Paper Bead Bracelets - $5-6

I've been making these paper bead bracelets for a while now...they make the easiest gift ever. I am not a jewelry maker by any stretch of the imagination! They can easily be made to coordiate or match anyone's taste and quickly become addicting.


The story (and I do love a good one) is that I was organizing the activities for my Women's club last year...and everyone wanted to learn how to make jewelry. I contacted a few local jewelry makers that taught...and asked how much it would be to teach us how to make a bracelet or something simple...they wanted $15 per person minimum. Well that is just beyond the reach of many of our retired pensioners and SAHMs (inlcuding myself). So as usual I started researching for an alternative. I met mariiam at SCS and she was so kind to show me how to make these bracelets. I made up 50 kits, teaching materials and diagrams and off we went! I changed the design considerably from mariiam's because I got a great deal on glass beads at WalMart (of all places) and wanted to use what I found. Eventually I took a 1hr. class at Michael's and learned the basics of making earrings, so added those. About a month later Mariiam wrote me and complimented me on my variation!

I sold 3 bracelets at the craft show...I thought I might sell more, but was happy with that. I do think it is a MUCH better product sold for $10-12 as a set including earrings than just a bracelet alone. So for my next craft show (or on-line) I plan to offer them as sets and include earrings.

I am still working on the correct price for these...they are very inexpensive to make but then again most jewelry is...when you start bead shopping and find out those Swarovski crystals bought in bulk are only like $0.10 a piece you wonder at that $40 price tag for a simple crystal bracelet. But then again you never want to price your item too cheaply because then that is exactly what people think it is...cheap! And your time and design IS worth something.

More Journals

Here are some pictures of other journals.

Baby Boy Journal


Journal set...

Monogram

Apple for the Teacher

Pink Magnolia

Husband Helper

...and an altered spiral notebook and altoid tin with mini scrapbook (sold).

Gosh I miss that Pink Journal...and of course I don't have any more of that paper. This was the first journal I made so one of the two sheets I had, one was a casualty of bad cutting. Now I have it all down and efficient...but too late for that paper. I also want to point out see how much prettier the paperclips are on the pink journal...that is because the paper was more dramatic and the distortion/magnification didn't alter the pattern.

Thanks so much for looking!

Lisa.

Baby Journals - $10

I made 8 of these journals in different themes and colors. At the craft fair I sold one, of course my favorite one. Originally I was going to charge $12 (they were a lot of work/steps), but no one seemed interested in them at that price, so I reduced the price to $10. I think people would grab them for $8, but they are too much work except as a labor of love for friends and family and the remaining ones I will give as gifts. Although you can speed up the process considerably by making several at once, in stages. This craft fair I made journals for a:

Baby Girl
Baby Boy
Monogram
Magnolia Pink floral (the one that sold)
Blue Apple for a Teacher
Green Apple for a Teacher
Husband/Boyfriend Helper

Each set contained the Journal, with Jr. Legal Pad, 2 small cards with decorated envelopes, 2 glass pebble paperclips and a matching pen.

Baby Girl Journal
The purpose of this journal is to give you the paper and pen to do all that journaling you are supposed to do as a new mom and to record all those milestones.

I tried as a new mom, I did! First child I used one of those Calendars you get free with something I ordered. I put the stickers on it but now don't remember what exactly they were supposed to be or the story behind it.

Second child (Bella) I used a private on-line blog and did a really good job...but now have a TON of work ahead of me to get the information BACK off the computer where I can read it. Anyway, if I have a 3rd child perhaps I will get it right...and I think this journal would really work.

Everything you need is all there, the pen, the paper, clips (to round up those loose sheets) as well as a milestone card to make sure you don't miss any of the important moments, and finally a couple of notecards to write Thank Yous or notes because well now that you have a newborn, talking on the phone is over and you never seem to have enough Thank You notes!

The actual book uses the pink plaid from the DCWV Spring Stack...I just love it. The green cardstock (from The Paper Company Meadow cardstock) is not my favorite but it was a great way to use it and meshed nicely.

All these adorable stamps come in the TAC Special Delivery Set and I watercolored the image using my aquacolor crayons...I haven't quite jumped on the Copic Craze. I usually wait until the fad is almost over then jump in...LOL.

The pens were the greatest find...guess what NOT RSVP pens, only $0.33 each at WalMart. They were part of the MainStay Back to School collection. I bought two packs for $0.75 as I wasn't sure they would work...well they did and I returned and bought up every one of those two packs I could find...they are in the office supplies section...and have been marked down to $0.66!!! I may go back, I mean I've already broken into my stash, who knows how quickly it will go.

The glass pebble paperclips came out okay, but I think look much better with brighter colors. The Yes glue I used dried a bit opaque and the pebble distorts and mutes the pattern so they are very, very pale. If I did it again, I honestly would try Elmer's glue to see if it is clearer or Aleenes' Tacky glue. I also wouldn't worry so much about finishing the back. I used E6000 on the back of some but preferred...Silicone glue (for the bath tub). The Lowe's guy recommended it and while it smells terrible after 24 hours it is indestructible, but flexible...so it can't crack off or anything!

That's it for now! I will try and post a few more pictures a little later.

Lisa.

Snowflake Gift Tag Tins - $10

These gift tag tins were the first thing to sell, a lady came by gasped and bought two at $10 each. It set the tone for me for the rest of the day. I've heard so many negative things about craft shows, from rude customers and no advertising...to not making back your table fee. I just read a story the other day of a lady that paid $1000 for a table at a VERY exclusive event but only made $500...yikes!!


