Let's start ideas for next Christmas

[GRKIDDO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DianeCraft

Gina,
Your fobs look good!
I was looking through the other items and love the way your tealights turned out also.
How much do you plan to charge for the tealights?

You are doing well to prepare for xmas early.
I am planning on doing some tealights with embossed metal accents this year.

I am thinking $3 each or 2/$5. I bought the tealights at Ikea. 36 for $3. I put them in groups of 4 cost for the 4 tealights, $0.44. I used all scraps for the circles. I used the pretzel bags from Michaels 75 with a coupon made them $0.03 each. The scallop circles on the top were also scraps. Now the white piece of CS that I put behind them for some stability, that was not scratch, but it was from Walmart, their CS is something like $6 for 150 sheets. so one sheet cost about $0.04 and you get quite a few from each sheet.

I also want to make tealight holders from Flashing, I think that is what it is called. Sold at the hardware store in a roll. I made some snowflake ones for a Fall Fest I demo'd at last year and I have had a few requests for them for this year. I don't have pictures of mine, but I googled it and found this picture:
Crafting With Tammy: Crafting with Flashing.But you could also do flowers like these:
Silver Flower candle holder - Stamp with Michele

And it is called Flashing. My hubby went and bought it for me, but he says it is in the roofing department.;)

[STAMPTAYLOR]

The flashing I looked at was in a roll, looked like it might go through the Big Shot. Anyone have experience with that?

[craftymomto2]

Patrice, Here are a couple of pictures. First picture is the type of flashing I used, found it at Lowe's. The second picture is the little candle holders that I made with the flashing. Hope this helps....

Oh, the small purple one is one that I spray painted.

[gobarb26]

Gina, your fobs are fab! Lots of luck with them.

[mauiueno]

How thick is the flashing?

[GRKIDDO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gobarb26

Gina, your fobs are fab! Lots of luck with them.

Thank you very much!

[GRKIDDO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by STAMPTAYLOR

The flashing I looked at was in a roll, looked like it might go through the Big Shot. Anyone have experience with that?

I used the flashing for the roofing. I dont have a photo. I DID have to make a shim for it to cut though! My suggestion is to try on a SMALL piece so that you dont have a lot of waste!

[brookskaren]

Remember that you can also use aluminum drink cans that have been rinsed and cut apart. Poke a hole with kitchen scissors just under the top of the can and cut around it to remove it. Do the same at the bottom and then cut down the side and flatten. These will work with just the silver side showing or the printed side showing. Run through the Big Shot as you would the flashing. They turn out very nice and if you have a "fan" of a particular drink type, it is fun to make them their special tea light holder. You can use these to make small hair flowers or brooches as well, just add the appropriate clip or pin to the back and glue it all together with hot glue or Crystal Effects. Be careful when cutting the can apart...kitchen scissors usually have a serrated edge and the can will be a bit jagged. However, when you put it through the BS with the selected die design, it comes out very smooth and does not have sharp edges. I'm going to sell some of these this year at the craft fair I participate in.

[GRKIDDO]

That's true about the soda cans.

I was surprised the edges weren't that sharp when you sent the flashing through the Big Shot.

[STAMPTAYLOR]

I have cut the soda cans apart before, worked okay. Love the tealights, would be beautiful at the holidays.

[craftymomto2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mauiueno

How thick is the flashing?

I don't think it says on the label, sorry the label is long gone otherwise I would look and see. :(

[DianeCraft]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brookskaren

Run through the Big Shot as you would the flashing. They turn out very nice and if you have a "fan" of a particular drink type, it is fun to make them their special tea light holder. You can use these to make small hair flowers or brooches as well, just add the appropriate clip or pin to the back and glue it all together with hot glue or Crystal Effects.
I'm going to sell some of these this year at the craft fair I participate in.

Do you have any pics to show us the hair flowers or brooches? I am having a hard time imagining what these look like.

[brookskaren]

Diane,
I do not have any photos; even if I did, I don't know how to download them here. They look just like the pic of the tea lights, though. You just run whatever flower, snowflake, etc. die through the Big Shot, layer it, then put a clip on the back. You can stick some tulle in between the layers if you like to soften the look, but they are quite cute, especially for teens. I think you can see some on Dawn's blog. I forgot her last name, but she is the one who likes purple and who has a daughter in cosmetology school. If no one else comes up with a link, I'll look for it later. I'm off to the hospital to be with my mother today during her surgery and have no idea when I'll get back home. Tomorrow it is my daughter-in-law's day for surgery. It's kinda crazy around here!

