Tag Archives: handmade

Early Holiday Shopping 101

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Early Holiday Shopping 101

Hello!!! I absolutely adore the winter holiday season and want to be able to revel in it stress free. Of course, like many, that stress comes from the gift department which is why I like to get a very early jump on my Christmas shopping. I have a big family and that makes for a pretty extensive shopping list! Rather than scramble last minute and pray that the prezzies arrive on time, I avoid that completely by starting my purchasing right about now. This is never a chore but something really fun because your girl loves to shop even if it is for other people! As I prepare to get my holiday shopping out of the way, there are a few things that I always keep in mind. Let’s get started:

Holiday shopping should not break your bank and it is so important to consider your budget to prevent that from happening. The simplest way that I keep my budget in check is by placing a firm amount on what I am willing to spend and sticking to it. Sure, you can leave a bit of wiggle room. However, be wary of wiggling too much because that’s when you can get into trouble. Around now is when I like to pick up a few extra shifts at work and designate that cash for strictly holiday purposes. This is a great way to ease stress later on. Once again, I would much rather do more work now as opposed to waiting into the winter. And, yes, that is because I hate driving in the snow SO. Much. lol!

Considering your time doesn’t exactly apply to online and in store purchases now. But, if you are going the handmade or custom made gift route, it is absolutely something to think about. Custom orders can take a decent amount of time to get done and it might take longer as the holiday season approaches. It is best to get these out of the way ASAP to avoid that. Homemade gifts are an amazing and most loved way to go and completing them in a rush could be very frazzling, to say the least. Chip away at your homemade goods when you can so you can more fully enjoy the craftsmanship and skill involved. Then, your gift will be made with love instead of hair being teared out. 😀

Early holiday shopping is all about knowing what should be purchased at the current moment and what can wait until later. If you see an item for your giftee at an awesome price, then go for it now! Chances are you will not find it at a better price later if it is already a total steal. The same goes for clearance or seasonal products, get them now or they will be gone. It is also helpful to think about where you like to buy holiday gifts at. Do they run sales often? Do they have a big Black Friday or winter Semi-Annual Sale? If that is the case, it might be a good idea to wait until the prezzies you have your eye on are on promotion. This is a-okay, but you will want to be cautious because other people might be scoping them out too!

There are so many different ways to do holiday presents so talk to your family and friends and see about switching things up! Perhaps you will have a White Elephant party? Maybe everyone will have one specific giftee to shop for? Or how about everyone pitches in for an experience style gift all together? This can be a really fun way to make new family traditions while keeping stress at a minimum. There is no right way to do the holidays so get creative and go for it. Whatever it is will be perfect for your nearest and dearest. ❤

With that, I am ready to get my shop on and am already looking forward to holiday memories with my loved ones!

Are you an early or last minute holiday shopper? What is one of the holiday traditions in your family? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Go Sports!

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Go Sports!

Hello!! This past weekend, Ohio’s own Cleveland Browns made it to the playoffs only to get annihilated in typical Browns fashion. Johnny and I have absolutely no interest in watching sports whatsoever, but our bestie Cliff does. So, we were going to hang out at our place, watch the game, and play some board games together. To get into the football spirit, Johnny and I decided to make our very own Cleveland Browns shirts… Well… Sort of lol. I personally think we came up with something infinitely better! Check it out:

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Our “Sport?” T-shirts came directly from mine and Johnny’s silly imagination and I am obsessed with them. We both thought it would be funny if we got Browns gear to wear while we watched the game, but it seemed way funnier if we just made our own. So, Johnny went to Walmart and got plain white V-necks and a fabric marker so we could get our Project Runway on. The shirts turned out terribly, as we 100% expected, and that is exactly what we wanted.

Johnny and I know tons of sports lovers, but it is something that both him and I will never appreciate as much as them. In fact, I don’t think we could name one rule of football! However, now that we know we are excellent T-shirt makers, maybe we will be a bit more excited about Ohio sports. In fact, when I posted the Ts we made on social media, several people commented that they want a “Sport?” shirt too. Lol maybe we can all band together to form a club about sports for people who know nothing about them. It could be fun! 😀

I am very proud of how our shirts turned out and I most definitely plan on wearing it out in public. Hopefully, people will find them as funny as Johnny and I do!

