Handmade goodies - are you creative/talented enough ?
By SimplyJo
@SimplyJo (1694)
India
January 1, 2007 10:38am CST
friends, do you ever make handmade stuff like bags,paper mache cups,candles,jewellary or even small things like cards yourself ?
well i used to when i was younger but not anymore. i used to even have arts and crafts classes in school where we used to make cards,candles,clay stuff,fancy handbags, ash trays,wall hangings..ooo the list goes on. i remember it used to be fun. i wish i had time for such these days too. some of my friends sell candles etc they make themselves online and earn good money. Have you ever made anything yourself ?
6 people like this
50 responses
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
1 Jan 07
I am a crafty person and enjoy doing many crafts. One of my resolutions for the New Year is to complete at least one craft project a month. This year I want to try candlemaking. I have done this in the past and find it interesting. I also knit and crochet. Years ago I sold my craftwork at bazaars and craft shows and it was a crap shoot for the most part. What sold in previous years was not always a sure thing for profits. You have to maintain a variety of items and make sure they are nearly flawless. There are too many people in the business of making and selling crafts.
1 person likes this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
1 Jan 07
You're so right! I like to go around the craft shows just to see what's new and interesting... and it seems like everyone latches on to the new crafting trends and tries to sell the same things. One year, it's booth after booth of silk flower wreaths, another year it's all woodcrafts, then it was the plastic crafts. Did you sell any of your knitting or crocheting, ElusiveButterfly? I find, in spite of everything else that's on display, people around here will always buy the slippers, afghans, and more useful needlework items.
@ponygirl (37)
• United States
1 Jan 07
My husband, kids and I make all our christmas gifts. We take our time and put thought into each person and what suits them. That plus our abilities and what supplies we have available make the determination of what people will get. This year we made ornaments, decorative plants, wrought iron decorations, wrought iron hat stands, room signs, t-shirts, hats and scarves, necklaces and earrings...it was a great year!
@brendalee (6082)
• United States
1 Jan 07
I am not talented to do that kind of stuff but I would like to. My boyfriend is talented at making things. He made all the christmas presents this year out of wood. He made a beautiful picture frame,a woodburned owl picture,a shelf, and a lighthouse that was actually a light. He is in the process of making my grandson a bed that looks like a John Deere tractor.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
2 Jan 07
Wow...great that he can do such work. He should consider doing this as a side-line business. If his prices are reasonable people will buy his work.
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
1 Jan 07
Like you, I never seem to have enough time to devote to my craft interests. I like to cross-stitch (and have made several, including one that I was really proud of as a baby gift), stencilling, working with silk flowers... I've also made candles and gel scents and those were fun and easy. I've never sold any crafts for money but I do know people who do pretty well at bazaars, flea markets and craft fairs.
1 person likes this
@Muslimah (811)
• United States
1 Jan 07
yes i make most of my pics for mylot. but thats just one of many things i make with photoshop. and other than photoshop, i have children so you have to be crafty lol i make flash cards, coloring books you name it. I love computers so i do my work from home almost anything dealing with design i do it. Nice topic take care
@smileys (3)
• United States
1 Jan 07
I use to make all my son's clothes when he was a baby, He's 14yrs now. I love to crochet and knit and even sold some beaded jewelry years ago. When my daughter was born, she was very sick and I had to stop now that she is almost 10yrs I'm trying to get back into it and my daughter is very artistic and I want to teach her how to do some of the crafts.
My son is A.D.D./Bypolar so it is hard to find a craft for him to do, as his attention span isn't long. He also has difficulty with eye-hand cordination. But we are working on it.
Anyone know of good simple crafts for kids to do?
1 person likes this
@ponygirl (37)
• United States
5 Jan 07
There is nothing like popsicle sticks, especially for boys. I pulled them out last year thinking we would just do cute little snowflakes and my 12 year old son got online for half an hour and then it was on!