[craftymomto2]

Here is something made with soda cans:

Dawns Stamping Studio: Pop Can Pins video ....

[brookskaren]

Thanks, Mary! That is the right link to Dawn's site about the soft drink clips/pins. I'm glad you were able to figure it out from my description. My time on the computer is limited right now and I did not have time to hunt for it today.

[DianeCraft]

Thanks for the link. They are cute.

[STAMPTAYLOR]

BUMP

[GRKIDDO]

I am so excited! Since SU stopped selling the 1/4' grosgrain ribbon (my favorite one by the way) I have been searching for a new place to get it. I found it yesterday! And my luck it was 50% off the entire store! They do a big sale like this to make room for the upcoming holidays and all of the stock they get for it. Anyway, I got a whole spool of 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, 100 yards for.....wait for it.....$5.25!!!! I bought quite a bit! Had I realized that was all it was going to be, I would have bought more spools of it, and less By-the-foot. But I am super happy!! Also got a bunch of 3/8" grosgrain that I plan on using on many of my crafting projects that I am working on for sales!

[mauiueno]

WTG Gina - don't you just love it when you find not only what you have been searching for plus it's a great deal too!! How many rolls did you buy? Hope you got delicious colors too!!

[GRKIDDO]

Well I hadnt realized I could get the whole roll at 50% off until AFTER I had her measure out 20 yards of this, 20 yards of that etc. So I bought 2 rolls and my mom bought 2 rolls (100 yards on each roll) and we split the 4 rolls between us. Most of the yards I bought were $0.15 so I ended up paying $1.50 for 20 yards. Not too shabby! But I did buy a few styles of 5/8" ribbon which was $0.25 a yard so with 50% off they were $2.50 for 20 yards. Not as good of a deal, but I am still happy!!!!

[GRKIDDO]

I went to M's today and found frames that were regularly $17.99 on clearance for $3! They are 11x17. I bought all they had! I am going to make dry erase boards for sales.

[DianeCraft]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GRKIDDO

I went to M's today and found frames that were regularly $17.99 on clearance for $3! They are 11x17. I bought all they had! I am going to make dry erase boards for sales.

Good idea Gina. How do you do that again?

I am wondering if anyone knows where/how I can buy metal sheets? I want to make advent calendars this year on magnetic 12x12 sheets hopefully put into a frame.

[STAMPTAYLOR]

Hey Diane,


Check out you local home improvement stores. I have gone in with pictures of my projects, and someone helps me either find what I need, or improvise.

[mrussom]

The dry erase boards are so easy to do with frames (or even the little acrylic ones) - the markers write right on the glass or acrylic. Dollar Store has the markers out now (bigger ones) in three packs (black, blue and red I think). i bought a bunch last time I was there. They had dry erase boards there too, but the kind they carry now are cardboard and very bendy - they had another one before that was framed and way sturdy but of course I only bought one and then didn't get back in time. I stamped the "Chef" from SU on that one, colored it with Sharpies, which turned out very cute. If they get more in I'll get them, otherwise I'll use the acrylic frames or glass frames. I made some for my sale last year with the acylic (they are in my gallery), pretty paper behind it, some stamped image if I wanted it there - usually the Chef - and a dry erase marker (the left over from the crappy dry erase boards I bought actually). They sold very well and were super easy to do. I like easy!

[STAMPTAYLOR]

Great ideas, we like easy also.

[DianeCraft]

Mary - how much did you charge for the dry erase boards?
I bought some small photo frames when they were on sale and have been trying to figure out what to put in them. This might work!

[mrussom]

I want to say I charged $5 for them. Frame was a buck, the marker ended up being less than a $1 (got the boards on clearance at Target I think but I didn't like the board), piece of paper to jazz it up. I didn't do too many, maybe 7 total for the sales, but they sold. I'm going to do more for this year's sales too, may use the picture frames instead of the acrylic frames, but we'll see - Whatever I can get cheap. But really easy and made money off of them so that was good. I have some in my gallery from the sale I do believe.

