i have been buying mini rolling pins and decorating them, but they wont sell

Sugar_Coated_Owl

Yes, nice idea Soolin

soolin

Oh and get a good basic cookie recipe that anyone can manage. Call it your gran's secret recipe ( add a special ingredient , something that makes very little difference to the outcome like a splash of walnut essence) and add that to the set.

charlie3090

mildred1978 wrote: »

I give handmade all the time. But I play to my strengths. And I'd never give someone a cake with a misspelt message!!!

yeah we get your point about spelling and grammar,must be great to be so perfect.
There is some good advice on here op,and i admire you for giving this a go.take on board the advice and im sure you will find something that
you will enjoy doing and hopefully make a bit of money too,
good luck,
C .:)

mynameistallulah

The following is intended as constructive (apologies for repeating points made by others):

* The grammar is incorrect
* The writing is not evenly spaced or centred
* The writing looks like it has been done with felt tip pen
* The hearts/ flowers etc are really tacky, and will fall off in no time
* The ribbon bows should be tied round the end, not stuck on unevenly

I love handmade things, they show real thought and individuality, but they also need to look professional. That does not look in the least bit professional.

whitewing

soolin wrote: »

I actually love the idea of a mini rolling pin- un decorated. How about selling them as they are but nicely wrapped in cellophane, or with other cookie cutters etc as 'cookie baking sets'.

There is just something appealing about mini items.

I have a mini grater and it is so cute.

There are also those recipes that (if you are very careful ie I can't do it) you can layer the dry ingredients prettily in a jar, have the recipe printed out etc. Don't know the law of foodstuff but you could do it for gifts for family.

How much do the rolling pins cost you, OP?

cte1111

I like crafty gifts like this. If I were looking to buy a personalised gift, I would look on ebay, etsy or notonthehighstreet.co.uk.

I wouldn't tend to buy decorative items for the kitchen however, as I seem to have a never ending battle against clutter in there so would only buy something that was useful as well as decorative, e.g. hooks (tea towel holder maybe), decorated wooden spoon or cake slice, maybe something like a magnetic note pad for shopping lists.

Have you tried looking in Craftseller magazine for ideas? I've posted some good deals for short term subscriptions in the magazine thread. Here's a 3 for £1 offer:
http://secure3.subscribeonline.co.uk/origin/offers.sol?mag=CSEL&cmp=F005&promobox=FALSE&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=CSEL_facebook&utm_content=F005

kitschkitty

PasturesNew wrote: »

I don't know how long they take to make... but the OP could try setting up short workshops for people to make their own. Say, hire a room locally, £8/person with everything needed provided..... and take bookings for 6 people. Potential for £24 for (say) 2 hours' work, on top of the profits of the materials and not having to make them themselves.... could theme them. "Make a Halloween ....." etc. From that, the OP could also sell kits with instructions.

£24 :eek: how much of that will go to room hire (it's not free you know) and public liability insurance? Even if you're not making enough money to pay taxes, you sure as heck don't want to teaching in a public venue and get sued if something goes wrong. Then with materials costs, and the time taken to set up and clear up you aren't going to have any profit, never mind making an hourly wage!

I'm all for encouraging creativity (anyone who knows me can tell you more about that, but it's not important for now) but I feel it's not a great idea to encourage people to think they have all the skills and resources needed to teach others and make a profit from doing so, when even the basics haven't been covered in their own work.

jadex91

I just want to say thank you so much to sugar coated owl, you have helped me a lot and I sooo appreciate you being there and sticking up for me!

Thank you others for your kind advice for you that want to help!

The others who have Said comments your all out of order there was no need to be so horrible and spiteful about it.

Sugar_Coated_Owl

You're welcome Jade x

PasturesNew

kitschkitty wrote: »

£24 :eek: how much of that will go to room hire (it's not free you know) and public liability insurance?

It was an idea... to be costed. OP could get 8 people in. Some rooms are free - if you search hard for them, maybe a back room of a pub that thinks it might bring people in....

Public liability insurance would be a cost - there's costs in all businesses. If the OP wants a business/income then they'd be planning to do more than one workshop in their lifetime.

kitschkitty wrote: »

Even if you're not making enough money to pay taxes, you sure as heck don't want to teaching in a public venue and get sued if something goes wrong. Then with materials costs, and the time taken to set up and clear up you aren't going to have any profit, never mind making an hourly wage!

I'm all for encouraging creativity (anyone who knows me can tell you more about that, but it's not important for now) but I feel it's not a great idea to encourage people to think they have all the skills and resources needed to teach others and make a profit from doing so, when even the basics haven't been covered in their own work.

As I said, it's an idea to be expanded..... and investigated. Start with the workshops and build a business around it.

You can't make £100/day from day 1.

It's not really "teaching" - many crafts, and other, people run workshops to create an item. Nobody's expecting to come out of it with a degree.

As for basics in their own work, don't forget the old saying: Those who can't, teach.