Handmade Crafts: Small Business Ideas That Can Be Done From Home (Part 2)

In the 1st part of my blog post, I have cited plenty of good reasons to start a handmade crafts business at the comfort of one's home.

Photo from freepik

Another huge advantage of a home-based business is, most handmade crafts can be done by individuals from nearly all demographics -- stay-at-home parents, people with disabilities, anyone wishing for a livelihood that's location-independent, or even just a way to augment a regular salary. 

Even those with a higher level of entrepreneurial savviness than creativity can team up with a small group of workers and explain her vision for a possible business or brand. 

Others can use whatever expertise they may have -- bookkeeping, invoicing, sourcing materials, logistics, social media management, etc. 

Here are the remaining types of handmade crafts that can be turned into a small business:

(3.) Journal jar

Image from Make and Takes
Click here for complete procedure.

What makes this an ideal handmade craft?

• You'll only need a minimal amount to be able to put together a set of journal jars, and most will go to mason jars. 
• You can gather materials according to different themes or color templates. If you prefer simple, clean, and minimalist, write your prompts on white sheets of notepaper. Embellishments might be a gift tag attached through a plain ribbon or twine, and a wide strip of scrapbook paper wrapped around the mason jar. 
• If you like whimsical or shabby chic, take a sheet of scrapbook paper, cut it into the size of sticky notes, and scribble your prompts on the back side. And then, decorate the outside of the jar with a strip of lace or ribbon and add paper flowers.

Why this will sell:

• You can appeal to different demographics and serve different purposes. There exists multiple reasons to start and maintain the habit of journaling. You can customize journal jars for youth groups or Bible study groups. 
• There are therapists, counselors, and other mental health professionals that advise journaling. 
• Journal jars make excellent Valentine's and anniversary gifts for couples. They can strengthen their bond by reflecting on the triumphs, milestones, as well as challenges they've had in their marriage or long-term relationship. And along the lines of selling DIY jars, why not offer a package deal by including a date ideas in a jar?
• Children and teens will especially benefit from journal jars. Getting them started in the habit of journaling will help improve their thought process and communication skills.

Costing:

Materials:

• Mason jar -- Php122 for 380ml 
• Notepaper -- Php45
• Felt-tip pen -- Php45
• Scrapbook paper -- Php45 for a set of 24 sheets (12" x 12")
• Embellishments (printed ribbons, die cuts, twine, ephemera, and lace)

How to compute selling price:

(1.) Come up with at least 30 journal prompts for a 30-day challenge. 

(2.) Larger sizes of mason jars can be prized higher as they can hold more prompts (50 or more). 

(3.) Markup percentage should be around 20%-30%. For customized journal jars, 40% is reasonable.

(4.) Upcycled notebooks

Cereal box notebook

What makes this an ideal handmade craft?

• Cereal boxes are sturdy, making them good enough for notebook covers.
• You can make various sizes of notebooks. 
• You can apply a lot of techniques to decorate the cover of your notebooks -- color blocking, papier mache, flicking or dabbing paint, melted crayon and string art, mosaic made of paper or eggshell, or wrapping it with fabric, scrapbook or wrapping paper. 

Why this will sell:

• Cereal box notebooks make unique gifts for stationery lovers. 
• With the wealth of craft materials being made available, you can accept requests to personalize or customize notebooks, and charge more. 
• pad with greeting card cover 

Costing:

Materials:

• Cereal boxes -- free 
• 12" x 12" pad of scrapbook paper -- Php149 (click here and here for more designs) 
• Ream of A4 copy paper (500 sheets) -- Php 149

How to compute selling price:

This is a handmade craft that's cost-effective when it comes to materials, but heavily reliant on labor. It's best to compute a 40%-50% markup percentage. 

Upcycled magazine cover notebook

Photo from Instructables
Click here for a complete tutorial.

What makes this an ideal handmade craft? 

• It's cost-effective to make. You can use old magazines that have accumulated in your home.
• Ruled paper is inexpensive. 
• There are digest periodicals and magazines that are slightly larger in size, so you can craft a good variety.

Why this will sell:

• These upcycled notebooks can be used for school, office, journaling, budget-tracking, calorie counting, etc.
• If you want boys and men to buy your upcycled notebooks, look for old issues of comic books, car, basketball, motorcycle, music, or technology magazines.

How to compute selling price:

There are 2 ways to work around this: 

• Compute a 40%-50% markup percentage, since it's a labor-intensive craft. 
• Instead of a markup percentage, determine a markup price that will compensate for your labor, a part of your overhead expenses, and other extras like packaging material. Add the markup price to the cost it took you to make a single notebook.

(5.) Crochet products   

What makes them ideal as handmade crafts? 

• All you need are a couple of hooks to get started. 
• There are brands of crochet yarn of good quality that are relatively inexpensive.

Why these will sell:

• You can appeal to enthusiasts of the kawaii culture.
• Animals aren't the only ones you can crochet. There are flowers, vegetables, and fruits, caricatures of pop culture icons, food (milk tea, coffee, onigiri, etc.)...the possibilities are endless! 

Amigurumi

Photo from DIY Fluffies
Click here for amigurumi patterns.

Coasters

Image from Repeat Crafter Me
For complete procedure, click here.

Scrunchies 

Photo from Repeat Crafter Me
Click here for a tutorial.

Bookmarks

Avid readers, regardless of genre, will appreciate crochet bookmarks. You can sell these by pairs, or by a set of 3, 5, 6, 10, or market them as cheaper by the dozen. 

Costing:

Materials:

• Crochet hooks (set of 22) -- Php149 
• DMC crochet acrylic yarn -- Php149 (click here and here for other colors)

How to compute selling price:

While you may be able to acquire patterns for free, crochet is another labor-reliant textile craft. So it's best to compute a 40%-50% markup percentage after totaling the cost. 

(6.) Sewing essentials 

What makes them ideal as handmade crafts? 

• You can adopt the assembly-line way when making sewing essentials, which are small items. You can easily finish a dozen or 2 within a day. 
• You can customize sewing essentials and place them inside a sewing box, and gift them to sewing enthusiasts. 

Why these will sell: 

• There will always be crafters who are enthusiastic about sewing...as a recreation, a way to make extra income, as well as something they do full-time to earn.
• Some individuals trained themselves minor repairs like mending, darning, replacing missing buttons, sewing on a hook and eye, etc. They'll appreciate sewing essentials. 

Pin cushions 

Photo from A Pumpkin Princess
For a full tutorial, click here.

Costing:

Materials:

• Fabric quarters -- Php100 for 8 pieces 
• Polyester fill -- Php141 for 1 kg
• Needles -- Php141 per set
• Embroidery floss -- Php141 for 50 colors
• Embellishments (buttons, ruffles, felt fabric cutouts, lace, ribbons)

Needle minders

Costing:

Materials: 

• 32mm button pin for repurposing -- Php30 (for other designs, click here, here, and here) 
• round magnets -- Php103 for 50 pieces
• pliers -- Php103 for a set
• multi-purpose glue -- Php88 for 110 ml

How to compute selling price:

(1.) You can price pin cushions per piece, or sell them by bundle or set. 

(2.) Again, this is a labor-intensive craft. A 20%-30% markup percentage is reasonable.