Stationary Archives • Hello, I'm Handmade!

MBPaperDesign: Wedding Favor Tags, Paper Tags, Personalized Tags

May 5, 2015May 1, 2015 by HelloImHandmade

With a degree in marketing and young children, Marianne Benzen wanted a way to stay home with her kids, and still make money. That’s when she decided to start MBPaperDesign. She knew it would take hard work, but was willing to put in the time: “I love being in control of my success. Nothing is going to happen without hard work and determination. If you put in the time and you are willing to go with the flow, adjust to the changes, you will succeed! My hard work is really paying off and that feels awesome. I am so proud of what I have done with this shop, from a small town of 1,200 people in Minnesota. A local newspaper feature, a feature on tintedwedding.com, a podcast with Convomepodcast, a feature with handmadeology “road to 1,000” and now this! I love it!”

Why does Marianne love (making and buying) handmade? “I know how much emotions go into every piece you make. Any one can mass print, market and distribute. When you are a part of every step of your business….design, processing, human resources, shipping…you see it through from the beginning to the end, it is hard work but the end product is so much nicer. I am working for every dollar I earn.”

In her shop, MBPaperDesign, you will find a variety of handmade goods for wedding, parties, crafting and DIY projects, like these:

Drink Tickets by MBPaperDesign on HelloImHandmade.com

Personalized Baby Shower tags by MBPaperDesign on HelloImHandmade.com

Thank You tags by MBPaperDesign on HelloImHandmade.com

You can also find MBPaperDesign on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Coco Press: where there’s no excuse for boring greeting cards!

April 13, 2015April 17, 2015 by HelloImHandmade

Coco Press: Beautiful letterpress goods on www.HelloImHandmae.com

If you’ve followed me for any period of time, it will probably come as no surprise that I LOVE letterpress. There is something so luxurious about it! And Coco Press does it in such a fun way, it just makes me super happy. And as a former printmaking major in art school, I was impressed to learn that Emma, the owner and artist behind Coco Press, is completely self-taught after discovering letterpress, and immediately knowing it was for her.

Emma took the leap in a fairly familiar way: “My burning desire to create re-emerged a few years ago when I was working in a rather stressful corporate job, it was my escape, my cure and my passion that kept me sane through those corporate bound years. I decided to make a real go at my business when I fell pregnant with my first daughter, I’m now expecting our second little girl and realize that if I want to make my dream of running a successful creative business from home I have to step up and make it happen- so that just what I am doing, and I am loving every minute of it!”

Of course, we all know that being your own boss has it perks. Emma says, “I love everything about being in business for myself, but I guess most of all I love the sense of achievement I get from each new milestone and goal that I meet. I feel that each and every little success is getting me one step closer to my ultimate goal of having a fully self supporting business that I can call my own, that I built with my own two hands, my passion and my drive.”

She also encourages others who are thinking about starting a handmade business to take the same leap, “I just want to encourage others out there who are hesitating about starting their own handmade business, to get out there and do it! … if you are hesitating starting your own business, don’t wait any longer, just start!”

Coco Press makes letterpress items for a variety of occasions: weddings, birthdays, parties, Holidays and more. Here is just a sample of what you’ll find in the shop:

Happy Birthday letterpress coasters from Coco Press.

Custom letterpress wedding invitations from Coco Press.

Cheers letterpress coasters from Coco Press.

You can also find Coco Press on Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.

What’s this? Hello, I’m Handmade has a shop?!

March 23, 2015April 17, 2015 by HelloImHandmade

I have had SO MUCH FUN connecting with, featuring, and empowering, the handmade community since starting Hello, I’m Handmade. Some of you know, but many do not, I am also a fine artist. So, recently, after taking a weekend trip to the coast to recharge and re-energize, I had an idea… why not combine the two?!

And Hello, I’m Handmade! on Etsy was born! There I offer motivational art for entrepreneurs, bloggers, artists and makers of all kinds. I mean, shouldn’t your home office or studio be a beautiful place that makes you happy? (Some of the prints would look equally cute in a nursery, play room, or kid’s rooms!) Being your own boss just got a little awesome-r.

Every print comes as an instant download, so all you have to do is print it out and pop it into a frame. Each purchase also comes with a free wallpaper background for your cellphone and/or tablet! *score!*

Here are just a few of the prints available, and new posters will be coming to the shop every week. YAY!

Hello, I'm Handmade! Art for entrepreneurs on Etsy

#LadyBoss instant download, printable art from Hello, I’m Handmade on Etsy!

Live Your Dreams instant download, printable art from Hello, I’m Handmade on Etsy!

You Are… The Best instant download, printable art from Hello, I’m Handmade on Etsy!

When it Rains Paper: custom stationary, party and office supplies, wedding decor and more

March 19, 2015April 17, 2015 by HelloImHandmade

Not only is When it Rains Paper filled with bright, fun, and (many) custom paper, party, wedding, and office supplies, but the company is owned by two sisters whose joy and passion really shine through everything they make and sell! I love the custom notebooks and sticky note pads, and the custom stationary would make a sweet wedding gift. If you’re planning a wedding or party, or starting a blog or business, you should definitely check out this super rad shop.