Sewing Patterns & Supplies

children sewing basket

Looking for ideas to make craft products, that are simple but nice.?

I have 5 children and am looking for extra pocket money for them, Im good at making silk flower arrangements, but tried that and the cost was more to make than the time, effort, postage etc, and market already covered, any ideas that are simple but nice, no sewing, just not me. I was thinking of making up baby baskets but again that probably would cost in postage packaging etc, Your ideas would be appreciated, Thanks

1. Target your market. Who will you ask to buy your product? What is that market willing to pay for your product?
2. What skills will you have to learn that you don't currently have? How costly will it be in time and money to master those skills?

With the silk flowers, for which you already have the requisite skills, ask yourself, "what market for silk flower arrangements would pay me what it's worth to make the arrangements?" One answer might be, "brides will pay for silk bridal bouquets." One advantage is that you would be making the bridal bouquets to order rather than on speculation. Another is that you can ask for at least enough to cover your materials up front as a "deposit." (I had to deposit $1200 for the *photographer* for my daughter's last wedding plan or he wouldn't even talk to us.) Next, you'd wonder how to make contact with brides-to-be and how you would build a portfolio to show them. You can leave your business card at photographers' shops, bridal shops, bakeries, and other places that brides will be doing business anyway. You can make up sample bouquets and photograph them (with a model, preferably) to build your portfolio. You can offer the samples to photographers at a reduced rate to be used in wedding portraits and ask the photographers to mention your name as the creator of the bouquet.

The other place that silk flowers might be a seller is in hospital gift shops. Lots of people are allergic to live flowers--the last thing I want when I'm sick enough to be in the hospital is a bouquet that will close up my nasal passages and swell my eyes shut. So put a card on that says "Allergy Free" and advertise them as the appropriate hospital gift that will last even after the patient goes home.

The baby basket idea is a good one if you can make it profitable. Who is your target market? The new parents? Friends and relatives sending a gift? You'd need to work out an array of baskets from the smallest you'd make to the largest and calculate all of the costs and the price you'd have to ask, then find out what people would be willing to pay. OR you could get sponsors to provide the materials which you'd put into FREE baskets that would advertise the sponsors. For example, a small, infant-appropriate toy from a toy shop; sample sizes of baby wash and diaper-rash ointment from a drug store, and so on with a brochure listing discount coupons from all the sponsors. Then you would charge the sponsors a commission for creating the baskets and deliver them for free to newborns' families. Sort of a Welcome Wagon for newborns.

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How to Create Gifts Under 5 Dollars At Craft Shows

If you sell crafts, then why not create gifts under 5 dollars? I know you think this is probably not worth bothering with, but this can be a great business model for this time of year.

Many people are feeling the pinch of this years economy, and some people I have talked to are not even bothering with gifts this year! So, you may have to appeal to a different market.

Instead of creating elaborate and expensive products, why not consider smaller items. Not only do adults shop at these craft shows for something unique but children also shop for their gifts as well. A friend of mine, gives her older children (10-12 years) some cash, and tells them to go off and shop when they go to a craft show. As a crafter, that has sold in many shows, I can tell you, there are a lot of kids in that age group shopping.

Here are 5 ideas:

1. Christmas ornaments, that are unique, but don't take much time or materials to make, have a small Christmas tree and hang your ornaments on the tree.

2. Small craft kits, you can create from your leftover supplies. These are a great way for people to venture into crafting. Such as a package to make a tree ornament etc, in a small zip lock bag.

3. Craft CD's.. You can get creative here. Spend the time and create a CD of craft ideas, and some of your own craft patterns. It will take some time in the beginning, but you can make and sell many copies of this CD and sell it for 5 dollars. Create a decorative cover for your CD and copy it. You could have a printed version in a binder, to give the customer an idea of what is on the CD. These make great gifts. The beauty of this, is you can sell many copies, and CD blanks are quite cheap now.

4. Grab bags, of supplies. Such as scraps for quilting, or enough leftover wool to make a scarf and directions. Leftover embroidery thread, and some embroidery cloth. Go through all your bins, and put together some items that can create a small craft, or like with like. This is a great way to use up your leftover supplies, that you were not going to use anyways. This is especially good for beading, and sewing. This gives your customer a chance to try a craft without the big expense of full package supplies.

One year, I had changed the type of paint I was using, and had many bottles of acrylic paint, that had been opened and partially used, but were still good. I then purchased a few bare wood items from the dollar store, one for each kit, such as frames, boxes, canvases, and created a craft kit for kids. I sold these for 5 dollars. I got rid of my leftover supplies, and yet someone else got to create something with them. I put them in see through zip lock bags, and had them in a large basket. I labeled the basket my “bargain basket”.

Everyone loves to look in my "bargain basket" This attracted people, and it also help me sell many of my other more expensive items. The "bargain basket" was a good leader and attracted many kids, who were looking for gifts under 5 dollars.

5. Make a DVD of you creating a craft. Most digital cameras can make movies now. A "how to" movie, and put a picture of your finished craft on the front of the DVD. Something simple. You can really put your computer to good use here. Once again, you can sell many copies of this for 5 dollars each.

 Hopefully this give you some ideas for gifts under 5 dollars. As a crafter, you want to offer and sell your best crafts at craft shows, but sometimes you have to appeal to a younger crowd (kids) and also to people wanting something different for gifts, and don't want to spend too much.

Having a "bargain basket" at a craft show, does NOT make you look cheap, it actually attracts people, and everyone loves a bargain. Plus this also helps pay the rent for the show. Those 5 dollars here and there add up quickly.

About the Author

crafts to sell and make money with your craft business. Article and website by Diane Palmer.. a crafter for over 15 years.

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