Updated Trinket Boxes

 Origami Trinket Boxes

Tidying my boxes in the craft room the other day I came across some folded papers I had prepared for the bases of my Origami Trinket Boxes. 

The trinket box is not my idea, I saw it originally on YouTube and made it with 8 x 8 papers. Then I saw another YouTube video where the crafters made a lid to fit the 6 x 6 paper version. I worked out how to size the lids up and could make the trinket box with 6 x 6 papers, 8 x 8 papers and 12 x 12 papers, and add lids.

I made quite a few and sold a couple and gave a few away, keeping 2 of the larger sized boxes to store my beads and jewellery parts that I use to make my journal embellishments. I have had them for a couple of years now and they are wearing well. 

A few months ago I had a eureka moment when I realised I could line the base box, and if I folded one sheet with the pattern on the outside and one with the pattern on the inside the box became lined. I then had to work out how to place the lining inside the box. 

So when I found the 3 folded sets of trinket boxes I decided to make them up to add them to my Christmas Craft Fayre items or o give them away as gifts with some chocolates inside.

They take about an hour to make, the bases come together quite quickly but them the hot glue gun is fired up to add the embellishments before constructing the lids which are formed from a box base with a flat top. For a box made from a 12 x 12 paper the aperature is 7.5cm. I make the box lid with a piece of card 13cm square scored on all four sides at 1cm,2cm& 3cm 

The three boxes were made from K & Co papers.

They have been added  to the other three in my box 

Happy Crafting 

Dee

Bank Holiday Craft Fair

 August Craft Fair

Feedback from my August Craft Fair

Happily the weather was good and the day went well.

I had 90mins to set up and the show started at 10am. It started slowly but soon picked up, as the weather turned fine and hundreds turned out to enjoy the stalls inside and outside as well as the Car Boot and games organised in the grounds. The Craft Fair is part of a large Fun Day held in the Community centre and Cricket Club .

  

                                           

The footfall was very good but you have to remember that a lot of the people attending are nott there necessarily for the Craft Fair, and are therefore not your target customers. I was situated in the main hall and overall had a good spot. A few people showed interest as they wandered by and I made my first sale early after the opening. 

 As this was one of my Gift Centre Items that was a new section for me I was pleased with this first sale. The middle of the table was set out with a selection of jewellery , displayed in individual stands, and alongside a stand of jewellery purses. You could select a piece of jewellery and a jewellery bag so the gift is ready to give. Next I had a customer who was looking at my Journals and went onto purchase 2 of them, a gift bag and tote bag. I continued chatting to her after she had made her purchase and she then went on to purchase one of my Pad bags. 

The rest of the day was steady and sales were up overall on the March Fair. This was not necessarily due to the number of people through the hall as many came to have a look but were not necessarily there to buy, but they helped to add to the atmosphere and the cake stall sold out by 1pm. The crowds meant it was difficult to get a drink as the queues were long all day, but as I was manning the stall on my own I had brought a flask of water. 

This fair was interesting for me, as sales were quite different from previous Fairs. I did not sell one of  my best selling item (the Craft Bag ), and instead sold several items that had not sold before. Journals, Pad Bags and the new Gift Bags, and this has given food for thought for the Christmas Craft Fairs. I am wondering if the sales were down to the layout of the table, my talking to customers, (certainly I think the new gift bag sales were made once I explained the concept of the bags. They have multi-use as they are big enough to hold a variety of items. So if you want to gift make-up, toiletries, chocolates they can all be presented in the gift bag, which can then be used for practical purposes after the gift has been used. Ideal, also for teachers presents, thank you gifts etc as they make a simple gift look thought out and more special, as they cost an average of £4 it would be good to have as a handy stand-by. 

Here is a sneak preview of the Christmas gift bags. 

This style of flat bag can hold all sorts of gifts and would make perfect re-usable selection boxes. You can fill them with the persons favourite chocolates and sweets at a great price, and the bag can have multiple uses. 

I also have a christmas gift bag that is more like a tote bag with handles, and Christmas shopping bags for the festive season. 

Overall the day was lovely, I chatted to some new customers and some customers who had seen me in March, I chatted to other crafters, Craft Fairs are a great place to catch up with new ideas in the craft world a well as new craft fairs coming up. My Sum-up machine proved very useful and I took almost half of my sales on card and half with cash. 

The day did not finish with the craft fair, as you have all the packing up and sorting out when you get home. All the stock has been packed and put back in the bag ready for November, and I am happy to add more to my charity pot. This year’s charity is the local hospital. I sell my paper crafts and “Sew Useful Bags” for charity, it is a lovely hobby that has helped me through the difficult times.  

Happy Crafting

Dee

Summer Sewing

 Preparing for the August Craft Fayre

As i have mentioned before on the blog, I am now sewing bags, it has become a larger  part of my craft life, as I sell my bags at a couple of craft shows a year, as well as to friends and family, and donate any profit to Bridgwater Hospital. My selection of bags that I make has expanded and contracted as I try different ideas to see how they are received. I am narrowing the items I make to an amount that sits nicely on a 6ft table, which is as much as I wish to take on. 

The Craft Fayres I attend are relatively small, sometimes this is reflected in the footfall, and other times the footfall is good as locals turn out for a family day with the craft Fayre being a part of other activities on offer. This can reduce your buyers, as they are not really there for the craft. Sometimes all the stars align and you have a great day. I do the Craft Shows as a an outlet for my bags which has been both a hobby and therapeutic, with the profit going to charity I can relax, enjoy the day, meet other crafters and hopefully learn a little as well. 

I have decided to take you along on my journey with my enterprise “Sew Useful Bags”. So when I am preparing for a show, launching a new project or learn something new I will share it with you. 

My 2nd show this year will be on August Bank holiday Monday. This is one of the Family Fun Days, I was telling you about. The grounds around the hall are used for games, Car Boot and charity stalls, while the hall is a Craft Fayre for the day. Only hand made stalls are aloud and the organiser is careful not to have too many of one type of craft. 

It’s a lovely day and I get to meet other crafters, see what’s new and an ideal opportunity to try new things before the busier Christmas Fayre in November. 

I will set out my dining room table as a trial for my stall and play with the outlet, this way I also get to check the labelling on my stock and do a stock check before packing up the bag ready to take.

This is the start of the process, several different layouts were tried and stands moved around to get the best view of the products. For me it is worth taking the time for this process as I am not great at the merchandising side of selling, in fact selling is not my forte. If I can talk to people visiting my stand I usually make a sale, but that is an art in itself. 

Back soon, to let you know how the Bank Holiday Craft fair went. 

Happy Crafting 

Dee