The Benefits of Marketing a Craft Business Online

If you have a craft business, you may have taken a traditional route in your marketing efforts, such as selling your items at craft shows.  If you haven’t tried marketing your craft business online, you should give it some thought.

The following are just a few of the benefits to marketing your craft business over the internet:

First and foremost, marketing your craft business online will allow you to reach new customers, from all around the globe. If you’ve been marketing your business in a traditional manner, your customers may be limited to our own location.

In order to reach new customers traditionally, a craft business owner would participate in the craft fair circuit, sometimes traveling hundreds or even thousands of miles away.

Marketing your crafts over the internet will allow you to get your business in front of many new people, all from the comfort of your own home. Even if you happen to enjoy traveling to various craft shows, you can still use the internet to market your crafts between events.

When you sell your crafts online through your own website or through an online marketplace such as www.Etsy.com, you can receive orders anytime, day or night. You can literally wake up in the morning to find that you received several new orders while you slept. This creates an almost passive income element to your craft business.

Many people who market their business through craft shows enjoy meeting their customers and the other craft vendors and establishing relationships with them. While nothing may beat that actual face to face interaction, the internet offers the second best thing with social networking sites.

Social networking sites, which include websites such as MySpace.com, Facebook.com, and Twitter.com allow you to meet and interact with others. These sites can help you find new customers but more importantly, it can help you meet other business owners.

Forming relationships with other business owners can lead to advertising swaps, blog swaps, joint venture projects and more.

Marketing a craft business online helps bring many new opportunities. This doesn’t mean you have to give up craft fairs or other traditional routes of selling your crafts. Combining online and offline marketing will help you cover all of your bases and insure you are making the most of your business.

For more tips on marketing a craft business online, join in on a special seminar this Thursday, November 20 at 9pm Eastern. For more info, visit the Craft Business Teleseminar.

Crafter Cast ~ a weekly craft podcast ~ Tsoniki Crazy Bull

Market A Craft Business Online

Here is a free Halloween pack of goodies! It is a zipped file so when you download it, you will need to unzip it to access the files. There are four PDF ebooks including

- Halloween Coloring Pages
- Halloween Recipes
- Halloween Crafts
- Halloween Activities (great for Kids’ Halloween Parties)

Download and open this up now! The ebooks are full of really easy recipes and great coloring pages. I’ve printed two coloring books already, one for each of my kids, and plan on making popcorn hands and colored rice krispies. I wanted to make something special for our friends kids and was leaning toward cupcakes shaped like pumpkins and ghosts - but rice krispies are fun and easy to make, and there is more interaction for kids so mine can help with the entire process. The crafts are easy too and you more then likely have everything you need to make any of them already around your house.

Thanks to Marie at Mommy Community for this great pack of Halloween freebies!

Crafter Cast ~ a weekly craft podcast ~ Tsoniki Crazy Bull

Halloween Freebie

The shop is going to be closed up for a bit as she is having a baby! So head on over to her etsy shop and pick up notecards or matchbook notepads. I love the little bird she has! I have purchased cards from her for my son and a matchbook notebook for myself in the past and am heading over to see what she has left.

Crafter Cast ~ a weekly craft podcast ~ Tsoniki Crazy Bull

Jane hancock papers sale

Accessories You can take your old belts, handbags and hair accessories and breathe new life into them by adding some embellishment. You can even make a handbag or belt entirely out of beads. If you need an evening bag to hit the town with use some crystal beads, metallic beads or gems to add to the bag. To jazz up a belt take smaller beads that have an ethnic flair to them. As for hair accessories you can make barrettes, headbands or bands out of beads using elastic. You can also take a plain band and hot glue some beads to it to spice it up a little.

photo credit: picable

Fabric and paper art You can create your own unique masterpiece by grabbing a piece of elegant paper, silk or other fabric and a needle and thread and just sit down and go to town. If you feel like you can’t create something without a design or pattern you can always look online to find one.

