I love crafts! Over the years I have dabbled in scrap booking, beading, knitting, crocheting, card making, cake decorating, stamping, sewing/quilting, calligraphy, drawing and needlepoint. I could probably still do all of them except for the time and money factor. Several years ago I had to make a decision to scale down my crafting paraphernalia . That meant giving up some of my crafts. In the end, I fully let go of scrap booking and beading. Calligraphy, drawing and needlepoint got put on the back burner. Knitting became my favorite and I have spent the last several years making everything from hats to sweaters to afghans. It has helped that we live in a state with a winter climate; however, moving back to Florida may change my focus.
Card making has turned out to be very beneficial. When you can buy a stack of 50 blank white/cream colored cards for $9.99 (unless you catch a sale or have a coupon), it becomes financially fruitful to make your own. You can stamp, use scrapbook supplies or stickers to make cards of all occasions. I can sit for a couple of hours and make enough cards to last 6-12 months. Whenever an event comes up, I usually have a card ready made. No rushing to the store and spending $3.99 per card. Homemade cards don't have any snazzy prose in them, but then you can pen a personal note to the person.
Over the past three years I have also used my cake decorating skills. We have had quite a few baby/bridal showers/birthdays. My friend, Bethany, has expanded my skills to include Fondant. We have made several cakes together, which is always much more fun and two creative heads are always better than one. When asked to make a cake, I really try to come up with something that says something about the person. This weekend we had a dual birthday for two friends, June and Susan. I made a single cake but decorated half for one and half for the other. June loves horses and Susan loves dogs - they both have 3 each! So the cake was a simple design of a horse and a poodle. It was tons of fun. Hopefully it tasted good as I couldn't stay long enough to try a piece.
Yesterday one of our church families invited us for lunch. One of their daughters brought down a dress she made to show me. I was really impressed. Someone had cut out the pieces for her, but she had put it all together. I am not sure of her exact age but I think she is around 12. I have successfully made shorts, skirts and pants, but very unsuccessfully made tops and dresses. I always get messed up with the necklines and the sleeves. So, I tend to keep my sewing skills to home decorating. Pillows and curtains are a whole lot easier. However, I have to admit I am a tad jealous this young lady has already mastered a dress.
In today's economy, anything you can make at home is of value. Crafting supplies can be expensive unless you watch for sales, use your store coupons or re-purpose items. You can also do friend exchanges where you trade things you no longer need or won't use. Yard sales and thrift stores often have supplies as well. I love taking old clothes and turning them into quilts, pillows, tea towels, purses or whatever else you an think of. There is also a ton of crafting sites on-line to help with money saving ideas. My current favorite is Pinterest. It is a board where you can look at peoples ideas and re-pin them to your own board. I have pinned a ton of great craft ideas to use when I get some free creative time.
There are people out there who are actually making money with their crafts. I would love to be that person, but somehow it loses its fun when you are required to make enough to pay the bills. It's even harder to conceive of when the crafts you make take time. I could probably sell about 3 afghans in a year considering how long it takes to make one. If you can find the right craft and the right market though, you may be able to bring in some extra income. The Proverbs 31 woman makes a profit from her hands, "she perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night."
Crafting for me is a fun way to be creative and to make homemade gifts for people. Whether you craft for fun or for profit remember one thing: share your creative talent with someone you know. Teach others your skill and it will foster fellowship and bless many.
In His service
Mally
Card making has turned out to be very beneficial. When you can buy a stack of 50 blank white/cream colored cards for $9.99 (unless you catch a sale or have a coupon), it becomes financially fruitful to make your own. You can stamp, use scrapbook supplies or stickers to make cards of all occasions. I can sit for a couple of hours and make enough cards to last 6-12 months. Whenever an event comes up, I usually have a card ready made. No rushing to the store and spending $3.99 per card. Homemade cards don't have any snazzy prose in them, but then you can pen a personal note to the person.
Over the past three years I have also used my cake decorating skills. We have had quite a few baby/bridal showers/birthdays. My friend, Bethany, has expanded my skills to include Fondant. We have made several cakes together, which is always much more fun and two creative heads are always better than one. When asked to make a cake, I really try to come up with something that says something about the person. This weekend we had a dual birthday for two friends, June and Susan. I made a single cake but decorated half for one and half for the other. June loves horses and Susan loves dogs - they both have 3 each! So the cake was a simple design of a horse and a poodle. It was tons of fun. Hopefully it tasted good as I couldn't stay long enough to try a piece.
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| June and Susan's birthday cake! |
In today's economy, anything you can make at home is of value. Crafting supplies can be expensive unless you watch for sales, use your store coupons or re-purpose items. You can also do friend exchanges where you trade things you no longer need or won't use. Yard sales and thrift stores often have supplies as well. I love taking old clothes and turning them into quilts, pillows, tea towels, purses or whatever else you an think of. There is also a ton of crafting sites on-line to help with money saving ideas. My current favorite is Pinterest. It is a board where you can look at peoples ideas and re-pin them to your own board. I have pinned a ton of great craft ideas to use when I get some free creative time.
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| Quilt I made for Steve out of our scrap clothes! |
Crafting for me is a fun way to be creative and to make homemade gifts for people. Whether you craft for fun or for profit remember one thing: share your creative talent with someone you know. Teach others your skill and it will foster fellowship and bless many.
In His service
Mally
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