Splitcoaststampers.com - the world's #1 papercrafting community
You're currently viewing Splitcoaststampers as a GUEST. We pride ourselves on being great hosts, but guests have limited access to some of our incredible artwork, our lively forums and other super cool features of the site! You can join our incredible papercrafting community at NO COST. So what are you waiting for?
Location: Just north of Whoville in Guelph, Ontario!
Posts: 527
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by tetchasimmer
Any tips on what kind of cash float to start out with at the shows you attend?
Being Canadian, like you, we have those lovely loonies and toonies instead of ones, so I usually have a roll of quarters, one roll of loonies, one roll of toonies, 10 - fives and 5 - tens.
So far I have been lucky with that change. I freaked a bit at one show as I was almost the first table when people came in with their $20s but then the people that looked first and then shopped replenished my stash.
Some of the items I have been working on....
Suckers, Candy Cane Flavored Pop Rocks, Hot Chocolate packets with dipped wooden mini spoons, peppermint patties
And I am having the most fun on my current project....matchbook notepads. I got some of the mini calendars from skybluepink and put one in the inner cover and am going to put a pen with it. They are fun and super easy to make!
PS...speaking of pens, Walmart has a great deal in their "Christmasy" area, at least here at my Walmarts....8 mini pens for 97 cents. Its a package of 2 turquoise, 4 green and 2 red pens but they write blue ink. I bought up a bunch!
Some of the items I have been working on....
Suckers, Candy Cane Flavored Pop Rocks, Hot Chocolate packets with dipped wooden mini spoons, peppermint patties
Those look fantastic!!! Great job. Love the suckers - such a lot of work but WAY cute
Some of the items I have been working on....
Suckers, Candy Cane Flavored Pop Rocks, Hot Chocolate packets with dipped wooden mini spoons, peppermint patties
Want to share a picture of the awesome display my talented husband made for me. A friend of mine had a homemade display that we had liked. So he took the rails from my sons' old crib that we couldn't sell (since it was the drop side kind that were recalled) and made this display. The shelves just slide in (he made me 4 of them so we have plenty if needed) and painted them black (they were originally baby blue and white). The whole thing folds flat for easy storage and travel. I was definately blessed with this man - I love new display :-) !
Very nice!
I asked my husband if he could cut some scrap lumber into some price sign holders. He made them out of blocks of oak and he even stained them.
I am finished with my shows for this year. I only am doing 2, way down from last year's shows. Being sick, then babysitting a friend's kids, just took all of my crafting time away. I usually start in January for the shows in November/Dec. I WILL be ready for next year! I could realistically do at least one more show this year, but I don't want to go into it unprepared, so I will wait.
Anyway, I also haven't been on this board for quite some time, so I have a LOT of catching up to do!! So happy to see there is a whole new thread! :-)
Some of the items I have been working on....
Suckers, Candy Cane Flavored Pop Rocks, Hot Chocolate packets with dipped wooden mini spoons, peppermint patties
So cute!! I like the hot chocolate. So, did you dip the spoons in chocolate and then add those little dehydrated marshmallows while it was still wet? They look great!
So cute!! I like the hot chocolate. So, did you dip the spoons in chocolate and then add those little dehydrated marshmallows while it was still wet? They look great!
Diane...I did! The spoons are mini wooden spoons I got at Hobby Lobby. They are The Paper Studio Spare Parts Embellishments brand. I had asked on here if they were food safe because that is what I wanted to do with them and didnt see on the package that they said food safe...well, on the back of the package in fairly large letters it says FOOD SAFE....LOL Total blonde moment there!! They are normally 1.99 for a pack of 10 but I got them when they were half off so I spend $1 on 10. Got 4 packages. I used the chocolate dip and the Mallow Bits you find right next to the hot chocolate (at Walmart anyway). I did all 40 spoons in less than an hour. Just make sure to let them "set" before putting them in a little bag. Here is a closer up pic of 2 of them. I used a small baggie and a twist tie on them, then made a tag and tied that on the spoon with bakers twine.
And on the suckers....I already had 4 of the Santas made up from last year and all the parts, pretty much, punch out and done from last year so I just had to assemble 4 more. I only have 8 Santas and 8 Snowmen. You all inspired me with your suckers!!
