I will never look at the pages of a magazine the same again. Ever.

Now that I am Etsy obsessed and try to look around at what can be repurposed or upcycled, my husband is a happy man. My complaints about the funky dust smell inside of thrift shops now has a delay button of about 30 minutes or so because I am usually looking at old books and papers to see what I can make of this unloved bit of wood pulp and perhaps sell in my GoFoInFa shop.

But I will bow down in awe to the wonders of eco packets that have been created by Lila O Creations. I saw the eco packets for sale and they looked interesting. But interesting doesn’t begin to cover it! (Forgive the following gush of over-the-top adoration…these suckers are just TOO COOL!)

I received them in the mail yesterday and the packets themselves were wrapped neatly in magazine paper. “Ooh, using the actual mag paper as a wrapper. Nice touch.” I thought.

They also make some ultra fun clay tags. And what did they do? They tied my little bundle up with a clay tag with a letter “T” on it. Umm, yeah, you got me. I immediately think about what I can do with this super duper cute clay T. I think it will eventually end up on this year’s Christmas tree. But until then, I will have to find someplace cool to display it.

Back to the packets. These pictures don’t do them justice. They are a perfect size to place a mini card in to give someone the sweetest little note. Or to put a pair of earrings or another piece of jewelry in as a gift. But beyond the size they have made an art out of repurposing magazine paper. These teeny gift bags even have a paper bead and a tag on the cord!

Lila O Creations has tons more really cool stuff in their etsy store. It’s one of those shops you can peruse and see all sorts of stuff that you decide you really NEED.  It’s funny, because their welcome message even states “We make stuff you never knew you wanted.” Completely true. I dare you to look and NOT find something that you could absolutely fall in love with.

I had never heard of an ACEO until Etsy. Yes, my love – my current obsession – my Etsy.

What is an ACEO, you ask? It’s a work of art, and the only specific thing about it is its size. 2.5″ x 3.5″ to be exact.

Think baseball trading card, but for art. And you’ve got an ACEO. (It actually stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals).

So on Etsy you can google ACEO and get a plethura of images. There are all kinds. From vintage to photograph to watercolor to paper collage.

I hadn’t tried making any myself until now. I whipped a few up for a team challenge and found it to be pretty fun. It’s kind of freeing to be able to make ANYTHING. As long as it conforms to the size.

Even more fun than making my ACEOs, was looking what all the team members came up with. Talk about some inspired pieces! But don’t just take my word for it. Take a look at these gorgeous aceos here and some more Paradise Team ACEOs here. On the first page, I made the “Explore” aceo with the gold butterfly. On the second, I made the black jack Monaco aceo. With real money and all.

Enjoy!

So I have been fooling around with taking photographs for a bit. And I have found that I keep getting drawn to nature. Perhaps something about nature not talking back and fidgeting around (hmm, some day I may have to tell you about the yearbook photo shoot with all the brownies and girl scouts at munchkin’s school…that was, umm, an experience…).

So what’s a writer with a love of photography to do?

Make note cards, of course!

Then I get to write AND look at something pretty. Total score!

What with a new baby and all (how long do I get to use that excuse??) it took me awhile to get the cards done, take photos of them and upload them to my new etsy store: Beyond The Pen. (Yes, I used my writing biz name, because to me, it’s really just an extension of what I love to do.)

I’d love for you to check it out and let me know what you think. Yes, I can take constructive criticism.

But for your current viewing pleasure, I have whipped up a little video for ya!

UPDATE: The ebook below is no longer available. It has been updated, improved, added to and all that lovely goodness and is available at low cost here: http://ilnk.me/WAHmktg

The Work At Home Marketing That Doesn’t Suck ebook is finally here!

And it’s FREE!

Over 50 pages of marketing tips specifically for the work at home professional, with tips from some of your colleagues sprinkled throughout!

There’s even a bonus section written just for the parents who run home businesses!

Download it today! Free!

