Advice On Beginning To Craft

by hookies_gal

posted on 09/15/2009

"I want to do something with my time, and possibly make a little extra cash on the side..." Well, we've all been there I'm sure. Here are some tips on choosing a craft, learning it and letting something you enjoy make a little extra cash for you. Crafting can also be used to create unique gifts for birthdays, Christmas and any other occasion that calls for a gift.

Choosing Your Craft
When choosing your craft, or crafts, make sure it's something you'll enjoy doing. There are many different possibilities when it comes to finding a craft that fits your style and budget. Do you like playing in mud and getting dirty? You might try clay work or ceramics. Are you a shutter-bug? Maybe photography is your thing. Do you love the smell of fresh cut wood? Perhaps wood crafting is for you. There are so many possibilities out there... needlepoint, crochet, knitting, soap making, quilting, sewing, cake decorating... the list goes on.

Learning Your Craft
To learn your new craft, visit your local library and borrow some books on the craft of your choice. There is also a very large mass of information and patterns on the internet for crafters. In some communities there are "crafting circles" where many people gather, socialize and create! They can really be fun and a great learning experience.

Uhm… Supplies?
Finding the supplies you need can generally be a pretty easy thing. Depending on your craft choice you may need to visit a craft store that sells fabrics, paints, yarn and the like; perhaps a store that sells hand tools and machinery. There are also many online craft suppliers if you'd like to purchase your goods that way. You may even be able to find some of your items at a farmers market or reuse store.

Your Craft Area
I always found it helpful to keep my craft items in their own area. If you have an extra room that's not being used for anything it can be transformed into your crafting haven. Organizing your craft supplies is one of the best ways to keep track of your things. There are many organizers and storage containers that can help you organize your crafting space. I always found it easy to find my craft supplies when I neatly separated smaller items into containers or baggies and labeled them, put similar items together and placed them into bins or drawers clearly labeling outside what the contents are.

Okay, I've got some stuff made, now what
So now you've got a couple boxes full of finished items and you don't know what to do with them. You can give some away as gifts or even sell them at a craft show or bazaar to make a little extra cash and keep your crafting going. Finding craft shows in your area can sometimes be difficult. If you talk to people around town someone probably knows where to find information on local shows. You can even check at your local craft supply store for fliers or talk with other crafters to locate shows.

Happy Crafting!

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