Sara Tams

sarah + abraham cupcake topper tutorial

Sunday, September 5, 2010

sarah + abraham cupcake toppers featuring olliegraphic illustrations

I recently began offering cupcake toppers, a new product that I’d been thinking about for quite a while but couldn’t quite figure out what materials to use and the best way to assemble them. I’m so grateful to Stacy at InkSpot Workshop for answering all my questions along the way. I love how they turned out!

I decided to take some pictures of the process so that I could share it with OMHG readers. The pictures below are slightly different than what I finally ended up offering (stickers on card stock circles), but the process is pretty much the same.

1. Print your design on card stock paper and cut the sheet into 2.125″ strips.

2. For a scalloped edge, I like to use the Fiskars Scalloped Squeeze Punch.

3. For a straight edge, I like the Fiskars Large Circle Punch.

4. Apply a line of Elmer’s School Glue (or a similar glue) from the middle to the bottom of each circle.

5. Set the top of each lollipop stick into the glue and press it into place.

6. Allow the glue to dry completely. For one-sided cupcake toppers, that’s it – you’re done!

7. For two-sided toppers, apply glue to the lollipop stick.

8. Place another card stock circle onto the glue.

9. For toppers with a scalloped edge, you may need to adjust the second circle slightly to get the scalloped borders to line up with each other. Once it’s in place, allow the glue to dry completely.

tutorial: making personalized notepads

Thursday, August 5, 2010

by Sara Tams of sarah + abraham

personalized notepads by sarah + abraham

I began offering personalized notepads at the end of 2008, and they quickly became my best selling product. In fact, my teacher notepads and a note from mom notepads are currently the #1 and #2 most popular items on my website.

If you’re not already familiar with how to make your own notepads, I bet you’ll be surprised to learn how easy they are to make!

notepad tutorial

1. First I cut an 8.5″ x 11″ chipboard pad into fourths for the backs of the notepads.

2. Next I stamp the back of each chipboard sheet with my sarah + abraham stamp.

3. I print the design 4-per-page on 8.5″ x 11″ paper and cut those into fourths.

notepad tutorial

4. I stack 42 sheets of paper on top of each chipboard sheet, and then I stack all of the notepads together. I tap each side of the stack of notepads onto the table one or two times, always ending with the top end of the notepads before setting them at the edge of the table to be glued.

5. I had considered buying a padding press like this one, but I never got around to it. So here I am, hundreds of notepads later, still using heavy boxes or books to weigh the pads down (which has actually been working just fine!). Next I brush on two coats of padding compound, letting it dry completely between coats.

6. Once the final coat is dry I gently peel apart the notepads and package each set in a clear plastic sleeve.

A few additional tips:

I sell 40-page notepads, so I always make each notepad using at least 42 sheets in case I need to remove the top one or two sheets. Sometimes excess glue will build up on the top sheet, or some of the chipboard sheet will stick to the top page of the notepad below it.
Always double-check that you’re gluing the correct ends of the notepads. It’s so frustrating to print, cut, and glue an entire set of notepads (or multiple sets of notepads!) only to realize when the second coat of glue is dry that you’ve glued the bottom end. I’m embarrassed to admit that’s happened to me on more than one occasion!
Be sure to line up the edge of the notepads as close to the edge of the table as possible, and also line up your weight as close to the edge of the notepads as you can. Use as little glue as possible so you have very thin coats of glue. Both of these things will help prevent the glued end of the notepads from getting “wavy”.
I haven’t been able to find padding compound online in a smaller quantity than 1 quart (which will last for several hundred notepads), so I buy lots of small plastic bottles from a craft store to split it up into (they’re similar in size to travel shampoo bottles).

First I cut an 8.5″ x 11″ chipboard sheet into fourths for the backs of the notepads (my notepads measure 4.25″ x 5.5″).

Knowing when to make a change

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

photo by Summer Knobloch Photography

by Sara Tams of sarah + abraham

When I announced in May that I could no longer continue running OMHG, it probably came as a big surprise to many of you. It was a pretty sudden decision on my part, too. As I mentioned when I first launched this blog in February, OMHG came about when I won a free blog package from Susie at Zee Studio. I absolutely loved the design that Susie came up with and wanted to do it justice by filling the blog with amazing content.

I quickly became consumed with OMHG – always thinking about features to add and always on the lookout for ideas for content. I was so proud of every post. OMHG was beautiful and brimming with useful information.

And then one day I started to feel overwhelmed with work and out of balance. I wasn’t exercising much and wasn’t eating a healthy diet. I didn’t have as much time for my family as I would have liked. I also hadn’t been giving much energy or creativity to my business, sarah + abraham. I was simply filling orders and not doing any marketing or adding any new products.

