Part 2 of Holiday Destressing Making Homemade gifts and Craft Shows

(Disclosure:  This post contains links to which I may or may not be affiliated with.  With these links, it allows me to earn a commission.  This allows me to pay for things such as blog fees and other business items.  You are not obligated to make a purchase.  

I love to make things.  It is the reason why I craft, and it is the reason why anyone with a creative bone in their body likes to do.  With prices going up on already items like blankets, clothing, and stationery, a person who is gifted will often make their stuff.  In fact, everyone should at least try to make anything except technology, and even with that, there are people who build their own computers.  All you need are the right tools and parts to basically come up with your own take of products.  Of course, if you ending up selling to the masses, there are certain rule and regs you have to follow, especially for technology and food products you make.  I will get into that later on hopefully in this post.  If not, I will save it for another time.

Today, in Part 2 of destressing your holidays, with Part 1 on my blog My Ambiance Life, I am going to explore the world of the crafter and all things gifts and craft shows.  Before I do that, I want to talk a little bit about my business P. Lynne Designs so you can get to know it a little bit better.

P. Lynne Designs got its start around 2009 as MDN Creates.  In 2012, I changed the name to P. Lynne Designs to refection more on the company and less about why it was named MDN Creates in the first place.  You can read more on the story on my post, Reintroduction to P. Lynne Designs. P. Lynne Designs is a stationery design company, but I design more than just stationery, I freelance writing and freelance graphic design as well.  This list includes greeting and business cards, invitations, documents, and blog posts, logos, “Save the Date” postcards, mailing labels, spreadsheets.  Many come as a package set, custom package set, or Ala Carte.  If you have any questions, email me at plogan721@att.net or you can contact me through social media.  My information will be at the bottom of this post.  Anyway, back to today’s topic.

Gifts

People, in general, are hard to shop for, but there is no reason to not get someone one anything, even if it is a gift card. Making something as simple as a scarf shows that you at least attempted to give from the heart.  What you cannot make, you can buy.  I will cover buying gifts in part 3, which will be on my other blog, At Home with Tricia's Baskets.  For right now, this post will cover gifts that a crafter, a graphic designer, or those who attempt to make something as gifts.

For the paper crafter

If you are a paper crafter, you have a unique position, at least I think I do.  You can make mini books, scrapbook albums, greeting cards, invitations (more on that in a minute), even things like coasters, and office supplies.   My process for making an item is I first plan out what I want to make.  Next, I go based on who the person is, and what they might like.  Do not go by what you might like because everyone’s tastes are different.  This includes colors and themes.  What are themes?  Themes cover a variety of areas from brands (think Disney, Barbie, or Harley Davidson), gender (Boy, girl, male, or female), seasons (which I do not recommend, this can limit the time the recipient uses it), or subject (frogs, unicorns, or their love for Star Wars). Once I have those things in mind, I do a rough sketch of the item.  If I am stuck, I turn to Pinterest, Etsy, and my Facebook groups for inspiration only.  Never copy, especially if you are selling online.  Now it is time to go shopping.

A word on getting supplies:

Sale, sale, sale.  A Michaels coupon here, a Hobby Lobby discount there. Signup to get discounts especially if you are in business.  Every penny counts.  If you are in business, this is a tax write-off, but check to see what you can write-off because every state and country is different.  Even if this is a one-time thing that you are doing, signup to get their mailings. Use the weekly ads and look for specials on craft supplies.  When you shop, search the aisles for clearance items.  I was in Walgreens two days ago getting some allergy medicine, when I spotted a pack of 12 Post-a-Notes.  It was $12.00 down to $2.00.  Score!!! I snatched those pads up in a hurry before someone else spotted them.  I am making notepad holders for the craft fair.  I could have gotten two, but I only saw one.  Also, hit up Dollar Tree and Dollar General (or a dollar store like them) because I am starting to see more and more craft items like them.  Do check for quality in the crafts stores. If there is a material that is highly flammable or toxic to people or the environment, I will not buy, especially if there is a craft fair hosted by a school.  I do not want to get anyone sick.

