If you love crafts, cooking and handmade things, it will be easy to make money by selling what you prepare. Read the following steps to get new ideas on how to create cheap pieces of craftsmanship, which you can resell to earn some money.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Simple Artifacts
Step 1. Pack the candles to make them more beautiful
Starting with tall, smooth and cylindrical candles, it will be easy to get very beautiful and decorative items for the home that are easy to sell. Get white, unscented candles if you want something very versatile, or opt for other colored and scented candles based on the material you choose to wrap them.
- Get an odorless or vanilla cylindrical candle and a little string or a thin leather cord. Arrange cinnamon sticks along the sides of the candle and tie them to the candle with string or string. The cinnamon as it heats up will begin to give off a very good scent when the candle is lit.
- Take a rectangular strip of jute fabric and a patterned linen scrap. Cut the scrap to be as large as the strip, and then cut out a very simple shape with the fabric scissors. “Fold it in half and cut the middle of the template to have a symmetrical figure). Use a little hot glue or another strong enough glue to glue the colored shape to the piece of jute, then tie it around the candle using a small piece of string.
- Take a flattened jar with a fairly large opening, such as those used to put vegetables in oil, and stick a candle on the bottom. Fill the space between the candle and the jar with "dragon tears" (flattened glass gems) in one or two color combinations. The colors will become bright when the candle is lit.
Step 2. Create artistic frosted glass glasses
Get wine glasses and cheap brandy shots that are in good condition; you can buy them in a second-hand shop or on sale. Wrap around each glass some rubber bands, fill the glass with newspaper and then, being very careful, evenly apply a coating of satin spray paint to the outside of the glass. Once the color is dry, remove the newspaper and rubber bands to create a fantastic embossing effect.
- The glasses look smooth, but they shouldn't be put in the dishwasher or microwave. Make sure you inform your customers.
- Experiment with adding small shapes under the rubber bands, such as a leaf or a cross. You can also use irregular natural shapes: a glass "imprinted" with the unique shape of a river stone can be sold well, and river stones are free.
Step 3. Make a fringed scarf by recycling material
Start by getting yourself a fluffy t-shirt. Use fabric scissors to carefully cut the shirt right under the armpits. Take the bottom of the shirt and lay it out on a surface, then start cutting vertical fringes from the bottom. Distance between cuts of 0.1-0.6 cm, and in height of about 7.5-10 cm. Once you've filled the bottom of the t-shirt with fringes, carefully roll and pull each fringe to stretch and loosen it. The resulting scarf will be worn with the fringes facing down.
- This homemade article is simple to complete, but it will take you some practice before it is good enough to sell. Purchase t-shirts at a thrift store or all-for-one shop to practice until you feel ready to sell them.
- Search thrift stores for t-shirts with fabulous old-fashioned patterns and designs to recreate a unique scarf that will sell well, like pancakes!
Step 4. Make decorative soap bars
Although creating luxury and high-quality soap bars requires a lot of effort, you can create simple decorative soap bars in less than half an hour and sell them for guest rooms or gift baskets. Visit a DIY store and purchase a block of glycerin soap, a set of dyes, some fragrances (such as lemon, lavender, or mint), and a couple of soft silicone or plastic molds. Cut a piece of soap out of the block and melt it in the microwave, then use a wooden popsicle stick to mix it with a couple of drops of dye and fragrance. Pour the mixture into the molds and let them rest, then turn them over and finish the bars.
- Go easy on the fragrances. A few drops are enough to be effective.
- Use alcohol in a bottle with the spray to lightly spray the molds before pouring the mixture, and the bottom of the bars after pouring them into the molds. The alcohol will prevent any bubbles from forming on the soap bars.
- Use a knife to trim the edges of the bars after removing them from the molds.
Method 2 of 3: A little more challenging artifacts
Step 1. Make a wreath to feed the birds
This artifact requires a donut pan and several ingredients, but the result is worth it. You will have to press a mixture of bird food into the donut pan and let it rest, then top it all off with a bow or decoration, ideal for birdwatchers and for the backyard.
- Mix ¼ glass of hot water with a packet of sweet gelatin, for example from the Knox brand, and stir until the gelatin dissolves. At this point, add three tablespoons of glucose syrup and ¾ of a glass of flour, until you get a thick dough.
- Add and mix 4 glasses of bird food and keep stirring until all is uniform.
-
Coat the donut pan with a cooking lubricant (spray), and press the bird food well all over the ring. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then turn it over on a clean surface.
To make the wreath more symmetrical, you can put it back into the pan upside down and squeeze it gently, which will somehow make the back smoother. Be careful not to damage the shape of the front of the wreath
- Let the wreath sit in a dry place for 36-48 hours. In the meantime, if you want, you can create other garlands.
- Once the wreaths are ready, cut a long enough strip of sturdy ribbon and tie it with a loose bow around the wreath to create a kind of hook.
Step 2. Make a lamp out of a glass jug
Start by getting yourself a large glass bottle or pitcher. You can find them in antique stores, second-hand stores, and thrift stores. Choose something big enough to make a table lamp out of it. Afterward, get a lamp kit at a DIY store; the price of the latter can vary from € 9 to € 25. At a minimum you will need a light bulb that you can assemble with a cork (so that it fits into the bottle or jug) and an AC cord with a plug. Assemble the kit and give it a finishing touch with a lampshade bought in a thrift store.
