House Plants- The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Second and Third Generation Plants in the Window

Many times, I post about projects you can make and sell; however, today I am going to discuss one of the best crafty purchases I have made online- plants. A few months ago, I bought some aloe vera and other plants on Etsy.com. Additionally, I bought some at the local grocery store. With a little love and tenderness, my plants have flourished, and I have been able to re pot the pups, or new shoots, into larger containers and novelty planters. What started out as a few plants, is now an entire table filled with lush foliage.

One of the great things about having plants that are easy to care for and reproduce quickly is the fact that I always have an inexpensive gift to give. I simply select a nice new shoot and re pot it in a unique container. A few years ago, my mom worked with a woman who painted terracotta pots for a hobby and gave out her painted pots as a gift. I like to shop at yard sales and thrift stores for vintage bowls, teapots, and planters. Whatever you use, giving a plant as a gift is something that will stay with the recipient for years. Perhaps your friend or loved one will even take up cultivating plants or decorating pots as a hobby.

New Aloe "Pups"

Another fun project is making terrariums in large glass containers with moss and decorations. You can layer different rocks and soil types in your vessel for visual interest, or add colored sand. Glass gems, river rocks, figurines, and pottery shards all make for fun decorations on the top layer of your terrarium or arranged in your potted plants.

What plants are best to start with? I am no expert, but after evaluating my climate and the amount of light in my house, I decided that succulents would be an economical choice to start with. Most succulents do well in drier conditions with some sunlight. The plants in the top picture with the long shoots and thick leaves are from the grocery store. I wish I knew what kind they were! During my research, I noticed that for shadier environments and more frequent watering, spider plants are a good choice for houseplants that grow quickly and multiply. They are also reputed to be the best plants for cleaning the air and freshening your house.


Vintage Teapot and Polymer Clay Beetle

So, what crafty things can you do with your plants, once they start to grow and reproduce? Here is a polymer clay bug that I purchased at a craft show for my plants. Making decorative figurines from wire, clay, or painted rocks is an easy way to add a personal touch to your foliage. Previously, I mentioned that painting terracotta pots was a hobby of a woman who loved to give away handpainted pots with a plant. This site here has some information on painting teracotta pots:
http://www.the-artistic-garden.com/how-to-paint-terra-cotta.html

A recent trend is giving baby plants in cute containers away as wedding and shower favors. Just add a sentimental gift tag about a new life or relationship growing, or maybe some classic poetry, a nice container, and simple instructions, and you are set! Mini pots can be found at any major gardening store or online.

I am still a novice at indoor gardening, but I love looking for unique containers for my plants, along with new varieties of greenery at the local farmer's market. Last summer, I also grew basil in my windowsill and it was very successful! The most satisfying thing is to find a great container and decorate it, then add a baby plant for a handmade gift.

Team Treasury Contest Winner

'Traveling the Silk Roads' by WillowsNestCreations

These beautiful items echo the enchantment of traveling through mysterious lands.

Book Safe - The Arabian... hollowbooksafe $50.00	Colours of India...Silk... southindiabaza... $36.99	Pink and Gold Hoop Dang... psalm27creativ... $40.00	Lillia - Hot Pink Apple... hennaflower $225.00
Pink Pleated Clutch ASunnyDisposit... $35.00	hot pink silk wrist cuf... redstitchlab $32.00	Notecard Set: 6 Differ... SewColorfulDes... $9.00	Fuschia Gold Circle Nec... FizaDesigns $26.00
Sari-Inspired Silk Dupi... RawStudio $34.00	Three Wishes - 8x10 Bok... xenya $30.00	Passport cover travel w... BagsByTravelhe... $15.00	Aladdin Princess headba... littlehinLEE $30.00
Pincushion, Sari Inspir... redbirdsstudio $10.00	Pretty Pretty Pink Scar... kjmSILKS $25.00	Gypsy Skirt: Boho India... DelhiDaze $27.99

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Need A Printing Service? Shop Local at B & P Printers in Murfreesboro

Greeting Card Printed at B & P

Business cards, labels, photo prints and more- whatever you need, B & P Printers, a local printing service in Murfreesboro, has you covered. They are located on Northfield Blvd. in Murfreesboro, near Walgreen's. The service is personal and friendly and the prices are about the same as online printing services. You can go in and consult with them about your item, allowing you to feel and see the different grades of papers and sizes in person. They also send you digital proofs of your custom project before printing.

