Favorite Products Archives - Bossy Brushstrokes

My TWO Must-Haves for Eco-Friendly Packaging

Posted on July 13, 2020

When I decided to start selling physical products, I knew I wanted my packaging for my business to be as eco-friendly as possible from day one. If you’re reading this blog post though, you and I can probably agree that it can feel a bit daunting at the beginning. I have been selling digital products here on my website for a few years now, but something about shipping is SCARY. This isn’t an paid ad & none of these links are affiliate links. I’m just a really, really happy customer who wants to educate other business owners on the sustainable options that are out there for your packaging that can still provide a personalized, branded experience for your customers. I’m going to break it down and even share how much I paid so that you’ll know what to expect.

However, I do want to start this post off by being transparent with y’all and letting you know that I am no sustainability expert. I’m just a human who did their research. That’s why you’re here, right? Doing your research? Let’s get into my TWO must-haves for my eco-friendly packaging for my small business.

Branded Tissue Paper

My first must-have is my branded tissue paper. One of the decisions I made was having my custom tissue paper printed by NoIssue. The tissue paper is acid free & printed with soy-based inks. Their tissue paper is also FSC Certified meaning the paper is sourced from a sustainable and responsibly managed supply chain.

Their online design interface (“tissue editor”) is extremely easy to use and gives you plenty of options and ideas. They have custom color options for your tissue paper. You also have the ability to upload a finished design in a variety of file formats. For some reason, I had some issues with uploading my logo when I went to order. Their customer service was quick to respond and extremely helpful throughout the entire design & ordering process. If you’ve been around here for some time, you’ll know that customer service is my biggest make or break with a company. 10 out of 10 in my book.

The actual sheets I have are much larger than what I show in the above photo if you’re wondering. I purchased their standard size, which measures 50cm x 74cm or roughly 19.68″ x 29.13″. I cut them down into thirds (and sometimes I even cut those in half) to fit the order I’m packaging. It creates less waste, helps me stretch my investment further, and still gives my customer a gift wrapped with lots of love. I do want to note that they do sell a small size if you’re interested in that, which measures 38cm x 50cm or roughly 14.96″ x 19.68″. NoIssue also offers custom stickers, custom tape, and other custom eco-friendly packaging for your business if you happen to be looking for that.

Let’s talk about pricing. Like most things custom in this world, you can save money by ordering in larger amounts. I took a chance and invested ($$) in a large order of this custom tissue paper because I knew the style of packaging I was going for and don’t plan on changing my logo any time soon. I ordered 1,000 sheets of tissue paper for a total of exactly $250. This breaks down to $0.25 per sheet. However, like I mentioned above, I do cut each sheet into AT LEAST thirds for the majority of my orders and that makes my cost for packaging per order that I send out even less.

Eco Enclose packaging on top of Bossy Brushstrokes tissue paper

Recycled Bubble Mailers

The second must-have for my eco-friendly packaging is my recycled bubble mailers from Eco-Enclose. It comes in three sizes (at the time of me writing this blog), but shown above is the smallest size measuring 4″ x 6.75″. Let’s talk about the details. They’re made with at least 32.6% recycled content and are fully recyclable. If you’re rolling your eyes at that percentage… DON’T! That is such a huge improvement and is a step in the right direction (and one that many thought they couldn’t achieve). They also have a tear strip and dual peel-and-seal so your customers can reuse them at least once before they are recycled. They are moisture resistant, which makes me feel more at peace knowing that it could see a lot of different weather in it’s journey from me to my customer. The best part… Wait for it… AND MADE IN THE USA. Woohoo!!!

It is important for me to talk about how you would recycle this packaging. You know at the front of the grocery store when there is a nice little bin labeled to recycle old plastic grocery bags? BOOM. You’d drop off this packaging in the same place to make sure it is properly recycled. They have a site dedicated to their bubble mailers if you’d like to learn more: www.ecobubblemailers.com/. If you’re interested in 100% recycled mailers, they do offer a padded mailer that is paper-based and their information is filled with a lot of great information that can help you decide what is best for your business.

