Unexpected Ideas for Creative Projects

Think Outside the Lunch Box: Tips for Making Healthy and Easy Office Lunches

Submitted by Kellie on February 18, 2011

Topic: Business Builder

Tags: Watercooler Wisdom Office Lamination Food

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It’s that time of the day. The time when you wander over to the office refrigerator to extract a bland-looking plastic container with an even more bland turkey sandwich trapped inside. To make matters worse, it’s Friday and you have had the same turkey sandwich every day this week. The temptation of chain-food restaurants lingers outside your office door, making it even harder to stick to a budget or diet plan. With our New Year’s resolutions in mind, I’ve got some helpful tips below to get you away from that burrito place down the street and back into saving money and eating right!

· Make a plan. Having a list of meal ideas ready to go can make your trip to the supermarket an easier experience. It also lets you prepare dishes for lunch that can also be reused throughout the week. All this takes is a few minutes of prep before hitting the store to get your thoughts together and will make eating healthy a priority for the rest of the week.

Put Your Stamp on It: A Personalized Touch for Your Handmade Gifts

Submitted by Kim on February 16, 2011

Topic: Home Helper

Tags: Home Helper Gifts Handmade Stamps Labels Personalized

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When a birthday or holiday comes around, I like to show friends and family how much they mean to me by making gifts based on their personal taste. I make everything from customized jewelry and baked goods to quilts and handmade card sets for birthdays, weddings or holidays. For Christmas this year, I made a photo book for my parents with all the memories we shared in 2010.

To highlight the fact that these gifts are handmade, I ordered a customizable rubber stamp that I’ve turned into a “signature tag” to accompany all of my handmade surprises.

Happy Valentine's Day

Submitted by Kellie on February 14, 2011

Tags: Valentine's Day

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Valentine’s Day Cards, Cards and More Cards!

Submitted by Jenny on February 11, 2011

Topic: Excellent Events

Tags: Valentine’s Day Personalized Excellent Events Design & Print Center Crafts cards

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Last Valentine’s Day I shared with you all a cute photo card idea for kids to give to friends and family.

I was looking for something that my son could give to his classmates that was both age-appropriate and special. These cards were a big hit and they definitely stood out from the rest of the class!

...read more

Valentine’s Day Series: V-Day Party Games

Submitted by Kellie on February 9, 2011

Topic: Excellent Events

Tags: cards Crafts Design & Print Center Excellent Events Personalized Valentine’s Day

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Love is in the air and Valentine’s Day parties are on the calendar. At least I hear they are. None for me this year, but I have fond memories of homeroom mothers hosting get-togethers in elementary school classrooms. There’s nothing quite like getting second graders hopped up on sugary treats at 3:00 in the afternoon before the buses come…

If you’re one of those homeroom mothers (or teachers) and need to give kids an outlet for their sugar-fueled energy, consider playing a Valentine-themed game with them. I have a few ideas below.

Pin the Heart on Cupid’s Arrow

You never know when love will strike. Help Cupid out by pinning the heart on the tip of his arrow. It’s similar to “Pin the Tail on the Donkey,” but with a holiday twist. You can have a poster-size image of dear Cupid printed and laminated at a FedEx Office location for just a few dollars. Then you just need pins and little cut-out hearts. It’s easy to play, requires minimal set up and materials and fun for all pages.

Valentine’s Day Series: Crafty Cards Made Easy

Submitted by Leah on February 8, 2011

Topic: Excellent Events

Tags: Valentine’s Day Personalized Excellent Events Design & Print Center Crafts cards

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Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and I’m sure all of our Out of Office readers are getting ready for the big day. Whether you’re picking out a thoughtful gift for that special someone or helping kids assemble Valentines for their classmates, February 14th will be here before we know it.

It seems like for every holiday, I have grand designs of creating elaborate, handmade cards for my family and friends. But the occasion always sneaks up on me and I don’t end up sending anything. This year, I have the same good intentions, but I came up with a solution to help me actually get the cards into the mailbox.

Instead of individually making cards, I decided to create a digital template. This way, I can focus on one design and quickly print all the cards at the same time. I’ve shared my template here, but you can also find lots of good ideas on the FedEx Office Design & Print Center website. ...read more

What’s Your Sales Pitch?

Submitted by Adam on February 4, 2011

Topic: Business Builder

Tags: Small Business Sales Marketing Business Builder Brochure Booklet

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One of the biggest challenges for small business owners is the wheeling and the dealing of making sales. This can be a tricky art form, and a lot of people just aren’t that comfortable with making the pitch to their customers. As a former manager of a FedEx Office location, especially of a brand new one, I needed to spend a good deal of time getting my new neighbors aware of the new business and what we could do for them. It wasn’t always the easiest of things to do for me. There are tons of marketing tactics you can use – and we’ve talked about a lot of them here and here – but what if you want something that will make the pitch for you?

Having a sample book that features images and descriptions of your products or services is one of the best ways to help potential customers learn about your offerings. In many cases, it can do the talking for you, relieving some of the stress of having to make a hard sell.

Weather 101 with Groundhog Day and Punxsutawney Phil

Submitted by Leah on February 1, 2011

Topic: Parent Projects

Tags: Lamination Kids Finishing Services FedEx Office Print Online Crafts Children

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I don’t know about you, but by this time every year I’m ready for spring. I want to kick off my winter boots, get outside, and enjoy the fresh air and longer days. It should come as no surprise then that, as a kid, I loved Groundhog Day.

There was something almost magical about Phil and his ability to predict when spring would suddenly … well … spring. Even though the weather didn’t always cooperate with Phil, the tradition still added a little bit of fun and anticipation to the last days of winter. ...read more

Get Your Organization Noticed Year Round with Fundraising Calendars

Submitted by Adam on January 28, 2011

Topic: Excellent Events

Tags: Fundraiser Excellent Events Calendar Parent Projects Personalized Charity Customized

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Finding new and different ways to fundraise for your school, organization or local charity can be difficult – especially with limited resources or time. With the endless bake sales and car washes everyone else is already doing it can be tough to stand out! Plus, when those events are over, does anyone really remember who you are? Out of sight, out of mind, right? So if you’re looking for something new to try this year, why not personalize your fundraising efforts by creating calendars to sell at your next event?

· The personal touch you can put on your own customized calendar makes it that much more appealing to people considering a donation. Fundraising for your child’s basketball team? Including pictures of each teammate highlights the cause and creates a special keepsake for whoever wants to support the team. Raising money for your college photography club? Showcase some of the club members’ best work from the last year.

Fundraising Series: New Ideas for Reaching a Fundraising Goal

Submitted by Kim on January 26, 2011

Topic: Excellent Events

Tags: Finishing Services Fundraising Print Online

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This week, we’re sharing some ideas for raising awareness and raising funds – some are new and novel, others are updates to the tried-and-true. One fundraising challenge many organizations struggle with is how to spread the word and get people excited to give. Last year, I participated in a unique event – a swim-a-thon – to raise funds to keep the lights on and water warm at the local swimming pool. It was a great event and we met our goal, but there were not as many participants as we had hoped. So what could we have done better?

Leah shared an idea about using signs to help your cause, but here’s a twist on that – door hangers! These are a creative and visible way to get the word out quickly about your fundraising event.

They are easy to make on your own or using a template, which we’ve got for you here. ...read more

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