Coming Soon!

Hey all!

Valentine sales are going well... There are still a few left online that I can ship out today to arrive on Valentine's Day (that's free upgraded shipping, take advantage of it) for domestic orders! So if you still need a Valentine for your sweetheart, order one before 3pm PST so you can tell them how much you love them with a cheesy under-the-sea pun.

Ok, that's the last pitch of the season. Moving on!

We are going to have to wait for the dust to settle after Valentine's Day & see how many we sold at the various consignment shops around town before we print any new products, but I did want to show off the finished designs for the two 5"X7" lettersets I hope to list this week or next! (I do apologize for the watermarks, they aren't going to be on the printed sets, of course).

"Cafe Coffee Day"

"Catscratch"

Both designs will be printed on a gorgeous stock and they are going to look AMAZING. I can't wait! I picked out the paper a few weeks ago and was just drooling over it; it's so nice to write on and it makes the colors just pop. I'm going to sell them in packs of 10 with 5 Kraft paper envelopes. Won't be doing preorders this time, I don't want to get caught in an endless loop of preorders, haha.

Anyway, this week is turning out to be much better than last week... I have plenty of time to catch up on my correspondence and my sleep, and still check off everything on my to-do list! Plus it looks like we will be able to move in to our new place in Chico this weekend!! So many things to look forward to!

Hope ya'll are having a great week too!

♥ Ciara Kay

LetterMo

Can't wait to get my camera fixed... in the meantime, here are a few photos of today's outgoing mail taken via tablet! I finally had a chance to write some letters and mail out some zines for LetterMo! I have four achievements so far... I love the achievement system, it's so much fun! I hope they have lots more to unlock next year. I also hope I will have my act together next year and not have to wait a week into LetterMo to start sending stuff!!

To a penpal ♥

LetterMo!

Some zines to a new friend!

Reply zines (LetterMo)

To a new friend found on Swap-Bot!

 I spent most of the day in my pajamas. It was glorious. I just got dressed because Jamie & I are headed down to Chico to check out the downtown ArtAbout (a couple participating shops are selling my Valentines! So we are also curious about how sales are going). Later we will catch a movie, and call it a Friday well spent!

What about you? How is your LetterMo going?

♥ Ciara Kay

Achievement Unlocked!

I think one wholesale account, four consignment accounts, a nearly empty online inventory and money trickling into the bank is a good start for a business that began three weeks ago, eh?

The aftermath of our marathon cut/fold/tie/stuff/label session last night!

I woke up this morning feeling like I had been hit by a truck (Derby practice on Tuesday didn't help!). Starting on Monday this week has been a nonstop crash course in chaos. First, my envelope company was out of their stock. Then, my heart stickers didn't arrive in time. There were tears, there were moments of panic, there were times I wanted to chuck the whole thing and go back to being an office zombie. But it all worked out in the end for better or for worse, and now my products are lovingly nestled in baskets and in card stands around Paradise and Chico.

And it's over!! For now, anyway... I've decided not to list any new products until after Valentine's Day so I can get the final damage report before I go printing & ordering more stuff! However, I have given myself the rest of the week off from Scoutaroo, haha (besides filling new online orders, of course! Work's never done!). And speaking of that nearly empty online inventory, ya'll better go buy stuff before it sells out... Because I am NOT printing any more of these dang Valentines, haha! Keep an eye out for some discounted packs... I'm bad at math and ended up with extra cards, but not enough stickers & envelopes. But the cards are still adorable, so I'm going to sell them without all the extras for a discounted price.

Time to tackle that pile of mail that has been guilting me for the last week and a half and get caught up on LetterMo!

♥ Ciara Kay

And We're Off!!

FINALLY! I actually have a product to sell! I'm amazed I suckered all you who pre-ordered into buying imaginary things, HAH. But now I have to deliver, and today was dedicated to getting orders printed, packaged, and shipped! Here are a few pictures of Scoutaroo Paper Co.'s very first orders!!

Some trouble at the printer's left us with over 300 Classroom Valentines to cut ourselves!! Our printer did beautiful work though and I'm very pleased with the final product.

My wonderful, awesome, supportive husband helped me cut out all the cards, count them, tie them up with string, and package them!

Pretty piles of Classroom Valentines!

Me tying up bundles of Classroom Valentines ♥

Lovely little rows!

All packaged up & ready to ship!

10 orders went out today!! I was able to hand-deliver my mom's order of course, haha.

I was so excited to get these out to the post office, and when I got back home, I found another order waiting in my inbox for an Octopus card from Bianca in New York!! That is officially my furthest order so far!

Getting these things done was definitely an adventure! Things went wrong right and left, from getting my envelope orders delivered on time to getting my stuff printed exactly the way I wanted, haha. The last week was seriously an emotional roller coaster for me... But it's finished and I've learned a few good lessons, and I'm pleased as punch with my final product!

I even sold one pack of 4 full cards to the owner of the coffee shop that Jamie & I spent some time at yesterday because she was so taken with the designs! That made me feel good. And of course, some scrimmaging at Roller Derby practice helped me get the rest of my frustration out of my system... I love that I've found a productive past time that involves knocking people over.

Now I have a decision to make... I've already sold over half of my inventory! Do I buy more and try to sell some packs in local shops AND online? Or do I make these designs limited edition and move on to other things? I'm leaning towards getting more Valentines to sell, but I also want to get some lettersets printed soon! Maybe I can do both... We shall see!

