People love stickers. They're colorful, they're fun, they can be big or small, and they make a statement. As a child, you played with them all the time. You're proud to say that you even got a few on your good behavior chart. A sticker can make anyone smile. Even as adults, there are plenty of uses for stickers. Teachers use them for class, people who are mailing letters use them to avoid licking envelopes, small business owners use them to market their businesses, and sometimes it's just fun to put one on your car and support your favorite team. If you need stickers, whether it's a big order or a small order, there are still a lot of things to think about before you make your order from the sticker printing company. Don't worry, though...ordering stickers is breeze! First of all, you'll need to think about what you want your sticker to say. You can find all sorts of stickers that are already designed for you, but if you want to, you can design your own. If the stickers are for your business, you'll probably want your business' name and contact information on them. If you're using them for mailing purposes, you'll want your name and address logo stickers on them. If you're trying to make a statement, then state away! Any good sticker printing company will allow you to customize your own sticker. Speaking of customization...don't forget about colors, sizes, and shapes. When you're thinking about sticker printing, remember these are your stickers and they can be any color you like. When you're deciding on what size you need, it's all in the purpose. If these stickers are going to go on letter envelopes, then a smaller sticker is best. If they are to market your business, you'll want them to be bigger. The shape of your stickers is really important too. They don't have to be the old traditional rectangle bumper sticker; they can be ovals, stars, hearts, circles, or squares. Different sticker printing companies do different shapes so when you're ordering, make sure you ask about their unique shapes. Customizing your sticker doesn't stop at the glossy image on the front. You want your sticker to last, so you'll need to think about what type of material you want your sticker printed on. Some sticker printing companies use a process called the flexographic process. It will make sure that your sticker has a long and prosperous life, no matter where you stick it. The flexographic process keeps your sticker from cracking. Great! Now that you know what your masterpiece is going to look like, submit your order. Generally, after you submit it, someone from the sticker printing company will call you to talk about your vision for your sticker. Before you get that phone call, decide how many stickers you need. If you're using the stickers for personal mailing, you'll want to order enough to last you for a while. If you're using them for your small business, you'll want to order a lot of them so that you can get your business' name and contact information out there. Teachers, are your ordering for your class? Get enough so that each student can have one more than once. No matter what the purpose of your stickers is, you should pick a sticker printing company who can print them quickly and correctly. Sometimes, if you have a big order, a sticker printing company will give you a discount. Keep that in mind if you're ordering in bulk. You can usually have your stickers printed and shipped within twenty-four hours. John Fischer founded StickerGiant in 2000 to serve as a clearinghouse for the first amendment. In 2006 StickerGiant began sticker printing for businesses large and small. John has a passion for stickers and thinks freedom of expression is a fundamental right.

It's not often that I get to practice what I preach. After all, it's been years since I suffered from panic attacks and social anxiety. But, lucky me, I just had the opportunity to "trance" myself into a blissful state of relaxation, better known as self-hypnosis. Let me back up a bit. You see, I am a fairly fearless person. I don't like earthquakes, floods, or fires, but don't really face those disasters on a daily dental jackets basis. I'm not a daredevil, but I do enjoy a rough and tumble carnival ride, now and again. However, I do not now, nor have I ever, liked dental offices. I was going to say "dentists," but I'm sure that behind their glistening teeth, crooked smiles, and demonic eyes, they probably are, in all probability, human beings with feelings. So, okay, I'm not going to admit to being afraid of dentists. Yes, and if you believe that, then I really like clowns, too. My tooth started throbbing a few months ago, but I was given a reprieve with some antibiotics. The "d" mentioned that, in time, I would probably need a root canal. I can't stand drugs. In most instances, the side effects are worse than the symptoms. I will seek, until I find, an herbal or homeopathic substitute whenever possible. But, to avoid the dreaded root canal, I succumbed, well, actually, grabbed the prescription and joyfully handed it to my pharmacist. My life had been spared, my sentence, commuted, I was home free. After ten days, I knew the antibiotics had worked. My tooth felt normal. I bravely ate walnuts, apples, and anything else I could find to test the little warthog. No pain. No sensitivity. No throbbing. I had won. I had beaten back the grim reaper. I felt victorious. La de da. Unfortunately, my triumph was transitory. Two months later, and just a few days ago, the throbbing pain was back. I chewed some baby aspirin, applied some Orajel to my inflamed gums, and avoided eating anything on the left side of my mouth. But, the pain continued. I was now taking aspirin by the handful. I stopped eating. I gargled with salt water (seemed like a good idea at the time). Nothing helped. This time, I was doomed. Okay, worst case scenario: I go to the "d" and he gives me another prescription for antibiotics. I can live with that. Right? Wrong... that was not to be. Once he had me in his torture chamber, I mean, chair, all bets were off. As he evaluated my x-rays, I evaluated the state of my nerves. Trembling hands, racing heart, pounding headache... not the signs of a person "in control." "Hey," I thought out loud, "I'm a hypnotherapist... I can handle this." I stopped blathering (lest the little men in the white jackets haul me away), and I immediately started to breathe deeply. In through my nose, hold, out through my mouth. By my third breath, I could feel my muscles relax, my nerves unwind, and my mind fog begin to lift. I told myself that I would remain calm no matter what the "d" told me. I would enjoy the experience because I would be mentally elsewhere. Hawaii is nice this time of year. When the "d" came back and confirmed my worst fears, I was completely calm and coherent. No more medications for me. It was "show time" and the root canal had a starring role. "Go for it," I uttered with so much conviction that even the "d" was startled. Obviously he was prepared for battle. In my "relaxed" state, the Novocaine shots didn't hurt, and the drilling, chipping, and grinding didn't phase me since I was busy building sand castles on the warm, white sands in Hawaii, sipping on a strawberry Pina Colada. Oh, the wonders of self-hypnosis. It empowers us with the freedom to explore our imagination until we find our perfect escape route. For me, it was Hawaii, for you, it might be an island, a tropical rain forest, or Disneyland. I may not use self-hypnosis as often as I once did, but, like a dear, trusted old friend, it's always there when I need it. I can even say the word "dentist" now with having the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stick straight up.