Graphic Designers

You are in also in a unique position where you do not have to rely on other people’s products (except maybe paper) to make your gift.   I was fortunate enough to learn how to create on Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator and Microsoft Publisher, as well as PicMonkey and know my way around Canva, but it can be any program, either paid or free-based. Some programs like Adobe Photoshop allow you to try them for free for a limited period of time.  I have made my business cards and other items, and what a gift you can give a soon to be graduate with a set of their own business cards and stationery.  Once I made my design, I sent it to Vistaprint and paid $17.00 USD.  The breakdown goes like the this: normally, it would cost me $24 USD, but it was on sale, then I went through Swagbucks to get a discount of $10.01 USD, which brought it to $9.99 or so.  Next, I was given a discount of $.60 because I was a merchant (I did not realize that I was.  This was on 500 cards.  Again, I saved a ton of money.  Shipping is $6.00, which would have normally raised the price to $30 USD or so.  The last part was my tax, which the only way you can lower the tax is lower the price, but the United States usually will tax on the original price and not the sales price (go figure). So, for the State of Ohio where I live, the tax is around 8.0% or so, depending on where you live.  So, those living outside the US, the tax bracket can get pretty pricey.  I just checked, and my cards should be here tomorrow at the end of the day and I ordered them on Tuesday.  If you are designing for a company to print them for you, I would get started now before the rush starts.  Shipping may get worse, especially after December 15th. The closer to Christmas you get, the longer it will take to get to your house.

I only talked about the areas that I create.  For things such as woodworking, textiles (sewing and needlework), pottery, and Jewelry making, it is the same process; plan what you want to make for the people on your list, plan out your materials and start in plenty of time so the gifts can go under the tree.

Now for a Word on Craft Shows ….

Many of the things I talked about in gift creation goes for craft shows as well. The one thing I want to stress out is your income.  I guess I should have addressed this in the gift-giving as well but have a budget.  Nothing says going into debit-like not having a budget.  Lay it out in either paper or digital form.  I did both.  The reason is I can lose the paper, or the power can go out.  I have a backup plan for the digital:  I also can get to the digital through my Ipad. I have a three backup system:  I make and enter information through my desktop, and I can access it through my Ipad and my smartphone. Also, now is a good time to figure out how much you want to charge for your goods.  When I did crafts shows with Longaberger products, I had to choice but to sell them at the price that Longaberger charges for their products in the catalog.  The only time I was allowed to change prices as if I owned a retired product.  I still got my commission, but no one was really interested in the prices in the catalog.

Price items that will at least make you feel like you have got back the cost of the supplies you bought, but at the same time, make the items so people will want to pay the price.  For instance, bookmarkers will be $.75 or 2 for $1.  (meaning the second one will actually cost $.25).  If you have a business, be sure to bring your business cards.  You can also ask for clients while you are there, but make sure you focus on what you have on hand and have plenty.  The fair I will be at next week will be from 10 AM to 2 PM, so I need to make sure I do not run out at noon.

One final tip before I go, make sure if you sell anything you give the state what is due if you have it listed.  I have P. Lynne Designs listed with the state of Ohio, so in January, I have to report it. (bummer).  This means to keep track of my money.  Have plenty of change because most people will not be coming with a credit or debit card.

Be sure to check out parts 1 on My Ambiance Life and 3 on At Home with Tricia's Baskets.  Part 3 will be on decorating, organizing, traveling, and taking care of the family during this time of year.

Until then, Peace on Earth.

Interesting Garland Making Ideas

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

..."The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nickolas will soon to be there."   This is one of the lines in The Night Before Christmas and rightfully so.  Today, I have invited a guest blogger Named Rita, who will to show you some interesting garland idea for your tree or around the house.

