First Step to the Business World

Easy Cash From Greeting Cards

( By: Kabuhayang Swak na Swak)

Christmas, Birthdays or just even if you want to be sweet there is always a reason to send greeting cards. Who in the world won’t like to accept a greeting card from someone who thinks of you? Not every one has an email address and not everyone have access to a computer to receive electronic greeting cards so it’s never out of season to make a traditional greeting card sent via post office. And if you know how to make one you can profit or earn from it.

You only need a small capital for a home based business opportunity making greeting cards. Aside from paper you can use different kinds of materials to decorate your cards. Be creative and resourceful to make beautiful and unique cards. The return of investment is very easy if you are just industrious enough on selling. Below are the materials needed to make a simple greeting card:

How to Make a Greeting Card:

1. Make a Sketch. Make a sketch on a piece of white paper preferably a bond paper using an ordinary pencil. Make the design small and should not exceed 3? x 3? area. Make the design as simple as possible for it to be looking neat.

2. Transfer the Design. Trace the design you made using the tracing paper and an ordinary pencil. Then flip the tracing paper and trace again the design at the back using an 8B pencil. This is for making a carbon effect to transfer the design again to the hand made paper. Then get the 3? x 3? hand made paper and superimpose the tracing paper then trace the drawing using a ball pen with no ink (that’s that carbon effect). Be careful not to puncture the tracing paper which you can use again for tracing. I think if you have a computer it’s easier to make the pattern and print directly on the handmade paper.

3. Paint the Background. You can use water color, poster paint, oil pastel or colored pencil for coloring the background. Wait for it to dry. Choose colors that will blend on the design you just made.

4. Paint or color the Subject or Focal Point of the Drawing. Its good to use oil pastel for large areas and the colored pencil so the lines will be defined. Trace the outline with a sign pen to enhance the design. You can also use different mediums for coloring and will be more attractive if you use various coloring medium.

5. Put Life in Your Design. Be creative! use bamboo shavings, pieces of cloth, dried flowers and leaves, glitters and other things you can imagine to make it more realistic. Use bamboo stick on applying glue to make it cleaner and precise. Put a plastic sheet on the design and wipe with a piece of cotton cloth to remove the excess glue.

6. Put Borders. Apply glue on pieces or coconut fibers. Twist and roll it to make a small twine or rope. Cut and glue the rope-like coconut fibers to the sides of the handmade paper. This will serve as borders of the greeting card design.

7. Assemble the Card. Fold the 5? x 10? thick handmade paper in two, like a greeting card. Then glue the 3? x 3? handmade paper design which you have made previously on front of the card. Let it dry and put in the envelope. You can now sell it as a home based business or give it to your love ones.

Courtesy of: Batang Atikha Savers Club and Globe Masigasig

greeting cards

Gift Basket for Gardeners-A unique gift or for Home Based Business

(by: Kabuhayang Swak na Swak )

Because every year we celebrate many occasions like birthday, graduation, Valentines and specially this coming Holiday Season like Christmas and New year, giving gifts is always there. So there are lots of
home based business opportunity to earn on making unique gift baskets. You can even have a gift basket business and sell your gift baskets online.

To make it unique and became a hit you should think of a theme for your gift baskets specially if you are planning to have a have a gift basket business. For example, if your target market is people who love to cook, make a gift basket with pasta, canned tomatoes, olive oil, cheese and italian cookbook then put it in a cooking pot. To those who loves craft put a craft scissors, glue, art papers with assorted colors, stickers and scrapbook in a box.

Below is a sample of how to make a gift basket for gardeners. Call it what ever you want, Gift Baskets for Gardeners Etc.

Materials Needed:

- Gardening Tools set
- Gardering gloves
- Gardening book
- Different kinds of plant seeds
- Plant markers
- Liquid fertilizer
- Hand lotion

How to make the gift basket:

1. If the pot you have chosen is deep, put filler first. You can use crumpled Japanese paper. Blend the color of the container to the color of the filler. You can also use dried moss.

2. Arrange the contents inside the pot or the container. Tape the small things to avoid dropping out. You can also tape all the contents to make it unmovable. Add filler to make the pot or container look full.

3. Put ribbon or any decoration fit to the theme of your gift basket. Experiment which type is suitable. You can also put leaves to make it more attractive

4. Wrap the whole thing in cellophane and tape it nicely so the contents can be seen. You can use colored or transparent cellophane depending on your taste.

