DIY Promotional Pens

I am addicted to Pinterest!! I have been wondering what took me so long to get on the Pinterest bandwagon and then I remembered that I was working 12 hour days managing a cafe when all my friends were talking about it and never had the time to really get into it. Anyway...now that I am running a small handmade business and have a more flexible schedule...I have found time to pin!! ;)

One of the coolest ideas I found on Pinterest recently is this post from Chocolate on My Cranium. The idea is to take pens with clear casings and insert pretty paper into them. Their finished pens:

So...I love that idea on its own, but when I saw this post I immediately thought what a great promotional tool it could be for small businesses. I've tried to order promotional pens before for my business and the smallest quantity I could find was 100 units. Most companies won't let you order less than 250!! I don't need that many pens lying around....at least not yet, so I decided to take my DipDaDip stamp and kraft paper and make my own.

And here they are:

I love how they turned out!! At only $2.34 for a 5-pack of pens, these are way more affordable to make on an as-needed basis. When you've got a limited budget, sometimes you have to get creative!!

For step-by-step instructions on how to make your own, check out the post over at Chocolate on My Cranium.

I'm Dreaming of a White Office

Lately I've gotten into a "simplify" mentality...keep things simple, organized, and aesthetically clean!! This new philosophy has led me to organize my closet, my collection of necklaces, and now has made me want to revamp my office...again. ;)

Anyway... here are some inspirational photos for my new-and-improved, minimal, clean, and super efficient home office!!! I'll update you on the process as I get photos!

Clean Office Inspiration

The mostly white palette in these two offices definitely scream "clean" to me. The only downside is you'll have to be disciplined enough to keep your desktop organized daily to go along with the minimalist aesthetic. This may be difficult for some, but I think a clean workspace can mean an efficient workspace!! 

Products to Achieve the Look

This acrylic desk chair is clean and classic and will give the illusion that you have more space than you really do. Perfect for smaller offices!!

These clear letter trays from The Container Store will help you stay organized while still giving off that clean and clutter free vibe. And bonus: they are much nicer to look at than those plastic black trays we've all seen at the office! 

This ceramic pencil tray from SortingwithStyle.com makes me want to sharpen some pencils and write old-fashioned letters!! Fresh and feminine, it's the perfect addition to a stylish desktop. 

Also from SortingwithStyle.com is this ceramic vertical business card holder. Being as my latest business cards are vertical, I was excited to find this little gem!

Now all you need is some fresh flowers and a mug for your coffee!! Monogrammed mug from Anthropologie. 

Oh!! And don't forget to add a notebook from DipDaDip !! Haha. Shameless plug!!!

The Giveaway is On!!!

The giveaway has officially begun at TheOfficeStylist.com! Go there now to enter and get inspired by Sayeh's great office styling tips and ideas!!

One lucky winner will receive four customized notebooks from our online shop!! 

We are currently story number 2!

Pretty Paper Roundup

It's no secret I love paper products. I even run a small etsy shop where I make and sell customized notebooks inspired by typography, street art and graffiti. I love seeing new ideas and small businesses doing something really well. Here are a few new items I recently stumbled upon that I'm crazy about.


Dandelion Planner by NotebookNotbuk

Greeting Cards from Circles And Squares

Notepads by Arminho