LetterMo started today and I was so busy running around and chopping up paper and getting bits of twine dust in my eyes that I failed to send any letters! But I did send ten packages full of goodies out into the world, so maybe that counts. ♥

Dazed & Confused but Feeling Accomplished,

Ciara Kay

In Production!

So, I'm getting my Under the Sea Valentine sets printed up tomorrow, and my supplies (SUPER DUPER TINY ADORABLE ENVELOPES!!) are starting to trickle in! I put together a "prototype" package just to make sure everything was going to fit, and oh boy I am SO excited to send these out to people! I think everyone who has ordered some Valentines will be really pleased!

For now, I only have a picture of my recycled thank you tags, which I made out of a shipping envelope I got last week, a paper punch, a stamp, and soon lots of ink with my gratitude in written form! ♥

Yay, recycling!

Tomorrow is the big assembly day, so I will have lots of pictures! There's still time to order some Valentines for yourself & your loved ones before I ship my FIRST batch on Friday! Ya'll have no idea how excited I am. It's a wonderful feeling to have a dream become a reality.

♥ Ciara Kay

Derby Dames

I apologize for the SUPER CRAPPY webcam pics, but I wanted to share some doodles I've been doing of Derby girls, my new favorite sketch subject! My team wanted me to design a new logo, and our name is Viva Roller Derby, so the skeleton/living girl was kind of a play on that. I'll be working on a vector of one of the mug shots this week!

In Other News...

I'm covering some shifts at my old job and starting my new job this week, which means I can A) quit freeloading and start buying my own derby gear & paying dues, and B) start ordering more inventory for Scoutaroo!

There's still time to order some Valentines, which will, of course, help me reach goals A & B even sooner. After Friday I will be able to ship them as they are ordered because I will have all my inventory ready to send. Exciting! Pre-orders are annoying for everybody... It will be nice to have actual inventory on hand to sell!

This week I'll be assembling orders & shipping them off to their recipients! I'm going to post lots of production pictures, haha. I also have a plan for a Grand Opening in the works with some giveaways & sales & other fun stuff... but before all that, I will be listing some new lettersets, which is the whole reason I started Scoutaroo in the first place! It's all about the lettersets!!

Remember those previews from my first post back in December? Those have become fully-fledged letterset designs now, and all I have to do is say the word and my print shop in Chico will make a whole batch! I can't wait!! You can expect an announcement for those next week, after I've shipped off my first orders of Valentines.

So, things are rolling along quite nicely! (see what i did there... derby humor, heh).

Delightedly Yours,

♥ Dead Marsha

Scoutaroo Paper Co. is Now Open!

I'm tired of waiting (and not very good at it in the first place) so here goes nothing!! I am pleased to announce that you can now order my "Under the Sea" Classroom Valentines on Etsy!

Click Here for the Listing Page!

Go check it out! They come with envelopes & stickers, too! Unfortunately all I can offer are pre-orders, so you'll have to wait a couple of weeks to get your order, but the time will go by faster than you know it, and then one day your mailbox will have a delightful package of adorable Valentines made by yours truly inside of it!!

Consider this a soft opening... Once Jamie and I are operating like functional adults and not living in our parent's spare bedrooms, I'll have lots more merchandise to advertise! I am oh so excited for that day to arrive! It's taken a bit longer than I thought it would to get settled... but it'll happen soon enough. And then before I know it, we'll be moving again!! Gee whiz.

I'll have a listing for regular ol' cards featuring these four designs up later in the week! Just some info on that in case you would like to hold out and order those: Single cards will be $4.50, Packs of four cards will be $16. These will come with envelopes (of course) and blue heart stickers as well.

Tootles!

♥ Ciara Kay

Valentine's Day Preview!

I'm hoping to launch in time to hit the Valentine's Day crowd, but time will tell! Hoping and praying that I get that second interview... and we looked at apartments in Chico today, too. If all the pieces fall into place, I'll be up and running in just a few weeks!!

But still, I am worried that I may not be able to get Valentines printed in time to arrive by Valentine's Day! So... would it be crazy to offer pre-orders? Thoughts? I don't think I've seen this done with stationery before and it may be a complete flop, but then, what do I have to lose?

Anyway, I wanted to share some of my designs for my 2013 Valentines! The theme: Under the Sea. I will be offering Classroom Valentines and regular 4.25X5.5 cards. There are four designs total, but here are two:

I'm excited to reveal the rest when I list them in-store on Etsy.com!

My mom has always decorated the house for every holiday, so I love to celebrate them! I always associate Valentine's Day with sugar cookies and candy and making our own Valentines. I always got Valentines from my parents and grandparents until my boyfriend-now-husband took over, so Valentine's Day was never as depressing for me as it can be for some. I love to give Valentines to friends & family and always get a pack of Classroom Valentines to share... only this year, they will be ones I designed. :)

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As we all know, when you send letters, you get letters! Here are some I've received in the last week from a few penpals, old and new!

Incoming Mail

Top to Bottom: Deborah, Girl on a Glide, and a new correspondent Derrick Dodson

A new penfriend found via Swap-Bot.com! Her first name is Kay and she sent me a wonderful letter and lots of goodies... looking forward to swapping more zines & life stories with her in the future. :) 

Things are moving by way too fast and not fast enough!! 2013 is off to a bit of an unexpected start. More on that in future posts!

-- Ciara Kay