This is a quick and easy craft that your kids will love to make. The hardest part will be keeping them from eating the craft supplies!
Directions:
Thank you again to everyone who continues to send questions my way! If you missed part one you can see that post here. As always if you have a question please feel free to post your question in the comments section, on my Facebook page or send me an email to info@frecklescrafts.com. I love to hear from you guys!
Do you work alone or do you have help? ~Lindsey
For now it is just me, myself and I! As my business continues to grow I am starting to realize the need to hire some help. I just haven’t decided in what capacity yet. It is a big commitment and I just want to make sure I make the right decision. I am open to suggestions in this area in case anyone wants to offer up their expertise!
I own an online handmade business and I want to sell my products in a brick and mortar store. I see that you have had success in this area. How did you do it? ~Kathy
I was lucky because the storeowner where I sell my products approached me at a craft fair to ask if I would be interested in having her shop carry my items. I still had to negotiate the deal, however it was great luck to not have to do the initial hard sell of approaching the storeowner first. My best advice would be to make a list of shops that would be a good fit for your products, and then set up meetings with the shop owners or (main decision maker) to discuss carrying your products. Prior to the meeting, figure out your wholesale pricing, create a rate sheet for your products, and be prepared to negotiate your pricing during the meeting if needed. Having your products in a brick and mortar store is an awesome achievement, but one that you need to be completely ready for. Ask yourself if you will be able to keep up with multiple sales streams and not sacrifice on the quality of your products and business. You don’t want to spread yourself to thin, however this may be a great opportunity for business growth (if that is your goal), and therefore the extra hours of hard work may be worth it in the end! Products that are in high demand is not a bad problem to have, and if needed you could always hire additional help!
Why don’t you share more photos of your kids and family on your blog? ~Maggie
I love social media but the one downside for me is that I am a very private person. I was quite late to Facebook (in fact if it wasn’t for Freckles Crafts I would probably still not have an account)! I have always kept my business world separate from my family life, and it hasn’t been until recently that I have realized that this isn’t realistic. My business is very much a part of my everyday family life. While I am getting more comfortable sharing pars of my personal life (mostly through my Instagram feed where I only have 11 followers, ha!), it is just not something that comes easily for me. I am just not comfortable putting certain information out there especially when it comes to my kids. I get asked this question a lot, and I guess it boils down to as a blogger and business owner I had to decide from the beginning how much I was willing to put out there about my personal life and stick to it. I love to catch a glimpse into the lives of business owners whom I admire, and I wish I were more comfortable in this department. I know that it could ultimately be better for my business especially since it would help to bring a more personal side to may company. I think this is an area that I will just have to evolve in as I become more comfortable, and I hope that everyone will continue to be patient as I figure that part out! 
What would you suggest to put in a craft kit at home when you are not so crafty? ~Jackie
I love that you ask this question because I feel that everyone should have a basic craft supply stash on hand whether they are crafty or not! Giving your kids access to craft materials helps to build their creativity, problem solving skills, and confidence (see this post on the importance of crafting with kids). Plus you will be amazed at what they can some up with from a few basic materials! With that said, here are a few must haves for any craft supply box:
I also think it is great to add recycled items to your craft supply kit. Clean egg cartons, buttons, plastic yogurt cups, and cereal boxes are fun and easy to craft with. With just a few basic supplies your kids will be able to come up with a multitude of projects. If you still feel intimidated about crafting with your kids, why not keep a few craft kits on hand! They are perfect when you would like to work on a more detailed project, or for those days when your child may not be satisfied with coming up with their own ideas. Craft kits are especially nice for those moments because they contain everything you need to complete the craft and you don’t need to worry about whether or not you have the supplies on hand. If you need more suggestions on what to add to your craft stash feel free to review this list of my favorite craft supplies for kids!
Happy Crafting!
My kids go to public school, and a lot has changed in the school system since I was a kid. Gone are the days of homemade Valentine’s boxes and heart shaped cards laden with candy. At the the school my children attend, we have been reduced to a white lunch sacks for the Valentine’s Day box, and absolutely no food related treats. I completely understand the purpose behind the madness rules, however it is quite difficult to get into the spirit of the day with all of these restrictions! In an effort to bring some creativity back to the day (an to avoid giving pencils, erasers, and tattoos AGAIN), my boys and I created a fun little Valentine made from baby food containers and homemade play dough. These were a huge hit last year, and I had several moms ask if they could copy the idea for this year. Sure thing ladies! Enjoy!
Materials:
Strawberry Sparkle Kool Aid Playdough Recipe (recipe found at playdough.com and adapted for this tutorial) Please note: This playdough is not edible
Ingredients:
Directions:
