2012 - Handmade Pressies here we come (oh & no craft spending for a whole year!!!)

Hurdler

craftingmad wrote: »

Hi all,

Hudler - you are welcome on my thread anytime and sorry for the delay in replying to you. I would use a good quality double sided tape - I like cutting edge crafts value tape - it comes in super long rolls, different widths, is excellent quality and easy tear and can be laminated without showing through. It is also at a competitive price and they don't charge any postage. Hope this helps xx

Happy craftting xxxxx

oooh thank you for getting back to me... armed with this knowledge - I trotted to the local art shop in town after work and told them what I wanted to do and the guy was great - I got acid free DS-Tape which should be good for newsprint (although obvs it will be then laminated and PDFed so that should preserve it)... and I also got some black card so later today I need to set about my real clippings (not just the online ones) and start getting that done!

Thanks so much again x

craftingmad

Good luck with the clippings Hurdler - please post some pics as I love to drool over pretty things!!!

Morgana - I'm sure you could do a craft fair right now - I never had any confidence in my abilities but decided to take the plunge and exhibit at my first craft fair and now I've not looked back - go for it - even if you don't make much money you will come away with lots more friends as crafters are all such a friendly bunch xxx

Well sorry I have'nt posted about the craft fairs until now - my internet connection has been on the blink - anyone else having trouble with Talk Talk?

I done quite well at both craft fairs I went too. Over the two days and after stall costs etc I made £161.30. OK not fantastic but much better than a kick in the teeth and it all helps towards my totals (although at the minute I cannot decide whether to invest in a few more bits ready for my big craft fair at the end of next month - I'm trying not too but the money is burning a hole in my cash tin!!!

The other good news is that I met a lady at one of the craft fairs who has her own online shop selling gifts etc and wants to add in more handmade items so she has asked me to provide her with wholesale information - if it works out it could be another outlet for me to sell in - my fingers are tightly crossed.

On the negative side I still have'nt really got many more things made for the wedding shop or orders I have had come in. I have managed to make two large cards ready for one of the teachers at my kids school so only two moire to be made for that order (and needed by 22nd March!!!). Oh and I made the mothers day cards for our mums so at least thats out of the way.

Always look on the bright side !!!

Happy crafting everyone xx

morgana

Thanks Crafting Mad for your confidence. I am attending a crop on Sat so that will be good experience and meeting new people.
Had my 2 youngest grandchildren (7 and 8 ) here this week and they both asked to make Mothers' Day cards. There will be 2 very surprised Mum's on Sunday cos they have no idea and we 3 have made plans on hiding the cards til then
Sam (8) also wanted to make a 21st BDay card for his big sister for today. Wish I could be there when she opens it
We all agreed that making cards is "an excellent idea"

craftingmad

Hi everyone,

Well not much to report - again! - I really need to start getting my b** into gear and making all the things which I have orders for!!!

Plus the big craft fair is getting closer by the day and I still don't have enough stock!!!! OK new plan - as soon as I come back from helping at the school at lunchtime I am going to finish off the last large card needed for an order being collected tonight & then I make another start on the wedding shop orders - there that sounds good - lets just hope I can carry it through and not get distracted!!!

On another plus side I have managed to resist buying the two PIck of The Day's on Create and Craft - and you all know my passion for crafting CD's and Promarkers - life is'nt fair!!!!!!

Happy crafting everyone xxx

lizalloareds

Well done Crafting mad on resisting the potd, I have cancelled my sub to create and craft

Morgana hope you had a great time at crop, I sometimes go to one up in Aberdeen (2hrs away) and I love it, thinking of starting up one local to me.

morgana

Hi lizalloareds. Yes the crop was good- only a few hours cos someone else needed the hall first. But the others were extremely helpful and generous with their time.
I did buy the blockbuster on Create and Craft this week cos as a newbie it gives me a lot for the money. Never used Promarkers so far but was tempted by the C & C offer. Til I read that Hobbycraft had the same 5 in a pack for half price-cheaper than C & C cos of P & P
Just need to take a deep breath now and make some cards. Got to go to work first tho.

craftingmad

Hi lizalloreds - i think I need to do the same - I just can't quite bring myself to actually doing it!!!

Morgana - I'm glad you had a good time at the crop. I too think that I would love to go to one but just can't find any in Norfolk - if any one knows of any please let me know.

Well I think I've had quite a productive few days - I did manage to finish off the last last card required - and all 4 were collected on Fri so that added another £10 to the pot for me. I also went to my craft fair yesterday and made £125 after stall costs etc so that's another bonus.

I have also managed to make a bit more for the wedding shop order (and have just ordered the last few bits in to make the rest so am waiting for them to arrive before finishing off).

I also sat down last night and done a full stock take of all the stock I already have made - absolutely everything - and now have exact figures for what needs to be made before the big craft fair at the end of April - theres a lot of stuff needed so looks like I'm going to have another busy month ahead!!!!

Well my hubby has to work away for a week from lunchtime today so I'm going to set myself another challenge of seeing how many items I can get made before he returns late on Saturday. I think I shall set a target of 100 items ready to be sold before he returns - wish me luck!!!!

Oh - also forgot to mention that I've got a few more commissions for cards come in - 2 large and 2 small. Its great that people want me to make things for them and that they pay me money for doing so - but who stole the hour - i really need it back!!!!

Happy crafting everyone xxx

lizalloareds

Great results crafting mad, do you have any piccys from your fairs x

craftingmad

Let the challenge begin - hubby has just left so I've now got to make 6 sleeps go very quickly xxxx

Sadly no pics from craft fairs - I must remember to take some at the big one coming up and post xxx

craftingmad

Evening everyone,

Well I've started my challenge well and managed to get a few bits crossed off my "to do list".

Currently made:-

3 cards (2 large & 1 std - for two orders to be collected this week)
50 thank you cards (for wedding shop order)

So total so far is 53 (I'm over half way there and its only Monday - yippeee - plus its four things crossed off my to do list so I feel like I've achieved something.

My only dilema is what to do next - the "to do list" is still very long!!!!!