New Name, New Packaging

In my characteristic Cart before Horse style, I made all the changes to the shop name etc and then forgot that I would need to update my packaging to match - most importantly the little label I attach to the front of each package with my shop name prominently displayed...so short of scribbling 'formerly' in front of the Paperpennies labels I had left I quickly put together this alternative:

I quite like it! I say that in mild disbelief because my amateur attempts at product testing - leaving it lying around where random family members will see it and noting their reactions - haven't been great...Maybe in time I will see what they see, or they what I do, or maybe the label wasn't the problem at all - it was presented alongside my new packaging which (cart followed by horse remember) I also threw together at the last minute. I need the rigid board backing, so kept my reclaimed cardboard covered in coloured paper, but instead of leaving it at that with a band of matching paper wrapping around to hold it all together as before, I attached the board to a small piece of white tissue paper, and that to a larger piece of green tissue, creased the tissue so that it would open up like a present, and then used my paper 'belt' to keep it all together, topped with my new label as 'buckle'. 

Again, dare I say it, I like it! I wouldn't have chosen the green, as it is very dark, and I think the two pieces of tissue should be the same size to avoid that dark band down the middle, but otherwise it looked neat and inviting, and didn't take too long to do (so many of my orders are for single cards, that's a big consideration.)

Must say, just writing that last sentence made me wonder if it's too much for one card...Oh, good, more to think about!

Meanwhile, the thank you card I included cheered me up - I made a full sheet of handmade paper flower heads on one of the very VERY few occasions when I planned in advance, and they are now very handy to stick onto blank cardstock when I'm strapped for time.

And the final product, Irish Element's first sale:

Etsy Heart Validation

Giggle - some fantastic person has seen the Red and Gold Claddagh Ring card and Hearted it!!! It's the nicest thing in the world EVER...bar if she'd also bought it! I was looking through the forums etc last night, in desperation really because it was literally as if my little shop had fallen off the face of the Internet, and it was a cold lonely feeling! Anyway I know people keep saying you should comment on forums etc to get attention, but that feels kind of a little itty bit like oh-um-ah prostitution?! Well, I did it last night!!!!!! Actually it was a relevent post - the forum was about people underselling, and technically I'm as guilty as sin (remember my free-giveaways-in-exchange-for-feedback scheme?!), and so I owned up...Got a couple of views out of it though so I still feel a little dirty. Happy, but dirty. Confusing!

Here's a little filler: silver thank you card.

Another Sale!!!

Lovely Lady number 2 has been in touch, and asked for 3 cards, and they are not even what I'd consider the nicest one of the Thank You cards, which makes it all the sweeter for me! Alas I don't have any blinkin' PAPER to make the cards, as we are suffering from the 'unprecedented' cold weather here on the edge of Nowhere, and I haven't seen civilisation in days...which includes a retailer of purty papers.
Never mind - there's always tomorrow :)