Christmas is probably the most sparkly and fun holiday we have the pleasure of experiencing every year. It is a time when families get together, religious people express their faith, everyone shows their love and affection by presenting gifts, trees light up, colourful lights flicker all around and the walls get new garland outfits!

Today’s markets present us with ample choice when it comes to Christmas decorations. New and more intricate designs are brought forth every year making the shopping and decorating process all the more fun. There are some enthusiasts among us, however, who like to do some of the things themselves. If you are one of those and are wondering what kind of garlands to make this year, you might want to review these simple yet beautiful ideas.

If you prefer the natural approach to things and the lovely smell of evergreens on Christmas day morning, you can fashion an evergreen garland using only evergreen trimmings, scissors, floral wire and twine. First you need to cut the trimmings to about 6 inches and collect them in small bundles with the stems pointing in the same direction. Cut a piece of the twine as long as you want your garland to be, make a loop at the end of it and attach the wire there. Then attach your evergreen bundles one at a time, securing them to the string with the wire. When you are done, make a knot between the wire and the string.

Another great garland idea is with pom poms made of yarn. Of course, it can be done with any type of yarn but to remain true to the Christmas spirit, you should use a sparkly one. You can use a pom pom making tool, or you can make one yourself: First you need to cut two “doughnuts” out of cardboard. Keeping them together, you wrap the yarn around until you make a nice big fluffy doughnut. Then you cut the yarn between the two cardboard pieces with scissors and add a string of yarn between them. Then you pull the cardboards on each side, fluff up your pom pom and you are done. After that all you have to do is tie your pom poms to another yarn string and your garland is ready.

A similar technique is used for paper or tissue pom poms. You can use holiday paper napkins, or wrapping paper, cut them into rectangles, tie them with a string in the middle and then spread the separate layers to make it look like a pom pom. Again, you then tie the separate pom poms to a string of your choosing.

Anything you attach to a string can become a Christmas garland. After all, all it takes is a little sparkle so stock up on gold and silver spray paints, colourful brocade and anything else you can think of and turn, for example, ordinary white print paper into golden leaves hanging above the family portrait. All you need to make a garland beautiful is a large number of similar patterns stuck together. You can really get creative and put anything you like – Christmas cards, popcorn sprayed with silver, snowman pictures, flowers, etc. In order for your Christmas decorations to be truly yours, they have to come from within your own hearth and mind.

Rita Rova writes arts and crafts articles for Oz-Coupons.com, the Australian coupon code website that lists the latest discounts for arts and crafts supplies.  

The Holidays are coming, Need Help?

 (Photo credit: emariecards)

Hello-

Reminder:  You have less than 100 days before the big holiday season arrives.  Are you nervous?  Yeah, I know I am shaking too.  Nothings worst than forgetting that all too important toy that the soon to be 4 year old niece has wanted since LAST Christmas.  Yep, I got it covered (Yeah, right.   By The Way, she's 4 this week!!!)
Anyway, I am here to help.  (elevator pitch...) "I work with women who want to make memories or brighten someone's day."  How do I accomplish that feat?  Good question, by creating scrapbooks, mini books, and cards of all occasions for customers.  I also create gifts too.  I am in the process of restocking my Etsy store, and I am in the process of creating items for my Melah, Bonanza, Goodsmith's stores and do a couple of Ebay listings.  So if you are looking for something to send to your wonderful family, a gift, or some that brighten up someone's day, just let me know.

Be Blessed everyday, and have a great week.

I have been very busy lately. part 2

Next, I made some of my mother’s Christmas cards.  They are as follows:

The first card is a snowflake of Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus in blue cardstock.  The second layer is glitter paper by DCWV (Die Cuts with a View).  The third layer of patterned paper actually came from the Cricut Imagine (for those of you not keeping track, yes I finally got one).  The paper print comes from one of the newer carts, Enjoy the Season.   BTW, the Snowflake was cut out with the E2 using last year’s cart, “When It’s Cold Outside”.  “Jesus is the reason for the season” is stamped on the inside.  (In fact all of them are like that)

The next card was actually scraplifted.   I took the idea from the DCWV blog entry I saw on Facebook.  I did it because I have the stack, which is called Christmas & Winter 180 Stack I got at Joanne’s.   The Ornament on top is from another paper company called the Paper Adventures, and the paper name is (Giggle) Christmas balls.  (You have no idea what I am thinking right now and I will not tell you in case children are reading this post-trying to keep it “G”).   Anyway, the card blank is “8.5 x “11 cut in half, and folded.  As noted before, the inside is the same as the first.

