What are good types of crafts to make and sell?

Question

I'd like to know what types of crafts are in demand from buyers. You can give as many crafts ideas as you'd like, and I'd like to know where I can find information on how to make them; and where and how to sell them. If you have experience in this, you can also tell what you did, and how you did it. Any ideas are welcomed, but lower cost ideas (what I need to spend to make the craft), and higher profit possibilites are the best.

Answer 1

recipesource.com

http://www.recipesource.com/misc/non-food/gifts/
http://www.recipesource.com/misc/non-food/crafts/
http://www.recipesource.com/misc/non-food/beauty/

has some great ideas for gift baskets to make as well as many of the things that would go into a gift basket, which would be good sellers this time of year. You can check your local newspaper for craft fairs. Hospitals, Bingo halls and churches often hold craft fairs this time of year and you may be able to get a table. Some stores take crafts on consignment and may sell them for you for a fee. Craft Fairs Online shows fairs being held in your area.
http://www.craftsfaironline.com/
More crafts and Christmas projects can be found here
http://familycrafts.about.com/

http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/minisite/christmas-main/

http://www.kids-fun-and-games.com/homemade-christmas-decorations.html

Answer 2

One craft fair I attended had a booth always surrounded by people. Two guys had made theme pins out of antiqued "brass" angel wings and hung several little charms of the same material from the wings that represented different professions and interests such as hairdressers,teachers, dentists, soccer moms, shopper, artist, gardener,etc. You get the idea. There are lots of wholesale sites on the Net such as www.jewelrysupply.com where you can buy the charms in bulk. These guys by my estimate sold about 200 pins in an afternoon for $10 each but now could probably get 12-15 dollars each since this was 10 years ago.

Answer 3

If you can work with polymer clay, you can make cute little holiday pins such as Santa faces and Angels and Christmas trees for about 25-35 cents each and they sell for about $2.50-$3.50 each. I was very successful each time I sold these at craft shows,selling between 200-300 pins each weekend. I sold a large lot to one customer for a discount and she returned the next day for more. She had taken them to her partner who was selling them for twice what she had paid at an upscale craft show about 60 miles away and sold out completely. I learned a valuable lesson from her,too. She said they would sell better if I mounted them on nice cardstock and she was right. The next fair,I sold even more for a minimal increase in my costs. Another very successful venture I had was decorating those jointed stuffed bears available in some craft stores and catalogs. I hot glued gathered lace petticoats and fabric shirts on them and used ribbon and lace to make pinafore style bodices. Straw hats,ribbon roses and tiny little baskets with music buttons inside were added and I always sold 80% of the bears I brought to the shows. Other people made them too,but buyers told me it was all the little details that made them choose mine. The 12" bears I sold for $40 and the 6" bears were $20 about triple my costs but that was 10-15 years ago so adjust for inflation.

Answer 4

I've gotten into arrowheads/antler projects, and thats ok profit and lots of fun, and fur crafts. I'm having a little bit of a problem tanning furs, but once i get furs theres loads of things to make with them.

Answer 5

Beadie Buddys!!
check them out here:
http://www.craftsnbeadies.com
http://beadiebuddysbonanza.com

Hope this helps!
Danette