The 2010 Calendars Have Arrived!

I have just received my order of 2010 calendar pads. Now it is time to start making them just for you. These make really nice inexpensive Christmas gifts for co-workers, teachers,students, hairstylists, doctors, etc. etc. The possiblities are endless. They are mostly 5 1/2 X 4 1/4. But, can be made any size.
Now is the time to let me know what style you are going to need. How about a doggie one for a dog lover, or maybe a cat for a cat lover. Again, anything goes.
Each one of these calendars have a magnetic strip on the back. It can be placed on a refrigerator, file cabinet, or locker.
For those of you that have never seen any of them. Here is some I made last year:

GREAT DEAL for EBAY CARD BUYERS!

I still strife to have excellent customer service. I have been selling cards on ebay since March of 2004. I really don't think there is a card maker out there that has hung in with ebay that long. I think in the 5 1/3 years I only had 1 week with nothing posted. It was in November of 2004 when my mother broke her hip and I stayed with her in the hospital almost an entire week in Louisville. Even then, I worked on my Christmas cards while there. Each one of you that have purchased my cards, whether recently or long ago, have made it possible for me to continue. Through raising costs of postage and fees.

I would like to figure out how to send all of my customers, a questionare on my card business. However, I have not had the time to figure out how to do undisclosed receipents and how to make it easy for you, to chose the answers to the questions. I have done a poll or two on this blog with little response. So, I want to offer 1.00 off shipping of two or more card purchases, if paid with the same invoice, for those that replies back with the answers to the following questions. I am always willing to combine an invoice for up to 30 days, as long as you communicate will me within 5 days from end of auction what your intent is.

Questions are:
1.What size cards to you prefer. Square 5 1/2 X 5 1/4, Invitation size, 5 1/2 X 4 1/4, or other, please specify.
2.Do you prefer the inside decorated or blank.
3.Do you like the sewing on the cards, or do you prefer them without, or does it matter.
4.What kind of cards to you mostly look for. Birthday, Sympathy, Blank to use for any occassion, other, please specify.
5.What kind of cards would you be looking to purchase in the next 6 months. Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Birthday, Sympathy, other please specify.
6.What cards would you like to see that you can rarely find on-line: Childrens cards, teen cards, Masculine cards, other, please specify.
7.When looking for a masculine card what are you looking for: Outdoor, such as fishing, hunting, cabins, or more sporty, golf, bowling, football, racing, basketball, soccer,other, please specify.
8. As a buyer, what kind of communication to you like from sellers. When paying with Paypal, Paypal sends an e-mail letting the customer know when a shipping label has been made for your purchase. Do you request more than that.
9.What things attracted you to purchase my cards: 3-D, glitter, other, please specify.
10.Then, I would like to have free text on any other comments or suggestions. Don't ever be afraid to communicate with me, whether it is a compliment or constructive critizism. Your feedback is VERY important to me. I want to know how I can best serve you.

If you read this and you are one of my customers, or would like to be, please e-mail me with the answers to these questions and I will make a note to give you the above discount. This discount can be used any time betwen now and December 31,2009.

I occasionally get e-mails from customers letting me know their concerns. The latest one being, due to the cost of mailing a square card, they would like to see more of the invitation size. I hope to incorporate both sizes in the next few weeks. My problem is I only design 2-3 new ones a week, because I make so many multiples. I do this so every one can have a chance on getting one of my cards. Maybe I should make fewer. Hummm...maybe another question.

Also, follow this blog. There is a link to do this over on the left side toward the bottom to do this. I think when I add additional information you will receive it in your e-mail.

Anyhoo, thanks for reading my book here. Also, thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Have A Blessed Day!!

Linda :o)
stampinsinger@roadrunner.com

I'm back!! I'm on FACEBOOK too!

Well, it has been a while. I wonder if too many people ever read this anyway.
I still am so grateful for wonderful customers. If I haven't told you lately. Thank You , Thank You!! You all ROCK!!! With the economy the way it is I appreciate all of you.

