Party Spirit

I have held crafting classes in my home and at churches. I have attended camps where I was involved in crafts. I have always enjoyed working with crafts in our homeschooling and with our group. In VBS, I have become one of the craft station leaders. Does it sound like I like crafting a bit too much?

A lady at a soap-making class I taught for an FCE club gave me an idea months ago when she suggested how well it would go over at children's parties if I came in and taught a one-hour crafts class. It would free mom up a bit. Take some pressure off the parents to entertain. Give the children a creative outlet while ensuring they each have a nice party favor to take home (how many of those tiny yo-yo's and bouncy balls end up in the bottom of the toy box after only minutes of bringing the goody bags home?).

I liked the idea a lot, rolled it around in my head for a bit, and then promptly forgot it. I was needing to bring in some additional cash flow and had been trying to find some children to keep. I have experience in that arena too, and figured it was a sure-fire job. All of my energy was invested into this, from rearranging the house to passing out flyers. I even had a schedule and handbook ready and conducted a few interviews. For months I've had nibbles but nothing solid. In hard economic times when many have lost jobs already, I am finding more and more that parents who once used daycare services are getting creative when it comes to their childcare options. I have noticed a few daycares who always stayed full suddenly have openings.

I became temporarily distressed. I had a few custom orders coming in from my Etsy stores but nothing huge. Then I went to 4-H camp where another teacher there pointed out that I was the "crafting party lady" to some of the children. I had forgotten all about doing parties! I so enjoy crafting, but even more so I enjoy teaching others to craft. I am no expert mind you, but my love and passion for my hobby spill over enthusiastically to others.

With this in mind (and considering most of my life I have spent with children in some capacity), I am going to try this route as a side-line job. I could offer to come over to a local party and teach a craft from a list of kid-friendly possibilities for as little as $5 per child plus gas. I really think this would go over well, considering the crafts would be higher-quality than your typical camp or VBS type crafts.

Once I think on which activities would be best I'll post them here.

I still have plans to do my weekly craft classes for ages 8-adult (see previous blog entries for list of potential classes). So watch for all this action soon!

-Lynn
www.SugarSweetBathShoppe.etsy.com
www.whimsylanecreations.etsy.com

4-H Line and Design Camp 2nd year

I had the priviledge of teaching at 4-H Line and Design camp again this year. Last year I taught about 60 girls how to make lip balms, soaps, and sugar scrubs (MESSY!).

This year the committee chose to have me teach bottlecap jewelry.

I had 4 classes with a total of 80 young ladies who all love crafting!

I couldn't have asked for a better group.

They were polite, attentive, and overall VERY creative.

It is a always a great experience for me.

Can't wait 'til next year.

-Lynn

wholesaling of lip balm and new party favors options

I have a new option available--discounts on bulk purchases of lip balm pots and tubes.

Also, I am branching into making party favor bags that will contain lip balms or soaps.

To my product line I am please to introduce a new "dry" spray perfume and foaming whipped body parfaits. Those should be ready in about a week.

Be sure to keep up with these latest happenings at
www.whimsylanecreations.etsy.com
and
www.SugarSweetBathShoppe.etsy.com

new crafting classes coming soon
I can't help it: crafting is in my blood and I want to share my passion with anyone and everyone!

Its been a few months since I have held any sort of classes, and I am eager to start them again.
These will be available mainly for children but I also enjoy holding occasional classes for adults and community clubs.

Dates and costs are being finalized and will be updated ASAP.

basic soap making
whipped,layered, and embedded soaps
Spa Day-sugar scrub, soap, lip balm, bath salts
painted pet place mats (to hold food dishes)
Mug 'Ems jar gifts
altered notebook
altered clipboard
altered frame
altered vanity tray
hard candy
Bath Fun Bucket (with tub jelly, soap paints, etc)
wall plaques
altered memory can
scrabble tile pendant necklaces
bottle cap pendant necklaces
duct tape no-sew recycled t-shirt purse
Painted whimsical initial tote bag
80's retro vintage suit coat
Painted canvas shoes with ribbon laces
recycled magnetic memo board
padded fabric brag book
brown bag scrapbook album

I'll keep you posted. :)-Lynn

new items in both Etsy stores

I wanted to let you all know I have new items in both my Etsy stores this week:

At Whimsy Lane Creations, I am adding new initial bottle cap and scrabble tile pendant necklaces. I also have a new Twilight saga necklace with charms to represent each of the four books' major highlights.

Over at my new shop, Sugar Sweet Bath Shoppe, I have added party favors and a wholesale lip balm listing.

Be sure to check it all out.

I ordered some Derma Doctor Picture Porefect from Sephora, which was a real splurge for me. So far though, i am not at all impressed. This product had rave reviews online but is doing very little in the way of either cleaning or shrinking my t-zone pores. Anyone out there using this and care to comment?

new Etsy store

I make way too many crafts! I am opening a second Etsy store called Sugar Sweet Bath Shoppe. I will eventually move all my bath and body products there, while keeping my "misc" crafts at Whimsy Lane Creations.

I hope to be moved into my new shop by April. I plan to eventaslly fill it with glycerin soaps, soy soaps, whipped bath butter and whipped foaming sugar scrub, lip balms, soap and balm party flavors/private labeling, and more.

Please visit me at either www.whimsylanecreations.etsy.com for kid's jewelry, Twilight products, scrapbooking supplies, painted items, etc.

or www.SugarSweetBathShoppe.etsy.com for bath and body treats.

new store on Etsy

Announcing my new Etsy store, Sugar Sweet Bath Shoppe. I have decided to move all my bath & body products to one store and keep Whimsy Lane Creations open for all my misc. crafting joy! It will take awhile to move things over but I think it will make it easier for customers to find what they are looking for rather than sifting through 90 very different, unrelated items.

My speciality will be scent-your-own products and bakery scents. You''ll begin to see items like Coconut Marshmallow Fluff Whipped Sugar Scrub, many new scents, and more soy products. I am hoping the whole shop will have a very girly, sweet look and my items should reflect that.

Keep in touch!
-Lynn

www.whimsylanecreations.etsy.com
www.SugarSweetBathShoppe.etsy.com....coming soon!