Use Your Pictures Don't Abuse Them at Firecrackinmama's!

When Work is Fun
I have, after most of my life, finally found something I really like to do - print on demand. It was a long road to follow in order to find this high interest, fun work but at least I found it.

Photography always interested me but not until I purchased an Epson 7600 wide format printer and Photoshop CS did I really become interested in photography and print on demand as a career/hobby/job.

I started by printing trial exhibits and quickly moved to printing posters, banners and large format prints. Shortly thereafter requests were made for business cards, greeting cards, customized tablets and other office products. So I expanded my equipment inventory with a Xerox 8200 Phaser, Epson 300r and other pieces of equipment that would enhance and expedite production.

Unfortunately I started just on the cutting edge of the Internet's introduction to all kinds of printing companies capable of fast turn around and much cheaper prices then I could meet. However the learning experience was priceless and I've had to move on to a better way of providing my customers with high quality items quickly. So now I'm selling the used equipment that I'm no longer using in my Firecrackinmama's Flea Market.

The first time I found a print on demand sight I felt like I was back in kindergarten. I didn't know the jargon, how to set up my shop or how to set my prices. I learned quickly though and have enhanced my sales and marketing through Photofunonline.com, which has been taken offline and Firecrackinmama.com . I also found new print on demand sights that are not only much more user friendly but customer pleasing: Firecrackinmama's Card Store, Firecrackinmama's PrintFection, Firecrackinmama's Zazzle.

So now I get to spend more time taking pictures and designing while all the work in taking orders, printing, shipping and handling is done elsewhere. What a wonderful feeling!

In addition to all the fun I've also developed a social network with REAL artists from all over the world. Their work is awesome and selections will be displayed often here.

Of course this time of year has everyone starting to think about the holidays. It can be an extremely happy time and stress free IF you keep it that way. I know when I was first married and the kids were small we fell into that "gift that keeps on giving all year" debt. It would take us all year to pay off the credit cards. Of course my husband and I worked which meant giving gifts to co-workers, bosses, customers and assistants. Instead of being a happy time of year full of joy in giving, it became a dreaded yearly chore. Finally, WE stopped giving what we couldn't afford and returned to the idea that it is the thought behind the gift that is important. We have continued with that idea for all special occasions now and not just for the holiday season.

With that in mind I have attempted to make all my items in my stores not only of gift quality but functional. Sometimes it can be very difficult.
I have many favorite things I like to design as gifts.

One item that I really enjoy designing is greeting cards. The quality of print is so good that the card can be framed and hung on a wall. So recently I've been sending my friends, family and loved ones a frame with my card. They enjoy my message and then use the card. BUT the real motive for designing greeting cards was not to promote them as a product rather it was for an educational awakening about the "Lost Art of Writing".

Calendars however seem to be my specialty. I have had a great time designing not only 12 month calendars with a beautiful image for each month but I love my 24" x 36" wall calendars with a full year displayed on a magnificent image. I've found poster frames on sale at local craft stores making the framed calendars a definite enhancement to any room. Again however, my motivation for designs comes from teaching math to students of all ages. I have developed a task performance project(not published yet) for designing calendars in the classroom making math a real and functional learning experience.

As a special treat for the holiday season though, I've designed the perfect card/gift for the football fan. Last year I sent the 24" x 30" poster of a football stadium with a "Seasons Greeting" tag on the sidelines and 15 Santas hidden throughout the stadium to my football fan customers. I had so many that I had to design 4 different posters. My customers had so much fun searching for the Santas that they used the poster as a game for various holiday parties. One customer hung his in his barber shop and had a 50/50 to raise money for a good cause.

Then I had some customers order theirs directly from me as I printed them on 1/8" matte board, customized them with names and they gave them as gifts. The most fun I had after printing the boards and setting them aside for shipping was everyone that came to our house would stop and try to find the Santas.

Naturally thinking along the lines of the holidays I had to design some Christmas cards. They have been fun to create with many more to come. But not only was I able to use the designs on cards but I was able to use them for ornaments, flat magnets, on tote bags and basically you name it. All items reasonably priced and of great quality.

I could go on and on and on but it does get boring for you readers and becomes one big advertisement. To me it is exciting and fun.
So Have a Firecrackin Great Day!!!

Coasters - everyday, holidays, special occasions

12 month calendars.

Planning a wedding? How about "Save the Date" magnets or customized cards (shower invitations, thank you notes) and matching postage?

Like T-shirts?

Fund Raisers or Sports Teams - customized bumper stickers, pins, magnets, stickers, tees, mugs, hats ......

Don't know what you want? Well, feel free to browse our site for thousands of unique customized gifts!