If you like crafts, cooking, and making things yourself at home, you can easily make money selling the things you make. Read the steps below for ideas for making inexpensive crafts that you can sell for a profit.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Simple Crafts
Step 1. Wrap the wax to make it look pretty
From ordinary long straight candles, you can make beautiful home decorations that will probably sell well. Choose an unscented white candle that can be made into a variety of decorations, or use a scented and colored candle if you think it fits the material you will use as the wrapper.
- Use vanilla-scented or unscented long candles and string or thin leather cord. Set a cinnamon stick next to the candle and tie it to the candle with twine or leather cord. Cinnamon will be warm and give off a fragrant aroma when the candle is lit.
- Prepare a piece of sackcloth or linen with a rectangular pattern. Cut the sheet of cloth so that the length is equal to the width, then cut a simple shape out of the sheet using cloth scissors. (Fold in half, and cut to get the same shape). Use a small amount of hot glue or other strong adhesive to glue the colorful strips of sackcloth together, and then arrange them under the wax sticks using twine.
- Take a wide-mouthed Mason jar, like a can with the width of a ball, and glue a bowl of white wax at the bottom. Fill the space between the candle and the Mason jar with glass stones of two different colors. This color will emit a beautiful glow when the candle is lit.
Step 2. Create an artistic frozen glass
Purchase inexpensive but still good wine glasses or goblets from thrift or discount stores. Wrap some rubber bands around the glass, fill the inside with newspaper, and then apply a frosting coat of spray paint to the outside. Once the paint dries, remove the newspaper and remove the rubber band for a nice engraved glass finish.
- These glasses look pretty, but are not safe to machine wash and microwave. Make sure your buyers know it.
- Try adding small shapes under the rubber bands, such as leaves, or crosses. Consider using natural irregular shapes as well: glass engraved with unique river rocks will be easy to sell, and you can also get river rocks for free.
Step 3. Make a recycled frayed scarf
Start with any soft t-shirt. Use fabric scissors to carefully cut the shirt just below the armpit. Glue the tube-like bottom of the shirt and lay it flat, then use your scissors to trim the tassels from the bottom up. Space your cuts between 0.3 cm to 0.6 cm and cut 7.6 cm to 10.2 cm up. Once the entire bottom of your shirt is cut into tassels, carefully twist and pull each tassel to stretch and loosen it. The scarf you make can be used by pointing the tassel down.
- This craft is easy to complete, but it will take a little practice to produce a scarf that is good enough to sell. Buy t-shirts from thrift and discount stores to practice until you're confident about selling them.
- Look for thrift stores to get interesting designs and patterns so that your scarf is more unique and sells well.
Step 4. Make a pretty decorative soap
While making high-quality luxury soap requires considerable effort, a simple decorative soap can be made in less than half an hour, and can be sold for use in guest rooms, and gift baskets. Head to a craft store and buy a bar of glycerin soap, as well as a range of dyes, fragrances (like lemon, lavender, or mint), and some silicone or plastic soap molds. Cut some of the glycerin soap from the stick and melt it in the microwave, then use the ice cream bar to add a few drops of coloring and fragrance. Pour this mixture into molds and allow to harden, then remove and smooth the sides.
- Don't add too much fragrance. Just a little is enough.
- Use a spray bottle filled with alcohol to spray it onto the soap mold before you pour the soap, and onto the soap base after. The alcohol will prevent bubbles from forming in the soap.
- Use a craft knife to smooth out any soap residue around the edges after you remove it from the mould.
Method 2 of 3: More Complicated Crafts
Step 1. Make a bird feed ring
This craft requires a round pan and a few ingredients, but the results are great. You'll press the bird feed mixture into a round pan and let it solidify, then decorate it with colorful ribbons so it's perfect for bird fans and other family members in the backyard.
- Mix cup of warm water with a bag of colorless gelatin, such as Knox, until the gelatin dissolves. During that time, stir 3 tablespoons corn syrup (such as Karo) and cup flour until a thick paste forms.
- Add 4 cups of bird feed mixture and stir constantly until all ingredients are evenly mixed.
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Spray the round pan with non-stick spray, and then press the bird feed mixture evenly over the entire ring of the pan. Allow to harden for 10 minutes, then transfer to a clean surface.
To make the shape more symmetrical, you can flip it over on the baking sheet and then press lightly. This will soften the corners on the back. Be careful not to damage the shape of the front
- Leave the ring formed in a dry place for 36 - 48 hours. You can make more bird feed rings during this time if you wish.
- After the bird feed ring hardens, cut a thick ribbon to a certain length, and tie a loose ribbon around the bird feed ring as a hanger.
Step 2. Make a lamp from a glass bottle
Prepare a large bottle or jug. You can find them in trash cans and antique stores, as well as from thrift stores. Choose a size large enough so that it is suitable as a table lamp. Next, purchase a bottle light kit from a craft store; the price varies between around Rp. 150,000 - Rp. 400,000. You should purchase at least a set of light bulbs with a cork (to fit the size of the mouth of a bottle or jug) and an AC power cord with plug. Install this light fixture and complete it with a cheap used lamp cover.
