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Posted on April 26, 2012 by ksmusselman

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Our first new blog post for The Bookmarks Store – Your Source for Personalized Laminated Bookmarks for Any Occasion or Event

In this new video post I discuss why wedding-favor-bookmarks.com and memorial-bookmarks.com were merged together into one online store, along with a couple of problems some of our customers are having in the order process and how we’re streamlining the order process.

The new order form will allow for both PayPal and Google Checkout payment methods when the programmer is done with the updates.

Future blog topics that we have planned will discuss frequently asked questions, being an almost-senior citizen “Boomer” and operating an online business, what I think about Kindle, Nook and other e-readers for reading books, the future of hard-copy books and bookmarks in light of e-readers, and lots of other topics.

So be sure to bookmark our blog and subscribe to our YouTube channel so you don’t miss any future posts.

Have a question or something you’d like me to do a blog post about? Ask the question on the YouTube channel comments or comment below!

Thanks for stopping by!

The Bookmarks Store
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See this post on YouTube: http://youtu.be/iqPwoVzsfW4

How To Make Computer Printer Paper Roses

Posted on May 14, 2012 by ksmusselman

Here’s another tutorial for making paper roses – but using computer/printer paper instead. So if you have some extra color computer or printer paper lying around, give this a try!

I love these a lot better than tissue paper flowers. I wish now I’d done a bit more research before our vow renewal ceremony; I’d have done paper roses for the “pew” bows instead of tissue paper.

I could have made some cute smaller computer paper flowers for around the cake table and the guests’ tables, and I would probably have even made myself and my attendants PAPER bouquets instead of buying silk!

And here’s a thought too – I’ve seen couples put a single long-stemmed red rose at the guests’ place settings. Why not get creative and make some really pretty printer paper roses instead? You can buy paper to coordinate with your color theme and even alternate the papers to make multicolor printer paper roses.

Add these as accents to the coffee filter paper roses and you can have a completely “paper rose” themed décor for your ceremony or party!

How To Make Elegant and Easy Coffee Filter Paper Roses

Posted on May 14, 2012 by ksmusselman

If you’re planning a really low cost wedding and you need some decorating ideas, how about some coffee filter paper roses!

Check out this video tutorial and you can make some absolutely gorgeous paper roses from #4 basket-type coffee filters.

You don’t need many supplies; coffee filters are cheap and so is craft paint.

Just head to your local craft store or even Walmart or a “Dollar Store” for some great deals like a bulk pack of coffee filters; pick up some green floral tape, some acrylic paint, a hot glue gun and you can make really cheap but awesomely beautiful rose centerpieces for a wedding reception or even single roses for the bride and bridesmaids to carry for the ceremony.

These are so much less expensive than the silk flowers, fun to make and they’ll last just as long as silk flowers too. In fact, the bride and her bridesmaids can get together for an afternoon and make all the bouquets or table centerpieces. These would be great for pew bows too.

Not just for weddings either – if you’re planning an anniversary party, make some gold or silver coffee filter paper roses for whatever anniversary you’re planning. Decorate your picnic area with red, white and blue paper roses for July Fourth.

You can make some orange, brown and gold paper roses for Halloween and Thanksgiving; red, gold and green flowers for the Christmas holiday to add some color to the rest of the holiday decorations.

This is a really cool craft idea that kids can get in on the fun with too – with some supervision of course because making coffee filter paper roses can include some sharp objects like scissors and straightened paper clips. But giving the roses some color with acrylic craft paints looks easy enough for the small kids too.

So check it out!! I’m going to make some just to decorate around the house!

Personalized Bookmark Favors for Same-Sex Weddings and Civil Unions

Posted on May 13, 2012 by ksmusselman

I’ve had a couple of calls and emails recently asking me if I do personalized bookmarks for gay couples who are planning their weddings or civil unions and what would be some good sayings to put on the bookmarks.