I also wanted to let you know, I am on Facebook,just in case you would like to be my friend. I feel like a kid in grade school. Would you like to be my friend, check yes or no. LOL!! I haven't learned too much. Especially if there is a link to post for you to go to my page and invite me. However, I know you can do a search for a friend. Look for Linda Duke Hall. Yep, that's me. Don't worry about getting your Home page filled with things regarding me. I stay so busy trying to make all of these cards, I don't have too much time to chatter a lot. But I do check it every few days and post occasionally.

SHIPPING!!! AURGH!!!

Okay, I know I sound like a broken record, but WHAT MORE CAN A PERSON DO about shipping costs???
Again, some few customers are cutting my ebay feedback regarding shipping charges. I have been taking a cut for quite a while. The week the postal rates went up I kept my shipping the same. I was at a huge loss. I have also had a couple of customers that had emailed me regarding their packages had been damaged during the delivery. Postal workers stuffing packages in the mailbox any way they can to get it in. This has never happened in the 5 years that I have been selling cards on ebay. I am definetly not complaining about that. I love customer feedback. I would rather know and try my best to fix a situation than to loose a good customer. Way to go Customers!!!!
The problem is, almost all of my cards are heavy. There is a lot of dimension and embellishments.Some of them will add a couple ounces instead of one when combined shipping is done. I am also trying to add cardboard to the packages which makes the packages weigh more. This is added protection to the cards. I still feel I have the most reasonable shipping charges one can have to ship such quality items .
I would really love to have direct feedback from customers. I have put in my listings that I strive for a 5 star rating. If you can't leave a 5 star rating to please contact me. This is not being done by a small few. If you can tell me how I can do better please let me know. I can't fix it, if I don't know about it.
Some of you may not know, as a Power Seller we get some benefits. We can get a percentage off our fees refunded to us if we keep high feedback.
For the quality of cards that I make my starting bid is very low as compared to others that sell around the same quality. No my cards do not go for high dollars, because I try my best to make multiples so every one can have a chance to get one of my designs. Not every one can afford 20. or more for 1 card. As a matter of fact, I have been at a loss every year at tax time. It costs a lot to make the cards I make.
Some would ask why do you still make and sell them if you are not making any money. Well, I am just addicted. My mother says I am obsessed with making cards. I get so excited to see someone have a better day when they receive a card in the mail. The world sometimes can seem so unfair, and there is so many people that does need a lift. That's why I do it. I am always receiving e-mails, phone calls, and visits from people that just had to tell me what happened when they gave one of my cards to someone. That is what it is all about.
Please don't take this wrong. I am just so puzzled and can't figure out what else I can do. I appreciate every customer that I have. It is you that have made me a power seller to begin with by bidding on my cards and taking the second chance offers that I give. All I ask for is some Communication..


Thanks!
Have A Wonderful Day!!
Linda :o)

Praise!!

Well, Our electric is back on. My husband has a rental car, until the insurance company can assess the damage on his blazer. It doesn't look too bad in the pictures, but it is really torn up. The drivers side has 2 broken windows, dents and big scratches all over due to concrete blocks hitting it. It is also filled with water. The top near the back on the drivers side along with where the back window is is dented really bad too.
But on a wonderful note my grandson turned one Saturday. He had such a GREAT time at his party. He had cake all over him. He was even mouthing icing from the end of the table. He even started walking everywhere just a few days before his birthday.
I also wanted to add the elmo invitations and the birthday card I made for him.

Tornado Hits

Just to let everyone know, we had a tornado hit our area. Praise the LORD our house was not damaged, but in front of our subdivision and the road to get to Richmond was a mess. My husband was getting his transmission repaired. The garage it was in was destroyed. It was up on the rack, and believe it or not, everything around it is missing. There was at least one person killed, many injured and at least one that we know of is missing his wife. His mother in law was the one killed. We even seen dead cattle.
Our electric is out again. I don't know when it will be restored. I am using my sons computer. Second chance offers and orders will probably be delayed until I can get my power back up.
Keep us and our neighbors in your prayers.
On a good note, my DIL will graduate from EKU tomorrow and my grandson turns one. He just started walking too.

Special ordered cards I recently made

I just thought I would add these pictures of some cards I made for a bridal luncheon. I think it turned out so cute.