Articles on: craft & maker

[caption id="attachment_10738" align="alignnone" width="620"] Image via Flickr[/caption] Running a small business is no small feat -- but before you can even get into the meat of the operation (like figuring out pricing and fulfillment and all of the other complexities of operation), you've got to jump over a few pretty huge hurdles, like coming up with a name and a motto or tagline to help define your brand. And while the stuff that comes later is definitely tricky, it's those small pieces of your overall marketing that can make it hard to move forward.

The holidays are all about eating until you're in a food coma (or at least until you've flopped on the floor in a pumpkin pie daze), which is why giving the gift of delicious noms is always a safe bet. Whether you're a master in the kitchen or can barely open a packet of Ramen noodles, we've rounded up a list of fun, quick and super-easy homemade holiday treats that make perfect gifts for your friends and family.

It goes without saying that CreativeLive is home to tons of super talented crafting enthusiasts. We love watching community members put their creativity to good use –– especially when their creations are turned into profitable business ventures!

Being the head of the Craft channel has really given me an appreciation for the time and effort people put into making something that represents their unique vision.  As a native Californian, I love supporting local artists.

On a budget this year? The time has come to break out the hot glue gun, clear your calendar, and devote yourself to a day of DIY project goodness.

The beauty of supermarket flowers is that they are dirt cheap. The trouble comes when you get them home, relieve them of their packaging, and they slump over into the vase.

[caption id="attachment_10353" align="alignnone" width="612"] Image via Flickr[/caption] If you're not much of a cook, potlucks and other bring-your-own-dish feasts can be extremely nerve-racking. Not only are you worried that yours will be the one side that no one touched, you also have to figure out when you're even going to have time to whip something up.

[caption id="attachment_10300" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Matthew Yakel via Flickr[/caption] As a crafter or marker, you strive to make the best products you can, knowing that your customers will love them. But how much time do you actually spend considering who that customer really is, or what happens to the thing you've labored over once they purchase it?

[caption id="attachment_10255" align="alignnone" width="620"] All images via Megan Auman[/caption] As a maker, crafter, or really any kind of creative entrepreneur with a product to sell, the holy grail of sales is definitely wholesaling. Being able to focus on just making tons of what you love and letting retailers take care of the granular sales is a relief -- and can be a really great way to ensure your revenue stream.

[caption id="attachment_10059" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo by Maria Elena via Flickr[/caption] Blogging in and of itself isn't a highly lucrative pursuit for most creative entrepreneurs -- instead, it's an important part of their overall marketing and SEO strategy, which is a great reason to do it. However, if you're very savvy and also have the potential to sell digital products, like ebooks, crafting patterns, MP3s, or other goods which can be delivered and consumed via the internet, it's not that difficult to put your blogging skills to real work and start turning a profit.