What is your favorite sport? What is your favorite sports team? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

A Very Madea Craft

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A Very Madea Craft

Hello!!! This past Halloween, Johnny and I watched “Boo! A Madea Halloween” for shits and gigs. Little did we know, we would end up LIVING for the Madea franchise and have worked our way through almost the entire collection over our holiday break. What can we say, we love Tyler Perry in a mumu! During one of our viewings, we noticed a welcome sign outside of Madea’s home that says “Hellur” and I decided I wanted to make one for our apartment. So, we went to Walmart, purchased supplies, and went home to watch more Madea movies as I painted away. I’m not the most crafty gal in the world, but I think I nailed it! Check it out:

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It has been a long while since I have crafted anything and it felt really good to make this sign and bask in its awesomeness. I am SO proud of how it turned out and it made me happy to hear Johnny’s raving compliments as I completed my project. I created my own little painting station on the floor with a trash bag as a tarp, prepared my paints and water, and paper towel then painted the base of my sign yellow. My goal was to make this sign as close to the one in the movie as possible. We also plan on making a goth version of it in black, red, and white. Johnny already spray painted the base of his, but I have a feeling I will have to do the painting portion lol.

Once the yellow paint had dried, it was time to get started on the pattern. I started with the leaves going around the sides of the sign, which was most helpful. This allowed me to set up the space for the flowers on the top and bottom and the “Hellur” smack dab in the middle. The leaves were easy peasy, but I definitely ran into some difficulty with the flowers. Despite how simple they look, mine just wasn’t going accordingly to plan. The extra colors in the petals gave me the most trouble and my first attempt ended up looking so muddled that I had to cover it up with yellow paint.

As I waited for my “whoops” coat to dry, I had to figure out what to do next because I knew I wouldn’t be satisfied with my second go at the flowers if I tried again. Rather than another attempt to replicate them, I switched gears and went for roses instead. As the paint dried, I practiced the technique to make watercolor roses. Of course, this is much different with acrylic paint but it was basically the same idea. This was much more like it and I love how it turned out! The roses were a time consuming process and it was well worth it. I loved how it added my own personal touch to the sign!

After the flowers were done, all that was left to do was paint a big, friendly “Hellur” and let the sign dry. This painting costed me less than fifteen dollars in supplies and it is one of my favorite things that I have ever made. I can’t wait to hang it up in the apartment!

What is your favorite Madea movie? Have you made any crafts recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Guitar Shelf

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New Guitar Shelf

Hello!! Johnny’s dad is an incredibly handy guy and has the gift of being able to fix and make seemingly anything. I love hearing Johnny’s memories of building Lego and pinewood derby cars with his dad when he was little and I love hearing his dad’s wisecracks about it even more!! For our housewarming/birthaversary party last year, we knew that we were going to receive a hand crafted gift from Johnny’s dad, but we didn’t know what. Until now!! Check it out:

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For our gift, my father-in-law made us a shelf using one of Johnny’s numerous beat up guitars that are still tucked away at his parents. I couldn’t believe my eyes when Johnny brought it in the other day and, at first, I thought he treated himself to a new guitar! It is, hands down, one of the coolest and most thoughtful gifts that we have ever received and I can’t wait until Johnny hangs it up in his man cave/music room. The good lord knows that we have plenty of knick knacks to fill it up with!

Johnny and I are so lucky because we both truly couldn’t ask for better parents and in-laws. We try to visit both sets as often as we can because we enjoy spending time with them so much. Ever since Johnny and I started dating, it was really special that we both essentially stepped into each other’s families without missing a beat. The guitar shelf that Johnny’s dad made is going to be perfect for housing trinkets from family vacations as well as hand me down decor from our fams. I can’t think of anything more appropriate to place in it and we will forever treasure this amazing gift. ❤

Huge shout out to both mine and Johnny’s parents for being awesome! Another shout out is also in order for my friend, Simon, for answering my Social Media Call To Action. Thank you so much and everyone please check out his page, Simon’s Space!

What is the best gift you have ever received? Do you play any instruments? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Turning Your Art Hobby Into A Side Hustle

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Turning Your Art Hobby Into A Side Hustle

So you’re looking for a side hustle, and you love art. Or, perhaps, you need to find ways to inject more creativity into your life while also bringing in some money. If either of those statements rings true, then maybe an arts and crafts side hustle could give you the creative outlet you’re looking for while also helping you create a financial plan for the future. Here are five ways that you can turn your passion into a cash cow side hustle:

Create And Sell Digital Art:

This is one of the most straightforward arts and crafts side hustles to start. You don’t need to buy any fancy equipment to create digital art, and you can sell it online to clients from anywhere in the world. In fact, there are tons of digital art marketplaces out there, including Etsy, Zazzle, and Society6. You can also take your digital art a step further by creating video tutorials that show your clients how they can use their new products. This not only allows you to get some extra content out there but also gives your clients added value.