OK, who said that the die cut on the card has to be something Christmassy?  I decided to preview the next holiday to come in Christmas papers.   Again this is scraplifted (I forgot where.  I think it was from an email I received that week.)   Anyway, the card is a premade blank (meaning someone or some company made it besides me), I bought the pack for the envelopes anyway.   Why not use them?   Cut two sheets of 12 x 12 into 6 manageable pieces (the old “eat the elephant one bit at a time” trick works for scrapbooking too), and adhere the red on the card blank.  Cut the green sheet down to layer on top of the red pattern paper.   I cut out the heart with the E1 Cricut machine (original expression).  Inside is the same as the other two sets.  

The last set of cards is super simple.   Take glitter paper cut into a circle.   Take any 3-d sticker (I used ornaments from K and Co. Make an arrangement.   I scraplifted this one too, but I scraplifted myself for this card.   I made it better than the one I made two years ago (Picture in a moment).  In that card, I cut out three circles, and hung them from three pieces of cord.   I cannot remember much more than that.   (continued part 3)...

Christmas at Home

Although I was born in Ohio, and I call Ohio my home, I have not lived in Ohio all of my life.   My parents are from Alabama, and when my father was 17, he joined the Air Force in the late 1950's.   He was stationed in Plattsburg AFB, NY, when he came to visit my mom, who was attending University of Michigan at the time.  They were married 50 years ago On July 27, 1961, and I was born 3 years later at Lockbourne AFB, Ohio about 5 miles south of Columbus.   I cannot remember any snow during that time, but I saw my first snow when I was 4 years old at the Big Bear Mountains overlooking San Bernadino, Ca. In a picture, my mom and I were in sweaters looking at the snow.   I encountered my first blizzard in 1976, when we were living at McGuire AFB, NJ, and I never saw so much snow before in my life.  My brother and I played in that stuff.   But the worst snow I ever experienced was 6 years ago in Columbus.   An ice storm hit Columbus, and I had no lights.   I had to feel my way downstairs to my living room, and waited until my mom came and got me.   I could not get my car out of the garage. in my parents house was me, my oldest nephew, my sister, mom and dad with no lights, except for the light of the fireplace.   It was warm, peaceful, and I got lots of sleep that night.

Over at the Card-a day blog, the theme is Christmas at home, and a designer on the blog,  I want to show you a card that defines that memory.    It is made almost entirely with the Cricut Imagine, and this is my first project made with this machine.   I also have the Expression and  the Expression 2, 5th Anniversary Edition, introduced back in April on HSN (Home Shopping Network).   I am not sure if you can see it or not, but there is a dog and a cat looking out at the snow.   It reminds me of all those days and nights where i would look out, and wonder when I could go out and play in New Jersey, when we could go to the mountains in California, or when can I dig my car out of the snow here in Ohio.

I used a newer cartridge. Enjoy the Season, and if you never seen what an Imagine cartridge has on it, it is different from a regular Cricut cartridge.   Not only does these cartridges have things to cut out like a regular cricut cartridge, but it has pattern paper you can print out, and images you can print and cut as well.  You do not have to do the whole image either.

