Photo: @gina_barragan
]]>Do you want to create a craft blog?
How about starting your very own blog for you to share your creative projects? You're always thinking that 'I could do this' or seeing how you can make extra money or go full time by creating your blog.
Let's get started on your blog, share your passion, and it could very well generate full-time earnings for you one day.
Step 1: You will need a name / Deciding your niche
Buy a domain name so that it will look more professional. First, decide on your blog's name. For example, you can use your name as your brand domain. Next, consider your niche and think about who you enjoy writing for as you brainstorm. And consider these tips:
~ Shorter names are easier to remember. If your name is unique and short, you can use the same one across all your social media accounts.
~ Research your concepts to see if they are already in use or near matches. Also, study your blog name and see if it is unique on social media—especially Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
~ Consider a name that will expand with your business. When you start your blog, consider a more generic name so that when you expand your niche, you don't need to change your domain name.
~ You might like to use your very own name. The only thing is to make sure it hasn't been used before.
Step 2: Choose a Platform
There are free for starters like Blogspot, Wordpress.com, and wix.com, but they limit the number of design modifications you can make.
A quick search online will offer you hundreds of blogging platforms (both free and paid) to prefer from.
Wix.com is the latest in the industry for blogs, and it is regularly updated. There are thousands of articles on using Wix.com, and the number of themes and plugins is increasing.
Step 3: Pick a Domain and Hosting
There are many various hosting options, but we suggest Bluehost. For starters, it is a perfect choice.
After choosing your domain name, you'll like to head over to Bluehost and get started. You can purchase a website host for only $3.49 per month through Bluehost, and Bluehost also offers you a FREE domain registration for a year!
Step 4: Learn to write creatively and professionally
Google on how to improve your writing skills or take an online course for free or for a small fee and strengthen your copywritng skills.
Step 5: Brainstorm your first ten contents
We highly recommend publishing at least ten creative posts on your blog to start with.
What types of DIY projects and crafts do you enjoy making? Start there. Is there a holiday arriving up in the next couple of months? Do you want to decorate for the holidays and create unique crafts for them?
Step 6: Learn how to take great photos
Pictures will make or break a DIY or craft blog. You don't need to have a fancy or high-end camera or have the best indoor lighting to take amazing photographs, though. Start with a low budget.
Step 7: Create an Etsy account
Link your blog to your Etsy store and sell your crafts to your customers. Subscribe to youtube channels where entrepreneur share how to be successful selling on Etsy.
Step 8: Research on other people's blog
Type your niche in google and see which blog comes up on the first page of results. Then, takes. Take your time to learn how they write their content and see which articles are most popular.
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If you're setting your craft room together, you're looking for craft room concepts on a budget, or it's time to glam up your craft room, this list of craft room must-haves will inspire you to organize a space where you can relax and create some of your most promising projects.
It should be no wonder that there are particular items you must have in your craft room to make it a productive, happy place.
Storage carts are all the popularity now. They are perfect for putting your Cricut machine on, your printer, paint, pens, and other craft supplies.
The fantastic thing about these storage carts is that you can take them into whatever room you are crafting in, moving your craft supplies from one room to another super easy! Excellent storage is essential for your craft room.
By @planstocreate
A pegboard is the most versatile thing you can have in your craft room. You can make it colorful and full of your favorite items. It's a beautiful starting point for craft storage, too — great for hanging your Cricut tools, washi tape, scissors, and so much more. There's no limit to the various styles you can make with your pegboard.
Are you looking for the perfect organizer for all those hooks and notions? This organizer is small but mighty - seriously! It takes up very little space, which I am all about, but it also holds everything you need in one place.
By @abitofscrapstuff
You can purchase here.
This is one of the essential must-have mini trash cans! It's the perfect size for your craft desk. If you work with paper, vinyl, or any other kind of material that creates a mess, this little desktop trash can is exactly what you need to help keep your workspace tidy! Plus, you can customize it to whatever you want!
By @studio204
You can purchase here.
These stacking trays fit perfectly in some cubbies and make your room looks fresh out of a real crafts store. Organize your scrapbook paper by color and pattern for an adorable and bright collection.
We just love this artfully arranged craft space with a large work table at the center. It gives a well-defined flow to the room and makes us want to get down to business.
CTO: Featured image by @stationery.happiness
]]>Ultraviolet (UV) DTF Printing refers to a new printing method that uses ultraviolet curing technology to create designs on films. These designs can then be transferred onto hard and irregular-shaped objects by pressing down with fingers and then peeling off the film.
