Archive for April, 2010
How to Sell Your Crafts Locally, Globally, and On-Line
Nearly everyone who is involved to some extent in crafting, I would imagine, has considered the possibility of selling their handmade items for additional income and to have an outlet for their many beautiful creations. Sooner or later, the supply of these items becomes too much to keep on hand. Let’s consider what the marketplace has to offer for handmade items.
There is a remarkable new opportunity for crafters in these present times. Handmade items are popular. The market is ripe for creativity, and there are numerous opportunities for sales - opportunities that perhaps did not exist a few years back.
To be successful in selling your crafts, you must first determine the right price for each item. You want to be sure that the prices you set are not too expensive. On the other hand, you do not want to price you precious handmades too cheaply. When the price is right, customers will buy.
There are several venues for selling your crafts. Craft fairs are continually being held across the country. Online sales are another way to break into the market, and consignment shops offer another outlet for your items. It is necessary to consider every option to determine what is right for you.
Most if not all parents, I’m sure, at one time or another have heard these familiar words, “I’m bored.” Provide your kids with a few craft materials, and boredom will soon be just a memory. Read on for a few ideas about kids crafts.
To keep our children occupied, a few basic materials come to mind: paper, crayons, safe scissors, glitter, and of course, glue. Paper for kids’ projects may include plain copy paper, construction paper, and cardstock in a variety of colors. Kids also have a knack for making interesting projects from old magazines and junk mail. (I get some neat stuff in some of my junk mail!)
While crayons are always fun for kids, there are a number of other options available. Craft departments of stores are filled with washable markers, watercolor pencils, gel pens, and paints of all kinds.
Although kids’ craft supplies can run into some expense, with a little planning, these ideas should keep your children happy with a minimum cost.
Bored
? Check out a few craft ideas and add some variety to your life.
Have you ever felt as if you’ve watched just too much TV or played too many computer games? I like TV as much as anyone else, but sometimes it just seems that there is nothing on that interests me. And I can only take so much of playing games on the computer. Don’t we all get to that point occasionally? Sometimes we just need to find a new interest. Taking up a new craft or hobby may fill the void we sometimes feel.
There are probably as many craft and hobby ideas as there are bored people. Perhaps you would feel fulfilled by getting involved in scrapbooking. Learning to paint is very rewarding, and you may be surprised at how many people are impressed with your efforts. Sitting down and playing the piano is relaxing for me. I can change my mood by doing so. So many others enjoy playing the guitar. Candle making and soap making are fun crafts to do, and the items you create make ideal gifts. With all the other craft and hobby ideas that abound, there is really no reason to be bored for long!
The postal service is one of the oldest and most time-tested conveyances of information that is still in use today. Because of this storied tradition, there are countless styles, designs and editions of postage marks for collectors to choose from. While seasoned collectors probably have their favorites and rarities that they seek out at every opportunity, stamp collecting for beginners can be daunting.
With so many countries and eras to choose from, one of the most difficult tasks is choosing where to begin. When I first started collecting stamps over 10 years ago, I decided to focus on my passion: music. Instead of conducting a wide search for every postage mark I could find, I began by seeking out music-themed stamps and broadened my collection from there.
As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve long been fascinated by Grandfather Clocks. (Maybe it doesn’t take much to excite me! LOL) These clocks just are an unusual, yet useful and beautiful, accessory to any home. When it comes to woodworking, making a clock, especially a Grandfather Clock, seems to me to be a great project.
A few years ago, at Christmas time, my husband and I decided to give our sons a special treat and purchase a Grandfather Clock for each of them. (We found a great deal on them.) When their clocks arrived by truck, these two boys and their families were very happily surprised.
Now suppose we had gone even further and made these clocks. How much more do you suppose they would have been appreciated? Perhaps this is a project you might want to consider.
By the way, these clocks are beautiful and really make a statement!
If you are into woodworking, making a Grandfather Clock may very well be your next project. If not, why not? How satisfying that would be.
For years I have been fascinated by them. Quite some time ago my parents and I visited a very, very large antique shop. This particular shop had so many Grandfather Clocks that I would hesitate to even try to guess how many there were. They had all been imported from Europe, and there were numerous designs and styles. Perhaps this is where I first became fascinated and intrigued with them.
Sometime after that my parents had a Grandfather Clock made for them by an Amish man. When my parents died, I inherited this clock. What a beautiful addition it has made to my home.
If you think these clocks are neat to have in your living room, why not consider making your own? Plans are readily available.
Are you like me? Do you never seem to have enough space for all the ‘stuff’ you’ve accumulated? If so, there is hope. With the proper woodworking plans, you can build a really attractive outbuilding that will not only look great, but will also be perfect for your extra goodies.
Unless you are really, really handy (and you may be), it is important that you get a good set of building plans. These plans will be well worth their cost as they will give you every piece of information that you will need to start and finish your shed. Included will be a complete list of materials you will need to purchase. Your plans will included photos and drawings to show you step by step how your work on this building should progress. In addition, a list of tools needed for your project will be provided.
Plans can be purchased very reasonably, and you will soon be on your way to having the shed you envisioned.
As with any craft project we get involved with, when working with wood it is absolutely necessary to have the proper woodworking tools for the particular job. Having the correct tools will make your crafting efforts go much easier, and the results produced will be more professional.
Good quality tools for woodworking are readily available in stores and on the internet. Many of them come with a lifetime warranty, which is a big advantage to us, the buyers. Before investing much money in tools, it might be wise to do some reasonable research, comparing prices between brands and suppliers. Be sure to check the warranties that come with each item.
Cordless, rechargeable tools are very handy in certain instances, and you may want to consider that option. Be sure to check the battery life of the batteries included with each tool. New batteries with extended life are constantly being introduced on the market. Something else that my husband and I have noticed recently is that at least one manufacturer offers lifetime replacement of batteries with their tools. This is certainly an added benefit worth considering.
Woodworking has always been a fascinating hobby to me. To be able to take a simple piece of wood and turn it into something beautiful is a great talent. Woodworking is perhaps one of the oldest hobbies that men have been involved in. It seems that it was always (and still is) instinctive to create shelter and so many other items from such an abundant and renewable source as wood.
There is such a vast assortment of wood types to choose from. There are light woods and dark woods, hard woods and soft woods. Wood grains are so varied and beautiful that it is often hard to select the desired one.
Getting started in woodworking is rather simple and relatively inexpensive. With a good plan or two, the proper wood and a few tools, you can soon be on the way to creating some great woodworking projects.
For most of the summer, kids can play outside in the sunshine and keep themselves entertained. But there are those occasional rainy days when kids are stuck inside and need a little help staying occupied. If your kids are sick of all their toys, simple gather some craft supplies and search the web for new craft ideas. Some craft essentials that will always get the job done are construction paper, crayons, markers, washable paint, glue, scissors, pipe cleaners, glitter and various fabric scraps.
Here is just one of many kids craft ideas that you can use to keep kids occupied, using inexpensive craft supplies and items you have around the house. You’ll need: one egg carton, brightly colored paint, pipe cleaners, glue, white felt scraps, a black marker and scissors. Cut the cover off the egg carton, the cut the bottom of the carton in half lengthwise. Flip the carton halves upside down so that the bottoms of egg slots face upward. Paint both halves with bright colors. Cut two pipe cleaners in half and insert the two pieces into one end of the carton halves to make antenna. Cut eyes out of the felt and use the marker to make black pupils, then glue a pair of eyes onto each carton half. Now you have a pair of caterpillars! Use the marker to draw more details, like a mouth, or use glitter to embellish.