Did you know you can use Sharpie pens on them as well? I saw that on Pinterest last night but I haven't tried that. When the Sharpies go on sale at school time, that may be even cheaper than the dry erase marker (which aren't all that cheap except at the dollar store). I'm going to try a frame at home with the Sharpie to make sure it works. You may have to clean it off, instead of just wiping it off, and if that's the case, not sure that's better or quicker for people.

[mrussom]

Diane - some use brand new cookie sheets for advent calendars, tying a ribbon through the hole to hang - designer paper on the sheet to jazz it up. The dollar store apparently has some sort of metal sheet that I saw somewhere (probably on Pinterest!) that they used for a magnet board - did I look last night when I was there scoring some pebbles of all sizes? Oh no, I forgot until I got home! So I guess I'll be going back there. But if you have a dollar store in your area, go there and look - the sheet the person used seemed thinner than a regular cookie sheet so maybe it could be cut down with snips. Bring a magnet to make sure its the right metal (or they have magent type things there).

What were you charging for your pebble magnets? I have two sizes, small ones that are probably half an inch and the larger ones, which are about an inch or so. I was going to bag them up but I think I like the idea of a display board and letting people pick their own magnets to buy. Plus I think they would look so pretty on a display board.

[DianeCraft]

Hi Mary,
I bought a display board from IKEA for my magnets. It is fun to watch people hum and haw over them and keep coming back. The kids too, they play with them. Pull them off and let the magnet pull them back again! lol

The best source I have found for magnets is Sun and Moon. I buy some of my glass there for my necklaces and their prices for the good neo magnets is better than ebay.

My best seller is my large - charge $2 for each magnet..they range from 1" to 1 1/2".
The smaller pebbles I have sold individually for $1 each or 3/$2 generally.
People will pay these prices if it isn't just designer paper behind them. For the large, I uyse mixed media..stamps, magazine words, etc.

[mrussom]

Thanks for the magnet info, I'll check it out. My pebbles are made with 'just designer paper' (just kidding - I know you didn't mean it 'like that'!) so I won't be getting what you get for them. I just let the paper do the work for me (cause I'm lazy that way!). I was thinking four for $1.50 - or two for $1 -not sure about that and about the small ones. Not much money invested in them, depending on the cost of the magnet. They sure were fun to make and I love looking at them all together - very cute. I think I'll get a new cookie sheet, cover it with paper for my display board. Or paint it maybe. First need to get the magnets!

[DianeCraft]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrussom

Thanks for the magnet info, I'll check it out. My pebbles are made with 'just designer paper' (just kidding - I know you didn't mean it 'like that'!)
I think I'll get a new cookie sheet, cover it with paper for my display board. Or paint it maybe. First need to get the magnets!

lol
You are right..I didn't mean it like that. Sometimes, I will make sets of 6 and make 3 with paper behind them and the other 3 fancier.


When I first started, I bought a magnetic white board on clearance because it had an awful calendar on it. I just adhered a subtle pretty wrapping paper to it, and that did the trick too.

I hope you will post your magnets so we can admire them.

[mrussom]

My Christmas ones I will try to put words on them - I think I have some small stamps that say joy and things like that. I forgot how 'pricey' the magnets are, I'll need to figure out my price again. I'm going to run to Mike's in a few minutes - they have coupons I can use and I think I can get the magnets cheaper there, they are the ones I usually use and they are very strong. Finding them in the store is always a challenge but this time I'm just going to ask right away, they always move those things around! And I will try to post later today the magnets I have done and key fobs. Sold three fobs at work yesterday so that was great. Feels good to have some things done for sales in the fall. Once I get some things done, then I seem to keep going forward with projects. Maybe i will actually be ready for the sales when they start and no last minute stamping/crafting! that would be a first.

have a great weekend all. Its gorgeous here in Wisconsin (northern part). had a wet yesterday but weekend looks great.

[tat2girl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrussom

My Christmas ones I will try to put words on them - I think I have some small stamps that say joy and things like that. I forgot how 'pricey' the magnets are, I'll need to figure out my price again. I'm going to run to Mike's in a few minutes - they have coupons I can use and I think I can get the magnets cheaper there, they are the ones I usually use and they are very strong. Finding them in the store is always a challenge but this time I'm just going to ask right away, they always move those things around! And I will try to post later today the magnets I have done and key fobs. Sold three fobs at work yesterday so that was great. Feels good to have some things done for sales in the fall. Once I get some things done, then I seem to keep going forward with projects. Maybe i will actually be ready for the sales when they start and no last minute stamping/crafting! that would be a first.

have a great weekend all. Its gorgeous here in Wisconsin (northern part). had a wet yesterday but weekend looks great.