UV DTF printing requires a particular printer called a UV flatbed printer. The inks are immediately exposed to UV light emitted by an LED cold light source lamp when printing designs on "A" film. The inks contain a photosensitive curing agent that dries fast when exposed to UV light.
Next, use a laminating machine to stick the "A" film with "B" film. "A" film is on the back of the design, and "B" film is on the front. Next, use a scissor to cut an outline of the design. To transfer the design onto an object, peel away the "A" film and stick the design firmly onto the object. After several seconds, peel off the "B." The design is finally transferred onto the object successfully. The color of the design is bright and clear, and after the transfer, it is durable and does not scratch or wear off quickly.
UV DTF printing is versatile due to the type of surfaces the designs can go on, such as metal, leather, wood, paper, plastic, ceramic, glass, etc. It can even be transferred onto irregular and curved surfaces. It is also possible to transfer designs when the object is underwater.
This printing method is environmentally friendly. As UV curing ink is not solvent-based, no toxic substances will evaporate into the surrounding air.
To summarise, UV DTF printing is a highly flexible printing technique; it can be helpful if you want to print or edit menus for restaurant menus, print logos on household electrical appliances, and so much more. Furthermore, you can customize objects with any logo you want with UV printing. It is also suitable for outdoor objects as they are durable and resistant to scratch and wear over time.
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Chinese New Year has always been a traditional period for family sharing and caring. But, this year, more than ever, it gives us a moment to create connections and possibly be engaged in at-home family fun more than before.
Why not make 2022 extra special by making some of these Chinese New Year Crafts? Then place it on display for all to see!
Are you looking for an incredible Chinese New Year Dragon Craft idea? Then look no further. Here we have this bright dragon mask activity that you will love. Let's start HERE.
Want to create the most interesting Chinese paper fans with your kids? You can even turn waste paper into something stunning. For more detail, click HERE.
Turn toilet paper tube into an ornamental string of firecrackers for this Chinese New Year! Firecrackers are lovely decorations! Let's start HERE.
Paper lanterns are traditionally created using bright colors and are often associated with celebrations in various countries. For example, in China, the Lantern Festival marks the end of the Chinese New Year, where flying lanterns are lit, and children carry paper lanterns of their creation. For more detail for creating them, click HERE.
Chinese New Year is coming, so let's make these fun Paper Fortune Cookies! You can use materials from thin scrapbooks, origami, or construction paper. See how to make it HERE.
We would love to see all your festive creations! Enjoy and Happy Chinese New Year!
It's always amusing to have many craft supplies to experiment with, but finding a spot to keep them all isn't quite as fun. So if you feel like your craft supplies are all over the place, or you constantly forget about the great things you already own, these craft storage ideas for a tidier workspace are for you. They work for small spaces, and they'll help you spend more time crafting and less time finding your supplies.
You'll be asking, "where have you been all my life?". This servant is pleasing to the eye and will only ask you for a small space to work for you. Get a couple more to serve you in every room you have.
It is adorable and compact and is perfect for keeping all kinds of accessories neat and organized. You will be surprised at how many items it can hold and store. Perfect for all your office desk accessories and supplies such as sticky notes, pens and pencils, scissors, paper clips, markers, erasers, rulers, glue, staplers, and so on.
It is the perfect addition to your craft space should you need a little extra storage. Hang it on your utility cart or anywhere that allows you to hook onto it. Deep and wide for use with stationary such as pen, ruler, scissors and other craft tools and long containers and bottles.
The popular design in the market has holders for your pens brushes, and the drawers are clear for you to view what's inside. It is also multi-use and can also be used at study, office, workshop areas. They will never look out of place. It fits perfectly on your main craft table.
It is perfect for small spaces in your kitchen, laundry, craft, office, vanity, bathroom, and many more. It comes with super-strong magnetic backing that will not slip or slide and can be attached to any metal surfaces such as fridge, washing machine, dryer, file cabinets, etc. The metal is made of robust stainless steel with a coat of paint not to rust or corrode. Extra storage for your craft/planner supplies.
There is no need to drill holes and add adhesive onto walls. It is perfect for your storage problems when you need to create additional space in your area. Perfect for washi tapes, hairbands, accessories, towels, and so on. It is sturdy and fits perfectly on the side of every cart.
It is compact and minimalist in design which is perfect in small spaces. It consists of 1 cube tissue box holder, one flat tray, and two multi-use holders for craft tools, office items, planning supplies, etc.
Are you looking for the perfect organizer for all those hooks and notions? This organizer is small but mighty - seriously! It takes up very little space, which I am all about, but it also holds everything you need in one place.