Home accessories You can use beads to add some pizzaz to things you have laying around your house that have been there for awhile and need a new look to them. You can add beads to things like cabinet knobs, candle holders, vases and baskets. It’s easy and quick too. All you need is a hot glue gun and some crystal beads or a collection of gems. Napkin holders can be made entirely out of beads or decorated with them. If you have some glass beads those will work perfectly on picture frames.

photo credit: sara.atkins

Holiday decorations How about adding a unique touch to your holiday tree? You can create snowmen, snowflakes, angels, stars, Santa Claus and more out of beads. Once you’ve created them you can add them to your tree. You can even make Valentine’s Day gifts out of beads. You can create many different holiday type decorations out of beads.

Create real, usable pieces or art.  You can add your own unique flair to a lamp by adding some beads or crystals. You can also adorn candle holders and cases with beads to create a different look.

It’s amazing what you can create with beads once you think other things besides jewelry. All you need is your favorite beads, your glue gun, some non jewelry items, your imagination and you’ll be surprised the works of art you begin creating. Have fun with it.

Crafter Cast ~ a weekly craft podcast ~ Tsoniki Crazy Bull

You can bead more than just jewelry

I ran across a great call for contributions the other day - 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse at the Extreme Craft blog. The deadline for entries isn’t until January 5, 2009 but as usual, early contributions are welcome! I love recycling items for craft projects and have seen so many ideas out there, I hope some of my readers contribute some of their projects.

From the blog post:

The book will be bristling with amazing contributions from artists and crafters around the world.  What do you make out of reused stuff?  I want to hear about it!  Here are some of the categories I’m looking for:

Paper Craft– Consigning paper to the recycling bin is a shame. Do you make interesting things out of paper?

Housewares and furnishings– We’re looking for repurposed furniture, ceramics, serving dishes, utensils and miscellaneous home goods.

Jewelry and accessories– Our definition here is very broad—we’re looking for all kinds of personal adornment, handbags, belts, hats, etc.

There are more categories so head on over and see what your projects would fit into. See the blog post at 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse at Extreme Craft for the full list of categories and more info.

Crafter Cast ~ a weekly craft podcast ~ Tsoniki Crazy Bull

1000 Ideas Call For Entries

Crop In Style - Red, Black and Cream Collection - Paper Taker
Scrapbook.com

I warmly call this my paper purse. For carrying paper it is the best thing I have found. It is lined with fabric and holds 12” X 12” AND 8 1/2 “ X 11” paper. The entire bag measures 14” X 3 7/8” X 13 3/8”.

There are 6 dividers included; each divider has a clear pocket to hold my stickers, embellishments, scraps and more. You can take advantage of the dividers by separating your patterned paper from cardstock or however you want to use the 6 built in dividers. They can be used to sort by manufacturer or by theme, I usually divide my paper by color.

This paper taker holds A LOT of paper. Seriously, this holds a very large amount of paper and this sturdy paper taker can handle the weight. It’s not like one of those flimsy plastic accordion-type file systems. The Crop In Style Paper Taker is durable and very sturdy.

It does a great job keeping things dry when you get caught out in the rain/snow. It’s the flaps on the side the side that keep the paper safe while traveling. It also is made with strong Velcro that doesn’t come open while you are carrying it. I haven’t ever had my paper get bent edges or corners while traveling. This is very well constructed.

The Crop In Style – Red, Black and Cream Collection – Paper Taker is easy to carry for the on the go scrapper. On the back there is a handle that will easily attach to your rolling tote making it even easier to take out with you. Get yours today. Last time I checked the Crop In Style – Red, Black and Cream Collection there was only 2 left in current stock selling for $29.99. Don’t wait!

Crafter Cast ~ a weekly craft podcast ~ Tsoniki Crazy Bull

Crop In Style Paper Taker

photo credit: savor_soaps

Here’s how to get started.