So I decided right then that I had to put a stop to it. As much as I loved OMHG, as much as I was proud of it, as much as I would have loved to continue with it, I had to let it go. And once I made the decision, that was it, I was done. I sent an email to the contributors to let them know and then shortly after that I made the announcement.

I spent a lot of time talking with people who were interested in purchasing OMHG, and I received four great offers. I made my decision about who to sell OMHG to based on who I thought was most likely to continue OMHG in the spirit in which it was created and do great things with it.

Once we had an agreement in place, I began to really enjoy spending my newly found free time with my family. And then slowly I got back into the swing of things with sarah + abraham. I started blogging again at my sarah + abraham blog. I set up some trades with professional photographers and added their amazing new product photos to my website. I began offering some new invitation designs. And most recently I started offering personalized plates and bowls, which have been very well received.

I’m looking forward to adding more new products over the next few months, I hope to continue doing photography trades and improving my own photography skills, and I’ve decided to make my sarah + abraham blog less business-focused and more “customer friendly.” I’ve also decided to offer more value to my customers through unique products and content and to not rely so heavily on discounts and promotions to boost sales.

Right now my schedule feels just right. I try to get most of my work done in the mornings while my kids are at summer camps or entertaining themselves. As soon as I feel caught up enough with work, I spend the rest of the afternoon and the evening with my family. I’m getting much better about not working on the weekends and not thinking about work when I’m not working.

I’m really looking forward to being a monthly contributor here at OMHG, and I’m especially excited about being able to enjoy reading OMHG without all of the responsibilities that go along with being the editor!

a fond farewell {blog for sale}

Thursday, May 20, 2010

It’s with mixed emotions that I’ve recently decided I can no longer continue running OMHG. I’ve really been enjoying the community that has formed here, and I’m so proud of what we’ve created. Unfortunately, I never realized how time consuming it would be, and with two full-time jobs already (running sarah + abraham in addition to being a stay-at-home-mom), I’ve been feeling like something has to give.

I’d love to see OMHG continue… if you’re interested in purchasing this blog, please contact me. In the meantime, it will become a fully archived site. All of the content will remain available, but it’ll no longer be updated until someone else is able to take over.

Thank you to all of the contributors and readers for making OMHG such a fun and rewarding project!

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Handmade Finds: Hello Frosting

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

by Sara Tams of sarah + abraham

Edible frosting decals by Hello Frosting

I recently came across a new company called Hello Frosting owned by Erin McGinley, a former events professional turned stay-at-home mom, who is the baker, photographer, and sometimes designer behind these edible icing decals. I was instantly smitten! The decals are printed on thin sheets of icing using food-grade inks and merge with your frosting, producing a completely smooth texture which you can easily cut or bite through.

You’ve probably seen this printing method used on “photo birthday cakes”, but I think the way that Erin’s using this technology with modern designs is much, much cuter!

Luckily I saw these right around the time I was starting to plan my son, Jack’s, upcoming football-themed birthday party, so I spoke with Erin, and she was happy to accommodate my request for some football-themed decals to use on cupcakes and sugar cookie party favors. The designs she came up with are prefect, including some with a football helmet in Chicago Bears colors with his name and the number 7 (that’s how old he’s turning). Jack loves them, and I’m sure they’ll be a big hit at the party!

Levi and Norah’s Nursery

Friday, May 7, 2010

by Sara Tams of sarah + abraham

I recently came across this beautiful nursery on Facebook when I noticed that my friend, Summer Knobloch, had commented on one of the photos. I contacted Callie Branch, the talented crafty mom behind the photos to ask if I could share them with our readers.

I love the colors and of course all of the vintage and handmade touches! I asked Callie to tell me a little bit about the room and share links to any of the handmade items that can be purchased online. Here’s what she told me…

“We had all of the furniture, we just needed another crib. Luckily, a friend who’s daughter was moving into her ‘big girl bed’, had the exact same crib – so they actually match… a nice bonus!

I couldn’t find bedding that I loved that would work for both a boy and a girl, or if I did, it would have cost close to $1,000 for two sets – not an option with all the formula and diapers in our future (we also have a 6-year-old and a 3-year-old). So I decided I’d just make quilts and banners in fabrics that make he happy – robin’s egg blue, red, and brown, with some yellow and green thrown in. I also made the changing pad cover.

We removed the closet door for easy access to the clothes, and I sewed pom-poms on the edge of the curtains.

The hankie belonged to my grandma – she collected them. I painted the frame red and strung wire across the back to pin the hankie onto. I love having a piece her her in the babies room.”