Turn Your Art Into Home Decor:

If you create more traditional art, you can still sell it to customers as home decor. Frame Your Art allows you to list your art pieces for sale online and each frame comes with a free print of your art. You can also partner with local shops that sell home decor to display your framed art in their stores or sell your art on Amazon through the Merch by Amazon program. The catch is that you’ll have to print it yourself (or outsource it to a company), box it, and ship it out to customers. But if you have the time, this is a great way to instantly create passive income from your art.

If you make art yourself, stock up on supplies from King’s printmaking supplies and get to creating. It’s an easy way to turn your hobby into a side hustle.

Start An Etsy Store:

Art is a great way to keep yourself busy. It can also make you money and Etsy has become a go-to marketplace for handmade goods. There are plenty of ways for artists to sell their artwork and crafts to the public. However, if you want to start an Etsy store as a side hustle, make sure that you’re abiding by the company’s guidelines.

If you’re a creative person, chances are you have plenty of ideas for new products to sell. You can either create your own designs or source items from other designers. No matter what, you’ll need to make sure that your product is high quality. People tend to be very selective when purchasing handmade items. Take the time to do things right so you don’t have to worry about returns or poor reviews on your page. Doing things right also means having the right equipment for your craft. For example, you will want an excellent mug press if you are creating customized mugs for your customers as well as proper packaging to avoid breaks.

Create Handmade Jewelry:

If you love to make jewelry but don’t want to sell your creations online, you can still make money with them as a side hustle. You can turn your jewelry-making hobby into a profit-making business by hosting small craft fairs in your neighborhood. Just make sure that you have permission to sell goods on public property.

In addition to craft fairs, you can also sell your goods online through marketplaces like Etsy, Amazon Handmade, and ArtFire. Keep in mind that this side hustle is more than just creating jewelry. You’ll need to set up your booth or display, attend events, and promote your business. You can also sell your jewelry at local shops. This allows you to get more visibility for your products, and you may even be able to negotiate a percentage of the sales.

Open A Print Shop:

Are you a Photoshop pro? If so, you can use your skills to create all sorts of designs for clients. Many companies outsource their printing to individuals who have the necessary software and knowledge to create the perfect design. You can find these jobs on sites like Upwork and PeoplePerHour.

There are also online print shops that allow you to design customizable products such as T-shirts, posters, tote bags, and more. First, you’ll need to create a shop through the website and upload your designs. You usually have the option to use a template or you can upload your own designs. Once you have the shop up and running, all you have to do is wait for customers to order your products.

If you have a passion for arts and crafts and are looking for some extra cash, a side hustle will be just right for you. How cool will it be to see other people enjoying your one of a kind pieces?!

Featured Image By: Jess Bailey Designs via Pexels

Accessory Story: Handmade Necklaces Edition

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Accessory Story: Handmade Necklaces Edition

Hello! A couple of weeks ago, my niece made my mom and dad the cutest necklaces with Blues Clues pendants on them. I’m not going to lie, Johnny and I were pretty jealous that we didn’t get one too. So, the next time we watched her we asked if she could make us some necklaces and she said yes! They are absolutely adorable and my mind is blown by how much necklace making technology has improved for children. Check it out:

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I loved making necklaces when I was little… Until it was time to tie the string together, that is. Without fail, my necklace would end up falling apart and always resulted in frustration. I had to share the necklaces my niece made because 1) How could I not? and 2) The rubbery necklace strand is literally fail proof.

When my niece gifted my parents with their new bling, my dad’s came off and it happened in slow motion when it fell to the floor. I was positive that the beads would be flying off and tears would start to fall. But that wasn’t the case! The end of the necklace strand has two thick posts with one being hollow to attach the sides together. This change in width catches the beads every time for hours of jewelry making fun without the possibility of a masterpiece being ruined.

The amount of options for toys, clothes, TV shows, and everything in between has grown exponentially since I was a kid. These necklace strands are definitely one thing that I wish had been invented in my youth! I can’t wait to rock my new Blues Clues necklace and this improvement to jewelry making will be a fun activity for your little ones come summer break. 🙂

What was your favorite activity as a child? How about your favorite childhood TV show? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah