Video showing how to use the new Window sticker/cling

If you want to have a look at the video we made showing how to make the new window stickers, here it is from our Facebook page. We have posted a post about the Window sticker/cling before this one. Please have a look to find out more.

Crafty Computer Paper office photos

I thought I would add some photos of our office so you can see what Crafty Computer Paper is all about. I will get round to making a video showing all the staff in action and of course the office dogs Pops and Lulu.

This is a photo showing the customer services desks.

This the main packing office.

This is the meeting area of the office

This is where Julie the assistant manager works

This is my office where I am writing this from.

Sorry these photos are a bit dark but it will give you an idea of how the office is laid out. I will take some photos of the outside because we are situated in beautiful Northumberland countryside. It is just too cold to go out and take some photos at the momet.

Hope you enjoy them

New window sticker/cling

One thing that sounds easy but isn't is making good inside window stickers. The reason is because the inkjet printer does not produce white ink. You would think that you could just buy some clear normal window cling and then print any images onto it and then stick it on the window. This doesn't work at all well because if the image has white or light coloured areas this will just print out clear and not show the colours. Also with normal window cling you have to print the image in reverse if you want it to show through the window or you have to stick the sticker on the outside of the window. The only way clear window cling works is if you use dark colours or black lettering. It is very difficult to make a white window sticker because you have to attach the white print out on the outside of the window and you can't create a sticker which can be viewed from the outside.
We have sourced a great new window sticker/cling which makes white or clear window stickers which can be viewed from the inside of the window. The paper we sell isn't a printer paper, and it is effectively a sticker that is applied to any kind of paper or card. You print out what you like using your inkjet or laser printer or you could use a drawing or a painting instead, the sticker does not have to be produced using a printer at all. The window sticker paper is an adhesive sheet which is attached to the front of the print you want to show on the window. The trick here is how to make the front surface of the picture sticky so it can be attached to the inside of the window. Once you have applied the adhesive sheet to the paper, you are left with quite a thick sheet, it looks a little like a laminating sheet. If you make stickers for schools or charities then you can make them and sell them at this state. The next stage is the clever bit, there is a very thin film on top of the adhesive sheet, you will need to use a craft knife or a sharp nail to find this film. Find the edge and then pull off completley, to reveal a sticky surface to the print out. You then just attach it to the inside of the window. What is also great is that you can take if off again and reposition without leaving any resisdue. Leave the sticker for as long as you like and take it off and you wouldn't know it had been there. Like some window clings you have to apply a little bit of moisture to get them to stick again, our paper keeps it stick very well so you won't have this problem either.

Some pre-made stickers can be very expensive to buy but now you can make very professional looking stickers quickly and easily. We think they would be great for schools and charites, showing off artwork or selling stickers for cars. You can also make temporay stickers to advertise an event on the inside of a car window. Shops can use them to enhance their windows with decorations for christmas or advertising promotions. The uses are endless, watch the video on the site to see how easy they are the make.

We apoligise to Viv Cash

I have been meaning to do this for ages but we have to apoligise to Viv Cash who very kindly sent us in the most beautiful project for the Crafty Competition 2009. We have contacted her and apoligised but we felt we had to tell you what happened and apoligise to her publicly.
We had all her projects in a bag in the back of the car, Charlotte took them to the photographic studio to take photos of the work to add to the website. She then put them back in the car for the weekend to take back to the office on Monday. Over the weekend her husband filled the car with rubbish to take to the tip and threw away everything from the back of the car, including Viv's lovely work plus a great deal of Charlotte's finished cards (2 weeks of work) at the same time. It was awful and we felt so bad this had happened because we know how much work went into making these projects.
Viv used the cotton inkjet fabric sheets to make and embroider a beautiful cover using her own designs and embellishing further with beads etc. She also made a lovely pin cushion. The only saving grace was we had taken the photos of the work and we wanted to show them on this post.
Sorry Viv this happened! We did send her a goodie bag of fabrics to make up for her loss and we look forward to seeing what she made with these fabrics. Viv is a very old customer of ours which made it even worse and I hope she has fogiven us!!