You need to look at soap making from a couple different angles. The first angle is a simple strategy of using natural soap or unscented soap, melt it down, add your own ingredients and make it your own. If you choose to go this route you will need some basic supplies. Those supplies include:

•    Colorless bars of natural or fragrance free soap
•    Essential oils of your choice – these will scent your soap.  Choose scents wisely.  Lavender is a calming scent, citrus or mint invigorates.
•    Food coloring
•    Vitamin E oil
•    Blender
•    Soap molds
•    Double Boiler
•    Wax or parchment paper

Once you have the supplies you’ll need grate the soap in a blender and then use a double boiler to melt it down. Add oils and coloring to it to suit your preference. You can really do whatever you like. If you want to add glitter, go for it. If you want to add some toys, you can. Do whatever you feel led to do to create your own personal touch. After you’ve added whatever it is you are going to add, it’s time to add the water. Add water until the soap is thin enough to pour into a mold. The mold will need to sit for at least 48 hours and then you release it onto wax paper.

If you decide that you would go the second route when creating soap which is creating it from scratch, it’s a bit more involved but still just as fun. You will need some supplies and those supplies are:

•    1 oz. coloring dye
•    Thermometer
•    1 lb. coconut oil
•    1 lb. olive oil
•    3 lbs. lard
•    11.2 oz. of lye
•    1.5 oz. fragrance
•    32 oz. water
•    Rubber gloves
•    A stainless steel pot
•    1 plastic container
•    Protective goggles and an apron
•    Thermometer

Using a three to one rotation you are going to add lye to water in a large plastic container. It’s going to be one part lye and three parts water. It’s important that you mix in an open are that is well ventilated and make sure you have goggles on. The mixture will get hot so you have to let it cool before proceeding to the next step.

In a metal pot, place the lard and oils. On the stove, over medium heat warm it until the fat melts. Using your thermometer keep track of the temperature until it reaches 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Add the lye to the melted oils very slowly to combine. Make sure you continue stirring as the mixture will change consistency. Add your dye and fragrance. Now it’s time to pour into your molds and let sit for 24 hours. Once it’s cooled for 24 hours pop the soap from the molds. Voila you now have bars of soap!

It might take a couple times of trying before you perfect your recipe. Just don’t give up, keep trying and eventually you can try different shapes, textures, fragrances, etc. The sky is the limit when it comes to your creativity and making soap.

Books to help you get started:

• Melt & Pour Soapmaking
• The Soapmaking Kit: Tools and Recipes for Sensational Handmade Soaps
• Making Natural Liquid Soaps

One of my very favorite candles on Etsy ~ Soy Candle - Handcrafted Ceramic - Key Lime Scent - by MadHattersPottery

photo credit: cype_applejuice

Great picture of a row of handmade soaps

Crafter Cast ~ a weekly craft podcast ~ Tsoniki Crazy Bull

Easy Soap Making Tips

Instead of going out on a whim and purchasing a bunch of beads and getting home and not knowing what you want to do with it, you should consider going to a bead store once you have a project in mind and planned out. Probably the easiest thing to start with is a bracelet.

photo credit: wear.my.colors

A bracelet is a great beginner item to start with. Before you go to the bead store make a list of what you are going to need. A list of supplies you will need to make a simple bracelet include:

•    Elastic Cord
•    Beads Of Your Choice
•    One Bead With Three Holes
•    Scissors

The first thing you need to check is to make sure that the cord will fit through the hole in the beads. Once you’ve strung all the beads on the cord all you need to do to finish it is tie a knot and trim the ends. If you are using what is called a three holed bead the process is going to be a little different. You will have to push the cord through both sides of the bead and then up through the top. Finishing the bracelet off will be the same as above – tie an overhand knot and trim the ends.

Next you can move onto the other types of jewelry – earrings, hemp jewelry and wire jewelry. After you have decided what project you would like to tackle it’s time to head out for the supplies. Sometimes your local bead store won’t carry the items you are looking for. Don’t lose hope, you can probably find what you are looking for online. In the event that you can’t find what you are looking for you can probably find a variation of it at your local bead store.

Let’s say for example the project you want to do calls for a three holed bead and you can’t find any. You could use a two holed bead instead. Finishing it off will be a little different in that you will loop one of the ends of the cord through the end bead and then pull it up through another bead before making your knot. The string will be exposed so you will need to choose a string that matches your beads.

