Archive for category Arts Craft
Internet Marketing: 5 Great Tips to Increase Internet Trafficarts and Craft Fair Can Change Your Life
Posted by admin in Arts Craft on January 26, 2010
Before you start reading, you should be aware that our purpose writing it is to give you as much useful info about attending a craft fair, as we can fit on our page Just about everywhere in America, you’ll find craft fairs. Although these are popular spring and summer events, they are also held in more inclement weather at indoor locations. Whether you’re in San Francisco or rural Ohio, all you have to do is watch the local papers or check bulletin boards around town. Craft fairs are typically organized by community groups and are well publicized. Local artisans are invited to sign up for a booth and bring their wares. The fees for a booth are usually nominal so any one who has a craft or artsy merchandise to show may participate. These fairs attract such a diversity of talent, both the vendors and attendees have a fabulous time. You’ll find jewelry makers, potters, candle makers, quilters, for more details visit to www.divorce-rebuild-your-life.com and hand made sweaters, hat makers, vintage clothiers, painters and more. Depending on the organizer’s parameters, you may also find vendors with manufactured products, like trendy shoes, garden ornaments or antique cookware. The better fairs sometimes take up many square blocks, which make for an entire day of entertaining browsing and inevitably, purchases. A craft fair is an excellent resource event for gift buying. The items you find are usually made by individual artisans, anxious to display their best work. In the case of quilters, potters, stained glass artists and others, many of the items are one-of-a-kind. When compared with department store prices, these beautiful and lovingly made crafts are exceptionally well priced. If you’re not ready to purchase, ask the vendor for a business card where you can contact them or visit their shop. The contacts you can make at a craft fair can well fulfill your gift shopping needs for the rest of the year.
How to Come up With a Craft Idea for Kids
Posted by admin in Arts Craft on January 25, 2010
First, lay aside any perfectionism. Locking yourself into thinking there is only one right way to do something makes every decision harder. Regardless of the kid program you are helping with, there are always many suitable craft ideas out there. Don’t worry about picking the wrong one! If you’ve taken into consideration the age and skill levels of the kids involved, your choice will be adequate.
Next, consider your budget. When choosing a craft idea for kid programs, you need to be aware that some of them are expensive. Prepackaged kits to make a fun foam picture frame or a craft stick cross are affordable for a few kids, but if you are needing to do a craft with a lot of kids, these kits might cost too much. It’s often easy to do almost exactly the same project by just looking at the craft kit components and buying the same materials in bulk at the discount store. You may have to do some preparation, like cutting out shapes ahead of time, or at least making cardboard patterns for the kids to use in cutting out their own. The savings will be worth it, however.
Another consideration is this: in spite of years of indoctrination from women’s libbers, the fact remains that boys and girls like different sorts of crafts! If the craft seems a little girly, don’t use it at boys’ camp. Stick with lace-up leather billfolds, Indian artifacts, dinosaur art, and similar projects. Girls will like beads and anything that’s pink or purple. For a craft idea for kid camp where there are kids of both sexes, keep it on the boyish side and provide some pink materials to keep the girls happy.
How to Enhance Your Framed Art Work With a Theme of Your Choice-Doggie Theme
Posted by admin in Arts Craft on January 24, 2010
Don’t throw away the wooden picture frame you have just because the glass is missing or broken. Instead, recycle your frame to create a beautiful unique framed art design that would look great in any home décor. This is one in a series of three articles on framed art projects.
To start out, cut a piece of cardboard and mount it to the back of the wood frame large enough to cover the opening of the frame and secure it with clear packing tape. The cardboard now replaces the missing glass and will hold your framed art project in place. Next, cut, peel and stick cork finished paper to the size of your frame opening and secure to the cardboard. Note: this step can be done prior to securing your cardboard to the back of the frame opening. Then, arrange photos and embellishments by your theme of choice using double sided foam tape. Try adding ribbon, decorative push pins, peel and stick words, letters, numbers or charms to personalize your project. The main thing is to have fun with it and make it your own. Tip: Painting your picture frame to coordinate with your framed art project would also enhance your finished art work.
Supplies:
Wooden Frame Cardboard Peel and stick cork-finished paper sold by the roll Photos Package of embellishments, or you could make your own (for this project to coordinate with the doggie photo, dog theme embellishments were used) Double sided foam tape Brown and white plaid ribbon (¼ “width)
Optional: Peel & Stick words, letters or numbers
How to Enhance Your Framed Art Work With a Theme of Your Choice-Home Theme
Posted by admin in Arts Craft on January 10, 2010
Here is another great way to recycle your picture or art frames rather than throwing them out because the glass is missing or broken, or you’re just bored with the look. Bring your frame back to vivid life with a beautifully unique framed art design that would look great in any home décor. This is the third in a series of three articles on framed art projects. Here is how:
Cut a piece of cardboard and mount it to the back of the wood frame large enough to cover the opening of the frame and secure it with clear packing tape. The cardboard now replaces the missing glass and will hold your project in place. Next cut ribbed finished scrap paper to the size of your frame opening and secure to the cardboard using artist spray adhesive. Note: this step can be done prior to securing your cardboard to the back of the frame opening. Next, arrange embellishments by your theme (we chose a ‘Home for Sale’ theme) using double sided foam tape. For this project you can use store bought embellishments or make your own. Try adding ribbon, decorative push pins, peel and stick words, letters, numbers or charms to personalize your project. The main thing is to have fun with it and make it your own. Tip: Painting your picture frame to coordinate with your framed art project would also enhance your finished art work.
Supplies:
Sell Your Art or Crafts at Juried Shows to Increase Your Profits
Posted by admin in Arts Craft on January 9, 2010
If you sell your art or crafts at shows, fairs, and festivals, you can increase your profits by focusing on selling at juried shows. Although juried shows are harder to be accepted into, and the booth fees and other expenses tend to be higher, they are often much more profitable for artists than the shows that are less expensive and easier to get into.
Some juried shows have strict requirements about how your booth is set up and what you can sell – which, although this can feel limiting, can also help “keep the riff-raff out” and maintain a high quality show.
The appeal of being in juried shows is that they are generally run well, with a good mix of higher caliber vendors, and they tend to attract a larger crowd – often bigger-spending shoppers who like to purchase quality handcrafted items. (Our favorite kind of customers!)
Although a juried show’s restrictions and higher fees may be more challenging for the vendors, many artists and crafters find that the more profitable returns make it worth jumping through all the hoops to get accepted and participate.
What Makes a Show “Juried”?
A juried show is one where your acceptance is based on the approval of a “jury” that screens the applications and slides, looking for quality vendors and products.
Some juries consist only of the show promoter and a staff member or two. Others consist of an elaborately selected group of art educators, artists, art patrons, or gallery owners.