Craft Solutions http://blog.craftsolutions.com Crafting Ideas - Creative Gifts - Lasting Memories Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:54:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 en hourly 1 Books: Crafting as a Business http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2009/books-crafting-as-a-business/ http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2009/books-crafting-as-a-business/#comments Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:52:04 +0000 Sloan http://blog.craftsolutions.com/?p=125 There are many books that offer craft and small business information for those who have decided to expand their crafting hobby into a small business venture. The following are some of the best books on the subject, offering tips on starting your business, website promotion and design, and other information.

Hover your mouse over the cover to get pricing and click for purchasing details.

]]> http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2009/books-crafting-as-a-business/feed/ Preparing for craft shows: checklists of what to bring http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2009/preparing-for-craft-shows-checklists-of-what-to-bring/ http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2009/preparing-for-craft-shows-checklists-of-what-to-bring/#comments Mon, 02 Mar 2009 02:59:18 +0000 Sloan http://blog.craftsolutions.com/?p=104 While recently looking up links for my recent post about setting up a craft booth, I came across a number of checklists about what to take with you to the show (items like pens, rubber bands, tape, calculator, knife, pliers, table cloth, and more). I thought I’d post these links today.I hope this helps someone, whether you’re just starting going to shows or you’re an old pro.

]]> http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2009/preparing-for-craft-shows-checklists-of-what-to-bring/feed/ Four Weddings in Four Months http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2009/four-weddings-in-four-months/ http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2009/four-weddings-in-four-months/#comments Sat, 28 Feb 2009 03:45:26 +0000 Sloan http://blog.craftsolutions.com/?p=108 My niece is going to be in four weddings this spring and summer. She’s 19 and is quite excited about it, but that’s a lot of dress fittings, bachelorette parties, and bridal showers. Maybe I’m getting old, who knows. I’m sure she’ll have a great time standing up for her friends, but it got me to thinking about how much goes into a wedding and what a big business it is (like the craft industry).

According to the Association for Wedding Professionals International, the wedding industry is a $50 billion industry.  And the average cost for a wedding in the US is around $20,000.

That’s a lot of money. It takes a great deal of time and energy to put together that special day. And it can be stressful on the best of couples. Spending that much money and taking on that much stress seems like the wrong way to start out a marriage. In theory, anyway. But as we all know, the wedding is an important step, and who doesn’t want their wedding to go smoothly and be a joyous, beautiful day?

So one of the tips I told my niece to tell her friends is to go with simple, inexpensive touches that are beautiful but not extravagant and focus that savings where the difference is more noticeable. Spend more money on the photographer over decorations and favors. The photos will be around a long time. If they stink, you’ll have those “memories” forever. But will it really matter in twenty years if you went with the twice as expensive party favors or thank you cards? It’s more important to get those thank you cards sent out rather than worry over the paper they’re mailed on).

If you’re planning to do a lot of the wedding prep and details yourself (such as creating your own wedding decorations, invitations, favors, and more), go with simple and beautiful rather than over the top and showy. Something doesn’t have to be complicated to be beautiful.

Here are some links to pages in the Craft Solutions directory for web sites and project ideas to help get anyone started with how to create beautiful items for your wedding and save a little time and money on those do-it-yourself wedding projects:

Wedding Craft Ideas - links to individual project ideas

Wedding Craft Web Sites - links to sites that offer all sorts of creative ideas

Helpful links by topic:

I hope this gives you some great ideas and helps you reduce cost and stress. Have a great wedding!!

]]> http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2009/four-weddings-in-four-months/feed/ How to setup a craft booth http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2009/how-to-setup-a-craft-booth/ http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2009/how-to-setup-a-craft-booth/#comments Fri, 27 Feb 2009 03:02:06 +0000 Sloan http://blog.craftsolutions.com/?p=90 My friend told me the other day that she was considering selling a few crafts at a craft fair that her work sponsors every year. She thought it would be a great place to get into the biz of selling her handmade items, a “safe” place to try out her crafts. It got me to thinking about all the work people put into that side of the business. Sometimes it takes years to perfect your sales process.

To be honest, I’ve never sold my crafts at craft fairs, farmer’s markets, or the like, but I’ve shopped quite a few over the years. The last one I went to had some top-notch professional crafters. The products were great but nothing overly unique, and yet, there were lines around their booths. When I checked them out, I noticed that each one was well organized and set up with the shopper in mind. That professional “look” really added something to their sales pitch. It got me to thinking of all the bloggers out there that must be talking about this subject, offering tips to people like my friend just starting out.

Here’s a few links that I found with advice on setting up your craft booth:

Indoor Craft Show/Trade Show Booth Advice

How to setup a craft booth at a weekly Farmer’s Market

Blog on Craft Show Success

Building A Successful Craft Show Booth

Rocking Holiday Craft Shows

]]> http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2009/how-to-setup-a-craft-booth/feed/ Is it too early to be thinking Spring? http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2009/is-it-too-early-to-be-thinking-spring/ http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2009/is-it-too-early-to-be-thinking-spring/#comments Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:42:07 +0000 Sloan http://blog.craftsolutions.com/?p=99 There’s still a bit of snow on the ground where I live. I’m hoping the sun will take care of it today. But with all this white, I’ve really been wishing for Spring! I want to see green grass and colorful flowers. I want to walk outside and not feel the sharp sting of the cold winter air. I’m really ready for warmer weather, can you tell?