Once you start creating your own beaded jewelry it’s addicting and hard to stop. There are endless bead supplies out there and so many different project ideas. Just remember to start small, plan your projects and make adjustments as you go.

photo credit: Harbor Area Designs

The amount of beads you can find will get addictive! I’ve been beading and making jewelry for about twenty years now and have a large collection of beads, findings, chains, etc. I love seeing something and being inspired and with luck I’ll have a smiliar bead or whatever it was that drew me to the item - then I can create my own. I am glad to have kept all the beads because they don’t go bad and you can always use them for something!

Here is a quick bracelet I made a couple of years ago ~ I used various beads and memory wire. I love this bracelet! It’s colorful, easy to wear and always brings compliments.

Crafter Cast ~ a weekly craft podcast ~ Tsoniki Crazy Bull

Getting started with beads and findings

Mono Adhesive (Permanent) Refill - New Style - The 6 Pack Bargain Pack
Scrapbook.com

This strong bond adhesive refill fits the palm-sized Mono Adhesive Dispenser. It is an acid free, permanent bond that is great using it for all of our card making, scrapbooking, and paper crafting projects. It is CK okay and Photographic Activity Test (PAT) approved.

Each refill is 1/3 inch X 472 inches or 8.4mm X 12m and there are 6 refills in each box.

It’s difficult to find an adhesive runner that doesn’t unravel all over the place and doesn’t gunk up. I have found that the Permanent Mono Adhesive flows the best when I don’t press down on it too hard. It will last a long time and when it does need a refill, the refills are easy to change. I also love these because they are easy enough for my kids to use, I usually have two or three opened up at once just so the kids also have access to them. They are very easy to use in paper crafting, which I love because it is hard to find adhesive you really like and want to use often.

I order this refill pack myself because I don’t ever want to completely run out in the middle of a project. Get your Mono Permanent Adhesive Refill Six Pack for $20.79 so you too can avoid running out in the middle of your project. This is one of those things I always keep a small stock of, buying in a six pack helps that.

Crafter Cast ~ a weekly craft podcast ~ Tsoniki Crazy Bull

Mono Permanent Refill Six Pack

photo credit: Crafts By AP

Crocheting
If you have a younger child crocheting is the best place to start. In crocheting you only use a single needle so children as young as four can be taught this craft. Here are some required supplies:

• Size J hook
• Favorite color worsted weight yarn.
• Beginner pattern.

You can find hooks in different varieties, from plastic to metal. Smaller hands will probably have better luck using a lighter weight hook. Teaching a child to crochet will work best if you can use a couch so you can be sitting side by side. Make sure that you turn the TV off so that it’s not a distraction to the child. Something important that you need to keep in mind is pay attention to what directions you pick up because they will vary for left handed and right handed people!

Patterns for a beginner are usually placemats or blankets. You want to start small and you should be prepared for frustration. Start small and set a time limit or create a goal. For example, start with a 4X4 square, this will allow them to feel like they’ve accomplished something when they finish.

Before you start you should make your yarn skein into a ball, learn a few knots, practice them and master them.

Knitting

Knitting can also be a great way to teach children not only a craft but it also teaches them discipline, focus and gives them a sense of accomplishment. This is also a great distraction to pull your children away from video games, the computer or the TV.

• Knitting supplies:
• Size ten knitting needles
• Yarn, preferably wool
• A knitting pattern or project

A beginning knitter will need to start with an easy pattern such as a hat, a scarf or a potholder. Like crocheting you will need to start somewhere comfortable, such as a couch so you can sit side by side. It could also be beneficial to have your child sit in your lap. This will allow them to emulate your hand motions

Small hands will be able to work more effectively with larger needles that are lightweight. Also, choose needles that don’t have sharp pointed tips but rather rounded tips.

You will need to exercise a certain amount of patience when it comes to teaching your children to knit or crochet. Frustration will often come out when small hands find it difficult to master knots. If you become frustrated your child will too. Not only will you be spending quality time with your child and bonding with them, you will teach them how to experience the joy of crafting and the joy of creating something with their own hands.

• Show Me How: Knitting
• Kids Can Knit
• Crochet Kid Stuff: 20 Fun Projects
• Way to Crochet!: 20 Cool, Easy Projects

Crafter Cast ~ a weekly craft podcast ~ Tsoniki Crazy Bull

Teach Kids to Crochet or Knit