How to Add HTV to Wood Slices with a Heat Press

Wood isn't the easiest thing to get vinyl to stick to - that's why I like to use HTV on wood. 

You can actually heat press directly onto wood - including wood slices. The great thing about putting heat transfer vinyl on wood slices is you can use your heat press! 

Craft Show Best Sellers Idea for 2024 (Plus Supply List)

Custom is always going to be a craft show best seller and here's an on-the-spot idea that will be forming a line at your booth!

Custom cut AND sublimated earrings and keychains - and they take no more than 5 minutes from start to finish if you have the right equipment. 

Ideas for DIY Christmas Ornaments 2023: YES! It's That Time Already

It may be hard to believe that it's time to start thinking about DIY Christmas Ornaments to make with Silhouette...but for small businesses and crafters setting up shop at craft fairs it's time to prep for the 2023 holiday season! 

I gathered 12 of my most popular DIY ornaments and the tutorials that go with them so you can get some ideas and inspiration in a hurry. 

Be sure to check out the video on Youtube all of the links to the tutorials to match the ornaments are in the description there.

Will you be selling or gifting  DIY Christmas Ornaments in 2023? Leave a comment.

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing products through my links, I receive a small commission. That's what helps fund Silhouette School so I can keep buying new Silhouette-related products to show you how to get the most out of your machine!

Silhouette School Newsletter

Thank You for Subscribing. If you wish to set your preferences (recommended) click here: https://www.subscribepage.com/get_to_know_silhouette_school

Silhouette School Newsletter

Get Silhouette School Tutorials, Tips, Tricks, and Updates straight to your inbox!

Get emails most relevant to your interests by clicking the button to set your preferences (recommended) - ie machine type, printers, user type

 

If you do not wish to set preferences, simply enter your email below.

I agree to receive electronic messages from Silhouette School Inc. containing information and offers with respect to activities, products and services that may be of interest to me, including notification of upcoming events, sales, promotions and newsletters. I may withdraw this consent at any time by clicking on the “unsubscribe” link in the electronic messages. You may contact us at 523 Capitol Trail, Suite C, Newark, DE 19711, USA or at silhouetteschoolblog@gmail.com.

10 Unique Blanks for Heat Transfer Vinyl (That Will Rock Your Holiday Selling Season)

Every year around this time, the questions about best sellers and what to sell at a craft fair start coming more rapid fire than any other time during the year. 

This is a sponsored post, but all opinions are my own

It's always been my opinion (and advice) that sellers don't need to offer a million options, you just need a few outstanding, unique items - and of course that all starts with unique blanks!

So today I'm going to share with you 10 blanks for heat transfer vinyl that will rock your holiday selling season.

10 Must-Have Craft Blanks and Packaging Supplies (at Wholesale Prices)

I get asked a lot about where to find wholesale craft items and packaging supplies without having a wholesale account. Today I thought I'd introduce you to one of my secret stashes! 

This is a sponsored post, but all opinions are my own

I have been shopping at PaperMart for years!! When I was selling at craft shows and on Etsy I used to get all of my packaging - including paper shopping bags - from PaperMart because their prices and selection can't be beat.

Tips for Preparing for a Craft Show (Or Busy Holiday Selling Season) When You're a Silhouette Seller!

I know it's only the middle of August and you're not thinking about Christmas right now - unless, of course, you're gearing up for the busy holiday selling season.  Now's the time to start preparing for craft shows and getting your holiday listings in place if you sell locally and on Etsy.

This is a sponsored post but all opinions are my own.

When I still had my Etsy shop open and did craft fairs (before this blog took over my life) - I sold more in October, November and December than I did the entire rest of the year. That's why it's critical you start making your crafts now so you have enough in stock and you are ahead of the game when the orders start coming in!  

Craft Show Tips for Beginners: Part 4 - Takeaways

Today I'm going to share my final installment in the Craft Show Tips for Beginners series.  Since it's been a few weeks since my first show I've had to time to think about the good, the bad, and the ugly and I want to share it all with you.   If you haven't already, I suggest you read through the first three parts of the series so you have some idea of what I'm referring to....plus all that prep paid off so you're gonna wanna know ALL my secrets :)

As you know, since you have read through three of the previous Craft Show Tips for Beginner posts, I did a lot of prep work - not only in the way of crafting, but also branding, advertising, and creating my booth's look and feel.    The good news is my set up, with the blue shutters, was a hit.  I was happy with the look of my booth and I was certainly glad I had snapped a few pictures of my mock set up at home ahead of time so my helpers (mom and MIL) could easily help set up by referring to the pictures. So much of my prep work paid off...BUT and there are few buts..

Craft Show Series Part 3: Don't Forget the Details

Today's my first craft show (I'll be Instagramming it so follow Silhouette School on IG for behind the scenes updates) so I thought it would be appropriate time to share the third installment of the Craft Show Series.  Let's just make one thing clear: I'm a nervous wreck.  I'm a bundle of nerves even though I've done all the things I've said here to do to NOT be a nervous wreck.  I can't help it - it's my first time selling at a show. I've sold plenty on Etsy and to family and friends and friends of friends...but never to complete strangers in person.

Since I don't usually keep inventory, for months I've been crafting and creating and sewing prepping for my first show.  Pricing, branding and advertising have been in the works for some time, too.  But at some point though I had to stop all that and think about the details...because the details are almost as important as the products and the price.

Craft Show Tips for Beginners Series (Part 2...Pricing, Branding, and Advertising)

Alright I'm back with more craft show tips for beginners.   Since we got down the basics on picking the right first show; what to make, craft and sell; how much inventory you'll need; and making a mock set up now we're ready to talk pricing, branding and advertising.

Alright let's discuss pricing first. It's one of the most commonly asked questions by crafters who sell their creations.  There are equations and even smartphone apps for figuring out what a fair price is to sell crafts and homemade goods.  Plug your costs and time spent into either a number will be spit back at you suggesting a price.

Another way to price items is to look on sites like Etsy to see what similar items sell for. Just be sure you're comparing apples to apples.  The problem with Etsy is that you will find that prices are all over the place for certain items - just because someone else sold a similar item for just over what it cost you to make it, doesn't means you should set that as your price, too.   Just remember you do not and should definitely work for free -- your time is valuable. Don't sell your items at cost....then you're basically saying your time is not valuable at all....you're also driving the local market down and not only hurting yourself, but other local crafters who can't compete.   Would you work for someone else for $0 an hour? Then why work for yourself for that?

Craft Show Tips for Beginners: Part 1 - How to NOT be a Nervous Wreck

As I've mentioned a time or two on the blog and Facebook pages I'm currently crafting my heart out to prepare for my first craft show.  The show is a few weeks out and since I've been preparing for months now I thought I'd share what I've learned so far with you.

This is by far not a conclusive list or one that will probably work for everyone, but is intended to be a guide to help you decide if and which craft show is right for you and how to be successful at your first show without being completely overwhelmed and a total nervous Nelly on craft fair day.

I'll continue to follow up on this series as we get closer to the craft show and then afterwards to wrap up my craft show best and worst sellers and what I learned along the way.

Find the Right Craft Fair

To be completely honest with you I never really considered selling at a craft fair until over the summer when a friend of mine suggested I join the holiday vendor fair she did last year for the first time. It's a relatively small show with about 45 vendors and just $30 for a 5x6 booth area. It's an indoor craft fair at a local school that is open for just 3 hours only on the Friday evening before Thanksgiving.  As my first fair, all of these things were important to me.