It is one of our latest collections of craft/jewelry storage systems which is stackable. Perfect for storing your beads or any small accessories. It consists of many compartments of different sizes. Some compartments have edges with the slope for easy picking up small accessories.
If you are looking for more storage organization or craft supplies, check out all our Lotsa Style products here.
]]>Now that you know more about DTF printing technology and the step-by-step process let's talk about the versatility of DTF printing and what fabrics it can print on.
To give you some perspective: sublimation printing is mainly used on polyester and cannot be used on cotton. Screen printing is better as it can print on fabrics ranging from cotton and organza to silk and polyester. DTG printing is primarily applied to cotton.
So what about DTF printing?
1. Polyester
Prints on polyester come out bright and vivid. This synthetic fabric is highly versatile, and it covers sportswear, leisurewear, swimwear, outerwear, including linings. They are also easy to wash. In addition, DTF printing doesn't require pretreatment like DTG.
2. Cotton
Cotton fabric is more comfortable to wear compared to polyester. As a result, they are a popular choice for clothing and household items such as embellishing liners, bedding, child apparel, and different specialty projects.
3. Silk
Silk is a typical protein fiber developed from the covers of specific mysterious crawly hatchlings. Silk is a natural, strong fiber as it has excellent tensile strength, which allows it to withstand a great deal of pressure. In addition, silk texture is known for its sparkling appearance because of its three-sided crystal-like fiber structure.
4. Leather
DTF printing works on leather and PU leather too! The results are great, and many people swore by it. It lasts, and the colors look gorgeous. Leather has various uses, including making bags, belts, garments, and shoes.
DTF works on cotton or silk and just as well as synthetic materials such as polyester or rayon. They look fantastic bright and dark fabrics. The print is stretchable and doesn't crack. DTF process rises above all other printing technologies in terms of fabric choice.
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We mentioned how sublimation can be a good business in an earlier blog post. Given today's technology, starting a T-shirt business at home and selling globally is not only possible, but there is also good money to be made. The investment required is relatively small, and therefore the barrier to entry is low. However, competition is fierce, and therefore you need to find a niche to stand out. In addition, you need to sell, and that is where marketing comes in.
In this article, we'll be discussing five marketing strategies for your sublimation printing business.
Who is your target market? Is it students? Businesses? Moms? Crafters?
If you're not sure, you need to find out. Each of these groups might have slightly different demands and preferences.
A great way to do this is to share with people some of the sublimation printing products that you have done and ask people whether they actually would love to purchase them or not. In addition, it will help you record what type of customer base you will get and how much people are willing to fork out to purchase your products.
Create a website for free and list your products. To stand out, you need to provide value to your customers by sharing useful and expert content in the form of a blog. Moreover, you will slowly get organic traffic if your blog content is good. If your search engine optimization is performed well, your website might be picked up using google search.
Blogging is a tool that can support your business in building and expanding its brand. It's also cost-effective and straightforward to get started.
Do some keyword research on google trends to find trending and popular topics. Then, publish articles related to these keywords. In addition to interesting articles, you can also include videos and infographics relevant to your audience.
Marketing is of key importance. If customers cannot find you, your products will be of no value even though they are of good quality. If you are not good at marketing, your business won't survive. So you need to invest a decent amount of money in marketing, be it online or offline.
You need to create Facebook and Instagram accounts, post interesting content, and share your products. Then, get followers to visit your website and buy from you. These days, all trends are happening in TikTok. So, find a way to post interesting videos that somehow feature your brand and product. Also, find relevant hashtags, follow other accounts and comment on them so that some will eventually return the favor.
Who doesn't love a sale or deals? When it comes to online shopping, everyone wants to get some money off their purchase. It could be just the motivation that turns a lurker into a buyer.
Selling T-shirts online can be fun as well as a profitable business. So follow the above marketing strategies, and best of luck to you.
Subscribe to Lotsa Style and get 10% off your first online order.
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By now, you should be more or less convinced that the revolutionary DTF printing is a serious contender for the future of the T-shirt printing business for small businesses due to the low cost of entry, superior quality, and versatility in terms of materials to print on. In addition, it is highly profitable and high in demand as it is a popular choice for customers.
With DTF printing, you can design in small volumes. As a result, you can develop a one-off design to minimize any waste of unsold inventory. Also, it is very lucrative for small orders.
Do you also know that DTF inks are water-based and environmental friendly? Set your mission statement about reducing the impact of pollution on the environment and make it a selling point to your customers.
First, start small and get the essential equipment. Start with a desktop printer and modify it yourself or get a fully converted one to make things easier. Next, get DTF inks, transfer film, adhesive powder. You'll also need a heat press or oven for curing and transfer. The software required includes RIP for printing and photoshop for designing. Finally, you need to connect your printer to your computer or laptop. Start slow and learn well until you can perfect every print before sending it to your customers.
Next, think about your design. Keep the design simple but look great. Start with a niche category for your design. For example, choose your shirt type from v-necks, sports jerseys, and so on. The benefit of DTF printing is the flexibility to expand your product range and cross-selling into other categories. In addition to a wide range of materials such as cotton, polyester, synthetic, or silk, you can print on zippers, hats, masks, bags, umbrellas, and solid surfaces, both flat and curved.
Whatever you choose, make sure to be flexible and change according to customer demand. Keep your overall costs low, have a good range of designs, and price your shirts reasonably. Set up a store on Etsy which will gather more eyeballs for you and make sure you put some money aside for ads. There is also Amazon Handmade and eBay.
The DTF printer needs much less room. Even in a busy, overcrowded printing house, you still have room for DTF printers. Compared with screen printing, the sum cost of DTF printing is cheaper no matter on machine or labor forces. It is worth mentioning that a small set of orders is less than 100 shirts per style/design; the unit printing price of DTF printing will be lower than that of the standard screen printing process.
High-quality materials and supplies are essential. Do not underestimate the importance of ink technology on your final product. We recommend Lotsa Style premium DTF inks. It has high color density and saturation, colors turn out bright and vivid, and will significantly minimize print head clog. Also available are our double-sided anti-slip warm and cold peel DTF transfer films and fine DTF powder with great stretchiness, long-lasting, and high washability.
We hope the information provided will help you consider the DTF printing T-shirt business. When pricing your product, remember to do your homework and factor in variable and non-variable costs, from printing and shipping to material costs.
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If you are new to DTF printing, you might have heard of the difficulties of maintaining a DTF printer. The main reason is the DTF inks that tend to clog the printer printhead if you do not use the printer regularly. In particular, DTF uses white ink, which clogs very quickly.
What is white ink?
DTF white ink is applied to create a base for the colors of your design, and it is later bonded with DTF adhesive powder during the curing process. They must be thick enough to create a decent base yet thin enough to pass through the printhead. It contains titanium oxide and settles at the bottom of the ink tank when not in use. Therefore they need to be shaken regularly.
Also, they will cause the printhead to be clogged easily when the printer is not used regularly. It will also cause damage to the ink lines, dampers, and capping station.
How to prevent white ink clog?
It would help if you shook the white ink tank gently now and then to prevent the titanium oxide from settling. The best way is to have a system that automatically circulates the white ink, so you save the hassle of doing so manually. If you convert a regular printer to a DTF printer, you can buy parts online, such as a a small motor to regularly pump the white inks.
However, if not done correctly, you risk clogging and drying out the printhead leading to damage that can lead to expensive repairs. You might even need to replace the printhead and motherboard, which can cost a lot.
Lotsa Style DTF Printer
We recommend getting a fully converted DTF printer that might cost you more initially but save you money and effort in the long run. There are many videos online on converting a regular printer to a DTF printer yourself, but we suggest you get it done by a professional.
At Lotsa Style, we have three models of DTF printers to choose from. They come with a white ink circulation system, constant pressure system, and mixing system for your white inks, preventing all the problems we mentioned earlier. As a result, manual maintenance will be minimal, and you can focus on getting the best prints for you and your customers.
Our DTF printer bundle comes which a one-year limited warranty as well as video instructions to help you set up your printer when you receive it. In addition, you will also be in touch with our technical staff which will help you should you face any problems. We will also teach you how to perform regular print head cleaning if required and special maintenance to prevent inks from drying out if you need to stop using your printer for several days.
Do check out Lotsa Style DTF Supplies, including our premium DTF ink refill, DTF adhesive powder, and DTF transfer film.
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DTF Pros.
1. Almost all types of fabrics can be used for DTF printing
2. Pre-treatment is not required as opposed to DTG
3. The fabric has good wash characteristics.
4. DTF process is less tedious and faster than DTG printing
DTF Cons.
1. The feel of the printed areas is slightly different when compared with Sublimation printing
2. The color vibrancy is slightly lower than sublimation printing.
Sublimation Pros.
1. Can be printed on rigid surfaces (mugs, photo slates, plates, clocks, etc.)
2. It’s pretty simple and has a very short learning curve (can be learned quickly)
3. It has an unlimited range of colors. For example, using four-color ink (CMYK) can achieve thousands of different color combinations.