They offer other types of shipping supplies (poly-mailers, boxes, clear bags, etc.) For example, I personally also own the rigid self-seal mailers and love them. I just happen to use these bubble mailers the most and as my primary shipping supply for my business. Oops! One more thing. Don’t forget to add the complimentary “We Care” cards to your order. I include one with each order that I ship out so that my customer is reminded to reuse/recycle the packaging. The back is blank, which is perfect for writing a hand-written thank you or adding your own branded stamp to.

Last, but certainly not least, let’s talk about pricing. If you ordered the small sized bubble mailer as shown in the photo above, you could get a bundle of 25 for $9.75 ($0.39 each) or a bundle of 500 for $99.75 ($0.20 each). YEP. Eco-friendly doesn’t have to mean expensive! You can make affordable, but impactful decisions with your business. (Pssst… I even had a customer mention my eco-friendly packaging in a review on Etsy!)

There you have it! My two must-haves for my eco-friendly packaging for my small business. I hope that this blog helped break it down a bit more for you and helps you as you make decisions for your own business journey. If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below or shoot me a DM on Instagram. Until next time, stay bossy y’all.

0 Comments

The Best Liquid Chalk Markers for Lettering

Posted on July 19, 2019

Ok ok ok. I know that y’all know my struggle. Chalkboard lettering is so much fun, but going back over your lettering to get that nice opaque color is the worst. The team at VersaChalk reached out to me a few weeks ago and sent me some goodies to try out. I knew as soon as I tried these chalk markers that I could not wait to share them with y’all!

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. Purchasing through these links is at no extra cost to you but if you purchase using some of the links below, I will receive a small commission. You guys know the drill and you know I will only recommend what I love. This post is sponsored by VersaChalk, but all opinions are my own. See below for full disclosure.

I know that not everyone is a video person (even though I highly recommend watching the video so you can hear my genuine reactions), which is why I wanted to write about these on my blog as well. Before I even get into the details, I’ll start by saying these are a game changer. Plus, if you have Amazon Prime, you can order through their Amazon shop. HECK. YES.

You know the struggle with lettering with chalk markers and it’s that some of them aren’t opaque and you have to go back and layer upon layer and it leaves more room for error. That’s why VersaChalk is such a game changer. AHHH. I can’t wait. Okay, let’s get into it.

I’ll start with the Rustic Framed Chalkboard.

I got the 7″x10″ chalkboard. In the video, I seasoned one side of the chalkboard and didn’t season the other to compare how the markers wiped off. If you don’t know what seasoning is, it’s where you lightly rub chalk on the board to help avoid ghosting and to give a more authentic look (which is why I like to do it). The chalkboard is also magnetic! Woohoo. One other quick note is that it comes with circular clip hangers included if you’re going to be hanging this around the office or your house! SCORE. You can purchase this on their website or Amazon.

Next, let’s talk about the Classic Liquid Chalk Markers (3mm).

These were the first markers that I used in the video. Ten different markers come in this package and they are each individually wrapped. I unwrapped them, shook them and pumped them as instructed. Holy. Moly. Y’all. You can hear my authentic shock in the video, but I was BLOWN AWAY by how opaque these markers are. You get so many fun colors and I absolutely loved them. Oh, I also want to mention that it also comes with a black (which is hard to see in the photo above) but I think that’s a great way to add shadows or details on top of your chalk doodles. You can purchase these on their website (currently on sale for $7.99) or Amazon.

Then there were the Metallic Chalk Markers (3mm).

I think these take the cake for my favorite. They are not joking around when they say metallic. I think that it is so unique and such a fun way to add flare to a chalkboard design. Again, you get an awesome variation of eight different colors! You can purchase these on their website or Amazon.

Next, I tried the Neon Liquid Chalk Markers (5mm).

