Month: May 2018

12 Easy Handmade Gift Ideas for Him

Posted by on May 21, 2018 in Handmade Crafts, Handmade Gifts Ideas

I always seem to struggle with a DIY gift for any guy. Whether you are looking for a handmade birthday gift for dad or a unique gift for your boyfriend just because, it is always very hard to find something that is both good-looking and functional.

I have put together a list of 12 DIY gifts that are super easy to make – plus there is something for every crafting skill level – from homemade shaving cream to painted mugs to simple woodworking projects!

I guarantee you they will never get shoved into a drawer!

Easy handmade gift ideas for him

Let’s start with the DIY Phone Holder with a photo display that I shared with you last week. It makes a great gift for his desk to hold the phone as well as a picture or a fun or motivational quote!
Talking about desks, how about a desk organizer for his office (probably not painted gold though – silver or white might better work for him ;))Easy DIY desk organizer - unique handmade gifts for him | DIY Father's Day gift

A DIY desk nameplate for his desk. This one so easy and classy! (more…)

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Madame Alexander/AG News from Costco plus…MY BEAUTY AND THE BEAST BLU-RAY IS HERE!!! YAY!!!

Posted by on May 17, 2018 in Handmade Crafts, Handmade Gifts Ideas

Hi guys!  Finally made it to Costco for groceries today…despite the risks.  Any time you take 3 girls 6 and under into Costco after school you’re just asking for at least one melt-down moment…either from them or me!! :}  We actually survived and had a pleasant time looking at all the Christmas stuff and toys before we did our shopping.  I wanted to tell you about some of the things we saw.

First off, we saw the beeauutiful Alexander Girlz dolls by Madame Alexander.  There were 5 different dolls:  2 blondes (1 with bangs and 1 without), 2 brunettes (1 with bangs and 1 without), and 1 African American doll.  There were 3 different outfit variations.  Each doll came with her own MP3 player, headphones, digital camera, and a pair of sunglasses with a holder.  What’s even better is that I checked Costco.com and they have them on there, so I can post pics to show you what they look like! 🙂

First off, here’s the African American doll:

I love her jacket and cute black boots!

Here’s the first caucasian doll variation, in blonde and then brunette:

Just to let you know, the bangs look much better in real life. 🙂

(more…)

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The Crafting Guide to Mindfulness

Posted by on May 4, 2018 in handmade business, Handmade Gifts Ideas

As someone who loves being crafty, you’re probably well aware of how relaxing crafting can be – the happiness of getting out a project bag or squirrelling away to a craft room for a few hours to lose yourself in your latest project. Focusing on a craft often puts us in a state of ‘flow’, having complete concentration on what you’re working on and being fully in the moment. When you’re thinking ‘how do I want to shape this, where does this stitch go, how do I want this to look?’ you’re not thinking the bundle of other thoughts that run through your head each day; crafting is a gift to ourselves to pause and just be.

This isn’t only conventional wisdom amongst crafters – studies by the American Journal of Public Health have shown that crafting reduces stress and anxiety and boosts positivity and connectedness.

So while I’m not going to suggest you eat a raisin (it’s a mindfulness thing) or hug a ball of wool (although that does sound kinda nice), here’s some ways you can actively encourage more mindfulness and relaxation into your crafting.

Use Your Senses

How to make a bath bomb

We’re working with our hands, and a huge part of what makes crafting so wonderful is the tactile connection we can have with the materials and tools we work with. The next time you pick up a project, take a moment to really feel the texture of the fabric or materials. How does the embroidery hoop or paintbrush feel in your hand? Use all your senses to appreciate what you’re creating with. (more…)

HOW TO GET REORDERS FROM YOUR STOCKISTS

Posted by on May 4, 2018 in handmade business

Editor’s Note: This post was shared with us by Etan and Emily from Wholesale In a Box. They offer makers a method to get into stores — and tools to make growth easier and faster. You can sign up for a free eCourse on their method for growing wholesale (without trade shows, hassle, or stress) here. -Nicole S.

Before they get their first store, most handmade business owners are focused on how many store accounts they want to get. They dream of having wholesale accounts around the country, with their products sparkling on hundreds of store shelves.

But after the first couple of stores are under their belt, many people realize that not all wholesale accounts are created equal. The store in Milwaukee that orders $800-$900 every quarter is worth so much more than the store in Tulsa that ordered $1,000 once and hasn’t placed an order since.

Sometimes stores don’t reorder because of something on their end. Some shops are struggling financially or changing business models and aren’t going to place follow-on orders with you for those reasons. But the majority of the time, a given store is placing consistent, large orders with some makers — and it is up to you whether you are one of them. (more…)