I recently purchased some online digital collage photo sheets with vintage themes on Etsy.com that I wanted to make into greeting cards. Since I had never done this, I walked into B & P to get a price quote and look at the different types and sizes of blank cards I could choose from. They had many high quality options for me to select and I was able to pay and then send them my designs via email. Within 24 hours, I had digital proofs of my cards. They were ready to pick up the day after I approved the proofs for printing!

My Custom Printed Cards

Best of all, they can print any quantity you want. There is a price break for ordering in bulk, but they do not have a minimum order. Plus, you can bring in old family photos or your own original art to have prints made or ask for help with a custom project.

B & P Printers: 615-895-0405
bpprinters@bellsouth.net

Edgar Allan Poe Card

Make A Bucket 'O Love

My neighbor, owner of the Etsy shop NancyK4u, and resident of Murfreesboro, TN, made me this cute craft bucket as a Valentine's Day Gift. I loved it so much, that I decided to blog about this, in case anyone else has bits and pieces of craft material to wrap up as rainy day craft packs. I think kids, in particular, would enjoy a themed kit of materials to create the day away.

Handmade Valentine's Craft Gift Bucket

Inside the bucket were various bundles of scrap fabrics on spools, twine, mini clothespins and colored string. There are many things you could do with these materials, such as make homemade Valentine's Day cards, but the first things I did were use the items to make a tiny, decorative bunting and to wrap a plain bar of soap that I made, for a more festive appearance. I plan to glue the red burlap around the outside of mason jars for a decorative pencil jar. These supplies could also be useful for making collages or scrapbooking.

The pictures below are examples of the items in the gift bucket and some quick projects I made with the craft supplies. So, next time you have leftover string, buttons, paper shapes, fabric, and other materials, you can always group the odds and ends together in inspiration packs, put them in a cute container, and have an original gift for a crafty friend or and emergency kit for bored kids. Thanks for the gift, Nancy!

Spools of Fabric

Twine and Mini-clothespins

Bunting to Hang

Wrapping a Bar of Soap

Castille Soap All Wrapped Up

Digital Scrapbooking: How To Get Started

Picture Made From Digital Scrapbook Clip Art

Love paper and making scrapbooks, but hate the potential to make mistakes that can't be undone or the inability to save your creation and print it multiple times? If you said yes, then digital scrapbooking might be for you. Basically, it combines the elements of making a normal scrapbook, but you design and share it digitally via social media or an online photo sharing site, like Flickr. You can also print your creations and make greeting cards, calendars, scrapbooks, and more. This article contains more information: http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/article.asp

Mama's Sweetheart

I just started digital scrapbooking and I made this layout featuring my cat, Pepper. I used Printmaster software and Gimp 2.

You can purchase many easy to use design programs that come with free templates and clip art. With Printmaster, you can go online and purchase additional papers, clip art, and fonts. It is also easy to find digital collage sheets for sale online to use in your designs. I purchased some on Etsy.com. Please note that most of these designs are copyrighted and the intent is to use the content to make your own digital work, not to resell the digital file or clip art in its original form.

So, now that you have completed your first design, what can you do with it?
-print it and frame it for decor
-share it on social media or online
-print it as an ACEO
-use it in jewelry design
-make desktop wallpapers for your computer
-print it on special papers to make t-shirts, mousepads, stickers, and more

The beauty of having your scrapbook as a digital file is that you can put it on a thumb drive or email it to your local printer and have her print it for you professionally to your sepcifications. My brother's inlaws even found a way to turn their digital scrapbook photos into a commerative quilt!