- Usually, to get a pretty looking lamp, you have to drill through the glass to pass the wires. To do this well, you need a drill and patience. Be careful to follow all safety instructions and work slowly to prevent the glass from breaking.
- You can decorate this lamp further by decorating the inside of the bottle before tightening the lamp socket. Try adding pretty rocks, or use glue and glitter to make them sparkle from the inside. Using tinted glass is also a good idea.
Step 3. Knitting accessories
If you can knit, you can make money. Fine crochet items like hats and scarves are very easy to sell during fall and winter, especially if you make them with fancy knitting yarn. Look for basic patterns and guides at a yarn store, or browse the internet; practice until you can knit classics without a problem. Be sure to use high-quality yarn, and make it in a variety of colors to make your craft even better.
During the holidays, try to knit beautiful decorations, and sell them for Rp. 10,000. You can use inexpensive, brightly colored knitting yarn to make this. Complete your creation with a loop of yarn or metal hooks for easy hanging
Step 4. Make a special meal
If you are interested in the culinary field, and want to cook in large quantities, you can make delicious dishes with long shelf life. Keep in mind that in order to do this, you will generally need to apply for a home industry food permit (PIRT) with the local authorities; the rules may vary according to where you live, but always research before you start selling food to people. Follow the rules to get the permission.
- Homemade sweets are one of the most popular. These candies are easy to make with a variety of chocolates, nuts, and food coloring, and can last a long time. Wrap it in glossy wrapper every 100 grams, stick a sticker with your name and the name of the candy on the container, and see how this food sells at the next bazaar or craft fair.
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If you are a meat eater, go to your local meat market and buy some low-fat meat to cook it into jerky. Cut the meat into 0.6 cm pieces, and prepare the marinade on the stove. Bring the spices to a boil, and add a few pieces of meat at a time to it for a minute or two until the spices are absorbed. Remove with tongs and place on a clean wire rack in the oven on very low heat (about 65 degrees Celsius) for 3-4 hours. Turn the meat sheet over and repeat for another 3-4 hours. When you're done, use a homemade vacuum adhesive to protect your beef jerky in the package so that it lasts for several months.
- Depending on the meat and marinade you use, beef jerky can have a variety of flavors. Find one you like, and sell it. If you're not sure if you can get a certain cut of meat again, market it as "specialty beef jerky."
- Buy meat with as little fat as possible. Fat will not last long in storage.
Method 3 of 3: Sales Tips
Step 1. Record your expenses
When determining what expenses you need to account for, keeping track of all your expenses is helpful. In addition to the cost of materials, be sure to calculate the time it takes you to make an item, as well as the cost to sell it. All of which will help you determine a reasonable minimum price so you don't lose.
Step 2. Shop around
If you want to get a better idea of the cost of producing an item, research your competitors. Try to find out the average price of an item. This will give you a price range, something that can significantly increase your profits.
Step 3. Offer samples
If you make anything that can be used, such as soap, bath salts, wine, or food, offer small samples to passing customers. If your product is loved, chances are your customers will come back and buy it.
Step 4. Offer a discount
No matter what item you make, follow this three-item rule to keep your customers satisfied: Each item has a certain price, but if you buy three items at once, you will get a discount. Usually the discount given is between 20% and 30%, but you can determine your own based on the level of profit that you have set. You can also offer discounts on certain items, such as "two bottles of jam and a box of homemade cookies for IDR 100,000 instead of IDR 120,000".
People love to buy gift boxes. Set up gift packaging for all the items you sell, and custom packaging for every two to four items
Step 5. Market aggressively
Today, with the internet everywhere, learning how to make handicrafts will be easier. Make your product stand out by making it popular in the market, so people will recognize you.
- Create a social media account for your business, and give it a memorable name. Upload something related to the items you regularly sell.
- Contact local business owners in your area to sell your items on consignment, or organize community events as a means of selling. Be proactive and let you be recognized as a business person to get support from the business community.
- Give support to social events. If your local children's organization is planning on making gift baskets, offer to provide some homemade soap; make weekly donations of (approved) homemade canned food to soup kitchens or religious events. The more you are recognized for your positive actions, the more people will appreciate your creations.
Tips
- Update your handcrafted items. Regulars will love to see something new and fresh when they come back.
- Avoid using handicraft materials that are cheap and easily damaged. Talk to an expert at a craft store to find high-quality materials when you need things like glue and paper.
- Purchase materials at discounted times to get the best prices and lower your production costs. Or better yet, complete licensing and file your TIN, so you may be able to buy goods in bulk without paying taxes.
- If you sell foods that contain ingredients such as peanuts or other allergens, you should list them on labels so your customers know about them.
- Sell your stuff in crowded places, so if someone walks by, they'll pass by your shop and see what you're selling. That way you will be more known.
