Fall Home Decor Done Simple Not Complicated

                         Easy Fall Decorations Ideas Inspiration

                      DIY Fall Home Decor

                     Fall Interior Decorating Made Simple

Fall Home Decor Done Simple Not Complicated

Yes, it's Fall Autumn time, and was curious is everyone is ready for it? Have you decorated for this changing season of leaves, pumpkins, halloween, and cooler weather? So, if you decorate for fall do you decorate a lot, do things outside, inside the home, or do you make it simple?

Fall decor, or any home decor really does not have to be complicated. You can create warm, and inspired items with just a few things really. A simple candle in a bowl surrounded with some chestnuts, and berries sometimes is enough. So lovely, and so adorable too. Perfect time to be thrift store shopping for some electic bowls, some fall colors, leaves, vines, and etc. 

I have not done much for fall myself, or for Halloween....which I generally do. I am thinking ahead for Christmas because that is the one time I decorate everywhere. In the home, the bedrooms, the bathrooms, and of course outside too. Not too much, but just a little bit here and there. I am wanting to change things a bit this year, do it simple, a little bit of old with some of the upcycled pieces that I have done too. What fun don't you think?

So, how have you decorated so far this season? Were you able to do anything, find some inspiring ideas, or maybe you are waiting for the next following season. Whatever you have decided I hope you are having fun with it, and finding some inspiring ways to help you with your decor.

Thanks so much for sharing your time at LilacsNDreams, and hope to see you again soon. Have fun with your fall home decor, and may you enjoy all your decorating with your homes. Hey, it's always fun with help others who need it too. Till the next time everyone. Toodles . . . . . . 

Business Cards From Vistaprint, Moo, DIY

Business Cards From Vistaprint, Moo, DIY, and many more companies out there. 

Hope everyone has had a great week so far. A topic that is often brought up with many forums is the question Where do you get your business cards from. Everyone has different tastes, different views, different preferences, and places that they prefer to order from. 

There are many companies out there that you can use online, or maybe you have someone local you can give your business to as well. Some enjoy making their own business cards, the do it yourself creative person. A popular one to use is vistaprint, and they always seem to be running some sort of special to use as well. I know with Etsy there are some there who prefer moo.com. I have seen iPrint mentioned, zazzle, 123print, and there are truly many options out there to use. 

I generally use vistaprint.com. I use to make some of my own cards, and have tried a couple of others, but I have come back to vistaprint, and that is who I have used for quite some time now. With my cards I put my name on them, that I am the owner, I share my business email address, show my sites I like to direct everyone to, and I use a tag line as well. I also have something printed on the back saying thank you, and I repeat my tag line as well. On the back is where I will sign my name, and I share the online address of the shop they bought from as well. 

So, who do you use for your business cards? What do you have printed on them? Would be great to hear some ideas from others, and their experiences as well. 

Thanks for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams, and hope to see you again soon everyone. Have a wonderful day!

USPS Proposed Increases for Medial Mail, Parcels, Etc

USPS Proposal of Increases For Media Mail, Parcels, and etc is being shared. 

Hope ya'll had a super weekend! Enjoying the weather here in NW Iowa while we can. Warm, windy, and really hasn't been too bad.

Hope ya'll aren't getting tired of me quite yet with me repeating myself regarding some of the postal increases being announced, shared, and proposals that the Postal Service is submitting. I had found an Ecommercebytes link in one of my emails about this particular issue which tells us just a little bit more about it. Thought I would come by here to share it all with you. 

Visit Ecommercebytes for their article titled "Sellers to Pay More for Media Mail, Parcels under USPS Plan". They are wanting to increase 3 cents for first class mail as I had mentioned before, but many of the changes that the Post Office is trying for would have more of an impact with the online retail community. 

The proposed changes being discussed is just that too . . . Proposed Changes. It will have to be approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission before any changes can be implemented.  

So, when you have a chance to visit, and read more about this issue just click on the Ecommercebytes here, or just above here, and that will take you to it.  

Thanks so much for sharing your time at LilacsNDreams, and hope to see you all again soon. Have a great week!

USPS Postal Increases After First of the Year

 USPS Postal Increases After First of the Year

Just a little note to those who deal with shipping for your hobbies, crafts, online businesses, and etc. If you haven't heard it on the news yet you can expect the famous postal increases we generally get after the first of the year. If I heard correctly they are looking at first class mail charges going from .46 up to .49 is what was reported. Of course nothing is definite with the increases yet, but I am sure they will be coming to us soon enough. 

I know, it makes it hard in dealing with the shipping that we all deal with on a day to day basis. I cringe when I hear it as I always use the USPS services for my shipments, I generally ship priority mail which now includes the insurance up to $50 with it, and knock on wood...so far I have had no issues with this service. I like the free boxes I get that works for the sizes of the items I sell, and I try to be fair in giving the postal service business as well. Just makes it hard when the shipping costs keep rising, and how that effects all of us.  

It's Thursday, and the weekend is almost upon us again. Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and hope to see you again soon. I wish you all well, and have fun with the rest of the week. 

Shipping Success For Online Retail Sellers

Shipping Success For Online Retail Sellers  

Online Sellers share many things, many experiences, and of course many stories. One thing that many of us have in common is dealing with different shipping carriers. It can be very tough to sell if you cannot ship. There is lots to consider which is not always easy. If you find a solid procedure that works it makes things much easier for you, and for your customers. 