These were the only 5mm markers that I tried. I think that the 5mm markers are awesome because the nib is reversible meaning that you get a chisel nib on one side or you can flip it around for the bullet nib! I know that I sound like a broken record at this point, but again I was SHOCKED at how opaque and bright these were. My word of advice is to shake them more than you need to shake the 3mm. Obviously they are larger markers, but I noticed that I had a few that weren’t as opaque as others during my first swatch of the colors. I shook them more and went back to re-swatch them (you can see that above with the green/yellow/red) and BAM! There we go. Hahaha. There are eight colors including another white in this pack, which I appreciate because we all know that you can never have too many white chalk markers. You can purchase these on their website or Amazon.

Last, but certainly not least, I tried the Wine Glass Markers.

What an awesome idea to easily personalize your nice glasses for an event you are hosting, a holiday party or even just a wine night with the girls! You get seven different colors in this pack. The marker layered SO well (I did faux-ligraphy on the glass) and wiped off with a wet paper towel. I am excited to be able to use these the next time I host anything at the house! You can purchase these on their website or Amazon.

Head over to my Instagram for a chance to win a few VersaChalk goodies for yourself! Thank you again VersaChalk for partnering with me for this post and letting me share your amazing products with my followers! Until next time, stay bossy y’all.

*Disclaimer: Bossy Brushstrokes, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com. I will earn a small commission off of your purchase but the price does not change for you. All opinions are my own.*

0 Comments

Modern Calligraphy: My Current Pen Collection

Posted on May 20, 2018

Alright. Let’s talk pens.

I’ve collected quite a few lately with a large range in price so I’m excited to tell you a bit more about each of them. We’ll go in order from left to right in the photo above. Photo credit goes to the wonderful and amazing Rebecca Christine Photography.

Feather Park Lettering:

Price: $38.54 (with option to add on foil leaf or change flange color for an additional cost)

I got this beauty in “Ocean” and added on a silver flange and silver foil leaf. Photos just don’t do justice to how beautiful Gina’s pens are. This is my newest addition to my collection and I was so blown away with how sweet Gina was. I DM’d her after my order to introduce myself since I’d be blowing up her notification when I tag her in my Instagram photos. She even sent me photos of the leaf placement to make sure that I was 100% satisfied before she sealed it. (Umm.. Can we say AMAZING customer service???) Wait for it. It shipped the NEXT DAY. Yeah, I know. I was freaking out, too. Her sweet nature and prompt service makes you feel like you’re making a serious investment with your purchase but it is really such an affordable price for a HANDMADE pen. She turns them herself! I love getting to support other ladies businesses in this community and I think that for the price, this undoubtedly should be something in your collection. I should also add how beautiful the packaging was. I just want to hug Gina for how sweet she was to me and that’s what I heard from those who recommended her oblique holders to me.

I do tend to have a bit of snagging with some nibs but I don’t think it is actually the pens fault. It is just still new to me and every oblique holder is a bit different and takes some getting used to with how the nib should be placed in the flange and I’m still learning as this is the newest pen in my collection. I especially love this nib holder for my EF66 as with a bit of force, it fits nicely into the flange. I have found that the two of those fit so nicely together and it’s been my favorite combination lately.

Speedball Straight:

Price: $1.49

There isn’t much to say about this straight holder. It’s cheap and a great place to start. Straight holders aren’t my favorite but they’re good to have around. When someone asks me what pen I recommend, I always tell them just to snag the Speedball Straight and Oblique (more on that one in a bit) just as a place to start. It’ll help you figure out which style of pen you prefer and it’ll let you figure it out without spending a lot of money so that you can invest in a beautiful handmade pen once you have your favorite style picked out.