Just fill in the form, click on the “Subscribe” button and you will get sent a confirmation email (gotta weed out the nasty spammers) and then you will get the link to the ebook. Yes, it’s that easy!!

In the coming weeks and months there will be a shift here…and I’m giving you a little teaser right now…there will be some insanely awesome announcements…and yeah, I’m a little excited. No, REALLY EXCITED!

I’m a writer at heart. I love words. I love to write words. But there are other ways to use words to your advantage. While I love me a good ebook, I also love me some good audio files and videos. And I’ve decided to start adding them here. Everything from an intro to podcasting to ideas on how to use audio to give that extra zing to your ebook. And you’ll be privy to some truly lovely videos from yours truly (uh, yeah, you’re hearing sarcasm in your head). The videos will shed some light on using video to again – supplement your writing materials – as lead-ins, as stand alone marketing pieces, tutorials, you name it.

The ideas – well, I got lots of them, baby! And they will be brought to the site along with a new look. The ideas are rampant and in serious development and as I unleash them here you will have the chance to get some writing or coaching services at crazy bizarro pricing. Because I’m a fan of the whole “Grand Opening” thing that stores do. So in the next couple of months you’ll be seeing some “re-opening” specials – brace yourself!!!

Keep your eyes peeled for some great collaborations with some wonderful writers, a chance to learn more about how to write ebooks on your own, e-courses, teleseminars and more.

It’s gonna be big.

*update of points as of 11/29/08 2200hrs MST – and HOLY CRAPOLY it’s not getting any easier to keep the points crap straight. Remind me next time when I get a wild hair up you-know-where and have another crazy giveaway that I keep this crap a lot more simple…for you and for moi!

As I mentioned before, if I’ve screwed something up, please, please, please send me an email: words at tinamcallister dot com – and give me the full run-down of what you’ve done.*

Yes, the ebook giveaway is still running. You’ve got until midnight November 30th to rack up the points!

As a re-cap – you have to post a comment on the original thread here and state that you want to enter the giveaway (and a little about what you want an ebook and all that would be kind of cool too). That single comment will get your name in the running and score you a point.

Post to any of your sites the link to the original ebook giveaway post and you get 3 points. Each time. No max. (Run out of sites? Get a friend or colleague with a site to post about the giveaway and attribute the post to you – 3 points each, no max!)

Tweet about the contest (and throw the @TinaMc in there so I can see it) and you can get 1 point. 5 points max.

Post the giveaway link on any forums you frequent and you get 3 points each time. 12 points max.

You can also post comments on other blogs (relevant comment posts, please…no spamming other peoples’ blogs b/c that is just so uncool)! 2 points each, 6 points max.

And yes, Facebook mentions get you 3 points, 6 points max!

Here’s the rundown of how the giveaway stands as of today. And if I’m missing anything, please leave a comment here to point out a site post, a url to the forum you posted in, the time/date you tweeted about the giveaway and your Twitter username…and I’ll update this immediately!!

Here goes:

Carlin – 32 pts (comment + 2 site/blog posts + 4 forum posts + 5 tweets + 1 blog comment + 2 Facebook mentions)

Dale – 24 pts (comment + 2 blog/sites posts + 3 forum posts + 2 tweets + 2 Facebook mentions)

Kelli – 13 pts (comment + 1 blog/site post + 1 forum post +3 tweets + 1 Facebook mention)

CouponDivas – 7 pts (comment + 1 blog/site post + 1 tweet + 1 blog comment/pingback)

Melissa – 4 pts (comment + 1 site/blog post)

Heather (in BC) – 2 pts (comment + 1 tweet)

FX – 2 pts (comment + 1 tweet)

Nancy – 1 pt (comment)

*Andy – didn’t leave a comment which is integral to get in the running…but DID have a link to his blog…with a comment, Andy would have 4 pts

Yes, yes…I’ve tooted my own horn about my ebook series – The WAHM Agent – several times. But now, I have others to back me up.

The WAHM Agent has been reviewed…as a series and as separate ebooks and I am tickled pink!!