The snowmen were pretty easy...just 3 different sized punch circles and the eyes and buttons are 1/4" circle punch. the hat is a 1" square punch and a 1 1/4" square punch that I cut into 4 strips to make the bill of the hat. Then just used up scrap paper for the band of the hat and the scarf. It was actually super easy. I will make those again....the Santa is more work but like I said, I had it mostly done from the previous year.
I was asked at the last minute to do a show at a \seniors independent living home on Saturday so have decided to do this. It is a new type of venue but I think my items will do well. They are looking specifically for food gift items, which is good.
Since my popcorn snowmen are selling so well, I have decided to make up some more of those today.
Mary, 3 of them opened for me, but #4 did not and I tried it 3 times. Is it in a zip file? Sometimes I have trouble with those at first because I have an imac and not all files will work. It would not open in "pages" which is where it wanted to go. Anyway, thanks so very much! I will make use of the others hopefully next year. Happy Thanksgiving...count your blessings, not the calories this year!
Karen
I did end up making some of the nugget purses. They are so very adorable. It worked out well because I used only paper scraps. Has anyone sold them for 75 cents with success?
I did end up making some of the nugget purses. They are so very adorable. It worked out well because I used only paper scraps. Has anyone sold them for 75 cents with success?
Yes...I sell mine for .75. This is the 3rd year I've sold them and I think it will be the last. I only sold about 10 at my last two shows combined...last year 50 and the year before was probably closer to 100. So I think it's time to retire them. I have a pattern for a nugget mailbox I've been wanting to make so that will be my replacement next year.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone and good luck to all at your upcoming shows.
Hello All,
I wanted to let everyone know how the craft fair went, so disappointed, I sold 65.00 and the tables cost 50.00, oh well lesson learned, I think I will stick with selling at both my jobs I make out better ( made over 500.00 last year), and I think I have finally caught up on my sleep from crafting for the fair. I sincerely hope everyone does better than I did.
__________________ Cherie There is a destiny that makes us brothers, none goes his way alone, all that we send into the lives of others, comes back into our own.~Edwin Markham
Can I ask how many of each of these items you made to take with you to your show?
Thanks! Tetcha
This is what I brought to the fair
ACRYLIC POST IT HOLDERS 6
ACRYLIC POST IT HOLDERS 6
BIRD SEED 24
BOOKMARK CALENDARS 70
BUTTERFLY SMARTIES 40
CARDS 20
GLASS ORNAMENTS 24
HAND SANITIZERS 19
keychains 50
KITCHEN ANGELS 30
LEGEND ORNAMENTS 100
LIP GLOSS 15
M&M STIX 30
MICROSLIDE ORNAMENTS 24
NAIL POLISH 12
NECKLACES 15
POST IT NOTE HOLDERS 29
SANTA KEYS 12
SANTA KISSES 19
santa nugget / purses 100
SOCK CUPCAKES 15
TILE COASTERS 6
WHISKS 12
WHISKS 12
CANDY BARS 96
JOURNAL JAR AND BOOK 12
PET TREATS 24
PLAYDOUGH 5
REINDEER FOOD 20
SOAP REINDEER 3
TOOTH FAIRY TINS 12
__________________ Cherie There is a destiny that makes us brothers, none goes his way alone, all that we send into the lives of others, comes back into our own.~Edwin Markham
Reindeer soaps..I get it now! Very cute. May put on my list for next year.
Where did you find inexpensive washcloths?
I wish I did find a supplier, lol, just bought the cheepest set of brown ones at wal-mart.
__________________ Cherie There is a destiny that makes us brothers, none goes his way alone, all that we send into the lives of others, comes back into our own.~Edwin Markham
Hello All,
I wanted to let everyone know how the craft fair went, so disappointed, I sold 65.00 and the tables cost 50.00, oh well lesson learned, I think I will stick with selling at both my jobs I make out better ( made over 500.00 last year), and I think I have finally caught up on my sleep from crafting for the fair. I sincerely hope everyone does better than I did.
So sorry for your disappointing fair. I only did craft fairs one season a few years ago, and I had much the same experience. I totally wore myself out, neglected my family during the busy Christmas season, and made not very much money. I did 6 shows between October right up to the week of Christmas.
