desk to set up as a "photo studio". Sounds grand until you realise it's just my filing cabinet with the curtain pulled over the top of it.

Anyway, have had a go photographing some "quick makes" I did recently. Have gone with a "floral" theme for the "dressing" of the photo (who knows if that's the correct terminology - but is sounds good!!) But that's only really because I have loads of fabric flowers in my crafty stash, and didn't really know what else to do.

So, here they are. Let me know what you think!! Leave a message here on the blog - or alternately in the guestbook on my website.
Look forward to hearing from you.

Cxx

So many questions...?

Having spent the day yesterday taking advantage of the good weather, and painting (some of) the numerous fence panels in the back garden, I feel I should try to make a bit more progress on the website.

But, as I get further into setting up this website, I realise there are soooo many questions to answer before I can take each step.

My thoughts at the moment are on the financial side. I obviously need to set up a paypal account (yes - I still don't have one - have managed to dodge around it all the time) for any payments, which in theory, is simple enough. But then it brings me to where do I put that money? Do I set up a separate account? And if so, should it be a "business" account. And what actually is a "business" account? Is it any different to an ordinary account? Are there some perks or benefits to being a business account? Or just more hoops to jump through?

I really would like to keep any (I'm being optimistic here) money separate from my personal finances, so maybe I just need to find out which account is best for me!

A quick pause there, whilst I e-mailed my financial advisor - he's obviously the man to tell me the definitive answer!! Doh!! Why didn't I think of that before. Although, when I started this blog, I did mention that writing things down helps me to get them sorted - so hey presto!! I've written down the problem, and the solution had presented itself!! If only all of life was so simple!!

Anyway, it's a beautiful day, and I'm going to get out and enjoy the sunshine whilst I wait for a reply to my e-mail.

I am posting piccies of my work in the gallery on my website, but here's a recent make! It's a commissioned 8" card with matching handmade box. Hope you like.

Cxx







EDIT In the time it took to add the photos, I've had an OUT OF OFFICE e-mail from my financial advisor. So this one could take a while to resolve. Oh well, the sunshine beckons!!

Another step in the right direction....

So, if anyone out there is actually following this, you may have realised that there has been rather a long lull since my last post.

I'd like to blame it on being very busy (and that is partly true - May has been one of the busiest months for me at work). But there is also something that has been holding me back.

Maybe it's making that final commitment - I'm going to have to keep the website up to date, check if anyone has ordered anything, get it packaged and posted in good time (that's always presuming anyone finds the site and ever orders anything).

But maybe I just needed some motivation to get cracking again. And that came last night, in the form of my other half deciding he was going to set up a blog of his own to share the footage from the webcams in our garden nestboxes.

Now I have a "slightly" competitive streak in me, and after my initial reaction of throwing the toys out the pram because BLOGGING was MY thing, I calmed down and decided that at least I still had a WEBSITE and he doesn't!! HA!! So maybe it was time to do something TO the website.

To that end, I have been having a play today, and have achieved two things. One, I now have a gallery to show some of my designs. And two, I have a link on there to my blog. I know they seem like small things, but it's a step in the right direction. My next move will be looking at how to set up the shop side of it. That could take a little more time!!

So please now feel free to visit my website at www.papercraftbycarole.co.uk
Hold on - am thinking I might just go back and see if I can set up a guestbook for people to leave comments. Mmmm....

Anyway am looking forward to the other half coming home so I can brag to him about my wonderful website (that he doens't have!!!) that links to my blog!!

Until next time....
Cxx

EDIT: Have put a guestbook on now as well - have to see how that goes though, as I can't see a way to moderate comments before they are published!!