Posts Tagged ‘Birthdays’

Making Dolls By Way Of Cloth Doll Patterns

Monday, July 12th, 2010

Most of us consider some of our childhood toys very sentimental because they bring back lots of memories.  We get to remember the days when we were stress-free and live life as if living in a world of fantasy.  The toys that we had before were a lot simpler than the toys that children have now.  We don’t even have to use batteries to make it work.  All we needed was our imagination and creativity.  At present, children do not really know how to value their toys because when something better comes out in the market, they tend to forget the old ones.

I once passed by little children in our neighbourhood playing with a couple of dolls.  I can tell that the dolls were personally made by their mother through cloth doll patterns.  My sister and I also used to own dolls that our mother made all by herself.  She would usually give us a doll or two on our birthdays with different themes.

The dolls that our mom has created can be closely compared to the ones that you see in department stores.  She can make dolls in no time with the use of cloth doll patterns.  After that, she puts in the details like the hair, eyes, nose and eyes.  Our mom sure does have an artistic talent that I wish I had, too.  Many people also admire her for what she does and some would actually ask her to make one for their children.  It should have been a great business opportunity, but she didn’t take advantage of it.

When we grew up as well as her friends’ kids, she stopped making dolls. But when I got married and had two beautiful daughters, she is in full swing with her hobby again.  Just like old times, she still uses cloth doll patterns in making pretty dolls.  She also patterned the dolls with the personality of my kids.  One of daughters is very athletic, so she made a number of dolls having a sports theme.  My kids value the dolls so much and they even have a space dedicated just for them.

There was a time when one of my dear friends asked my mother if she could make a doll for her wife.  He wanted to give something unique for their wedding anniversary.  My mother gladly accepted it.  She chose a perfect pattern from her many cloth doll patterns and created a very chic doll.  My mother is so happy that her crafts are well-appreciated by children and even by adults.  Many have already convinced her to put up a doll store, but she consistently refused.  She said she creates dolls just for fun and not for profit.  She also welcomed people who wanted to learn how to make dolls using cloth doll patterns.

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Snippets in the REAL. Tracy Porters craft project a lovely journal from the heart!!

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

Any excuse to create something simple and lovely To capture a moment To spark a memory. Beautiful journals are fun to keep on hand With a few art supplies (watercolors, monogram stickers, pretty papers) an hour of freedom can turn into an hour of creative bliss. I made this darling journal for my love, John Think Ill make more for some upcoming birthdays on my list Dont you think this is divine?! Have you ever made one? Is there someone in your life who would love one?! Surely!!! Tell us what youd include the ideas keep us invigorated!!! To you, darlings and all of your creative musings!! Kisses to all T.

Selling Arts and Crafts is Essentially Your Home Business

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

In today’s economy, using the Internet as a means for income is a logical idea. Designing a personal website to sell handmade crafts from home is one way to get noticed and bring in additional income, since millions of people around the country shop online every day. They’re looking for goods, products and crafts.

Those who make crafts find that the many resources on the Internet turn out to be very valuable as well as convenient. For more details www.greateducationonline.com Tools, beads in every color of the rainbow, design ideas and inspirations for crafts or other handmade items can be found on the Internet.

Purchasing goods from a craft website allows crafters to save money, since its possible to purchase large or bulk amounts at wholesale price. Both men and women can find a multitude of resources to sell their homemade goods online as well.

No matter what type of craft you design or sell, there is someone out there who will want to buy it. From crafters who create wood art to crafting jewelry by hand, listing it in auction sites or placing it online within your own personal webpage allows others to shop and purchase what they like.

Many shoppers like to find unique gifts to give friends and family, especially around birthdays and holidays, and look online to save the hassle of walking around the mall and still not being able to find anything.

In most cases, designing your own personal webpage to sell handmade crafts is free, but some of the more advanced sites will charge a fee for your domain name. Remember also that you may need to pay yearly fees for website registration.

There are a few things to remember when designing a site so that customers find it easy to navigate, shop and pick up those wonderful handmade items you’ve worked so hard to create.

The first thing to think of is accessibility. Since there are thousands of other pages selling crafts, you need to make yours stand head and shoulders about the crowd. It needs to be user friendly. Utilize optimized keywords and phrases to help search engines find you. Keep graphics and other extras to a minimum in order to cut down on load time.

Graphic load times should usually be under 10 seconds to accommodate anyone’s Internet speed. For more details www.greatindustrialguide.com  The one thing Internet users hate the most is a long wait time for a website to load. They will promptly leave your page and move on to other sites.

Keep the pages looking professional. Selling arts and crafts is essentially your home business, so make sure that your site looks well maintained and offers a good indication of the quality of your work. Add contact information so that potential customers are able to reach you and ask questions about crafts prior to purchase.

Try and incorporate a way for customers to not only browse what you have in stock, but also to order and purchase online. Today’s Internet shoppers want to browse, shop, buy and pay for their goods at the same time, so offering easy and secure payment processing shows you are able to offer them full service for satisfaction.

The final step to making sure your arts and crafts sell successfully on the web is to market and advertise your goods. With thousands of pages of competition, you need to make your site stand out and offer what no one else does.

During the busiest shopping times of the year like Christmas, offer discounts or specials that allow customers to buy goods and receive a coupon or offer on something else. Those looking for a good deal will utilize your marketing techniques so that it ends up being advantageous to you.

http://www.arts-crafts-for-all.com
http://www.activities-little-fingers.com

Gift Basket Work At Home Moms Business!

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

If you are creative and like to make gifts for others, then a work at home gift basket business might be right for you. Making gift baskets to sell is rewarding and fun. Many people like the idea of giving personalized baskets for holidays, birthdays and special events but dont have the time to put them together. When you start a gift basket business, you will be supplying them with something they need and getting the opportunity to put your talents to work.


Before you start your life as a gift basket Wahm, make sure that this business is something that you really want to do. If you have never made gift baskets, but like the idea, try making one or several for your next gift-giving event. This will also be an opportunity to show off your gift basket making skills to your friends and family. While you are planning and making your gift baskets ask yourself if this is something you can see yourself doing on a regular basis.


Making some sample gift baskets will also give you an idea of how much your supplies will cost and how much time it will take you to complete each basket. This will help you gauge pricing when you start your business. However, keep in mind that when you get a business license you will be able to buy craft supplies for wholesale prices.


Getting a business license is an important step in making yourself into an official Wahm. The process is simple and there are many tax benefits to becoming a legal businessperson. You will also get your supplies at wholesale and be able to get discounts on other business related expenses.


Once you have decided that making gift baskets is right for you, it is time to develop your catalog of basket options and prices. Think up a few prototypes for different situations. Although gift baskets are popular during the holiday season, you can also create them for graduations, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Valentines Day and other events. Create a few different gift basket ideas and then ask your friends and family for their opinions. Make sure your choices of design and gift basket items are popular with many people before you make them part of your catalog.


Have your prices ready for both standard baskets and custom baskets, and then make your business cards and start advertising. By now, your friends and family will know about your business and you can tell them to spread the word on your new venture. Network with other local businesses, like nail salons and florist shops, to get your name in front of more people. Targeting businesses that are frequented by women is a good tactic because women are more likely to purchase your baskets.


Around the holidays, corporate companies are looking to buy gifts for their clients and suppliers. This can lead to a lucrative seasonal business for you. You should start marketing your corporate gift business in October at the latest. Network with your husbands employers and the employers of your friends and family.


Being a gift basket Wahm is a great way to show of your creativity and provide a valuable service at the same time. The rewards are many and with planning and initiative, it can be a very profitable business venture for you.

Karl Glantschnig

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