I was so happy when even those that didn't buy anything had such wonderful things to say about my creations. I think they are good and I do pour my blood (literally...papercuts really hurt), sweat (not on the paper I promise) tears (usually after staying up to all hours trying to finish something...apparently lack of sleep makes me emotional). So it was very gratifying to hear all the positive comments...I was on cloud nine all day.

So this Altered Altoid Tin contains 20 gift tags...some fancy and some simple. My absolute favorite tags are the ones with the snowflake brads...I actually designed these last year for a Tag swap on SCS I was in...and decided to use the design again...except expand the color selection to Olive and Red...and make a few more tags.


The second tag type is stamped with the TAC Snowflakes and Winter Flakes sets using Kaleidacolor Blue Breeze Spectrum ink pad. I sponged around the edge of the smaller white cardstock tag to make it pop.


The third tag is punched with the Marvy Extra Jumbo Scallop Circle Punch (Blue one)...and is exactly 2" wide. I stamped one snowflake in the middle and then used the darkest Kaleidacolor blue to stamp the greeting from Paper Trey Ink's Faux Ribbon.


The trick with setting all the eyelets and punching those holes...was the Crop-A-Dile. I love this tool...I honestly don't know how I lived without it! I mean I just stacked up everything and punched once...then set the eyelets. I had a little trouble with the eyelets and smashed a couple (not shown...reserved for family gifts...LOL). Not sure if I was pushing too hard or what...so I need to experiment more with that.

Here is a picture of the Tag Tin closed. I prepared the Altoid tins by spraying them with Krylon Spray Paint, I find a few light coats of this provides the best coverage without making the paint so thick you can't open the tin.


I glued stamped cardstock on all surfaces both inside and out and torn an edge of navy cardstock embossed with the Cuttlebug snowflakes. I had a few of these little punched stars so I glued one on the blue for contrast. I stamped "Tag Tin" with the TAC Ancient Alphabet and the individual colors in the Kaleidacolor Pad. These tins came together quite quickly, but next time I think I will try to adhere ribbon around the outside to cover the lettering (I'm covering the surfaces anyway) and not stamp Tag Tin, this way after the tags are all gone it could be used to present another gift.


Here is a picture of my green and red tag tin!



Thanks for looking!

Lisa.

Craft Show #2...Finished

I have been silent for awhile now busily making stock and designing new items to take to this craft show...and it finished today. I made more money than I could ever imagine! Paid for that stamp order...WooHoo! I was soo incredibly proud!

Here is a picture (after the ravaging...sorry I didn't have time to take a picture beforehand) BUT bonus there is a picture of little ole me...and I actually like it!! Oh yeah...and Community Center Shows rock...I was met at my car by two high school volunteers that carried ALL of my stuff to my booth...I mean I carried NOTHING I was pressed to even get it out of my car fast enough for them...and they had big burly boys to carry heavy tables and furniture...some people bring actual furniture to craft shows (I was wowed...insert Craft Show newbie). I will definitely go to this one again...it was the easiest most positive craft show experience EVER! And I mentioned that my friend was pregnant and in a white Honda and 'shouldn't be carrying things...and the kept an eye out and jumped on her grabbed stuff out of her hand before she could say boo! Way to go volunteers!

I plan to write about what I sold and what worked for me as others have posted this on their site (Taylored Expressions) and I benefited so much, now it is my turn to share.

I will be posting pictures of each item I sold, how many I made and how many sold. So stay tuned...now I have processed the credit card receipts...which if you are at a craft show I HIGHLY recommend having...I made $85 in 3 orders that I wouldn't have gotten because I accepted credit...cost to me $4 in processing fees WAAY worth it! I use ProPal, I got a reduced rate being an Etsy Merchant and it is dead simple to use...my Partner-In-Crime Shelby of ShelbyB Designs bought a knuckle buster, plate and slips for $15...email me and I can get you the name.

These are the items I made (just in case there is something you would be interested in learning about...email me and I will write up that one earlier).

Paper Bead Bracelets
Ho Ho Ho PopCorn Pull-ups
Snowman Cocoa Packets
Journals w/ matching pen, cards and paperclips
Scrapbook Ornaments
Gift Tag Tins
Trident Gum Holders (didn't get a picture of those...they were gone 2 secs after I put them out)
Tooth Fairy Tins
Paper and Enamel Pins
Single Cards
Kid Color Your Own Card Kits

Just in case you are shopping I have to put in a plug for my friend Shelby! She makes the most wonderful hand painted yarn...in vibrant wonderful colors (and most importantly she can reproduce the colors pretty reliably if you need more...that Research Bio Degree really comes in handy).

So if you need a gift for someone who knits this is the ticket...over half of our traffic were people coming over to 'fondle' the really cool yarn!! If you have a Harry Potter fan...she does all kinds of colorways reminiscent of the characters. Check it out in the wire crates. See the top...all empty...we were struggling to 'fill' the space half way through...I loved it!

Bad part is that we had such a good time and experience we are considering doing an outdoor Farmer's Market next weekend. Craft Shows are just like childbirth, you have one teeny good experience and you want another and another, and another...*grin*

That's it for now...thanks so much for stopping bye.

Lisa.

PS. If you buy something let her know you found out from me...maybe if she gets enough word of mouth from Lisa...she will knit me a pair of cool socks, LOL!!