5. And finally put ribbon and gift tag. Perfect for a home based business.

Courtesy of: e-kain.com and Globe Masigasig

gift baskets

You’re Third-Eye in Business

By: Keren C .VirayII-BSBM

A lot of people now a days own and manage a business neither small nor big and in every business SECURITY is one of the big aspect entrepreneurs and managers must consider. And because of this, they always make sure that they have the most effective, most advanced and most hi-tech security system that the computer age offers.

Video recorders and surveillance camera are now a big help for many businesses and industries.

One of those hi-tech security system is the newly develop digital video recorder and surveillance camera that can give you the ability for remote surveillance.

How could it be possible?

The digital video recorders includes remote surveillance software enabling users to log on from a distant PC (personal computer) by this, the business is connected and can monitor the surveillance camera that is connected to the DVR ( digital video recorder) with out a sweat. The business can also be notified of the motion activated alarm recordings by using e-mails as well keeping the business informed.

Aside from that, you could also have remote surveillance and monitor by using your own PC.

By How?

The DVR cards or PCI cards installed on your PC include software, which can turn anyone’s PC into their very own digital recorder and surveillance camera system. Network surveillance has built in web servers that are connected to the internet and can be monitored through remote surveillance from any PC. This kind of surveillance camera is built for PC based software that provides PTZ (pan, tilt and zoom) function via the remote surveillance and monitor that is included and preloaded.

Another example is the development of digital security system. A digital security system can make retrieval of data more consistent and faster because of faster processors that allow faster frame rates. The frame rates of the digital security system is the number of frames or pictures, a unit can record per second and shared by the number of cameras. A digital security system uses a hard drive to store video and it feature a more advance resolution. Example of this system is the hit reality show -Pinoy Big Brother over which the show uses a lot of surveillance camera to be able to monitor every move of the housemates.

Pinoy Big Brother a reality show that uses surveillance cameras

Other than this, there are other types of hi-tech security system, such as the Multi Camera Viewing and Auto Rotation that allows you to choose any combination of surveillance cameras to be viewed on the screen at any one time and then rotate to a new screen with another set of specifically chosen surveillance cameras, Multi Camera Playback-that can play back simultaneously, Web Browser Access-that uses a standard web browser you can access the system through the internet and many more.

By this advance security system, your business will surely be secured even during your vacations or social parties, thanks for this technology that have erase you’re worries and printed you’re third-eye in business.

“THE LATEST SHOWBIZ GADGET”
     (By: Keziah C. Viray II-BS Business Management)

   (A clay animation scene from a Television commercial)

Advantage of Having a Home-Based Business

Home-based businesses are not only great for giving you the freedom to work from your own home and choose your own hours, a home-based business can also offer many tax advantages.

What Can You Claim
There are many things that you are legally allowed to claim for your home-based business and its operation costs. For example, if you have your office set up in your own home and that area alone is used for the sole purpose of your business, you may claim deductions for that space through your business. Further details on how to claim for your own space in your home can be obtained from the IRS.To figure out the deduction of your home office in relation to your home, you will need to work out the amount of space that your home office takes up. For example, this may be 10% of the total space of your home. Then deduct this amount from your current payments on your home, for example, interest on your mortgage or rental costs.These deductions also include property tax and, if you already own the home, you may be eligible for depreciation costs. Insurance costs for your home can also be claimed at the same rate as the rental or mortgage deductions.Other things that can be deducted from your home-based business include remodeling or office furniture that relate directly to your business. These must be only for your business and for no other purpose.In addition to all of the common things you can claim, including supplies and equipment, there are also other deductions that are often overlooked by those in home based businesses. These include transport costs that are directly related to your home-based business, entertainment of your clients in your business and your taxation preparation costs.

Keep Good Records
Home-based businesses are just the same as any regular business in the terms of record keeping. Keep records of anything that you may want to claim on taxes and make sure you understand what you are within your rights to claim. Keep your records in a safe, organized filing system or archive, that way, if you do get audited, you will have no problem finding relevant documentation of your business.To find out exactly what you are able to claim and the applicable rates, visit the IRS for further information. Don’t spend another year missing out on important deductions for your home-based business.