Merry Wishes Nugget Tin

I've been trying to be productive this weekend. I think I was able to make about 20 cards, one altered letter and one nugget tin. I have 9 more nugget tins to go!!! The one I made tonight was using new Designer Series Paper from the Holiday Mini Catalog that is available in October. This project is incredibly easy to make no matter what the occasion. I have made this set for Christmas to sell in the craft show. I may have to lock them up to keep my daughter from getting into them. While I was wrapping the nuggets she discovered that I had them out and asked for one. I told her she could have just one but Mommy needed them for a project. She ate it and sure enough she came back for another one. My husband chimed in and told her "No Ashlinn, Mommy needs those".... she started saying "want one Mommy" so how could I resist. She got another one and headed over to my husband and says "Ha Ha, got one!!!" He and I both burst into laughter. For being only 2 she amazes us sometimes! She ended up getting three! That would fill one row of my nugget tin!!! Little stinker!

For the outside I decided to use my new snowflake edge punch made by Fiskars. It's not as easy to use as the SU Scalloped Edge or my Martha Stewart edge punches that's for sure. I made a 2" band of Kiwi Kiss and a 2" band of Baja Breeze. I took the snowflake edge punch to both sides of the Baja Breeze. Then I punched Tangerine Tango and Close to Cocoa circles out and glued every other color behind the snowflakes to add color. Once I was finished I glued it to the center of the Kiwi Kiss cardstock. I used 5/8" white grosgrain ribbon in the center of the band. The tag is made from a SU! set that I don't recall the name of at the moment. I attached it with silver elastic ribbon to match the tin. The tag is also layered a bit to give it some dimension and I used two different inks as well.

Picture this...

I'm still at a loss for what all I should sell at the craft show. I don't want too much product but I also don't know what will sell and what won't. I ran to Michael's thanks to them sending me a coupon for 50% off one regular priced item. There really isn't anything that I "need" or "want" for that matter. While wandering around aimlessly trying to find something to spend my coupon on Sherry and I came across some small wood block picture holders. They were plain wood with Christmas pictures on each side. I thought they might be perfect for altering. Whether they will sell at the craft show is beyond me. I tinkered around with one and added a bow to the top near the swirl that holds the picture. I took the picture before I added the bow as you can see. If they don't sell, I'm only out a dollar and scrap supplies. I'll then turn them into X-mas gifts for someone!! haha.. beware...if one of these ends up in your mailbox after the craft show, you'll know why!

A is for Altered

I've always loved the look of altered letters but never tried it on wood. Chipboard seems to be a bit flimsy compared to the pressed wood. I'm not sure how well these would sell at a craft show but if it doesn't sell...I'm not out much. Besides, my daughter's name starts with an "A" and I could always do the rest of her name. The best part, the colors would match her bedroom!

Maybe I'm crazy!

I don't know what I was thinking... my friend Sherry and I have decided to participate in a craft show in November. I love working with paper...designing, creating, etc so I don't know why I'm so nervous. I'd like to think that the quality of my cards has vastly improved from when I first started a little over a year and a half ago. Each person has a different learning curve as well as style. I myself, love the "WOW" factor. I'm more interested in the quality than anything. I don't like too much stuff cluttering my cards and if it's not perfect..I keep fiddling with it until it is.

But, I'm nervous as can be that I'll get to this craft show and my stuff won't sell. I'd hate to have to haul it all back home. Not to mention the blow to my ego. I've been in one other craft show but that was selling jewelery (bracelets) that I used to make. I did pretty well but this is a different market. Pricing seems to be the key ingredient. I myself, would rather go to a craft show and pay for nice quality items such as a homemade card rather than purchasing a card at a store. Some people aren't like me though. I'm different from the next person who is different from the person after that.

So tell me... if you have any good ideas for what you would buy or expect to see at a booth with hand crafted items altered with paper etc. I made some gift bags that can double as note totes - meaning I can make 4-5 cards that match the bag and they fit inside. The cards would portray the designer paper on the outside - ie: Christmas designer paper would have Christmas related cards. This is one of the bags I've made but still need to finish.