Yay for you, for getting things done early!
Wish you could push that rain down to the Milwaukee area. Dead grass color is not working for me. ha ha

[DianeCraft]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrussom

My Christmas ones I will try to put words on them - I think I have some small stamps that say joy and things like that. .

I get alot of my words from catalogues and glossy flyers. Look at old atmping or scrapbooking magazines too.

[tat2girl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DianeCraft

I get alot of my words from catalogues and glossy flyers. Look at old atmping or scrapbooking magazines too.

We need a "like" button on the forums! ;)

Great idea, Diane!

[bradley's_mom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tat2girl

Yay for you, for getting things done early!
Wish you could push that rain down to the Milwaukee area. Dead grass color is not working for me. ha ha

I am just outside of Milwaukee and couldn't agree with you more about the dead grass color!

[mrussom]

Well we got flooded two weerks ago andf we are still recovering from that. I panic now when it rains, even a bit. We have had twice the amiunt we usually get in one year already and most of that in the one storm. So you can have any rain we have forcasted-we are done with that for a while. Some towns in MN are still drying out. No fun.

That is a good idea Diane-I also loved the print outs at that Sun Moon site-very fun images.

[GRKIDDO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DianeCraft

Good idea Gina. How do you do that again?

I am wondering if anyone knows where/how I can buy metal sheets? I want to make advent calendars this year on magnetic 12x12 sheets hopefully put into a frame.

Sorry about that..I had a sale yeterday that I had to get ready for, and I had to stay busy to prep for it. Mostly it was a sale of retired SU stamp sets, and other misc stuff in my craft room, but I also took along some Key Fob wristlets, post it note frames, and the travel coloring cases I have been making. It really was a "yard sale" so I didnt expect most would want to buy any of my handmade items, but I did end up selling some. 5 of the coloring cases, a handful of the keychains and 3 0r 4 post it note frames. Considering most shoppers were looking for yard sale bargains, I was happy with what I sold.
ANYWAY.....i am planning on doing scrapbook paper in the frame. I have never made them, so I am going to do some research via Google. The last few years Staples has put their dry erase pens on sale for at least a week for $1 sometime in August, so I will be picking them up then.
We have a company up this way, MagneticPix that takes any photo you want and makes it into a dry erase board. They are beautiful, but also expensive (a 11x14.5 is $99!) so I was thinking if there was a way to incorporate a place for photos, that would be a great gift for parents/grandparents/etc. Now obviously there isnt any 11 x 14 paper out there, but if I do it similar to a quilt or patchwork, it would work!

[GRKIDDO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GRKIDDO

Sorry about that..I had a sale yeterday that I had to get ready for, and I had to stay busy to prep for it. Mostly it was a sale of retired SU stamp sets, and other misc stuff in my craft room, but I also took along some Key Fob wristlets, post it note frames, and the travel coloring cases I have been making. It really was a "yard sale" so I didnt expect most would want to buy any of my handmade items, but I did end up selling some. 5 of the coloring cases, a handful of the keychains and 3 0r 4 post it note frames. Considering most shoppers were looking for yard sale bargains, I was happy with what I sold.
ANYWAY.....i am planning on doing scrapbook paper in the frame. I have never made them, so I am going to do some research via Google. The last few years Staples has put their dry erase pens on sale for at least a week for $1 sometime in August, so I will be picking them up then.
We have a company up this way, MagneticPix that takes any photo you want and makes it into a dry erase board. They are beautiful, but also expensive (a 11x14.5 is $99!) so I was thinking if there was a way to incorporate a place for photos, that would be a great gift for parents/grandparents/etc. Now obviously there isnt any 11 x 14 paper out there, but if I do it similar to a quilt or patchwork, it would work!

Actually Staples has them on sale THIS week. $0.50 a piece for 4 pack Bic brand. Limit 4 per customer.

[mrussom]

The Dollar Stores had bunches of dry erase markers, small ones with eraser on tip and bigger ones with no eraser, three packs.

The dry erase board with picture sounds like fun. I thought for a gift for a kid one could use the acrylic frame, put a picture of someone in it and they could draw on the faces-glasses beards, different hair. I wonder if one of my balder family members would cooperate with that!