If I had counted my time, and the gas to get there and back, I'm sure I probably even lost money, lol. I "enjoyed" the experience, because it is something I had always wanted to do, but once was enough for me.
My crafting items are now given as gifts for friends and family. People frequently say, "Oh, you could sell those." I now say, "I work for love, and not for money."
__________________ Bugga in OK
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." Dalai Lama
My crafting items are now given as gifts for friends and family. People frequently say, "Oh, you could sell those." I now say, "I work for love, and not for money." [/QUOTE]
That is how I feel as well, at least I know there are others who have had the same experience.
I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Peace to you and yours.
__________________ Cherie There is a destiny that makes us brothers, none goes his way alone, all that we send into the lives of others, comes back into our own.~Edwin Markham
Cherie and Bugga-
So sorry about your experiences. I think there is definitely a learning curve with the craft shows. It takes a couple years to get profitable.
My first year, I did not do as much in terms of volume of products or variety of items. Maybe 10 items. Now, I probably make 30 things at least. I am in year 6 though.
I agree! I didn't do very well my 1st year and was up until 2-3 am to "finish" before I went to sleep - which made for a very long long long day! I made lots of contacts which was my goal but I hated that I "ignored" my family and was grouchy and then when I barely profited above my table fees...very disappointing. Now I pin things and make them throughout the year...and then put them into my rubbermaid containers. I have accumulated many shelves and other display pieces that I have found here and there at thrift shops or garage sales that were inexpensive and easy to store and transport. Yes - I'm not feeling very Christmassy in the spring and summer but it makes my craft fair season so much easier to deal with and now I can do several shows in a season and at a moment's notice. I'm in year 3 and people have come to expect me at certain locations year after year and I still meet new people at those events and find new customers. I visit other craft fairs and Love love love Pinterest for ideas. Next year I will be adding some spring and summer events so I have been making some non-seasonal items the last few months while working on seasonal items. I'm not going to get rich from this type of event but it's fun and I do make enough to support my crafting habit and Christmas spending money! Every year gets better and better... this year I'm getting a Silhouette Cameo and hope that will make my project completion time as well!
We got a new dog, actually he is a rescue. Apparently the pounds in Alabama put dogs down after 7 days regardless of the dog. And there is a woman there who takes them from the shelter, puts them in foster care and when they are ready she takes them to places like Petco and people adopt them. Anyway we stopped in for something unrelated, and there he was....My mom originally adopted him but after 2 weeks her other dog got very aggressive towards him. My daughter had begged me to get him the adoption day, but at the time the adoption fee was too steep. When things didn't work out my mom asked if we would adopt him...so now he lives here with us...in our zoo.... But he REALLY is a cute dog, a good dog. He obviously was a abused by a man in his past as he is having some issues with my hubby and my son. But hopefully he will learn we are all his friends soon. He is a Daschund/Chihuahua mix. He mostly looks like the Daschund, but he has the shakes like the Chihuahua. He is my little shadow. Cant imagine why people had issues with him. He even gets along with our 4 cats...and a couple of them are getting used to him.
So I have been busy with him. but I will be doing a couple of classes in the next couple of weeks for Christmas. Then in January I am going to get serious about crafting so I can do more shows for next year.
Oh and I wanted to say, things that sell the best for me at every show are things that people can use for things like place settings. For example the Hershey nuggets wrapped in paper, 4 in a tray and tied with a bow and a cute saying. And the shows I do before Thanksgiving, people are always asking for Thanksgiving themed items. I believe I made 50 Thanksgiving nugget trays, and every one sold at one show. Then I think we did 80 Christmas ones, with maybe 15 of which being in shades of blue, like snow, and I came home with 3 of the blue ones. I also do some little boxes with candies, different every year, and they sell great as well. This year I had a new customer who asked if she could order a bunch of the boxes empty and she could fill them. I usually buy a big bag of candy, starlight mints, or a hard candy mix, from either BJs or Walmart. I put a nice little handful into the boxes and I am able to fill a LOT of boxes with a $5 bag of candy. :-)
Oh and I wanted to say, things that sell the best for me at every show are things that people can use for things like place settings. For example the Hershey nuggets wrapped in paper, 4 in a tray and tied with a bow and a cute saying. And the shows I do before Thanksgiving, people are always asking for Thanksgiving themed items. I believe I made 50 Thanksgiving nugget trays, and every one sold at one show. Then I think we did 80 Christmas ones, with maybe 15 of which being in shades of blue, like snow, and I came home with 3 of the blue ones. I also do some little boxes with candies, different every year, and they sell great as well. This year I had a new customer who asked if she could order a bunch of the boxes empty and she could fill them. I usually buy a big bag of candy, starlight mints, or a hard candy mix, from either BJs or Walmart. I put a nice little handful into the boxes and I am able to fill a LOT of boxes with a $5 bag of candy. :-)
I've been wanting to do something with boxes but I can't any that are priced right? Where do you get yours and what do you charge for each box?