Ink Me This:

Price: Ranges depending on the pen but average price is $96.79

I love this pen the way I imagine I will probably love my future children. Where to even begin? Krestel and her husband have created the most beautiful pens in the business (in my opinion). The resin they use is hand-poured right here in America (California to be exact) and I love to support things that are made right here in the States (and a company who obviously feels the same way). They have pens for just about anybody’s style. I actually got mine in early 2017 so their pens are actually about an inch longer now. I’ll be ordering a new pen from her very soon and I’ll be doing a post about it and can take that opportunity to compare them. This is my favorite pen. It’s my go-to. It’s a piece of art in itself but the size works extremely well with how I grip my pen and the flange is extremely forgiving when it comes to nib sizes. Kestrel also has a video on her Instagram showing you how to fit it for different nibs and I’ll link that here for those who are curious because it is from quite some time ago. I can’t say enough good things about this pen. Again, they’re all hand-turned by her husband and I just love supporting their business. I cannot brag enough on this oblique holder because it is truly my absolute favorite.

Ash Bush:

Price: $30

Another extremely affordable pen if you’re looking for a place to start. This holder is thicker and can really help beginners with their grip and allegedly, it can help with hand cramping! If a thicker pen is something that you think would help you, this is a great way to test that out. I like this holder but I just don’t find myself reaching for it very often, to be honest. Side note: I didn’t know originally that it was a non-affixed flange (meaning it can come out with some force) so I actually thought I had broke it at one point (oops). However, I messaged Ash on Etsy and she let me know how to fix it. A lot of people love the flexibility of a non-affixed flange so that they can clean their pen a bit easier and things like that. I’m a bit indifferent when it comes to that at this point though.

I also want to add this is from her Resonate Collection, which is a line of affordable calligraphy supplies. You can actually get fully custom pens from her on her website here. I don’t own any of those but I can tell you that they look absolutely beautiful. I also own the tilted ink holder ($7) and the pen rest ($9) and these are two products that I LOVE! Especially the tilted ink holder. I have really loved that and it is something I use almost daily. I can’t say enough good things about those two products!

Marbled Straight Holder:

Price: $3.19

As I’ve said before, straight holders aren’t my favorite but I added this to my collection for a very specific reason- it has a universal insert. This means you can fit a wide array of nibs into your holder with no adjusting needed on your part. I wanted to test it out for myself and it fits all of my favorite nibs with ease (including the Brause EF66). I snagged this from Paper & Ink Arts so that’s where the link will take you.

Speedball Oblique Holder:

Price: $1.99

Just like I said about their straight holder, there isn’t much to say about this pen except it is a great place to begin. It’s cheap and it’s effective. You are a bit limited in how the nib fits because you can’t push it through the other side like with a “normal” metal flange so as you can see the Brause Blue Pumpkin nib does stick out quite a bit but I find that it isn’t a bit issue at all. Just make sure you warm up and practice when you put a new nib in there so you can find what is comfortable for you (how you hold it, angle of it in comparison to the paper, etc.) and you’ll be just fine. I find that it isn’t the most comfortable pen for large projects but again, it’s the perfect place to start if you’re just getting into calligraphy.

IN CONCLUSION:

My collection is pretty small and is in the beginning stages. I’ve got my eyes on a lot of pretty pens and I’m excited to be able to use my business to support these small businesses and continue to grow my stash of pens. (You can never have too many, right?) Once my collection has grown more, I’ll do a follow-up post. If you’ve got a favorite that isn’t listed here, I’d love for you to tell me what it is in the comments below (don’t forget to tell me why, too) so I can add it to my wishlist and purchase it eventually to test it out myself. Until next time, stay bossy y’all.

0 Comments

My Favorites for “Real” Lettering

Posted on February 15, 2018

Ever since getting my iPad, I almost never pick up my lettering supplies that I used to cherish so dearly. When I do though, I’m reminded from where I started and where my love for this art all started. I wanted to make a short but sweet blog about my favorite’s for “real” lettering for all those out there who may be just starting their journey.

First, don’t skimp on the paper y’all. The type of paper you use can seriously effect how your lettering looks and the life of your pen or your marker. Ever noticed your marker fraying right after you got it? It probably isn’t you or the marker. It’s your paper. I don’t really have much to say about this other than I personally LOVE the Rhodia Pads. I don’t know the science behind them and I won’t pretend like I do… All I know is that the paper is smooth and wonderful and keeps my markers healthy. I also know the top is perforated so that you can tear out pages easily. This was the only paper I would use. They have it in blank, lined (like notebook), and dotted (like bullet journal paper).