I selected my images to print and cut, which if you already have this cartridge, it is on page 20 in the handbook, and I did not change any colors at all.   The size of the image is 2.0", and I also printed a whole sheet of 12x12 snowflake paper, which is listed on page 40 in the handbook.   The reason I printed out a whole sheet was because I did not know how much was needed, but you can determine your size in the settings, and I would print out about an A2 size, which is about 4x6 (or 6x6 on the Imagine).   take a sheet of 8 1/2 x 11, and cut it in half width-wise to have 4 1/4 x 8 1/2.     Fold it in half to get 4 1/2 x 5 1/2.  Set the card blank aside.  I then cut and printed out a Enjoy the season (at 1.5") on page 27 of the handbook, and changed the background to match the mat.
Take you 12x12 sheet, and cut it slightly smaller than the front of the card blank (4x5) and adhere it to the front.   Take pop dots for that 3-d effect, and put them on the dog/cat image and the Enjoy the Season, and stuck them to the mat.  This is a fun last minute card, when you have forgotten someone on your list.   Don't have an Imagine?   You can do this same effect from any die cut machine, electronic or not.   don't have a die cut machine at all?   You can purchase a bunch of Christmas-like 3-d stickers with brands like Jolee's, EK success, K& Co., and buy a holiday-like pattern paper and make some cards.   The good thing about most of these pre-made stickers is most of them already has a pop dot foam on the back of them, so you will save money in the long run.

Well thanks for stopping by. 

Card a Day post

Today, I want to share with you something special.   I am a new team member of a blog called Card a day.   The purpose of this blog is to give you inspiration on card ideas.  When I get stuck, or if I want to know how to make a card, I often turn to other blogs for help.   I find it most helpful, when I can find inspiration in them.

The reason why I mentioned this is this Friday, I will be participating in a Christmas blog hop.  Yes, it is that time of year again, and I like to start early, sometimes in July.   No I do not decorate that early.  For me, it is a mindset.   I start thinking about the reason for the season. 

For those of you who will agree with me for a moment, it is not about the presents under the tree, taking pictures with Santa and giving him you wishlist.  It is not about decorating the house, the office parties, and seeing who can hang the most lights (go to You Tube, and search under Christmas lights, and you will see what I mean, LOL.)  It is not about getting away for a winter vacation.   All of those are nice, but for me, the first thing is the day that Jesus was born, in a manger.  His mother did not take Lamaze classes for proper breathing techniques, rushed off to the hospital when the labor pains started, given meds to ease the pain, pushed on queue when the doctor told her to push, and finally got to see her precious baby laying in a bassinet with all the other babies.   Where Jesus was born, it was very unsanitary, animals all around, no meds to ease the pain.  It was as natural as they came.  In fact, the inn keeper did not bump people so Mary would have a place to lay her head.   Jesus’ bassinet was a watering trough for animals.

When I was little, I loved dolls, and often played mommy.  I had to have one every Christmas, and it had to be the latest and greatest.   Today, I still love them, and I had been known to buy one or two in the past.   Now, they are for display.  I have 6 cabbage patch dolls and a Christmas 1997 Barbie, still in the box.   I remember my tea sets when I was little and my two easy bake ovens.  I was one of those little girls who just a touch of tomboy in her, which is why I had mud tea parties.   I would make mud pies and cakes but on the other hand, I would be just as girly, wanting everything pink and frilly.   I also climbed trees in a dress.  Go figure.   Today, I am still girly, and still love pink.   I love getting dressed up, but I have my down moments in jeans and a t-shirt.   My mom started the girly obsession, and I did not stop here, LOL.   My mom did the same with my sister, but she is the opposite of me.  Now to get my sister back, my niece is so girly at 3, until is it so funny.  It has to be pink or purple colored stuff.

The point I am making is Christmas is what you make of it.   Some people can be very religious about it, or too commercialized about it.

Back to the start of this post.   As I was saying, I am part of a design team, and we are having a Blog Hop, October 1-2, 2011.   I was in one a few months ago, with a different person, and I had a blast.   I will be working on my Christmas card, and a giveaway, known in the blog world as blog candy.   I will probably make something, and have something from my stash.  Please stay tuned as I will try to start doing a post a day for everything I write for.   God Bless.