ROOM RESOURCES:

8×10 I am a Child of God print (on the top shelf in the middle picture in the bottom row), $24 at Persimmon & Pink.

Whimsical birdcage vinyl wall decal, $23 at Wei-Wei’s Babies.

The “doll face” plate on the dresser in the top left photo and the “silly goose” plate in the middle photo are available online for $8.50 each at Jane Jenni Shop.

Giveaway: Itzy Ritzy

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

by Sara Tams of sarah + abraham

For our next giveaway Kelly Douglas of Itzy Ritzy is offering a Ritzy Sitzy™ Shopping Cart & High Chair Cover in Bubble Dot Pink or Bubble Dot Blue to one lucky winner.

These stylish covers offer germ protection for your little jet setter and can be used in high chairs, shopping carts and double warehouse shopping carts for 1 or 2 children. They’re reversible and machine washable, and include two toy loops, pockets, a safety belt, and a carrying case.

HOW TO ENTER:

There are five ways to enter this giveaway; you may do any of the following and leave a separate comment for each one letting us know what you did (each comment equals one entry):

Become a fan of Itzy Ritzy
Follow Itzy Ritzy on Twitter
Tweet about this giveaway
Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post
Join the Itzy Ritzy mailing list (see the bottom of the left column on the homepage)

This giveaway will close at 12pm CST on Sunday, May 9th. One winner will be chosen randomly from all of the comments. The winner will not be notified by email, so be sure to check back to find out if you’ve won. The winner will be announced on Monday, May 10th. All prizes must be claimed within one week of the announcement.

Please note: shipping is only available to US addresses for this giveaway.

By entering this giveaway, you agree to the Oh My! Handmade Goodness giveaway policies.

Interview: Kelly Douglas of Itzy Ritzy

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

by Sara Tams of sarah + abraham

I was in Stacy Amoo-Mensah’s beautiful design studio recently (oohing and ahhing at everything, of course!), and I noticed some printouts of a few of the fabric designs that she created exclusively for a local company, Itzy Ritzy (the fabrics will be available on their products sometime this summer).

I had heard of Itzy Ritzy through Daily Candy and was curious to find out more about the company and the steps that co-owner Kelly Douglas is taking to grow the business.

Kelly with her family

Tell us a little bit about yourself and Itzy Ritzy.

I’m a mother to two sweet little girls and the co-CEO of Itzy Ritzy. I grew up in Naperville (a suburb of Chicago) and then went to Vanderbilt University in Nashville where I majored in Economics.

After graduation I moved to New York City where I worked for Anderson Consulting /Accenture as an IT consultant and met my husband, Brian.

Following a handful of job changes and moves, we were pregnant with our second daughter and decided to fulfill our entrepreneurial dreams and focus on finding a business to buy.

(read more…)

Time line: sarah + abraham

Thursday, April 29, 2010

by Sara Tams of sarah + abraham

photo by Summer Knobloch Photography

Last month Stacy Amoo-Mensah shared a time line showing how she went from a kindergarten teacher to a graphic designer. Someone on Formspring asked if all of the contributors could do the same. This is one of my favorite topics, so I’m happy to go next!

At the beginning of 2007 I’d been a stay-at-home-mom for four years (my kids were two and four). I was so happy to be home with them, but I also wanted to find something to do that would be a creative outlet and intellectually challenging. I had an idea to start an online business selling religious-themed children’s artwork designed in a clean, modern style. I created a few designs, and then I forgot about the idea for several months.

In July I returned to the idea, created some more designs and began working on a business plan. In October my husband had an opportunity to leave his corporate career to work for a political think tank. It would provide him with great experience in the field that he really wanted to get into but also came with a huge pay cut. I started to wonder if I could earn enough from sarah + abraham to make up the difference. We didn’t realize this at the time, but that pay cut turned out to be a huge blessing. Without it, I don’t know if I ever would have put enough energy into sarah + abraham to make it a reality.

Here’s the rest of my story in a time line format… (read more…)

Hosting a Handmade Open House

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

by Sara Tams of sarah + abraham

Oh my! A house full of handmade and vintage goodness!

My friend Emily O’Donnell is amazing – she’s so full of grace and style. In December, and again last week, she opened up her home to host a handmade craft show, inviting neighbors and women from her church to display their handmade goods and shop.

In December I displayed some sarah + abraham items and really enjoyed meeting other local crafters. This time I was excited to share the event with OMHG readers. Emily graciously agreed to let me take lots of pictures and answered my questions about the event. Thank you, Emily! (read more…)