So I have been trying to branch out in my creativity. Which isn't always easy to deviate from what you know best. Anyway...I learned ho to make ribbon roses! This is the first one I made. I have a theme for one of my upcoming swaps where we have to add a handmade flower, and who knows, maybe these will be the ones I use! I still have to finish this one off, but I like how it turned out!
These cards were made for December's theme, "Specialty papers." The papers I used are hand made papers that have metallic details added. I have always loved red, black and white together, so of course I had to make them that color! I used sentiments from Stampin' Up's "Pursuit of Happiness" (121970 clear, or 121907 wood) on the one on the left, and "On your Birthday" (only available in wood - 111664). I have had these papers for a while, someone had given them to me as a gift (Terri was it you?), but I wasn't quite sure how to use them. I think they turned out pretty nice!
I am trying to get back into the swing of taking pictures of my swaps. It isn't always easy to remember! These were the swaps I made for my "based on a sketch" theme for my card front swap on my favorite MB. I had received a bunch of pieces of cardstock that someone had embossed for me a few years ago, and they have been sitting here, while I didn't know what to do with them. Well, I pulled them out, used some inks to rub over the image to give it some detail and added them to the card. I added the hand made flower and voila! You can't tell from the picture, but the ends of the banner are raised slightly to give the illusion that the banner is floating. I wanted to add a picture of the sketch, but it appears that was saved on the old computer! Doh.
Here's a picture of some of the candy boxes I made for the sales. I made a bunch of them and lost track after I sold 27 of them. I also had a special order for more of them. So easy to make, although they do take a little while to get everything cut and assembled. One woman bought some and said they were perfect for her place settings for Christmas eve. :)
I believe this is the last of the photos I have. I have to look in my cell phone to see if there are more. In the top picture I have hand sanitizer holders. Great gifts for teachers, day care workers, bus/van drivers, or anyone you'd like to keep germ free! (and a not so good picture of altered starbucks jars) And in the bottom picture I have another close up of post it note frames with matching pens.
I had to take these pictures from above, while behind the table because it was just too busy to go out in front to take them!
This year I was able to secure a spot at Visitation's Holiday craft show. I was both excited and a little anxious. I heard how busy their shows are! The first picture is one of the crowd on Friday night. And this isn't even at it's busiest!!!! When I went to set up I was a little overwhelmed. I expected an 8 foot space, this was closer to 10 or 12 foot. They used their lunch tables for us. I just kind of stood there staring at the tables, not really sure where to start. Then I was afraid I was not going to have enough stuff to fill the space. I ended up just fine, and still had stuff to put out. The pictures of the tables are from late Friday night, I can tell because there are boxes of cards there. When I first set up, I didn't have room for the cards. I ended up doing pretty well, making almost 4 times the sales I ever made at craft shows! I will absolutely be back next year! Oh and while I was there, someone from St Sophia's approached me to be a vendor at their sale next November! All in all a very successful show!!!
Here is the last photo of the items for Oaks Fire House sale. Here we have lollipop holders, altered starbucks candy jars, Snowman soup, and candy bar holders all in the back row. Towards the front we have more coaster calendars, post it note holders, post it note key chains, mini composition books with matching pens, and spiral notebooks with matching pens. This year I opted to put the books into bags with toppers with my information. For one it kept the pens together with the books, keeps them clean and keeps little fingers from drawing on the pages. :)
Another view of some craft fair items. Here are lip balm holders, gift card holders, coaster calendars, and ornament money holders.
Here I have pictures some altered composition books, decorated rulers, gift card holders, gift tags and corner bookmarks. These composition books I made into Holiday planners. Each one has handmade paper beads on ribbons which are great bookmarks. I also added tabs in little baggies so that when the person bought it, they could add dividers if they wished. The corner bookmarks are great for holding your space in a favorite book, and they aren't bulky so they wont mess up the spines of your books (I hate that). The gift card holders are probably one of my best sellers.
I was so glad I took pictures of these before the sale! No lie I sold out of both of these items within 5 minutes of the doors opening! Luckily I had brought more of the little snowmen to make with me. The popcorn holders hold a sleeve of microwave popcorn, and would make a perfect gift! Want to kick it up a notch? Add a Movie theater gift certificate! The candy bar snowmen are filled with Nestle crunch, kit kats or hershey bars. There are also a couple more coaster calendars pictured here.
In November I participated in Oaks Fire House's craft show. This was my second year with them and it was so much better then the first! The first year we were in the bay where the trucks usually park, and believe me when I tell you it was freezing when we were setting up! The doors were open, and no heat...but anyway..this year we were in the main hall and it was awesome! Here are some pictures of my set ups (kids not included in the sales). I am still trying to perfect my displays, but I am getting there I think. I'll be showing close up pictures in another post.