So revel in my tickled pink status along with me…here they are:

Review of 1st ebook – The WAHM Agent: Becoming a Work At Home Real Estate Agent – on WAHM Cafe

Review on Blog Talk Radio – The Frugal WAHMs Talk Radio show – (about 11:40 min in…):

 

Review of 1st ebook on Organized Life by Design

Review of 2nd ebook – The WAHM Agent: Working Your Real Estate Business – on WAHM Cafe

By the way…if you’re done reading and ready to start buying…then do it now! The price is going up as of November 15th! You can get the ebooks over at The WAHM Agent now!

It’s been a busy, busy, busy couple of days here at the TinaMc Writing Emporium.

Remember my post on how to prevent idea theft? Uh…yeah…the irony….I was a victim of such an occurrence just in the past week. (I became aware of it yesterday). But you know, there’s so much more to that story, that I plan on hashing that out in a whole ‘nother post.

Then there was also my post on testimonials. About needing testimonials. Oh, the drama that has surrounded the testimonial situation. Again, for perhaps a series of posts…detailing the drama and also posting some tips on how to handle the situation if you are ever so lucky to be either 1) asked to provide a testimonial or 2) in the position of needing a testimonial.

I also created my first lenses on Squidoo and now have a full on love/hate relationship going on with that site, how lenses are built and whatnot. If you’re a Squidoo expert, by all means, I could use your comments, suggestions and maybe just a smack upside the head because I am sure I’m making it harder than it really is.

If you’re interested, my three lenses are about (and they’re clickable!):

- How to Become a Work-At-Home Real Estate Agent

- Working Your Real Estate Business

- Marketing Strategy for the Work-At-Home Mom Real Estate Agent

Actually, I will just come on out and beg you to take a look. Because my lenses are lonely and need visits. They are hungry for some eyeballs to give ‘em a look. Maybe you can even rate them…pretty please???

The high point of yesterday (other than actually being able to crank out three Squidoo lenses while “camping out” in my office …aka bed with my laptop in my lap…and watching movie after movie with my munchkin- YAY!) was the launch of my new site – The WAHM Agent. I finally have my ebooks available for sale!!! I am so excited I could spit! I put a lot of work into these babies and to have them available to the public is just an awesome feeling.

But again…so much going on…and each of these subjects deserve their own posts. And so they shall have their own posts. Because I’m a giver like that.

You know I like me a contest. And yes, one of these days I’ll get around to holding one of my own.

But in the meantime, how about throwing your hat into the proverbial ring for a book on copywriting? If you’re selling anything (and I mean ANYTHING) then tips on copywriting can go a long way.

Over at Home Biz Notes, they are holding a contest and the winner will receive a free copy of Kick Ass Copywriting by Susan Gunelius. Hell, the name alone makes it a winner!

Okay, kinda open for business. As I’ve mentioned before…I get a lot of business ideas. Some good, some great…some that are better off staying in the recesses of my brain.

But the whole work-at-home thing is very near and dear to my heart. I did it when my son was a baby. Had to stop when I went through a divorce. And now I’m back to it thanks to the awesome support of my husband. I LOVE LOVE LOVE working from home! I can’t say enough about it.

When other moms ask me how I do it, and how they can work from home and either 1) make a living from it, 2) make enough to help out or 3) just make some extra moola – I love to talk about my experience and what opportunities are out there, blah blah blah (really, I could go on and on about the whole work-at-home thing). I love to help out others and if working from home is what they want to do, I’m more than happy to help point them in the right direction, give them feedback, brainstorm and strategize.

So…WAHMBizTips.com is all about – you guessed it – work-at-home business tips. But oh so much more.

There will be WAHM interviews. Reviews of WAHM sites and WAHM products. Discussion of types of WAHM businesses. Dissection of WAHM jobs. I’ll even cover some other WAHM issues such as parenting (aka working with little ones underfoot), health (yes, you need to take care of yourself!!) and WAHM guest posts.

Are you excited?? (okay, pretend if you have to…just go with the flow and nod your head). Because I am!!!