I'm so excited for the second annual Handmade for the Holidays craft show! It's only about three weeks away. I enjoyed last year's show so much, all the talent and fantastic people. Christmas is right around the corner and there's nothing better than a handcrafted gift! The show is happening in Hot Springs, AR at ArtChurch Studio 9am-5pm and my husband and I will be there all day with brand spankin' new Papercut Kitchen goodies and a few old faves.
Last Saturday I sold my wares (not quite as many as hoped but enough) at the May Day Craft Show held at ArtChurch in Hot Springs, AR. Though it wasn't a huge financial success I made a bit and more importantly had a blast with my honey and all the other artists! I wasn't super thrilled with the way I set up my booth this time. I'm learning something at each show. There have only been three, so I can't be too hard on myself. Ok, I can, I'm a picky pants like that, but I'm doing my best to start cutting myself some slack.
My neighbor across the way was the fantastic Heather Montgomery. I couldn't resist acquiring a second pendant, they are just too beautiful. This time I picked a sailor pin-up girl and I love her so much I wore an outfit around her today!
The always colorful Doc Ray was at the show too. He was my neighbor at the last two shows and it makes me happy just to see him! Not to mention his out of this world gorgeous tie-dye.
Happy Crafting!
My sis-in-law is awesome! She made me this craft show apron from jeans and a really cute pink skulls fabric! It was a nasty, cold, misty day outside and a little chilly inside so I was all bundled up most of the day.
My husband manning booth. We were lucky enough to have Doc Ray, the fabulous tie-dye artist, next to us again! We left with shirts for the whole family in exchange for his wife picking out some goodies, what an awesome couple. We definitely got the best end of that deal.
My most favorite thing of all is finally getting a Heather Montgomery pendant! Woo-hoo! These are not just any 'ole slapped together pendants. She crafts her pendants using vintage postage stamps, vintage poker chips and some quality craftsmanship. I had spied this pendant at the Handmade for the Holidays show and was excited to see it hadn't found a home yet. The stamp has an image of a foot painting a rainbow. Another awesome trade!
I liked my first craft show experience so much I decided to jump right back on that train. You can find me peddling my wares this Saturday, December 12th at the Bizarre Bazaar in Hot Springs, AR. It will be from 2-7pm at the Low Key Arts Building at 118 Arbor. There are going to be about 20 assorted artists and artisans and it should be a great way to wrap up that holiday shopping, only 2.5 weeks to Christmas!!! Not to mention a printmaking workshop from 3-5pm for ages 6 and up! Happy Handmade Holidays!
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
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.
I'm trucking right along towards that first craft show with less than 3 weeks to go! After much debate with myself I finally signed up for Propay last night so I can accept credit cards. I think since my custom scrapbooks and silhouettes are pricier I might sell more this way and I've just heard so many reports of how much more people have sold once they started accepting cards. I also ordered some cello bags. I figured this was an economic way to have shopping bags but also have something I'll use in other ways, like shipping. This could be a fail but there are so many things I'm just going to learn by doing. I'll have to make sure I take notes while I'm there of ways to improve!
Almost done with this stack of appreciation boxes and a stack of new items, little scrapbooks in a box (not pictured). I bought a little table top Christmas Tree to display them under and put ornaments on. Let's hope I get the ornaments done! I was hoping for a silver or red foil tree but they were too expensive for this go 'round. Too bad. It will probably stay on my list and I'll shop for them after the season, I think if it was foiled it would be cute for any selling season.
I finished a new baby girl scrapbook cover. I love the giant rhinestoned safety pin! I also made this one with new cardstocks that are super cute but that show-and-tell will have to wait until after Nov. 14th. Unless, of course, you attend the Handmade for the Holidays craft show!
NOTE: My shop The Beehive is now Papercut Kitchen! Please visit my shop Papercut Kitchen by clicking here.
This new Owl Scrapbook is going to the show with me. It's not in my shop yet but will be soon!
I thought I was making tons of paper bead bracelets until I set them out for this shot. I think I'm going to need more! Especially since I've sold 2 and given one as a gift.
But wait there's more! I've redesigned my wedding scrapbook cover. The first attempt was a sort of in the style of blech. Now I think I have a more modern, simple and pretty cover, ahhh much better! My full fledged wedding album is available for purchase here. If you want just the cover you can buy that here.
I made a bowl full of glass chip flower pins for the show along with some additional examples of how my custom silhouettes can be made. The silhouettes are now up for purchase in my shop and they will travel with me to the show, along with some I made of my adorable boys! I suppose if I don't get into the show the pins will go in the shop as well.
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