Need craft ideas

[daffodil]

I'm trying to find something that I can make fairly cheap and that is a good seller at craft shows and rummage sales. It would need to be something I could make fairly quick. I live in a "resort" town and alot of people come out to visit the lake and strip in the summer. They have a weekly flea market down on the strip and I'm thinking maybe I could pick up some money that way. Anyone have any ideas on what I could make?

[sissy]

How about small rock or stones from around the lake. Different shapes. Paint lady bugs, frogs, turtles, ect... Flat ones with the name of the lake on them.
My ML painted some & they were real cute & didn't cost much. She glued some together for worms, & other animals. Just an idea.
Sissy

[daffodil]

That's a great idea! I have tons of little rocks in my yard I've been putting in a pile. I've heard those sell really well too! Never even thought of doing that. They would make nice souviners too for the visitors with writing on them. :)

[sissy]

Good luck & have fun.
I love my crafts, too many to name
Sissy

[Mom5farmboys]

My husband drills holes into the lid of a clean empty liquid laundry detergent jug, and then he will drill one hole in the jug on top of the handle. My kids take them to the beach and use them for sprinkling cans! I save extra lids and have husband drill different size holes and different amounts of holes, etc. and then also have 1 lid with no holes at all. My kids love them, and if we lose them its no big deal.

But maybe if you wanted to sell them you could paint them up cute or decorate them in some way? Maybe you can ask your friends and family to save their laundry jugs for you?

Good luck!

[NCLee]

Scroll saw projects can be good sellers in a resort town.

If you don't alread own one, your biggest investment will be for the saw itself. Blades for the saw are relatively inexpensive, as you can buy them for a few dollars per dozen. Shop around for a good used saw to start. Don't buy the cheapest new saw that you can find. Instead buy a good midrange used saw. In the long run you'll save money. And, if you decide that you don't want to scroll, it' will retain it's re-sale value. I bought a DeWalt 788 for about half the retail price. Have had it for several years. It'll bring at least, if not more than what I paid for it, if I were to sell it today.

The cost of materials is what you want to put into it. There are many sources of wood that are free, or nearly so. Additionally, other materials can be used for scroll work. This includes plexiglass, CD's, aluminum flashing, copper, even paper. For example, I have a pattern for a hidden compartment in a book.

There are literally thousands of patterns, including many free ones. For a lake resort area, those with a fish theme would be very appropriate. As would those with the name of the lake included.

Other, for sale items can include key chains with an initial. coasters, candle holders, trivets/hot mats and so much more.

Here's some free patterns that'll give you a good idea of the potential. http://www.scrollsawer.com/pattern-downloads.php

In closing, it doesn't take a lot of time to learn how to scroll. Naturally there are some types of scroll work that'll take longer to learn than others. But, for the items that I beleive would sell well, the time it takes to learn is fairly short. Within less than a week, you can be turning out items that would be suitable for sale. Then, very soon you'll be turning out even more complex projects, as you develop your market.

Hope this idea for a craft is something that will be of interest.

Lee

[daffodil]

My husband drills holes into the lid of a clean empty liquid laundry detergent jug, and then he will drill one hole in the jug on top of the handle. My kids take them to the beach and use them for sprinkling cans! I save extra lids and have husband drill different size holes and different amounts of holes, etc. and then also have 1 lid with no holes at all. My kids love them, and if we lose them its no big deal.

But maybe if you wanted to sell them you could paint them up cute or decorate them in some way? Maybe you can ask your friends and family to save their laundry jugs for you?

Good luck!

That's a cute idea, especially being near the lake:)

[daffodil]

NCLee,
I used to do woodcrafts. I had all the tools and did shows and all. Not sure what happened to my tools really. I think my dad may have ended up taking them when I moved. All I have left is a circular saw and drill.

[momma_to_seven_chi]

My kids would sell painted pumpkins at the fall craft shows. Face painting for kids is also a big money maker. Just paint faces for one dollar (or more) a kid. If it is a busy craft area, you can make a lot of money for about five dollars in paint supplies.

[NCLee]

I've been thinking about this since my last post.

First, at the next sale hang around and get a good idea of what's selling in your area. What might be a big seller around here might be a dud where you're located.

Next, once you have a general idea of what sells best, try to have a variety for customers to choose from. Also, have a price range with lots more of the inexpensive and a smaller selection of the higher priced items. You'll have a lot more sales of $10 items than you will $100 ones. You just have to work out the profit margin so you make a decent profit on each.

That said, here's some thoughts that may work for your area. Set up a table or booth with a variety of items, such as .....

Gifts in a Jar - google for lots of info on how to make & decorate

Tree branch picture frames - Buy Dollar Tree frames. Take apart to get the glass, backer, hanger, etc. Replace the wood with tree branches. Decorate the branches with shells, or other natural objects.