4. No minimum print run.
5. The orders can be produced on the same day.
Sublimation Cons.
1. The fabric must be made of 100% polyester or, at the minimum, about 2/3 of polyester.
2. Only a special polyester coating can be used for non-textile substrates.
3. Items must have a white or light-colored print area. Sublimation cannot work well on black or dark-colored fabrics.
4. Color can be lightened over the months due to the effect of UV rays if it’s permanently exposed to direct sunlight.
At Lotsa Style, we sell both DTF and sublimation inks. They are of high quality and use the latest technology to achieve bright and vivid colors on your fabrics. Thank you so much for supporting our small business.
In today's day and age, many people are looking at turning their hobbies into a viable business in the comfort of their homes. Modern technology has made this possible. How about transforming your love of crafting into a part-time or full-time business?
Stress in the workplace and low salaries are making people resign. Working at home is the future. It is easy to start, and with a small budget, you will earn lots of money in no time. In addition, working at home is flexible, and you are free to manage your own time.
The direct-to-film (DTF) printing business is the latest printing technology accessible to individuals to set up a printing business at the comfort of their home. While it is not for the faint-hearted and challenging to learn, it allows you to explore your creativity and design your products to market locally and internationally.
If you want to start your DTF printing business, look no further. Lotsa Style can help.
These are the available products we have in our store:
WHAT YOU'LL GET:
1. DTF ink
3.4oz (100ml) of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black and 6.8oz (200ml) of White plus five syringes with needles
2. DTF Powder
17.6oz / 500g of White powder
A3 / A3+ size 100 pieces
What are you waiting for? Start your own DTF Printing business!
]]>Both DTF and DTG printing have been around for some time. Both have their pros and cons.
DTF is an excellent add-on to have the ability to print on certain material types that were previously difficult to print with DTG. In addition, DTG is more time-efficient; you can print about a hundred shirts in about 3 hours.
Both types of printing are fit for small pieces or personalization, such as T-shirts or masks. However, the results and the printing method are different in both cases, so it can be challenging to decide which one to prefer as a profitable business.
Let's look at some pros and cons.
DTG Pros
• DTG is the most versatile
• Has a great soft feel when executed correctly
• Very efficient - the process can be shorter than DTF; you don't require to transfer.
DTG Cons
• It needs to pre-treatment - This step is necessary before printing, as we will work directly on the fabric, which will allow the ink to be well fixed and avoid transferring it through the material. In addition, we will need to heat the fabric before printing to begin this treatment.
• Very steep learning curve
• Ink cost is expensive
• Easy to crack if not washed properly
• Limited to specific material types - we can only print on cotton garments.
DTF Pros
• Very easy to learn and more convenient compared to DTG printing. You can quickly turn a standard desktop inkjet printer such as Epson L1800 into a DTF printer. The only other piece of tools you will need is a heat press, and you are ready to go.
• No pre-treatment - as it is pre-printed on a film, which will have to transfer, you're not required to pre-treat the fabric.
• DTF uses about 75% less ink - you only need 60% color ink and 40% white inks.
• It has an excellent print quality: printing on a solid sheet of paper
• DTF printing is very versatile - you can print your transfers in advance and press them when required.
• Can use many material types - can be used on various surfaces and things that would differently be very inconvenient to print on.
DTF Cons
• More time consuming compared to DTG
• DTF can be thin or hard, soft or plastic-like
• Thick edges
To conclude, DTF printing seems to be more effective than DTG and has various applications and uses. For example, for small-scale printing, if you're looking for fantastic color effects and don't want to make such a significant investment, DTF may be more suitable. But the DTG now has more ready printing machines with several plates and processes, which allow quicker and more flexible printing.
Check out Lotsa Style DTF Printer and DTF supplies now!
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Thanksgiving will look a bit different than typical due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hosting virtual get-togethers is the new norm during these challenging times. Many video conferencing platforms are easy and simple to use. Some include Zoom, Skype, Facetime, etc. Scheduling a time that everyone can share a meal virtually can be a new experience that everyone can share and talk about for this year.
Were you looking to have a virtual Thanksgiving with family and friends this year? We got you!!
It may not be possible to visit Grandma's house this year, but that doesn't mean you can't get a taste and feel of her mouth-watering sweet potato pie! So get the whole family on board, swap your unique recipes, test them out at home, then set up a Zoom/Skype for the excellent taste test.