Well, I believe that the same sayings about two people in love or what marriage constitutes for a man and a woman getting married should be no different for same-sex couples. If you read some of the verses we have on our website, they really are gender-less. The words are meant for two people in love, plain and simple.

I mean really; a gay couple gets married for the same reasons as a straight couple; they may have met under the same situations or in the same way – an online dating service, a double date or a blind date, went to college together, etc. – and now they’ve decided to get married for the same reason as anyone else gets married – they’ve found the person they want to spend the rest of their lives with.

In fact, I may not even know the bookmarks order is for a same-sex couple unless the customer specifically mentions it, or until a photo is sent in and it’s obvious.

My late uncle, God rest his soul, was the stereotypical “gay hair dresser,” and I will always believe that if things had been 30 years ago the way they are now, he may have survived what many chose to call his “illness” of being homosexual.

I loved him very much and I still wish sometimes that he had been able to find someone to help him through the turmoil, confusion and frustration I know he must have felt during his short life, which eventually led to his death, and unfortunately I was much too young at the time of his death to even understand.

But the 70s were a different time and God chose to take him home at the young age of 28 instead of allowing him to continue trying to deal with his frustrations in what was then a very closed-minded era.

But anyway, yes, if a couple wants personalized bookmarks for their wedding or civil union ceremony, or for an anniversary or any other occasion, they’ll be handled with the same respect, care and concern as any other customer.

I hope this clears up some questions I’ve gotten recently!

21 Ways To Use Personalized Bookmarks

Posted on May 12, 2012 by ksmusselman

Paperback and hard copy printed books will be with us forever. And personalized bookmarks are so versatile, they can be used for just about anything!

Use them for wedding favors. Great for smaller weddings or in addition to other favors, for instance cookies or candies.
Use them for baby shower favors. The guest of honor and the guests will love them, especially if you’re having the shower after the baby is born – you can have the new baby’s name and birthday printed on the bookmarks.

Use them for graduation party favors. Have the graduate’s photo, name of the school and graduation date printed on the bookmarks along with a favorite saying.
Use them for anniversary party favors. Have the original wedding photo printed on one side and a current photo of the couple on the other side. Add a favorite poem and the wedding date and you have a forever keepsake.
Use personalized bookmarks for Save the Date announcements.
Hand out bookmarks instead of cigars for It’s a Boy! or It’s a Girl!
Combine a bookmark with a candy bar to announce It’s a Boy! or It’s a Girl!
Use them to advertise your business. Add a bookmark to a business card with direct mailings.
Use them at event fund raisers. Place them on the fund raising tables to either give away or sell for a couple of dollars.
Use them in place of prayer cards for memorial or funeral services.
Use them for business advertising. Place one inside of each product you ship. Since it’s larger than a business card, people are more likely to use it than throw it away.
For teachers – give them to students on the first or last day of school with an encouragement quote on them.
For bands – give them out at gigs with your appearance schedule on the back.
For book clubs or reading groups – hand out a new personalized bookmark each month with that month’s schedule on it.
For book clubs – hand out a new bookmark each month with that month’s book picks to read and discuss.
For Swap.com members – place a “Thanks for the Swap!” bookmark inside of every book you ship out to advertise your business, website or blog.
For new bookstores – give new customers a personalized bookmark with your store’s name, location and hours printed on them.
For authors’ book signings – add bookmarks to every book you autograph at book signings.
For flea market vendors – give every customer a bookmark with your contact information on it – especially if you sell used books!
Give personalized bookmarks to guests attending a child’s First Holy Communion.
Give them to guests attending a pastor installation dinner or service.

Weddings In Vegas

Posted on May 3, 2012 by ksmusselman

Tis the season for weddings, pretty much all over the country. Now, I love The Ellen Show and I’m subscribed to her channel. Also being in the wedding industry (you know, wedding favors), this latest episode of Ellen featured some funny Vegas weddings with Kevin Nealon, Minister in Vegas.

Watch as Kevin tries to coax some couples into getting married – and witness some of the weddings he did perform – with a lot of comedy attached!