8 Office Supplies You Need to Organize Your Small Business

As a small business owner who also works full-time at another job, it can be really hard to stay organized. My brain is running full speed all the time and it’s a challenge to keep blog ideas, expenses, receipts, biz documents, Etsy details, and who knows what else in a tidy and organized matter. Add that to the crazy crafts-in-every-single-room-covering-every-single-surface, and, well, it’s a mess! I’ve been trying to create systems for my business that keep me organized and ready, whether it’s for tomorrow’s blog post or taxes next April. Today, I’m sharing eight office supplies you need to organize your small business that will help you stay productive and sane! All of the items are from JAM Paper–they have a huge selection of supplies in bright fun colors. And there’s a BONUS! There’s a coupon for you for one of my favorite items–see below.

P.S.: Being the DIYer that I am, I have a few ideas of how you can personalize items to make them fit you, your brand, or your home decor! Oh. Yeah.

1. Small Accordion Folder

I use an accordion folder for all of my receipts separated by month (and let’s be honest: they’re all crafts, paper, crafts, and more paper). It’s compact and can be tucked into a drawer for easy access, and it makes entering expenses into my accounting software (I use Wave, it’s pretty awesome) at the end of the month a breeze. Don’t forget to print e-receipts from your online orders, Facebook ads, Etsy, etc. and put those in your folder, too.

Gold Standard Workshop: 9 Office Supplies You Need to Organize Your Small Business — Check Size Accordion Folders – 5 x 10 ½

Sep182015Mar 31 2017

Free Printable: xo

Free printable Friday! Oh yeah girl. Keeping it simple today. It’s bold! It’s graphic! And it would look great on a gallery wall like this one from A Beautiful Mess.

It could also be a reminder to give yourself an xo. You are often your own worst enemy/critic/meanie. I know from experience. Give yourself a little slack, a little time, a little rest, and a lotta love. xo.

Sep152015Dec 4 2015

Home Style: Lighting Solutions for Small Spaces

I’m always on the hunt for things that will make my apartment lighter, brighter, and cheerier. I love my apartment–it’s cute, vintage-y, and close to downtown, but it’s DARK. 🙁 I live in a 60s-style rental with sparse and generic overhead lighting and I only have two sides with windows. Living in Seattle makes my lighting woes even worse–did you know it’s overcast 62% of the year? Not cool, man. And my plants! My poor plants…but that’s another story.

Eclectic Dining Room by Melbourne Media & Bloggers The Room Illuminated

My apartment is also on the smallish side–I don’t have room for side tables in the living room let alone room for miscellaneous tables to place lamps on. And I don’t even have any overhead lighting. But I did find something that saves the day and looks great in my tiny space. Floor lamps! Floor lamps are awesome: they take up very little space, light small nooks and dark corners with ease, and offer a sense of overhead lighting, especially when placed next a couch or chair–they’re great for you cozy book readers. Today I’m sharing my faves from Parrot Uncle, a massive online lighting store with tons of modern, sophisticated, and unique designs (for all types of lighting!), and also showing you a few ways to use them to get your creative juices flowing!

Sep92015Sep 19 2015

GSW Travels: Pendleton Woolen Mill

On my recent road trip to Wyoming, I stopped in Pendleton, Oregon at the Pendleton Woolen Mill. Built in 1895, all Jacquard native American blankets are made there and it also houses a fabric store and outlet for blankets. (There is another mill located in Washougal, Washington that makes woolen apparel that I’d love to visit, too!).

I have a soft spot for the brand because my grandpa was obsessed with their button down shirts. He had to have one in every color/design. Each time he came to visit, we took a trip to the local shirt store and we’d spend an hour in there deciding which shirt he needed, and he would run through his vast inventory–in his head–to see if he had a particular design already. Half the time he couldn’t remember because he had so many! He’s given a lot away over the years, but he still has 60-70!

The building houses a store full of apparel, housewares, blankets. There is an outlet in the back half that sells discounted blankets and fabric by the yard!! There’s also a small museum that provides history of the area and describes some of the company’s history. This mill also hosts tours but only during weekdays–I was there on a weekend, so I missed out.

GSW Travels: Pendleton Woolen Mill, Pendleton, OR — I love this shirt! Very cheeky and fun.

The following pics are in the back half of the store–all of the blankets are offered at a discount due to weaving flaws. Each piece has a small sticker with a code on it. Staff give you a (long!) line sheet of flaws and you match the code to the flaw description. I had a hard time finding the flaws on the ones I examined.

The floor-to-ceiling contraption you see in the picture below is fabric sold by the yard! It’s a system of pulleys that staff can pull to bring fabric within reach to cut. It’s not cheap–about $80 per yard, but they had some beautiful designs. They also had some smaller, solid color bolts of wool available. You could make your own pillows, clutches, totes, skirts–you name it! I pondered buying a yard of something, but for that price, I needed a definitive project for it. I think it would be great to make a tote bag with leather handles or a cute fall clutch.

That’s it! If you get to the Pacific Northwest, make a stop at one of their mills–especially if you can catch a tour and a deal on their beautiful blankets!

Sep42015Mar 31 2017

Free Printable: I Love You

Heya! We made it to Friday!! Can you believe it? And it’s a lovely long weekend, too. It’s also Free Printable Friday over here in the workshop! Woot.

This pretty printable is colorful and fun, reminiscent of long summer days at the lake or a trip to the ice cream shoppe in the city. The watercolor letters could be ice cream sprinkles! The message is simple. I’m saying goodbye to sweet, carefree summer. I love you, dear friend. Don’t stay away too long.

This would be an adorable just-because gift for someone you love. Stick it in a frame, wrap it up, and surprise someone you love! You would make their day!!