Who doesn't love a great game night? Make yours virtual Turkey Day-friendly with Thanksgiving games for kids that include everything from Mad Libs to I Spy. It can be easy to play from behind a screen.
You can even make a game out of these Thanksgiving trivia questions - you can search it on Google. The winner gets an e-gift card—or dibs on a sweet treat sent directly to their doorstep!
Mail or drop off gifts and supplies to help family and friends feel part of the fun. For example, since you can't gather around one table to split a pumpkin pie, maybe you and your child bake pumpkin muffins or cupcakes and drop them off on their doorsteps or make matching centrepieces for everyone to display on their holiday tables.
Have all your family start this new process a few weeks before Thanksgiving. Each day, each person writes a letter, something they're grateful for, on a slip of paper and adds it to their family bowl. Then, during your Thanksgiving virtual event, take turns reading loudly.
It can be part of your virtual get-together or just a peaceful conversation with your child, to call it a day. What would your child like to discover, try, or do more of by Thanksgiving next year? It is an excellent way to remind us that we all have to look ahead to the other side of this challenging situation.
It's tough for everyone not to celebrate our favorite holiday cultures. But, during this pandemic, we can try new norm, quarantine-friendly plans to fill in for what we'll miss. It may even add a new purpose to your holiday.
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Are you looking for the perfect Thanksgiving gift? Our simple Thanksgiving crafts for both adults and kids will make your home ready for the holiday enjoyable—and a bonus—they'll help to bring the family close together around the craft table.
OK, here's a look at some fun Thanksgiving craft ideas to get you rolling! I'll be thrilled to hear which of these you think you will try first and which you love best!
These turkey treats are a cute Thanksgiving craft for kids! You can use them to decorate your Thanksgiving table, give them little enjoyable gifts, or create many adorable Thanksgiving class treats!
Wrap your cutlery (or lovely plastic ware) with a specially designed napkin, and it's all ready for your visitors to appreciate before digging into those fluffy mashed potatoes and turkey.
Using a regular toilet paper roll and thick color paper, make a cute turkey with your kid. To complete, write down your favorite things on each feather.
Charming turkey pretzels. This Thanksgiving Kids Food Craft is ideal for little hands. Chocolate-dipped pretzels, cookies, and candy corn make a cute Thanksgiving treat for kids – gobble, gobble!
Here's an adorable and easy way to remind you and yours of the "reason for the season" this Thanksgiving! It looks exceptional on its own, across individual dinner plates or displayed across one of our burlap wreaths.
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Everyone can start a craft business, but unfortunately, not all craft businesses make good money. So, in this article, I will share the usual easy crafts to begin with and make money.
Pet Tags are one of the best-selling items on Etsy. People love personalized items and love spending money on their pets, so any customized pet items you create will do great. Also, the DIY pet tags are excellent because they're small and affordable to ship. Tip: Homemade pet treats can be a profitable craft!
Making soap may not be as profitable initially, and there is a cap on how much the consumer is willing to spend for a bar of soap, a bottle of lotion, or a jar of bath salts. However, it will make money if you persevere.
Bath bombs are popular, so there's a guaranteed sale here. However, keep in mind that there is quite a bit of competition nowadays with homemade bath bombs. To be successful, you'll have to find a way to stand out!
If you like to work with beads, expensive and inexpensive stones, charms, metals, or more unique materials like rope, leather, resin, and more, there's a demand for every fashion of jewelry you want to make.
You can buy materials and essential jewelry-making equipment relatively cheaply at crafts stores. Use these essential items to design. At this stage, you can try to ask your family and friends to wear your accessories and provide reviews about their comfort, the integrity or strength of the construction, and any other helpful information.
Candles are typical in every home, and for a good reason – they're relaxing, they smell good, and they look nice too. They also make excellent gifts. Unfortunately, most store-bought candles aren't always filled with the best ingredients, so many look for natural candles online instead.
Luckily, crafting up your candles is beautiful, inexpensive, and straightforward, and you can also add your scents and colors.
If you have a skill for lettering, illustration, and calligraphy, and you're interested in the printing process, consider placing your unique skill set to use as a stationary and greeting card designer.
When starting, you can likely print your work with an inkjet printer. But eventually, you'll need to find a reliable printer who can print your designs in larger volumes.
Please browse our website here for your crafting supplies. I'm sure you will find something you will love!
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You need to decide what you're going to sell. Of course, your decision to "craft" will partially depend on what you love to make. However, it's also essential to research the market and see what could sell for your company.
Consider your business and ask yourself what products you could offer through your brand to make customers more likely to buy from you.
