Interview on Handmade Packaging and Etsy

I had a chat today with Sara from CrochetBusiness.com and Squidoo about packaging, craft shows, and other business stuff. Watch the video below or on YouTube.

Easy DIY Jewelry Displays

I just updated my page on making jewelry displays for craft shows with instructions on making a plain cork bulletin board into a nice display board using fabric. The page also has instructions for display trays made with old picture frames, using fishbowls for a display, and ideas for re-purposing and recycling objects as displays.

Quick Tip #22 - Craft Fairs and Festivals Sign Up

It's that time of year, if you're doing craft shows and festivals over the summer you need to be signing up now. I've already sent in 2 registration forms for shows in July and I'm working on number 3 today. It's going to be a busy year.

A few resources for finding shows:

• Indie Craft Shows
• Fairs and Festivals
• Festival Network Online

Also check out local and state arts organizations, for example in Maine where I live we have the Maine Arts Commission which lists events.

Some Craft Show Tips

Just a short post today, I'm preparing to do two art fairs in two weeks so I'm incredibly busy. Since I'm working on the show preparations I thought I'd share some ideas to make shows go smoother.

• If you're selling jewelry or other wearables have a mirror handy, people want to see how something will look on them.
• Prepare your packaging ahead of time. I've pre-filled paper bags with my brochure and a business card, the fabric gift bags I use all have a little bit of tulle stuffed inside, and I have pieces of bubblewrap cut to the sizes I use most. I can pack up a sale in just a few seconds.
  
• Have a full cooler of stuff to eat and drink, especially lots of fluids so you don't get dehydrated on a hot day.
• Do a test run setting up your display, take your time to work out the details so the day of the show you can set up quickly.
• Take note of important locations for your own use and to give directions. Bathrooms of course, also the location of the organizers, food vendors, and the nearest ATM. Hopefully you won't need them but also find out where security and/or medical personnel are.
• If the show is likely to have parents with children in tow, consider having some small items like bookmarks for $1 that kids can buy for themselves. You won't make much money off them but it's worth it for the smiles.
  

Link Round Up: Finding a Craft Show

Here's a collection of links to sites where you can find craft shows to participate in.

State Arts Sites - Your state likely has an arts commission or similar agency to help out artists, most also have event calenders to help you out.

Indie Craft Shows - Indie Craft Shows is a directory of indepedently-run craft shows featuring handmade goods.

Festival Network Online - Find music festivals, craft shows, art festivals & fairs in the US and Canada

CraftLister - EventLister.com lists 50,000+ events year

Two Very Easy To Make Displays

As promised here are two DIY displays that are very easy to make with just a few tools and materials that are easy to find. I'm using these for the two upcoming art fairs that I'm doing.

Fish Bowl Display

I made this display for my hair sticks but it could be adapted to display other items.

Materials:
Small glass fishbowls or votive bowls
Floral styrofoam (the dense kind you used in gradeschool not the soft kind that absorbs water)
Pebbles
Seashells

Tools:
Hot glue gun
Pencil

Step 1: Give the bowls a good wash, even brand new ones probably sat on a store shelf for a while gathering dust.
Step 2: Hot glue the piece of styrofoam into the bottom of the bowl. Allow the glue time to cool.
Step 3: Carefully fill around the foam with pebbles. I used some lovely moss green ones I found in the floral department. If you are collecting pebbles yourself try around a stream or river to get nice smooth ones and give them a good wash before using them.
Step 4: Decorate around the top with sea shells.
Step 5: Using the item you're displaying or a sharp pencil poke evenly spaced holes in the foam. I put some on the outside edge of the foam at an angle for more visual interest.

