Childrens Glass Painting Project.

This is the first Glass Painting Project I have done which is specifically geared towards children. Not that it can't be used by adults as well. I was thinking of doing another example myself to show that the same technique can be used by adult to produce quite high quality work and may still when time allows.

I still don't feel that these thick waterbased paints give the same standard of finish as a flowing paint, solvent or waterbased, but then again it is very difficult to use a flowing paint on a curved surface. What will help is when I find another glass painting film which would let me paint flat the move it to a window  etc, haven't found a good one since Rainbow Glass closed down :-(

Anyway back to the Childrens project. It features "Luke" doing most of the painting. I did the outlining for him although he does have a go at outlining now-a-days, and it is getting a lot better, I did it mostly for speed. He's made the little candle holder as an end of term present for his t4eacher so hopefully she'll like it.

Glass Painted Vase

I realise I haven't really mentioned our Glass Painting site on here very often. About 7 years ago Glass Painting went through a very popular period. It has diminished since but still remains a fairly popular craft in the UK, USA, India and quite a few Middle Eastern Countries.

This is a hobbyist type of glass painting. The paints aren't fired but you can still get some amazing effect and paint everything from a small candle holder right up to a full window or door. Here is the video which we did for one Glass Painting Project, a Dolphin Vase. You will find lots more projects, together with guides, product reviews, how tos etc on our site www.glasspainting.co.uk.

Selling My Crafts

One thing I often get quizzed about by site  members etc. is about how they can sell their finished crafts. Whilst some people are content just to make crafts to give to their families and friends other like to sell them.

• Some people like to sell them just to cover the costs of their materials
• Some people sell them to raise funds for charity.
• Some people like to do at as a part-time of even full time job.

So how easy is it to sell your crafts.

Well obviously it will depend partly on what sort of crafts you make. Whilst some crafts sell in quite large volumes, crafts such as greetings cards and jewellery for which there is a large market, there is equally a lot of competition as many people do those crafts themselves.

My USP

Your USP is your Unique Selling Point... whist for some items the mere fact they are handmade can be its USP, in a crowded market you are going to need more. The fact a greeting card is handmade isn't much of a USP when 1,000 of other people are also selling handmade cards. However is you were making handmade rocking horses, that would be a different matter.

So if you are selling cards or jewellery or some other popular craft then you are going to have to have something which makes your items stand out as unique.


Where Do I sell?

The Internet? Well the are certainly loads of people setting up sites to sell their hand crafted goods on line. How successful they are being is doubtful Again it will depend on what sort of craft you are making and what sort of "off line" following you have.

Again those making common crafts can't expect a large amount of custom from the search engines, there are just too many competing and joining an already saturated market. Those crafters should see their websites as an online brochure, away to service their off line customers and attract repeat custom.

Those selling more unique and expensive crafts can hope to see at least some search engine traffic.

Craft Fairs. Obviously a common way for people to sell crafts and the more common crafts are much more likely to sell at least a few items. Whereas a customer may not go online specifically to buy a birthday card, it may be a spontaneous purchase at a Craft Fair.

Friends and House Parties. This is the way which many people start off, they sell to friends and then friends of friends. Organising a small "event" in their own home where they can invite people to come round and view the items. Selling at church, school or other types of community group.

That was obviously only a really quick run down and I'll look at each of these methods in more detail in future posts!