Next, let’s start cheap. Crayola. Enough said. I love both the super tips and the broad tips. These are SO affordable and you can find them just about anywhere. Add in a paintbrush and some water and you can have some great, cheap fun blending colors together.

Onto the next one,soft tip Tombow Fudenosuke Brush and the hard tip. I would recommend ordering both to start with and then figure out which you like better. I like the hard tip the best personally but I always order both because I like them both and just switch it up. It totally depends on how you write and what you like.

Next is a great multi-colored set from Pentel. These are great because they give you a wide variety of colors. I don’t have much to say about them other than I really love them for doodling. They’re also my favorite marker to use to address my envelopes (gotta show off that writing, ya know?).

Alright. We’re getting close to the end but here’s another one. The Artline Stix! I got these from @BlackChalkCo on Instagram forever ago after seeing her ombre writing with them. Check out her Instagram to see them in action. They work especially well with the aforementioned Rhodia pads. They also make a very satisfying squeaky noise from the pressure on the downstrokes.

Lastly, the most expensive option. The TomBow Dual Brush Pen Art Markers…. specifically the set of 96 markers with a desk holder. Or if you’re like me, a “end table next to the couch or on the top of the coffee table” holder. *angels sing in the background* This is an investment though y’all. You will get every color of the rainbow and you will cherish them all as if they were your children (or maybe that’s just me). Don’t worry. They have smaller sets like this that you can try out before you make that big of a commitment.

I hope some of these are already YOUR favorites, too! If you’ve got another favorite that isn’t listed, leave it in the comments below so I can check it out.

Disclaimer: Bossy Brushstrokes is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com. I will earn a small commission off of your purchase but the price does not change for you. All opinions are my own.

2 Comments

Products I Couldn’t Instagram Without

Posted on February 12, 2018

I’ve gotten a few messages asking how I film my videos or what cover is on my pencil and I figured I would dedicate a blog post to all my favorites and then I can send a link to this post for you to get all the answers.

First and foremost, I wouldn’t be able to do any lettering without my iPad Pro. I personally have the 10.5″ version which you could check out here. Plus, the Apple Pencil. Ahhhh. This magical, magical pencil. Keep in mind that it is only compatible with the iPad Pro.

I film on my desk using a gooseneck holder that attaches to it with a clamp. You can get the phone holder that I use for Instagram here. When I start the video, I hold my phone from the back and hit the record button. I then wait for the holder to steady out as it does shake a bit. After it is steady, I start lettering and then I will crop the video in my iMovie app or Instagram (depending on how long the video is and if I have to speed it up or not) to cut out the beginning before I start lettering. This was a gift to me for Christmas from my best friend and it has been AMAZING. I can use my iPhone and have the videos directly on it. It is not only affordable but it is super easy and I know y’all like my videos so it works for everybody!

I have a matte screen protector for my 10.5″ iPad Pro and I bought a pack of 3 for a very affordable price which you can get here. I’m still on my first one! I love the way this feels when I write on it as opposed to just the plain iPad screen. It also takes the weight of worrying about my screen off my shoulders because once this gets scratched up, I will just replace it with a new one!

I get asked what stylus I use and as mentioned above it is an Apple Pencil. I just have a cover on it! You can get the blue silicone sleeve cover I use for my pencil here. But I also own this sleeve in black and this sleeve in hot pink and like them both as well. My blue one is just a slightly triangular shape as opposed to round which I like a lot personally and that’s why it is my personal favorite and the one I use every day currently. I also really love it because the cap stays in the top when I move it to charge my pencil so I don’t have to worry about misplacing it.

Disclaimer: Bossy Brushstrokes is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com. I will earn a small commission off of your purchase but the price does not change for you. All opinions are my own.

0 Comments