Ummm...He's Only A Little Spoiled

SWAG= Sealed With A Gift: Should You Include Free Samples With Your Online Craft Sales?

Thanking Your Customers Is Important

So, you have made a sale of your handmade crafts online, congratulations! Of course, you want to continue to make sales, and that means striving for stellar customer service. The question of whether to include SWAG, or free gifts, with an order is one that your will have to carefully consider to determine the best choice for your business.

The term SWAG comes from the acronym SWAK, short for sealed with a kiss, and SWAG is very trendy these days, with entire websites devoted to free stuff and free samples and how to get them. Knowing that, please take into consideration that your online craft business will likely encounter request from people for samples or donations. Some may want a product to review for a blog; some may be charitable donations looking for a door prize. Make sure to check that these requests are legitimate. Visit the blogs and research the organizations, then decide if the donation is worth it to you in terms of potential exposure. Don't be afraid to say no and look out for scammers.

A Free Gift With Order (SWAG)

Now, for your regular customers, you want to go the extra mile to please, and that may involve including SWAG; however, keep in mind the following points:

-Make sure you are not losing money by sending expensive samples or gifts.

-Many people dislike waste and throwing things in the trash. Try to make sure your gifts are related to the customer's purchase and to what you sell.

-Don't overdo it with frilly or over-the-top packaging; your customers are likely to be eco-conscious.

-Think about what you can include that will entice the customer to return to you for future handmade purchases. That might mean a sample of your latest scent or a coupon for other goods you sell.

-Always include a written thank-you, if you have the time.

-Try not to use candy or edibles Many people have allergies or diseases, like diabetes.

Soap Samples of Newest Scents

-Make sure your gift cannot be construed as offensive to any group.
There is a soap forum I am part of, and a woman received a button with her order that said, "Got Homophobia?". Even though this is a condemnation of those that discriminate against gays, not everyone appreciates this type of sarcasm. Additionally, the button was not related to the items sold by the crafter online. While I personally find the message amusing, not all of my customers would, so I always try to keep politics out of my business. This would apply to religion as well. You don't personally know your customers, so be friendly, without assuming anything about an individual's world views.

-If you are including a consumable, such as soap, lotion, candy, or perfume, please include the ingredients and the name of your shop. You want people with allergies to know what is in the item and to be able to find you online if they enjoy the sample.

Earrings as a Free Gift

-Be wary of including scented products if you do not sell them. Again, people with allergies might dislike this. In my shop, in my message after the customer checks out, I inform them to please tell me if they would prefer not to get scented samples or if they do not want a free gift.

-Don't assume your customers are all female. Yes, women shop online frequently, but so do men. Things like jewelry as SWAG might not appeal to both genders. Take a look at the customer's name and what they bought to match that with an appropriate gift or sample.


When in doubt, or if lacking any appropriate ideas, you can always include a coupon code for a discount and a sincere thank-you note! Don't feel pressured to include elaborate gifts or SWAG if you can't afford it, or don't want to. Your best way to satisfy the customer is to deliver the merchandise in good condition, in a speedy fashion.

Finally, keep in mind that even though you try your best, you will never be able to satisfy every customer in every way. For each person that thinks a free gift is a monument to waste, there will be another person who thinks you should have made it bigger, or included more. The most important mission is to make your customer know you are thankful for the business, with or without the SWAG.

