Tag Archives: gift

Too Cute Tuesday: Mustache Pacifiers

05 January

Too Cute Tuesday logoEvery Tuesday, it’s fun friends, a (relatively) easy craft, and a refreshing cocktail. To learn more, check out the Facebook page (we post additional photos there), the Too Cute Tuesday archives, or our new Etsy store.

My sister just had a baby and somehow it came up that we ought to make some baby crafts at Too Cute Tuesday. And now that Sue has a bun in her cute oven, it makes even more sense to jump on the baby bandwagon.

Pictures you'd never thought you'd post of yourself online...

Pictures you'd never thought you'd post of yourself online...

I saw these mustached pacifiers on the Readymade website and thought this would be a fun easy craft for us to try out. I’m not sure if you’ve had a pacifier in your mouth since you were a baby but it’s kind of weird!

Materials
Pacifier
Knife (for scoring the plastic)
Cardstock in brown or black
Index card and pencil (to create templates)
Cutting mat and Exacto knife
Scissors

Cocktail of the Night: Limeade (Gin optional)

Dorrie tries out her curly creation.

Dorrie tries out her curly creation.

1. Acquire supplies at the craft and drug store.

2. Browse online for mustache inspirations. Just go to Google Images and type in ‘mustache’ to see all the fine examples the internet has to offer.

3. Create a template on an index card. We did it straight onto the cardstock and unless you really take your time, it doesn’t work so great.

4. Cut the template out of your colored card stock. We used a combination of Exacto knives and scissors to get the desired crisp edges.

5. Lightly score the pacifier where you will add the hot glue. This gives more surface area for the glue (I think).

6. Heat glue gun and add a bit of hot glue. Attach to mustache and let dry.

7. Mail to your sister and wish you could see her reaction when she opened the package.

Aren’t you crafty, and kid friendly?

Our mustache pacifiers on the table, awaiting cute babies to model them.

Our mustache pacifiers on the table, awaiting cute babies to model them.

Marketing Monday: Netflix

21 December

Every Monday, Breaking Even profiles a business, non-profit, or blog doing cool things online. Have an idea? Let me know!

Netflix

Netflix is causing 1/5 of internet traffic after the workday. I bet if people could sneak it more easily, it would also be affecting traffic during the work day too.

I heard this crazy statistic a few weeks ago: 20% of all internet traffic during prime time (7 pm-10 pm) is used by people streaming Netflix videos.

What is Netflix doing that’s allowing their influence to grow and grow?

It allows you to try it for free.
My friend Sam gave me a try Netflix for free for two weeks card. You can also find this same deal online. And as a Netflix user, I got this offer over email to send to my friends.

Clearly the two weeks free offer is in no way exclusive but I bet Netflix is tracking how all these offers are coming in… and adjusting strategy accordingly.

Netfix has a flexible pricing structure, nice for different people using the service.
Recently, you can now stream Netflix online for $7.99/month, which is slightly less than the minimum DVD mail service, which makes sense since the streaming allows Netflix to save money sending DVDs.

If you are going to offer services, it makes sense to have a tiered system, allowing you to serve more people effectively.

Netflix has a ‘Give Netflix’ tab… perfect for the holidays.
If you have a website, you need to address how/where people can get gifts on it, or at least put the idea in peoples’ minds. Netflix has a tab that makes you think about it. This is the time of year where people are looking to spend money, and increasingly spend that money online. Why not on your site?

But remember people aren’t buying gifts for themselves but for others. Make it so people can ship to a different address, add a gift tag, or do other services that make a purchase more gift-y.

To see more cool things Netflix is doing with marketing, see this great blog post…

Too Cute Tuesday: Christmas Candies

15 December

Yeah Christie, just sweep it up quick and Sue won't notice all the kitchen spills!

Too Cute Tuesday is a weekly event on the Breaking Even blog that involves, friends, crafting, and cocktailing. Every week it’s a different and inexpensive craft to make and a different cocktail to keep things social. If you have an idea for a craft or otherwise want to participate, contact Nicole.

It was back to the regular format this Too Cute Tuesday of friends getting together for a craft and a cocktail.

Tonight, we did a little Christmas baking, which was Christie’s idea. Note that coincidentally Christie is having a holiday party on Saturday with hors d’oeuvres, so I get the sneaking suspicion that she’s going to serve her share of treats at this social event. And in addition to saving Christie some work, we all have our fair share of sugar and chocolate to tide us over into the next year.

This week, we had a new TCTer. Jordanne joined Christie, Sue, and I for a Christmas sweet cooking extravaganza. Both of these recipes are from our very own Christie.

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On Getting And Maintaining A Manicure

06 November

A few weeks ago, I had a friend visiting for the week. The last day of his visit, Phil told me he had a surprise for me. “Don’t make any plans for 3 o’clock today.” he said cryptically. Needless to say, I was pretty curious.

When we pulled up to the Bar Harbor Spa, I got excited. Clearly I was in for a treat, and something I would never buy myself in a million years.

“We’re getting manicures.” he said. Fun!

What I didn’t expect was for people to actually notice it, and treat me differently.

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Too Cute Tuesday: Etched Beer Mugs

11 August

Christy made a mug tribute to her kitten Doodle. We doubt he's old enough to appreciate it... perhaps when he's older he will be flattered.

The owners at the inn were cleaning out their kitchen when they found 6 beer mugs they never use, and offered them to me.

Yeah, one more piece of glassware in my three cabinet kitchen, right? That’s what I also thought… initially.

But then immediately after, I realized oh what fun we could have at Too Cute Tuesday with our own personalized mugs!

A quick internet search proved that etching is actually relatively easy, you know, if you do it the lazy way!

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Too Cute Tuesday: No Sew Bag Reprise

28 July

Sam used some cool fabric she got at a yard sale, and now for a few dollars, has yet another method to hold onto Spaz.This week is another special Too Cute Tuesday. Both Sarah and Sue has visiting mothers who joined us in the fun. Kristy, who is Sarah’s replacement at her job, also came and hopefully will be a regular.

Tonight is Sarah’s last Tuesday, but we do hope she’ll Skype with us from Saint Louis! We thought a good note to go out on was a craft that Dorrie and I only did a long time ago, back when Too Cute Tuesday was gradually becoming a group event.

Materials:
Fabric
Interface (iron on stuff that makes fabric stiff)
Iron
Scissors
Staples
Duct tape
Ribbon (go thick), for strap material (optional, you can also use additional fabric for this)

Cocktail of the Night: Box o White Wine (at $2.67 a quart, it is certainly economical!)

If you need actual directions, here is the original link.

1. Buy the box of wine at the grocery store. Have an exchange with your usual check out guy about being a classy lady. Stop at your local fabric store and buy facing/interface. Drop supplies off at Craft Central.

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