Paint barn board - Saw a lady selling scraps of barn board or other rough weathered wood with simple words painted on them. Love, Dog, Happiness, Bathroom, Peace, Sunshine, Garden, -- you get the idea. She also took orders for custom "words", such as a pet's name to go on a dog house.

Simple sewing projects - aprons, pot holders, embelished (sp) pillow cases & towels, baby quilts, place mats, and such. If you wish, many of these can have a "fishing resort" applique theme to act as a memento for visitors.

Wreaths and other seasonal decorations - Grapevine, kudzu, and evergreens for wreaths can be free if gleened locally. As can sweetgum balls, pine cones, bark, moss, wild berry branches, and/or grown for the purpose, such as gourds, dried corn, herbs, and such. Dried wild flowers (collected and dried for the purpose) and grasses are two more. Take advantage of sales at craft stores for purchased supplies. Michaels, for example, has 40% off coupons, as well as big end of season sales - through out the year.

Other rustic ideas include small bird houses, candle holders, trivets, door stops, and more. One example: Drill 3 holes in a small log. Insert voltive candle holders. Large logs for the fireplace, small ones for a table centerpiece.

Keep an eye on Wal-Mart and Target for their seasonal merchandise. You'll see lots of ideas there. "I can do that" type situations. Where theirs is mass merchandising, yours will be "custom, handmade, personal" to mention a few selling points.

If you plan to do this on an on-going basis, plan ahead, where possible, so you can devote time during the winter to complete projects with materials you've collected when they were available. (Collect herbs during the summer and dry for wreaths, potpourri, sachets and other crafts.)

Hope some of these thoughts help. Good luck with your venture.

Lee

[daffodil]

NCLee,
Thanks! Lots of ideas there! I like this one "Paint barn board - Saw a lady selling scraps of barn board or other rough weathered wood with simple words painted on them. Love, Dog, Happiness, Bathroom, Peace, Sunshine, Garden, -- you get the idea. She also took orders for custom "words", such as a pet's name to go on a dog house." I have some old weathered fence boards I could use! And now that I'm thinking of it, the house behind me has a stack of fence boards all broken up in a pile where the shed used to be. I'm sure they'd give them to me for free! They gave me the siding off their house for my shed! Here's a pic of one of my first rock paintings. It's of my sister's dog. I made it for her birthday. I still have to do her other dog too. It needs some work, the lines need some softening, but I thought it turned out pretty good for a first try:)
http://i28.tinypic.com/2192kpk.jpg

[sonshine]

What good ideas, wish I was creative. I get ideas to do things, but they just don't turn out well.

Judy

[CarolAnn]

I just saw this in a magazine and I want to try it: You make place cards by drawing a simple leaf with a stem on a card. (You can draw it freehand or use a copier) About a third of the drawing should be above the half way mark on the card. Lightly mark where the card will be folded in half. Use a craft knife to carefully cut out the design above the fold mark. When you fold it, the cut out part will extend up above the card.

They used glitter to cover the design, but markers or paint would be fine. I think this was in a Martha Stewart magazine I saw somewhere - so there are probably better directions on her website!!

[laf1110]

Well I sold re-usable coffee sleeves and they did well. If you can crochet it is very easy and costs next to nothing. 100% cotton yarn works best. Another lady at our market sold bags made from plarn (yarn made from cut up grocery bags) which sell very well for her. Obviously the materials would cost nothing and people loved them. Our best selling item last year was peach butter which I made from seconds from a local orchard. It tasted amazing and people just bought the heck out of it. And although it isn't a "craft" item, potted herbs sold very well for us. It is nice because you can sell a kitchen herb garden all year. If you are interested in how to make the re-usable coffee sleeves I would gladly let you know how I do it.

[Dayzee]

Well I sold re-usable coffee sleeves and they did well. If you can crochet it is very easy and costs next to nothing. 100% cotton yarn works best. Another lady at our market sold bags made from plarn (yarn made from cut up grocery bags) which sell very well for her. Obviously the materials would cost nothing and people loved them. Our best selling item last year was peach butter which I made from seconds from a local orchard. It tasted amazing and people just bought the heck out of it. And although it isn't a "craft" item, potted herbs sold very well for us. It is nice because you can sell a kitchen herb garden all year. If you are interested in how to make the re-usable coffee sleeves I would gladly let you know how I do it.

Would you mind posting the instructions for making re-usable coffee sleeves?
I wouldn't be selling any, but they sound interesting for use around home and as small gifts.

[Grendal]

Well my baby has been trying to get me to lay off the video games :meeting: don't know why...but she signed me up for this jewelry place....

They got all sorts of different tutorial and stuff. You can find them here Jewelry lessons (http://www.jewelrylessons.com/)

Some of the lessons are free...others you need to pay for. I'm sure you'd find stuff to make there.

[kawalabear]

this is a site i have got tons of ideas from its the best site i have ever found lots of ideas for shows or gifts just about everything.

http://www.craftsayings.com/projects/


good luck and let us know how it works out for you.