Last minute craft show items for my final show this year.
First one is these adorable little flexible rulers I saw and just had to buy. Santa Rules, Rudolph Rules and Snowmen Rule. Price was right and I knew they would work up fast.
The second item is little Dove candies wrapped in silver, gold, red and blue. I'm doing a show at an Armory and wanted to get a few patriotic colored items on my table.
The third is an item someone on here mentioned but I think she used nuggets and covered them with nice paper. I found the smaller bite size ones that were wrapped in nice bright Christmas colors so I just used them as is.
Just a few more items to make. Duck Dynasty, Reindeer Noses, and stock replenishment of Snowman Hats, Snowman Hugs, Mistle-toes, something else I'n can't think of right now.
Off to my messy craft room.
Oh and I found some sparkly emery boards I want to do something with...any ideas?
I've been wanting to do something with boxes but I can't any that are priced right? Where do you get yours and what do you charge for each box?
thank you
I have always made my own boxes and there are so many good tutorials on the net. If I am making a white box for example I can stamp on it or add embellishments or coloured twine . I like to use staples 110 pound weight card stock s it's nice to work with and does not crack in the creases.
You could also run this little white box through a snowflake embossing folder if its a christmas box. I also like to use the plain white box so I can layer any type of paper I want for any occasion.I also use the cream coloured one as well.
Dawn Griffith , Francis Martin are two with good basic boxes, and once you make one you can then make any size if want by adjusting the measurements.
Sam Donaldson.. a U.K. SU demo has some great box tutorials with boxes made with the envelope maker. you can find her on Pinterest or her website is
Pootles.wordpress.com.
Little boxes for nuggets and kisses are so quick and easy to make up you will be whipping them up in nothing flat. This is from someone who is addicted to making boxes and making. A pretty package.
Regarding Emory boards, have you seen them combined with a nail polish with the sentiment "for Your Mistletoes". instead of nail polish maybe some cuticle cream or wipes for removing polish. Am sure someone here will come up with some clever ideas.
I've been wanting to do something with boxes but I can't any that are priced right? Where do you get yours and what do you charge for each box?
thank you
I make my boxes! There are lots of tutorials on line you could try. There are all different sizes, shapes, etc. Price depends on the level of difficulty/supplies go into making them.
Oh and I wanted to say, things that sell the best for me at every show are things that people can use for things like place settings. For example the Hershey nuggets wrapped in paper, 4 in a tray and tied with a bow and a cute saying.
Well, my fair at the seniors home was not very successful. Definitely won't do that one again. I still made $75 but feels like a bit of a waste of the day.
I have 2 shows left.
On a good note, I made up some washi tape magnetic bookmarks before the show. They turned out so cute!
Well, my fair at the seniors home was not very successful. Definitely won't do that one again. I still made $75 but feels like a bit of a waste of the day.
I have 2 shows left.
On a good note, I made up some washi tape magnetic bookmarks before the show. They turned out so cute!
And you know what we are all going to ask? Any pics?
Thanks everyone for the information on the boxes. Already checking out sites and anxious to try them. After my last show that is.
For the emery boards I was hoping to do something with them on their own.
I do nail polish and put the really little containers of nail sparkles to go with them.
Magnetic washi tape bookmarks. It is a bad pic of when I first made them, but I packaged them individually in a clear sleeve. They are stored in my car now so can't take a pic.