If you want to sell home products like key holders or blankets, you will target adult consumers who can afford to buy home items. If you're going to target young consumers, you can sell handmade bracelets or customized tumblers.
To identify your target consumers, consider which people are most likely to fall in love with your merchandise. For example, if you're starting a small craft business selling baby blankets, your primary customer may be new parents. However, you could also attract relatives who want to buy baby shower gifts.
Defining your typical customer will guide you in promoting your products, creating enticing product descriptions, deciding which craft shows to attend, and more.
Choose a business name that attracts buyers and describes what you sell. Don't get too complicated. Pick something with purpose and strong brand potential -- catchy is excellent. Be sure to review the name's availability.
You need to find a reliable manufacturer who can make your designs. However, you also need to look for a reliable supplier who can give you the raw materials you need to make your products. It could include paying for particular types of wool or threads for your embroidery company.
Excellent photography is necessary for many craft businesses these days due to the influence of social media and eCommerce. You'll likely take your pictures at first. Get the most reliable camera you can and put together a clean backdrop with good lighting.
You need to consider on how to ship your items to the consumers if you will sell online. Punctual and reliable shipping plays a huge role in getting great consumer reviews. Look for a shipping provider and compare prices whether you go with USPS, UPS, or FedEx. Then spend in suitable packing materials to avoid damage.
Photo: flowers_kako
]]>When you see some beautiful and dynamic designs printed on some clothes or handbags in our daily lives, have you ever wondered how these designs get printed onto them?
Direct to Film or DTF printing is the latest technology accessible to individuals to set up a printing business at the comfort of their home.
It provides a more advanced alternative to the now-archaic methods of DTG printing, screen printing or sublimation.
DTF printing allows anyone to print on both dark and light t-shirts. The materials include cotton, polyester, all kind of blends, leather, nylon, and so on.
With the improvement in DTF technology, there is no denying that DTF printing is taking the industry by storm. It is spontaneously becoming one of the most successful technologies for textile printing compared to standard printing methods.
DTF works by printing transfers that are heat pressed to different garments. DTG technology only works on cotton fabrics, and sublimation works on polyester. DTF printing is also preferred because they are affordable and expect no pre-treatment. For quality results, you will need Lotsa Style DTF powder, DTF film and DTF Ink.
With the advancement in DTF technology, it is easily one of the most popular technologies for textile printing in the market right now.
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DTF or Direct to film printing is a unique technique that involves printing designs onto special films for transfer onto fabric. It is a heat transfer process that can last as long as traditional silkscreen prints. Below, we explain five things you should know about DTF technology before performing it in your business.
If you own printing business, you already know that the essence of your work is only as great as the quality of your printers and inks. It is even more true when it comes to DTF printing. You must invest in a quality printer and heat press for optimal results like other heat transfer processes. High-quality inks are also needed to guarantee that the printhead won't clog.
DTF printing requires PET film, but that doesn't mean every type of PET film fits the DTF process. For best results, choose printable matte or glossy warm and cold peel film. Lower quality untreated films may be less expensive, but they don't match the performance of warm and cold peel film—they may smudge, not accept the adhesive, or ruin your garment. Lotsa Style warm and cold peel film is specially treated to withstand a heat press's high temperatures and pressure; it's also compatible with all desktop and large format printers. In addition, our film comes as a cut sheet or in rolls for more extensive operations.
Prints cannot be transferred directly to a garment. Instead, warm and cold peel film must be used to help the image adhere to the fabric. It should be durable enough to withstand up to 45 hand washes while keeping the transfer feeling soft. No foul smell is involved, and excess can be stored and reused.
One of the many benefits of DTF printing is that garments do not need any pre-treating to accept a transfer. As a result, it can streamline your services and potentially lower your costs. Overall, the DTF printing process is quicker and requires less labor than DTG printing.
When printing directly to a textile, your options are restricted. DTF gives you much more flexibility, as you can print on various fabrics, including cotton, polyester, rayon, nylon, silk, leather, and more.
If you want to start your DTF business, check out Lotsa Style DTF Supplies here.
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Sublimation printing, Heat Transfer, and Screen Printing are three popular types of printing for logos, messages, pictures, all kinds of figures, and more. Here, we discuss the differences and compare these processes.
This process uses solid ink instead of liquid ink, primarily used in inkjet and laser printing. The solid ink is first heated, then imprinted to the fabric or desired product. At this point, the image will transfer to the material. As a result, the picture becomes a part of the material and cannot be felt by touching the fabric of the sublimatable part.
