My Table Display: Pittsburgh's 'I Made it! Market'

I was thrilled to be a part of the Valentines Day Markets put on by I Made it! Market a few weeks ago! I was definitely a unique vendor at the event...since I sell printables and am an online based shop...But I wanted to attend the event to promote my Blog: The Busy Budgeting Mama & my etsy shop Pretty Paperie Printables and to make connections
 in the local area! I had a blast! My amazing mother came up from the south to help me with everything from putting the table together to entertaining my
 girls while i talked to potential clients. 

I loved chatting with all the shoppers and getting to know the other 
vendors selling hand made items.
By the end, my cheekbones hurt from smiling and
 I was completely talked out...but it was fun. :)


most of the photos shown were taken by the lovely christine of christine marie fine art photography. everyone needs to travel with a talented photographer haha. 
you get amazing pictures e-mailed to you. :)

I wanted to keep my budget for this craft fair very low since most of my money making off this would come later through orders in my shop. And i feel like i did a good job of using what i had.. I took frames off my walls, ribbon and paper from my craft box. my mom brought the lovely drawer and the lace table cloth i layered. I had a slideshow featuring recent clients and some of my favorite designs..it helped people to see the range of work i've done.

I put together a sampling of Party Printables with the Valentines Day Theme...just so people could get an idea of some of my top selling items..spark their imagination for  items to include in their next event! It was always the best when people would stop by my booth, take a card and tell me about a party they were going to be planning!! lots of baby and bridal showers.

I created my business cards and uploaded them to vistaprints.com. LOVE how they turned out. and the price was fabulous!! be sure to google discount codes to use before you buy! there are always good ones out there to use......
 One side was my blog and the other my etsy shop. I got lots of compliments on how i branded myself which made my day because i worked hard on that.

sample treat bag tags.

The babies for some reason didn't want to sleep the night before.....so i was frosting these mini cupcakes the night before at 2 am. haha. good thing i loveeee this kind of last minute craziness. :) Everyone kept asking if they were fake!! And my response of course..."No they are real! i should probably just eat these as i stand here to show they are real..i'm willing to make that sacrifice to showcase my toppers well..." haha. they agreed.

my little angel. watching a show. she actually fell asleep there for part of it. She had a blast seeing all the people (specifically the hula hoop lady.) and I think she loved it so much because I kept telling her we were going to a ballroom and we could danceee.. hehe.

I put out Christine's business card since i used her beautiful photos from the Budget Friendly Valentines Day photo shoot. She made some great contacts and even had a sign up for a Engagement shoot giveaway she was doing. It was a joke with all the single/not engaged yet girls who stopped by. They kept saying they were going to take a card and sign up to give a hint. haha.

leading up to the weekend, my mom was busy crocheting up a bunch of ADORABLE baby hats!! they were just so sweet. I'll be adding them to my shop soon. 
It really was so funny how many young women were first drawn to the baby hats and would comment on how they couldn't wait for a baby!! 
I also had two adorable baby models with me to help. they were a nice touch. ;)

christine was there snapping away! 
and sophia was a little trooper (i had a babysitter the 2nd day but the first day of the event I had to bring her with us and it was right during her nap time..she was AMAZING.
 Her hair is a lil wild below because of the cute baby hats she was modeling for us. hehe.

i was definitely the "BUSY budgeting mama whiel working my table. juggling sienna...passing out cards answering questions.. my husband told me that i wouldn't have been true self if i didn't have her at my table too. ;)

I will be sharing with you, later this week, some fellow vendors who caught my eye! 
You will love them! If you haven't already been to an event like this you should..and for all Local PA/Ohio readers you should look up I made it! Market and attend one of their events.

 i hear the summer ones are awesome! 


I'm off to Atlanta to visit my sister, Valerie (of Blanqi.com) 
Someone was incredibly generous enough to gift me with a buddy pass(all expenses included) (incredible right?????) and i'm sooooo excited to visit my family down south! My sister had her baby a month after i had sienna and we haven't had a chance to get together yet!! i can't wait to meet the lil guy and to take some photos of the cousins together. :) I'll be away from sophia again which is sooo hard. But Ben is all excited to have daddy time with her. It's a short and sweet trip and i'm sure i'll be sharing photos
 of the fun with you once i get home!