He created treasure boxes, picture frames, airplane ornaments, etc, etc. We painted then after. Tip, use hot glue for faster drying, less frustration waiting. There are tons of free project pages online and he had a great time.
Good Luck!
@peaceful (3294)
• United States
2 Jan 07
I enjoy wood carving and other crafts. The most fun is taking a walk in the forest and finding all kinds of natural materials and turning them into usable art...
I've found fallen tree branches and turned them into picture frames for my photographic images.
I also paint in watercolor and oils among other things...
I kept all of these skills alive by turning them into a side business.
I am a musician, writer and cook as well as a business owner.
I simply will never be able to live a monotonous life! :)
The Craft always has something in store for me!
Blessed be!
@Bunny2 (2102)
• Australia
7 Jan 07
I love crafts, though I don't have as much time as I used to so I can devte to them. I used to be an avid cross-stitcher and plan to get back into it one day. Though it does play havoc with my eyesight. I can knit and crochet too. I used to make my own chocolates and have done so from time to time even recently.
@doran28 (109)
• United States
2 Jan 07
I've made candles and some paintings. Just have to say thats there's no such things as creative "enough". That kind of thinking just bocks creativity. Creating is its own reward and no one can judge what you do. It's the process, no the product!
@berlynn1975 (737)
• United States
2 Jan 07
Hello. I love to make crafts. I make hair bows; I sew; I like making other things too. Sometimes when I give a gift, if for a girl, I make bows to match an outfit, etc. I even embellish shirts with ribbon (sewn into the seams) and make a matching hair bow set. Sometimes, I hand make cards to send or give to people. I think quality and practicality are great in hand made gifts. It shows that the giver wanted to put their time into the gift they gave. Unfortunately, some people aren't that appreciative. Some people don't understand the time that crafters put into their items. But, when I receive a homemade gift, I know that someone put their time into something for me.
@kris182_2000 (5469)
• Canada
2 Jan 07
If I could post pics, I would post some of the blankets I make. I just got an idea and I will post some pics of the blankets I make in my profile.
I make them to sell, and am trying to get an on the side business going.
Check my profile in a little while to find these pics.
@amit_sood (168)
• India
2 Jan 07
it is really creative because it was made by ourself and by used our mind and which we like that all things are in this so that is more cretive
@creationsbysusie (254)
• United States
12 Jan 13
I crochet granny squares and make afghans for the beds have been doing this for about 10yrs now sell them on the web 90% of my orders are international sent some to these places
France, Japan, Korea, Australia, Maui, Ireland USA Canada United Kingdom etc
@jain_bangalore (3136)
• India
2 Jan 07
even i used to make handmade goods when i was kid but not now.
@niranjan05 (106)
• India
2 Jan 07
i tried but nothing came just i have made dolls and kite. thats when am small now a days whos trying.i forgot every thing.when am 8 i used to make plates using the leafs of a tree,etc.
@sudhir4441 (668)
• India
2 Jan 07
Yes, in my school days, I use to make cards, boats. It was fun. I really miss those days. I was very creative. We had seperate classes on these. We use to make lot of things.
@ady_thekiller (50)
• Romania
2 Jan 07
I am as creative and as talented as they get, but I'm really messy, and I end up sticking glitter and glue to my forhead in a desprate attempt to unstick it from my hands. last thing I've created was a notebook out of cardboard. At first i wanted to cover it in fluffy pink fabric, but I gave up. it looks really nice, and I even added a toilet paper sign and blackened the edges of the pages in order to look at least 100 yeras old (a bit tacky, but I thought it was nice). but after finishing it, I thought I could have done better. but, all in all, it was really nice making something on my own.
@Tiger0177 (2)
• Australia
2 Jan 07
I was never very creative as a child but as i grown up i have become more creative with making gifts out of things that i had around the house. I have made centre pieces for tables, candle holders, and last year i started making christmas cutouts which sold really well at the markets. Which brought in the extra money for christmas which was good as i have three kidsI have not as yet looked into selling things online that might be my next step.