Video showing how to use the Peep Show cards

If you would like to watch the video showing how to make the Peep Show Cards then please go to
http://www.craftycomputerpaper.co.uk/products-PeepShow-Cards_Peepshowprod.htm
You will see a link on this page which will open up the video to watch. We have tried to show in as much detail as possible how they are made. You can also download the written instructions from this page too.
We would love to hear your comments

Free Christmas Card kits and graphics to download

We know how hard times can be at Christmas so we wanted to give our customers something for FREE. We have added a new page of free christmas card kits and graphics to download. There is a real mixture there and all are free to use of pass on to your friends. All of them are easy to use, just save them on your hard drive and print them off as you need them.
We really hope they give you some inspiration and you enjoy making them for your friends and family this Christmas

Whats it like to do live TV on Create and Craft

I have a great day at Create and Craft on Wednesday, We were launching the new CD Peep Show cards. I have to say it is quite nerve racking and you never know how well you are going to do. I always have to be at the studio 2 hours before the show to set up, sometimes we are on quite early in the morning so it is an early start. First I have to go to the Green Room which is always quite interesting, there always seems to be some good characters in there to talk to. All the models are usually in there and there are a few dressing rooms so you can get changed there aswell. I am usually highly organised when I arrive and am ready to set up which only takes me a few minutes.
I have to make as many samples as possible for the shows and you never know how many you are going to make in one show. I usually have about 4 ready to go, they need to be simple and quick to do. They don't want to see cutting or boring stuff, they need to see the example made in a few minutes. Anything which needs tape is done before hand. I have seen some demonstrators struggle as they apply the double sided tape, The presentor gets bored and moves onto something else quite quickly if the demo is taking too long. I think the viewers like watching the demos but as a selling point of view this slows the process down so they have to have as much impact as possible.
The studio is a very large black room with about 3 or 4 sets, these are made up of large counters with props behind. In the old days we had to bring enough stuff to fill the background aswell but luckily we don't have to do this anymore. All the products which are being sold for the show are laid out on the counter. There isn't much room to spread out to do the demos so you have to get used to working in a very small space. Showing the examples is the same, not much room. While setting up the producer comes to see you to see what is being sold and how they are going to do the demos. The whole process is very adlib and there are no scripts or auto cues. I have to take off my hat to the presenters because they need to talk non-stop for an hour and have a producer speaking down their ears.
After set up I go back to the Green Room and have a cup of coffee and a chat to who ever is in there. There are no make-up artists or hairdressers, it is up to you what you look like. All the presenters including the men have to wear a thick layer or make-up, if you don't you can look very washed out under the lights. There is a telly in The Green room so you can watch the shows as they are happening, this can be a little bit boring so you end up going outside to the mobile cafe for a bacon butty. There is always a collection of interesting people there too. I have to say that everybody is very friendly indeed.
Fifteen minutes before the show starts you are called back to the studio. To get to the studio is like Fort Knocks and there are many locked doors which can only be opened by authorised persons. Quite often another show is being aired and the few minutes between the latest show and my show starting the lights and monitors are all moved around. The Presenter arrives and stands next to you, usally talking to the gallery upstairs through an ear piece. I can get a little nervous at this stage but it all happens so quickly you soon forget that you are in front of the camera. The show starts and The Presenter starts talking and going through the items for sale on the show. It can get quite hot under the lights and you can feel a little dazed by the experience plus you can see what you look like with the monitors infront of you which is very off putting. It is always good when I start making the demos, I am usually quite quick and get through most of them in the show. I have to show how the CD works on the PC and try and make it sound as easy as possible, which of course it is. The hour goes so quickly and it really amazes me how much the presenters can talk. Of course they talk to you but you have to take their instruction and they are being instructed from the gallery upstairs. You can really tell if you are selling well if they emphasis your product more than the other products, this is a very good sign indeed. The presenter will tell the audience how much stock is selling and advises them to ring in to place their order before it all gets sold out. We did have one show where everything was sold out in an hour which was great. The first CD we ever did on Create and Craft was sold out in 10 minutes. Things have changed now and they are much more organised about stock now.
After a quuck hour the shows finishes and we are off air. I never know how well we have done until the orders come into the office. We nearly sold out in one show for the latest CD and they have doubled the order so that is a good sign. The sound man takes off my mike and the floor manager shows me out of the studio and then I head off to my car and then up the A1 home. It is always a nice feeling when you know you have finished, the relief of no nerves is great. Then when you get back home you get the phone call from the buyers asking you to do another show and the whole process starts again!!!