Prototype that needs your opinions!

Recently Hubby and I have been thinking of all the ways we could bring in some extra cash to bump up our savings, as its fast coming up to looking for our dream home time! YAY! Our long term aim is to have lots of different smaller scale money making ventures on the go rather than one or two big ones. I find that way you put less pressure on yourself, it's more fun and your more flexible, like if one stops being profitable you still have a few others ticking over.

So today on my day off I wanted to start one of my money making ideas, putting together pretty little 'make your own jewellery' kits from the boxes of beads and findings just sitting in my craft room.

This is the 1st prototype, took an hour and a half to make...




The canvas it's all attached to if off cuts from the print company hubby works for so I can get it for free, its thick and good quality and I love the subtle texture and off white colour which will go with any colour scheme.

hand-spun beads, fairtrade, cottage industries

The beads are hand spun and fairtrade, the findings are silver plated and easy to work with, all good quality stock left over from when I ran 'eco happy' my handmade jewellery business.


This is the reverse side (obviously...) to release the beads and findings you just snip the thread in a few places. This next one is so you can see the size properly.


 So what do you think? I really would love your honest feedback - Is it something you might buy? For a gift maybe? How much would you be happy to pay? Is there anything you think I should change? Where do you think I should sell them? (I'll not be selling on this blog)

Thanks in advance for your comments and suggestions, it probably will need a few changes but hopefully I'll be able to make some extra pounds soon :)

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12 comments:

  1. Dani2 March 2012 at 16:47

    Good idea, Astra :)

    Dunno how much you could sell them for in the UK - reckon it would depend on the cost of the parts and how much mark-up you'd want to put on them. Also, which is your target market - adults, or children?

    Small scale, how about offering them through a local school newsletter / or school fun day / fair / market day for parents to purchase for all those peer group birthdays that their children get invited to.

    Wonderful idea though - get people / kids back to making their own stuff, as opposed to just getting something "ready made".

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    1. Astra2 March 2012 at 20:42

      Thanks very much for the feedback, it has quite a wide target market i think, kids kits, teenage girls and adults too, just with different beads.

      Using the school is a great idea, I already have access and connections there and i think some parents would really like a interesting handmade gift to give instead of a generic one - great idea! thanks!

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  2. Anonymous2 March 2012 at 18:43

    I agree - a stall at a school or craft fair with kits at different sizes would be great!
    I'd certainly buy kits like this - small medium and large - for different birthdays and Christmases, etc.
    What about including a photocopy of instructions as an idea for a beginner to make?

    Fostermummy X

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    1. Astra2 March 2012 at 20:46

      Thanks for the feedback fostermummy, the instructions are something that the girls in Hubby's work mentioned too so its obviously needed - good call! Also different sizes is a good one too :)

      Glad its something you'd buy, I'd give you a 'fellow bloggers discount' lol!

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  3. DH2 March 2012 at 19:34

    I can't say I will be much help as jewellery is not my thing, but I applaud you for the initiative. My niece would love something like that! Good luck with it. I would suggest e-bay, but someone told me about a site that is like ebay but for craft. I am afraid I can't remember what it is called, but I could try to find out if you want.

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  4. DH2 March 2012 at 19:37

    I've sent my friend an email asking her what the site was and I'll let you know when she gets back to me.
    Dan

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    1. Astra2 March 2012 at 20:55

      Thanks so much Dan that'd be great :)

      Glad to hear you're niece'd love it, it seems like most people know someone it'd suit which is brilliant, just need to get the prices right and fine tune it a little now :)

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    2. DH3 March 2012 at 14:08

      My friend has got back to me and says it is called Etsy and it is brilliant apparently. She says there is another one called folksy which is just in the uk and a lot smaller but still pretty good.
      Hope this maybe helps.
      Dan

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    3. Astra4 March 2012 at 11:02

      I had heard of Etsy but not Folksy - thanks so much for asking for me, I think Im going to go with Etsy, its cheaper to sell and its a much bigger site with more customers :) Very excited!

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  5. celine2 March 2012 at 20:04

    They look cool.You could try etsy.com or there is a craft website calld craftybums.co.uk where ppl sell stuff.buy the way little pressie in your email for helping me before.

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    1. Astra2 March 2012 at 21:20

      Wow thanks celine! thats so cool that you got given the right one, thanks for sharing it :)

      thanks for leaving some feedback, I checked out craftybums, looks great, am looking into etsy too, don't want to pay too much to sell my stuff thats the problem, im too frugal lol but there's definitely a point where its worth paying if they're sites popularity really gets the right people to your stuff...

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  6. Meri6 March 2012 at 00:16

    Etsy is a great site for selling, easy to use and not expensive. You can list a little or a lot.

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Thank you for leaving a comment - it's really appreciated and I always reply :)

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