Please visit this link on the TEAMBORO Facebook page to see the layout of the THANK YOU tags featured in this article. I designed them and am happy to share if you would like to copy it and make some for yourself. They are printed on 80 lb cardstock, available at any office supply store. There is also a tutorial in the archives of this blog on how to make gift tags:
http://www.facebook.com/TennesseeCrafts#!/photo.php?fbid=226483307437311&set=a.130833410335635.34563.109313592487617&type=1&theater

Candle Burning Safety



Handmade Candles from Murfreesboro

Candles are always popular holiday gifts, and whether you recieved candles as a gift, or are making your own, this post is a reminder to be vigilant about fire safety when enjoying your candles.

When you first unwrap a new candle, you want to trim the wick to about 1/4 inch, or the size of a thumbnail. Long wicks can produce big flames that are dangerous.

Next, prepare an area for burning your candle. Make sure the area is out of reach of pets and children and away from curtains, upholstery, or any flammable decor. Try to choose a table or a counter that will not wobble or tip over by accident.



Candle in Tin Jar by Mylana

If you have a pillar candle, make sure to burn it on a plate. Quite often, they will burn unevenly, due to drafty rooms or a slightly off-center wick and cause one side to buldge. You don't want hot wax to get on your carpetm furniture, or skin- ouch!

Now, if you have a jar or a container candle, you want to inspect the exterior of the candle for any cracks in the glass. A major cause of injury from container candles is the glass overheating. This can cause sharp shards of glass to break away from the candle. Additionally, if a large volume of melted wax suddenly pours out of the candle, it will make the flame very high and hazardous. By checking the jar for visible cracks, you are helping to prevent a mishap. For candle makers, thick glass is best and more resistant to high heat. Be wary of large wicks overheating your glass and causing it to crack.



Soy Wax Candles

Other candles, such as votives and tapers, need to be in the proper contianers before burning. Always burn tea lights and votives in a snug holder. This helps the candle last longer and it is safer.

You are almost ready to light your candle, but beforehand, double check that you have time to spend in the same area your candle is- you DO NOT want to leave a burning candle, or tart warmer, unsupervised.

I like to use the long candle lighters, like this one, available at Walgreen's. They are great for preventing burns and reaching into jars. If you use matches, run the match under water before disposing of it in the trash.

Once you light your candle, there might be some smoke for the first few minutes, until a melt pool forms, providing steady fuel for the flame. If the candle produces lots of black smoke or soot, or the flame seems unreasonable large, extinguish the flame and do not burn the candle. Most likely, the wick is too big. (if this is a candle you made, try a smaller size wick).

Wood wick candles will sometimes crackle and sputter. This is natural and part of the charm. Make sure they are not sitting on anything flammable, like a fabric placemat, in case a small piece of wood escapes the candle.

If you are burning a candle with any decorative herbs, flowers, twigs, or dried fruit, keep a special eye out that the flame does not get too close to any objects in the candle that are not metal or glass. In general, for making candles, I stay away from using anything flammable, unless it is a double walled "forever" candle. Hurricane candles are made with a hard wax exterior for embedding objects and a softer wax in the center, allowing the candle to burn down while leaving the shell intact. These should only be attempted to be made by advanced chandlers.

Don't play in the wax pool of a burning candle! I know it is tempting, but you can get singed or burned easily. There are some massage candles marketed that you can use the melted wax as lotion. I have never used one of these and cannot comment, besides make sure to read and follow all the directions. Also, refrain from moving a lit candle, and if you have to, remember that metal and glass jars will be hot. You can use an oven mitt, if needed.

Try to burn your candle for 6 hours or less. When you are finished burning it, you can put out the flame with a candle snuffer (best) or blowing (more dangerous, use common sense). Once the flame is out, you can inspect the melt pool for any large, black wick fragments and remove them with a cotton swab, wooden craft stick, or bamboo skewer. Only do this when the candle is not lit. When you are ready to burn your candle again, trim the wick if necessary with a scissors and wipe away any black wick particles before lighting.

Have fun burning your candles and use common sense safety precautions! It is a good idea for households to have and emergency fire extinguisher for any household or kitchen fires. Finally, while safety is on your mind, make sure you have a working smoke alarm.