Ideas for craft fair????

[lukenick1]

Hi all,
Need to make some extra money for Christmas. Craft fair going on at my sons school in November. Table is $25. Can anyone recommend a budget craft that I can make that is a good seller and will be easy to make?

Thanks!

 

[HannaBelle]

Take a look at Pinterest and look at upcycled crafts. I have seen a lot of mason jars and old glass bud vases with paint on the inside and then tied with a bit of raffia.

You can make rustic luminaries out of tin cans. Lawn art and shelving from old pallets...but I live in Texas and rustic is still big here.

I would definitely google upcycled projects for cash and see what you get.

Do you sew/have a sewing machine? You could use old kids jeans to make purses or pockets to be used beside the bed. Cut the top of the jeans off at the crotch, that part is the purse. Sew a seam at the bottom, add any scrap ribbon or beading you want, cut up the legs to make straps for a purse or use a leg to make a wide "tab" that is 2 to 3 feet long that can be tucked in between a mattress and box spring so the "pocket/purse" portion hangs out over the box spring. Embellished girls and plain for guys.

 

[luvmy3]

Are you crafty? I ask because I think that really depends on what you should make. I'm not terribly crafty, when I go to a craft fair I don't want to buy anything that looks like I made it

I have been toying with the idea of making lotion bars and soap. My dd has been making her own sugar lip scrub. We are looking to start making a body scrub too.
None of those things require any exceptional crafting ability

 

[lukenick1]

I'm a little crafty but cannot sew. I don't want anything too difficult, just something that will sell. I thought about the cookie's in a jar. Those are easy enough, but I'd like more ideas.

 

[grainsmommy]

My daughter sews and gives away rice packs...use 100% cotton fabric to make your shape and advertise as hot/cold packs. Fill with rice and for "aromatherapy" add a tea bag of lavender tea leaves. We make 6x6" squares as handwarmers, 6x12 as baby warmers (for after baths) and you can make a long skinny one for over achy necks (these work best with compartments in them so you don't end up with no rice in the middle.). They microwave endlessly or freeze

 

[schultzywi]

A few years ago, I had the same idea and did a booth that sold fairy tale dress up items. I found a site that sold tutus, wands and tiara's for pretty inexpensive (I think it was Halo Haven). I then embelished the items with ribbon and gluing on gems. I also bought wings and swords at the dollar store during Halloween and ordered inflatable guitars and again embellished the items. I kept my prices low and did sell a bit. My best selling item was oddly fishnet fingerless gloves - the tweens loved them.

The only problem is that you do have to purchase your inventory (which would be the case with any items) so there is a little bit of up front costs and you are likely to have excess inventory. I did have birthday gifts on hand though for all my kids friends parties for the next year.

One idea I had to add on to this but haven't tried is Disney Princess hair bows made out of grosgrain ribbons. They are a little time consuming to make, but super cute and I have never seen them at a craft fair. You shape the ribbons like the princesses and there are patterns for most of the princesses. Google Disney princess grosgrain ribbon instructions.

 

[schultzywi]

I'm a little crafty but cannot sew. I don't want anything too difficult, just something that will sell. I thought about the cookie's in a jar. Those are easy enough, but I'd like more ideas.

We did the cookies in a jar last year for a few events for my daughters school and we couldn't give them away. I don't think this is a big seller anymore.

 

[lukenick1]

My daughter sews and gives away rice packs...use 100% cotton fabric to make your shape and advertise as hot/cold packs. Fill with rice and for "aromatherapy" add a tea bag of lavender tea leaves. We make 6x6" squares as handwarmers, 6x12 as baby warmers (for after baths) and you can make a long skinny one for over achy necks (these work best with compartments in them so you don't end up with no rice in the middle.). They microwave endlessly or freeze

I like this idea but I do not have a sewing machine

 

[4HppyCamprs]

As a buyer at craft fairs please keep in mind if it is too simple or looks like something I can easily do myself I am not going to spend extra money to buy it at a craft fair. I would buy hair ribbons or lotions or soaps but not cookie jars because cookies are so simple that anyone could do it.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[StephMK]

One craft my college DD has enjoyed making is a plaque with lettering. She glues scrapbook paper to a canvas. She finds a quote she likes, puts stick on scrapbook letters on the canvas, then paints over the whole thing. Then you remove the lettering and the quote letters appear in the scrapbook paper design.

I don't think it's really expensive but does take a little time to go through the steps. 40% Michael's or Hobby Lobby coupons would help cut the cost on the canvas and craft paint and scrapbook paper are really cheap. You could do some in school colors or holiday themes for gift giving options.

Do you have any way to find out what other crafters are selling so you're not duplicating ideas?

 

[3boymthr]

I'm a little crafty but cannot sew. I don't want anything too difficult, just something that will sell. I thought about the cookie's in a jar. Those are easy enough, but I'd like more ideas.

Before getting going on selling cookie's in a jar, you may want to see if you actually can sell cookie's in a jar. Our local Board of Health won't allow food items to be sold in any way shape or form unless your kitchen has been inspected. I'd make sure you don't have to have a health inspection first. Just a thought.

Can you knit or crochet? Those scarves made with the ruffled frills (like this one http://www.etsy.com/listing/1252844...ry&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=2&ga_search_type=all) are really really popular with the teens around here and sell for $10 - $15 ea.

 

[bababear_50]

We are also having a Fall Fun Fair

Our local dollar store has some cute
Tin Lunch Boxes.
I am going to try and make some
"Cupcake Kits"

Cupcake liners-various sizes and colors
1 packet of icing
A few small jars, baggies or mini piping bags of sprinkles
or mini smarties,chocolate chips etc.
Cupcake toppers
Mini wooden spoon
Birthday candles

I'm not sure what else but I'm open to suggestions
Hugs Mel

 

[pampam]

Something you may want to think about is buying wooden unfinished items from the dollar store, sanding them lightly, staining them with however many coats of stain you like, (usually about 2 or 3) and finishing them off with 2 coats of varnish. When finished, they really do not look like something from the dollar store. You could try 1 or 2 items, see how they turn out, and go from there.

 

[lukenick1]

All great ideas, thanks for the suggestions. Keep them coming........

 

[java]

Gift card holders? I'm thinking of making a bunch of them as soon as I find a style I like.

 

[dizzydrop]

I do hair bows with grosgrain ribbon. You can make any kind. They are quite easy. If I find the website tutorial I'll post it because it has all sorts of ideas and directions. You can even make them with a rubber band on the back for shih tzus and other long haired dogs.

 

[princess barbara]

Something I saw at a craft fair that looked festive were lace doily earrings. The person had them displayed by hanging on a tabletop Christmas tree. She also decorated her table with that snow glitter and white batting and had little candy dishes set out with wrapped red and green starlite mints for free. Google the lace doily earrings.

 

[lukenick1]

Something I saw at a craft fair that looked festive were lace doily earrings. The person had them displayed by hanging on a tabletop Christmas tree. She also decorated her table with that snow glitter and white batting and had little candy dishes set out with wrapped red and green starlite mints for free. Google the lace doily earrings.

Thats cute...do you remember what she charged for the set of earrings?

 

[ShellyL]

Our school is also doing a craft fair and we are looking for different ideas and these are all good ideas.

 

[princess barbara]

I think the earrings were around $10.00 and they came in a cute box with a tiny bow. You can offer gift wrapping for extra too like some fairs I've seen.