Posts Tagged ‘Crafts’
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.
Painting A Piggy Bank Is A Great Craft For Kids
Here’s a fun way for your kids or grandkids to learn about money and saving while crafting. Give them a ceramic pig to paint using acrylic paints. Urge them to save their allowances in the bank and keep track of the money they’ve saved. Think of how proud they will be to see the bank they’ve painted themselves and watch their excitement as they watch their savings grow.
Not so long ago I gave similar adorable piggy banks to each of my three grandchildren to paint. They had so much fun, didn’t make the mess I anticipated, and were extremely proud of their banks. Even the youngest one did a great job figuring out a design and applying it to the bank.
Look at the picture here. Is it an art, a craft, or a hobby? This neat decorative fountain was given to me by son, Ted, and daughter-in-law, Tracey. Whoever it was that came up with this project did some cool thinking. They have taken an unusual piece of tree limb, actually 2 or 3 pieces of tree, and arranged them in an attractive way. A pitcher pump has been added. A small electric fountain pump has been included with the tube running through the spout of the pitcher pump. A nice-sized bucket catches the water that falls from the spout of the pump when the cord is plugged in. Several artificial flowers and plants have been added to enhance the appearance. All of this is sitting on a piece of plywood covered with artificial grass.
I have seen a great variety of designs and styles of these, and perhaps you have, too. They seem to be popular at flea markets and other events where things are sold. As you can imagine, no two are alike.
If you are interested in making money from your crafts, this might be a project you would want to consider.
Christmas is just around the corner, and while it may be a little late to start our Christmas crafts, I just have to share this one with you. Considering that it is a simple project, hopefully you will find the time to fit it into your schedule. It is so much fun. And this might just be a great project for your kids.
I saw this recipe in our local newspaper yesterday. Now it may not be new to you, but it is to me. At least, if I’ve run across it before, I have forgotten it. (Maybe you don’t have that problem.) Anyway, the column was written by Carol Cloud Bailey, known in our paper as “Yard Doc.” The recipe is for dough ornaments which will have your house smelling great for a long time. The ingredients that you will need are:
1 1/2 cups cinnamon
1 cup applesauce
1/4 cup white school glue
If you prefer a different aroma, Carol suggests that you add 1 tsp. to 1 tbsp. each of ground nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and allspice.
You also will need the following supplies: a bowl, plastic wrap, a drinking straw, and a cookie sheet.
Use a spatula to mix all the ingredients, adding the cinnamon slowly. The dough should be thick like a stiff cookie dough, but not sticky. Knead the dough slightly until smooth and cover with plastic wrap. Then let it sit for at least an hour. Flatten and roll the dough until about 1/4 inch thick. (Thinner dough tends to crack and curl; thicker dough doesn’t dry well in climates such as ours here in Florida.)
Cut into desired shapes using a template and knife or cookie cutters. Use the drinking straw to punch a hole for the ribbon or yarn to hang it.
The ornaments may be placed on a rack to dry, turning every so often; this will take three to five days, or longer if the air is damp. She prefers to put them on cookie sheets in a warm oven, about 170-200 degrees, for about two hours, flipping them several times. When cool, you may decorate them with beads, ribbons, paint, or glitter. Do not cover the entire surface to allow the fragrance to fill your house.
Carol suggests storing them in sealed containers with silicone packets to absorb moisture.
Preschoolers are full of life and energy. Keeping them busy and entertained often becomes quite a challenge. One solution is to come up with some preschool craft ideas.
Doing arts and crafts is one of the highlights of a preschooler’s day. These various activities allow children to express themselves and during the process they learn many things as they are participating in these projects. They can learn letters of the alphabet and simple words. They can be taught to identify and name animals. Colors and their names become familiar to them. The list goes on and on. The benefits of involving our youngsters in these learning arts and crafts are varied and numerous.
If you have a crafter friend or relative to buy a gift for and just are lost for ideas, check out my holiday gift ideas for crafters of all ages. What crafter does not enjoy receiving a craft items for Christmas or for a birthday?
There are so many holiday gift ideas for crafters that the only problem one may have is which one of the many choices to settle on. In that case, a gift certificate to a craft store is always welcome.
With Halloween approaching, it may be time to explore the aspects of facepainting. It seems as if all kids love to have their faces painted – not only at Halloween, but on any occasion which comes along.
At Halloween especially, when your children are out ‘trick or treating’ and perhaps crossing busy streets, consider the safety issue. Rather than wearing a face mask, having their faces painted allows them more visibility to observe their surroundings.
An important fact to be aware of when painting your child’s face is that one cannot use just any paint for this process. Just as there have been specific paints created for other specific applications, there are very special paints made for face painting. Be sure that you purchase these paints or check that the person painting your child’s face is using these paints in order to avoid allergic reactions.
Facepainting booths are popular, not just on Halloween, but at carnivals, fairs, birthday parties, and anywhere kids and adolescents gather. Perhaps you may want to venture out into this fun field and set up your own facepainting booth at these affairs.
It’s something to consider — and could be fun and profitable too!
Quilts are a labor of love. They are very time and labor intensive, and quilt making is a hard-learned skill. The end result, however, is a stunningly beautiful display. And because a quilt is so much hard work, they can serve as a meaningful and personal gift.
For graduations, milestone birthdays, weddings, or other significant events, a quilt can be the perfect, personal gesture.
Because the quilter has so much leeway within the framework, pick quilt fabric and patterns that suit the receiver. Utilize favorite colors, hobbies, or experiences as inspiration, and the recipient is sure to treasure the gift.
And even beyond that, it is the kind of item that is special enough to be passed down through a family line. If the highest quality materials are used, the care and attention of construction are sure to make the blanket last for years to come.