So today, I thought I’d share some of the Craft Solutions directory links that are all about Spring. Just looking at all these neat ideas gave me a smile today.

]]> http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2009/is-it-too-early-to-be-thinking-spring/feed/ March is National Craft Month http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2009/march-is-national-craft-month/ http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2009/march-is-national-craft-month/#comments Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:30:59 +0000 Sloan http://blog.craftsolutions.com/?p=86 March is National Craft Month and many of the major craft stores are offering great sales. My mailbox has been filled with flyers and ads. Here are some of the sites offering deals right now.

]]> http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2009/march-is-national-craft-month/feed/ Craft furniture http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2009/craft-furniture/ http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2009/craft-furniture/#comments Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:58:55 +0000 Sloan http://blog.craftsolutions.com/?p=80 I like to do a lot of different types of crafts (right now my favorites are scrapbooking and crochet). I’m also a consultant, and I write fiction. I’ve got so little time to spend on my crafts that I need that time to be spent being creative, not spent hunting around for the supplies I need. That’s why I’ve been looking into getting a craft armoire.

Craft furniture is different than any other type of storage furniture. It needs to include lots of useful space-saving storage options that fit your specific hobby. Furniture that includes a convenient work area is also a big plus. This allows you to work right near where you can get at your supplies. Specifically-designed craft tables and armoires are a perfect solution for every serious crafter.

I’ve been searching around and found some great options. I’ve included the links below. I think I’ve found the perfect craft furniture solution for me. Now, I’ve just got to find the extra cash. :)

  • For Keeps Sake: Quality furniture designed to fit any space, any style, any budget. Whether you have limited space to work with, an existing spot to add to, or a whole room to design, STACKS offer a number of customized solutions to meet your organizational needs.
  • Here’s an idea on how to transform an existing cabinet into The Perfect Craft Cabinet.
  • Here’s another do-it-yourself project: Furniture Makeover: TV Armoire Turned Craft Cabinet
  • Furniture for Creative Spaces: Great ideas for craft room furniture or scrapbook room furniture
  • The Original Scrap Box™: a workspace and a storage solution that looks like a beautiful, high-end piece of furniture (look at this one last, ’cause you’re going to love it!)
]]> http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2009/craft-furniture/feed/ Scrapbooking Inspiration Books http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2009/scrapbooking/ http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2009/scrapbooking/#comments Sun, 18 Jan 2009 01:52:46 +0000 Sloan http://blog.craftsolutions.com/?p=12 While I was having dinner with a friend the other night, she showed me some of the neatest scrapbook page designs. I loved the combinations of embellishments and the coloring of the photos that she used. My friend told me she put everything together herself from old mix and match supplies she had lying around the house.

I like to scrapbook, but it seems I struggle where my friend strives. I can never come up with themes and combinations that look like a professional designer put them together unless I buy a themed kit. I want my ideas to be creative and unique, not carbon copies of a kit layout.

So I turned to the Internet for help and found these great books:

  • Scrapbook Inspiration
    Jumpstart your creativity! We’ll show you how to find inspiration for your scrapbooks through: the outside world clothing and fashion home decor greeting cards and paper goods and more! And you’ll love our helpful special appendix on content, subject matter and journaling inspiration.

I hope these resources help as you strive to create your own beautiful pages.

]]> http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2009/scrapbooking/feed/ Ever need better light for your crafts? http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2008/ever-need-better-light-for-your-crafts/ http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2008/ever-need-better-light-for-your-crafts/#comments Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:50:18 +0000 Sloan http://blog.craftsolutions.com/?p=4 Have you ever been working late at night on a sewing project with coordinating fabrics only to find out the next day, when the sun comes out, that the colors you picked weren’t quite what you thought. Sometimes you are lucky if they coordinate at all?

Color is important in so many types of crats! A good lighting system can be essential in truely seeing your work.

If you are looking for a better light system, you might want to check out the OTT-LITE® TrueColor™ lamp. Their website does a great job of describing the product so I won’t go into details here so be sure to check it out. http://www.ott-lite.com/

They have craft related sections: Read Like Years Ago,  Make Perfect Quilts, Paint Like Rembrandt, Sew It Right, Bead In Abundance, Stitch A Sensation, and Create Scrapbook Magic.

]]> http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2008/ever-need-better-light-for-your-crafts/feed/ It’s not your mother’s glue gun http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2008/this-is-not-your-mother%e2%80%99s-glue-gun/ http://blog.craftsolutions.com/2008/this-is-not-your-mother%e2%80%99s-glue-gun/#comments Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:46:55 +0000 Sloan http://blog.craftsolutions.com/?p=13 Have you ever been in the middle of a craft project when your glue gun stops working? It’s a pain, let me tell you. I found myself on the internet late one night looking for a new glue gun and I was amazed at what I found. There are so many features and options available now. I had no idea. There are ones with easy grip handles, rechargeable battery packs, nozzle tips, and more.

I always thought of the glue gun as a basic, simplistic craft tool. But now I understand how much better my crafting life is going to be once I get my new glue gun!! I thought I would share what I found with all my readers. I compiled a list of available products so I hope this helps cut down the research time for you when you start looking for your next glue gun. Here are the various types of glue guns that I found and some highlighted features for each. Enjoy!!

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