Variations:

• Get some of those plastic card holders for flower arrangements and stick those in the foam to display small prints or cards
• For a garden/woodland theme use pebbles and top with moss instead of shells
• Use glass marbles in colors that compliment for work for a more sparkley fanciful look

Frame Trays

Materials:
Cheap yardsale picture frames
Spray paint
Cardboard (use the backing for the frame if it still has it)
Flannel or other thick fabric

Tools:
Scissors
Newspaper, drop cloth, etc.
White glue
Hot glue gun

Instructions:
Step 1: Remove glass and cardboard backing from the frames.
Step 2: Taking the frames and your newspaper or drop cloth outside, spray paint them the color of your choice. This may take 2-3 coats of paint. Allow to dry thoroughly.
Step 3: Cut the fabric to fit the frame backing. Run white glue along the edges of the backing and glue to the back side of the fabric. Allow to dry.
Step 4: Apply hot glue around the inside edge of the back of the frame and insert the fabric covered backing. Once cool you have an attractive display try for your jewelry.

Tip: Use a small block of wood under the top of the frame to tilt it rather than laying flat. If you have several frames you can do display them at different tilt angles.

Link Roundup - DIY Displays

My long post for Wednesday is going to be how I made some pretty displays for my art show booth. So to lead up to that here are some links to other ways to make your own displays.

Indie Craft Shows - DIY Displays: An ongoing series of posts with display ideas such as a greeting card earring display, DIT display risers, and using a vintage truck to make a jewelry display.
Ring Display - Using a wooden tray, soft foam, and fabric.
Pendant Display - Cute idea using pieces of tile
Wire Earing Display - Made larger and with hooks rather than loops it could be used for bracelets, necklaces, etc.

And a few quick ideas for re-purposing objects as displays I've come up with:

• Use terra-cotta pots as risers.
• Lazy susans make nice displays that people can rotate
• Small wire trashcans can be flipped upside down and used to hang earrings, ornaments, etc.tura
• Large sea shells can be used to hold business cards or small items (I use this one)
• Branches can be used to hang items like necklaces
• Baskets come in so many sizes you can find them to hold almost anything from small jewelry items to large prints.
• Connect 3 old doors together with hinges (think folding screen) and use for hanging paintings, frames photos, etc. I got this idea from the Shy, Novice, and Closeted Art Show

For more inspiration here's the Show Me Your Booths Flickr group

Quick Tip #8 - Craft Show Checklist

If you're getting ready to do any shows this summer, make a checklist of everything you need.

Here's my checklist, yours may vary depending on what you sell:
☑ Canopy for outdoor shows w/weights for the legs
☑ Tables w/table cloths
☑ Sign and an easel to display it on
☑ Chair
☑ Cash box with plenty of bills and change
☑ Receipt books
☑ Retail certificate
☑ Small sign stating your policies
☑ Calculator
☑ Business cards, brochures, etc
☑ Bags and boxes for purchases
☑ Bubble wrap, tissue paper, etc.
☑ Pens and markers
☑ Price tags
☑ Cooler filled with snacks and lots of water
☑ Comfy but attractive clothing (think lunch out with friends attire)
☑ First aid kit (just in case)
☑ Tool kit (includes hammer, scissors, box cutter, pliers, duct tape, etc)
☑ Garbage bags
☑ Paper Towels
☑ Hand wipes
☑ Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat, I don't need to look like a boiled lobster at the end of the day
☑ Displays for my items (make a list of these so you can make sure you bring them all)
☑ Items for sale plus extras
☑ Supplies to work with if you plan to do demonstrations
☑ Tools and supplies for modifying my jewelry in case someone wants a necklace lengthened, shortened, etc.
☑ Notebook for writing down information on custom orders
☑ A friend to help me out

Preparing for an Art or Craft Festival

Time to Sign Up for Summer Shows

If you haven't thought about doing any art or craft shows this summer now if the time to decide. A lot of shows have registration deadlines in April and May. I almost missed the deadline for a show I really wanted to do, I managed to get one of only 2 spots left.

If you want help getting ready for a show check out this Squidoo lens: Preparing for an Art or Craft Festival