We all sell many kinds of items with shapes, sizes, and weights to consider. With the range of shipping methods, and packaging types you need to organize the best options for the items that you sell. Shipping methods will not just be about pricing. You need to look at choices offered with insurance, tracking, signature confirmations, and etc. You should be able to find these answers on the mail carriers website you are researching, and considering. 

Most customers like to have all the numbers right up front when they are buying. With this in mind I myself like to do an estimated cost of shipping. Measure, and weigh your packages. Having a scale at home is very helpful for shipping cost estimates too. For some sellers a kitchen scale works fine for them. Now, if you wanted to be a little bit more secure with shipping numbers take your packages to the post office. Then, keep track of some of the common item weights for future references. After weighing your items you can use the shipping calculator online for the shipping service you are using. United States Post Office, The United Postal Service better known as UPS, and many have found Fed Ex to be a great source for shipping too.  

Developing your shipping plan, and defining your policies is a good practice. Things to consider would be what your processing time will be, will you be offering insurance, will insurance only be offered for certain items, a versatile one is will you offer returns & how will you handle the shipping with that, how will you handle items that are lost or damaged through shipping, will you offer expedited shipping or may international shipping ( with international shipping you will deal with custom forms, duties, and taxes), will you offer free shipping, etc. It is easy to see the list can become lengthy. 

Develop your routine, and make sure to communicate with your customers. Like, what's the benefit of having/offering insurance if no one knows that you have it. Over time you will experience how sometimes the shipping challenges will be out of your control, but are just an experience that is a part of online selling. 

Make sure to stay alert with all of your shipments, and keep good records as well. Proof of shipping, pictures of items and packages before shipping, insurance, your label receipts, tracking, and all of these things can be very helpful in the event of any issues that might arise with your shipments. For any issues you can always go straight to the shipping carrier used, and talk with your shipping provider.

Shipping may seem like a procedure that isn't an important issue for your online retail business, or that it should be simple to handle. It can be a much bigger part of your plan to consider, and to be dealt with. Don't let it scare you. Once you get a feel for the service you have chosen things actually can run pretty smoothly. 

Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams everyone, and hope you enjoyed this bit of informational about shipping. See you all again soon. Have a super day!

Upcycled Repurposed Handmade Candle Holders

                  Upcycled Pink Cupcake Stand, Candle Holder Stand

               Pink Candle Holder For Her by SecondChanceUpcycles

     Upcycled Vintage Brass Candle Holders in Aqua by PaintJunkies


 Vintage Plate and Tea Cup Ring Holder Candle Holder by happybdaytome

  3 Wine Bottle Candle Holders Lighting Upcycled by Orchard Design Studio

Upcycled Repurposed Handmade Candle Holders

Candle Holders for holidays, parties, special occasions, weddings, bridal showers, etc. You name it candle holders are popular for use everywhere. Many of us have some form of a candle holder within our homes some where. 

Yeah, you can shop at your regular home town stores for the traditional candle holders made of glass, wood, for the walls, and etc. If you want something unique, one of a kind, different shapes, sizes, and colors you need to check out people who are crafty offering such things. Maybe you want to make them yourself which makes it a unique piece for your home, and a little more precious too. 

So many things are used in making diy candle holders. As you can see above, or will find on the internet they are made from cut glass, some are painted, pieces are done by gluing them into forms offered, use a little mod podge with some lace or doilies on a jar, tea cups with saucers, picture frames, and so many things are used. 

Why pay the money with places like pottery barn when you can make candle holders yourself? Better yet buy unique pieces from talented people who make them, and offer them from their shops. Visit some of the links above with the pictures, see what is offered, get some of your ideas from viewing, and follow to many others making these pieces too. 

Thanks for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams, and hope to see you again soon. Till the next time everyone . . . . Toodles . . . . . 

DIY Picture Frame Makeovers Wall Projects

                  annabooshouse frame makeover frame into picture board

                            Floating Frames Makeover

             All Things Heart and Home Picture Wall Makeover

DIY Picture Frames Makeover

I know I have brought this up before, but I just see so many neat things others are sharing on the internet of the how to of doing makeovers with frames. Not only do they share some instructions of what to do, but the ideas and creativity is amazing at times too!

Above you will see just a few ideas I have shared. Click on over to see what else these people have to share with ideas, and sometimes instructions for their projects too. 

So many neat things to do with picture frames. You can paint them, put a frame inside a frame, make floating frames, create picture frames into corkboards, make some chalkboards, put letters inside the picture frames, make pin boards, add a mirror to a frame, do some mosaic work on the frames, etc. Not only can you use picture frames, but maybe you find a gorgeous frame with a mirror you would like to upcycle, or repurpose it. Sometimes the mirror may be bad, and needs to be removed, and there sits this adorable frame that you must decide what to do. This is a time to have fun, and be creative with it. When creating there is no right, or wrong way of doing it. What makes you happy will work. 

Sometimes frames are bought new at the stores, maybe found in clearance isles, and better yet when you are thrifting with some of your favorite thrift stores you may find treasures to use. 

However you decide to do your makeovers, have fun with it, and enjoy it as well. So many ways to decorate with them! My list of ideas is growing, and I think maybe it is time for me to get busy creating some things myself. If you live in an area like me, winter time is a great time to be working on some of these projects too. 

Thanks so much for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams! Hope to see you all again soon. Happy hunting, and happy sales to everyone!