NOTE: My shop The Beehive is now Papercut Kitchen! Please visit my shop Papercut Kitchen by clicking here.
Well, I'm no longer a craft show virgin! The Handmade for the Holidays show Saturday was a great success in my book. I have nothing to compare it to but all I'd hoped in a first show was to make back the money that I put in on fees and displays and to get my little craft show feet wet and I think that happened. I was also incredibly blessed to experience so much love and support from friends, family and complete and utter strangers who were all so generous and flattering.
I loved my booth but am afraid it would be way to cumbersome for me to haul anywhere out of town. 
It was interesting to see what sold in person that doesn't sell online and what didn't sell at the show that I expected to. I also see ways I think I can improve for the next one. Overall for a first timer I really like the way my booth turned out.
I really liked my displays, especially the front table and Christmas table. I also liked the unusual shape of my space. I was a little bit crowded on my big table though and am thinking up some ways to give the little goodies some breathing room.
My lovely assistant for the day.
Photo taken by Lisa of Golden Muses on Etsy
One year ago today I made the 8 hour trek to get my puggie from the animal shelter. You can read all about that and see more pics here and here. In honor of this day I'm going to get on my soapbox for a minute and say please, if you're considering adding a pet to the family, adopt! There are fantastic animals in need of homes, even breed specific pets! I found Mr. Cash Pugface through Petfinder.com and he was a Pug sitting in an in-state animal shelter.If you pick your pet wisely you'll enjoy each other a whole lot more, like I love my Mr. Cash Pugface! Happy One Year Pugaversary!
- Read all you can about the species and breed you think you're interested in and give honest consideration to the breed characteristics, the time and the costs.
- Don't ever buy a pet from someone selling on the side of the road, you don't really know what conditions these dogs are bred in and good breeders don't sell their dogs this way and you could be supporting a backyard breader.
- Don't acquire a pet on the aww he's so adorable spur of the moment. (I'll admit, I'm guilty of this one!)
NOTE: My shop The Beehive is now Papercut Kitchen! Please visit my shop Papercut Kitchen by clicking here.
I've been seeing a lot of different craft show banners like this that people make out of fabric and was debating my own paper version (how could it be anything else?!) but when I saw this super cute banner on the Idyll Hands blog that was made by her sister, Punkinhead, I was sold!
And if a banner made of paper wasn't enough I had to, yes had to, make a paper tree skirt for my little tree.
Blah Blah Blah some of the boring essentials.
I do love the way my pricing signs turned out. Just like my business cards, it's amazing what scrapbook paper will do to jazz up a boring sign. The frames are just cheapies from Michaels but they look so pleasant.
I thought I would display my magnets on an old street sign my hubby has had in the garage forever but when I dug it out it was just too scrungy and distracting. A trip to Hobby Lobby with a 40% off coupon in hand and I found this metal sign that should look much nicer and it only cost me about $10.
My craft room was bursting at the seems so I decided if I was going to continue making things and be able to assess what still needed done it was time to move it all out to the dining table. It's a little nerve wracking to have it all out there where little hands and paws can reach it!
It's the final countdown. This is the last week I have to prepare for the Handmade for the Holidays craft show and I'm feeling good about it. I'm sure everyone will be very excited to start hearing about something other than my very first ever craft show over and over again. Last week was all about making, rhinestoning (I know, not a word), stringing up and packaging tags. I wasn't so sure about how the whole packaging thing would go, I've never really done it before. I'm a simple gal who thinks a little goes a long way and that's what I did, die cut tags in cello bags stapled shut with a business card. I made a fresh new batch of business cards and they make me so happy. I print them on scrapbook cardstock, it's amazing how such a simple thing makes something so much nicer! Like I said, I'm a simple girl.
All my little ducks in a row.
These are my current faves: Man and Woman tags and Lemon Lime tags
The tag spread. I couldn't work on anything else while the glue was drying. Luckily that doesn't take long.
Lil' Spitfire sporting his "serious thinking face"
I've been on the crafting warpath the past few months trying desperately, in spite of two little boys, two dogs, a cat, a husband and all the life that goes with that, to make as much as possible for my first craft show. Now it's the final countdown. Only two weeks to showtime! This week is all about making Christmas paper goodies. I've made treat boxes and been graced by the helping hands of good friends. I've also been making gift tags until I'm blind. I've almost finished tying off the hundreds of hang tags with their twine, I've glued rhinestones like it's the '80's, and today I hope to make some adorable tree trimming garland. Next week will be all about making sure I know how I want my booth set up and making sure I have all the necessary things packed and ready.
These pics are so terrible I can't believe I'm posting them but the tags are so stinkin' cute! I love the way they turned out, simple and adorable die cut tree tags with rhinestone stars. Can be used to top your gifts or your scrap projects.
I couldn't stand it and made 6 more tag boxes. I have about 10 more scrapbooks in a box waiting to be made too. The last batch just didn't seem like enough.
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