- Usually, to make more beautiful lamps, you will need a drill to pierce the glass and pass the wires through. You will need an electric drill and a little patience to do it properly. Be careful and follow all safety instructions and work slowly so you don't shatter the glass.
- You can add a touch of style to the lamp by decorating the inside of the pitcher before connecting the cables to the bulb. Try adding some nice stones, or use liquid glue and glitter to make the lamp shine from the inside. A nice idea can also be to use colored glass.
Step 3. Knitted accessories
If you know how to knit, you can make good money. Nice knitted accessories, such as hats and scarves, don't have time to touch store shelves in autumn or winter, especially if you use good yarn to make them. Find basic models and manuals in any wire shop, or on the internet; practice until you are able to get the most classic items without any problems. Make sure you have premium quality wool, and produce items in many colors for best results.
Around the holidays, try to sew some decorations and sell them for a few euros. To do this, you can use cheap wool in bright colors, and then finish them with a loop of thread or with metal clips for easier hanging
Step 4. Prepare typical dishes
If you have a penchant for cooking and you like to cook in large quantities, you can prepare tasty dishes with a long-term shelf life and sell packages at public events. Keep in mind that in order to do this, you must first agree on the cleaning of your kitchen with the local health authorities; the law may vary depending on where you live, but always do your research before you start selling food to people. You have to pay for each license required.
- Homemade toffee is always a hit. It is easy to decorate with different types of chocolate, nuts and food coloring, and lasts long enough. Wrap it in cling film in blocks of about 100g, put a sticker on the package with your name and the name of the toffee, and you will see how well it will sell well at the next homemade products fair.
-
If you are a meat lover, get in touch with the local meat market and buy a nice piece of lean meat to dry it. Cut the meat into strips of half a centimeter and prepare the necessary for the brine on the stove. Boil the brine, turn the strips of meat upside down a little at a time for a minute or two. Remove them from the pot using kitchen tongs and lay them on a clean tray in the oven at a very low temperature (around 60-70 ° C) for 3-4 hours. Turn the strips, and repeat for another 3-4 hours. Once you're done, use a vacuum sealer to seal your jerky in packages that will last for many months.
- Depending on the type of meat and the brine, your dried meat will have different possible flavors. Find a couple you like and sell those. If you are unsure whether you will be able to get a particular cut of meat again, label it a "Limited Time Offer".
- Get the leanest meat you can find. Fat doesn't keep long-term.
Method 3 of 3: Selling Advice
Make Profitable Crafts Step 9 Step 1. Make a note of your expenses
When deciding how much to price items, it can be helpful to know how much you spent. In addition to the costs for the material, be sure to also calculate the time you spent preparing the items, and the cost for setting up the exhibition and sale. This will help you set a reasonable minimum price so you don't feel cheated when selling them.
Make Profitable Crafts Step 10 Step 2. Go shopping
If you want to get an idea of how much to price the items, do some research on the competition. Get an idea of the average price of similar items. This will give you a little more margin to work on, from which you could start to considerably increase the margin of your earnings.
Make Profitable Crafts Step 11 Step 3. Offer samples
If you are preparing consumer goods, such as soap, bath salts, wine, or food, offer small bites to passing customers. If your products can speak for themselves, customers will be more likely to come back to buy them.
Make Profitable Crafts Step 12 Step 4. Make discounts
No matter what you prepare, follow the rule of three so that the customer is satisfied: each item has a certain price, but if you buy three you get a nice discount. Usually, the discount is 20 or 30% but you can decide for yourself based on the profit margin you have established. You can also make discounts on specific product combinations, such as "two jars of jam and a box of homemade cookies for € 10 instead of € 12".
People love to buy combination products. Make sure you have ready-made gift boxes for all of your products, and larger boxes so you can pack combinations of two to four products together
Make Profitable Crafts Step 13 Step 5. Marketing aggressively
Nowadays, with the Internet everywhere, it's easier than ever to learn how to create products at home. Stand out from the crowd by establishing an irreplaceable presence on the market and making yourself known.
- Create social media profiles for your business, giving it a name that people will remember. Remember to update them regularly with the products you sell.
- Talk to the owners of local businesses to be able to deliver your products on commission, or help organize a local event in order to expand the market for both you and them. Be proactive and present yourself as a business person to get community support.
- Make yourself available to support some important causes in the community. If a local children's organization is planning to make gift baskets, offer to get them some homemade soaps; Make a weekly donation of homemade canned soup (with a regular license!) or jerky to a soup kitchen or parish canteen. The more your name is linked to positive actions, the more people will consider you and your products.
Advice
- The range of products varies. Regulars will want to see something new and fresh when they return.
- Avoid cheap materials that won't last over time. Talk to an expert at your local store on how to find high-quality items when it comes to glue and paper.
- Shop for supplies and supplies during the off-season to secure the best prices and be able to reduce your expenses. Even better, dedicated to a real office job and get a VAT number so you can shop wholesale without paying additional taxes.