The heat transfer paper is a specialty paper that transfers printed patterns to shirts and other garments when applied heat. This process involves printing a design onto a sheet of heat transfer paper using an inkjet or laser printer. Then, you place the printed sheet design on your T-shirt and press it using a heat press (in some instances, a home iron will work, but heat presses provide the best results). Finally, you peel off the paper after you've pressed it, and your image adheres nicely onto the fabric.
Screen printing, also called silkscreen, refers to using a stencil to print the wanted pattern and ink to paint such a design. Here, ink is poured over the stencil, and a cotton-like device spreads the ink evenly to penetrate the material. Screen printing needs a lot of time to be done right but can be repeated several times quickly. The results are often vigorous and bright, delivering unique printing quality. Screen printing does not require advanced equipment, yet it is necessary to have the proper tools. Still, it offers excellent results.
Sublimation only works with white and light-colored polyester fabrics and does not work with cotton or other fabrics. Screen printing works on various materials such as polyester, cotton, latex, and similar fabrics. Heat transfer paper can be used on polyester, cotton, blends, nylon, and hard surface items.
You are not limited to the color substrate you want to transfer an image to with heat transfer. Instead, you can transfer on any color, dark or light.
With sublimation, you cannot only print on dark-colored garments. Although you can use a heat transfer vinyl that you can sublimate onto after pressing it to the shirt, it is still the most significant limitation of sublimation.
White on screen print, the color usage on screen printing is more complicated and mainly works in simple designs. You can work with dark colors (black, brown, etc.).
Since sublimation occurs when the polyester fabric is dyed, you won't feel the image on the shirt or surface. It has a very light hand. Heat transfer paper can be felt on the garment when you feel it with your hands. In addition, it will crack after frequent washing.
You can wash heat transfer paper garments about 25 to 30 times before you start seeing fading or cracking in the design.
The advantage of sublimation is the uniform heating process ensures that every dye particle is deep into the garment, preventing chipping, cracking, or even fading over time.
The heat transfer paper is the lesser costly option among the three methods. To get started, all you need is an inkjet or laser printer, a heat press, heat transfer paper, and the substrates you would like to decorate.
Sublimation carries a higher startup cost than two. While not as expensive as it used to be, sublimation has a higher price tag than heat transfer paper with an inkjet or laser printer. For sublimation, you will need a sublimation printer, a heat press, sublimation paper, and your substrates or garments to decorate.
Screen printing is also costly and requires a lot of time. However, it works wonders for large numbers and simpler designs. The costs, then, are relative. If you're printing small batches with elaborate designs, go for sublimation. But if you're printing large sets or simple images, then screen printing is the most affordable.
You can check out Lotsa Style sublimation ink and supplies here.
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DTF stands or Direct to Film. DTF Printing is a new method of digital textile printing. The DTF process is as simple as its name suggests – Print on a unique film called PET film and directly transfer onto fabric. A critical reason DTF is superior to other printing processes is that you can do it on fabrics like polyester, cotton, silk, or synthetic fibers like rayon or terry cot. Therefore this process is better than DTG printing and sublimation printing.
Basic steps in DTF printing are as follows.
Get a DTF printer or convert a regular printer into a DTF printer. First, upload your design onto software such as Cadlink or Acrorip. This software reads and separates the colors in a design by channels and allows your printer to print CYMK and white. Next, you should get special DTF Inks that have not just CMYK but also white ink.
You should not use the standard paper but the PET film. First, you print the whole image on the PET film. Next, set the color you want and print the image on the white base. Take care not to smudge the paint when you remove it from the tray! A DTF printer with a heating system can dry the ink faster on the output tray.
This step is to pour the hot melt powder onto the PET film. When printing wet images, you should ensure all the power is distributed into the surface evenly. The important thing is to ensure that the powder is evenly scattered all over the printed surface on the film. Usually, you would keep a tray next to the printer, sprinkle the powder onto the web print, then seesaw back and forth until it covers the wet ink. Then CAREFULLY shake off the excess. Alternately, one can use an automatic powdering and melting machine.
This stage expects you to melt the powder, and there are a couple of ways to do this.
It doesn't have to be a shirt, of course. But whatever you're going to use your DTF transfer to should be completely smooth. Any wrinkles will show up in print!
And more importantly, it will simply dry the material. You'd be amazed how much moisture fabric can absorb from humidity in the air, and that would affect print quality.
It is the core of the DTF printing process. First, the PET film with the image and the melted powder are placed on the fabric. Then, use a heat press to transfer the design onto the fabric. This step aims to make a strong adhesion between the film and the cloth, which is also called curing. Finally, the film is firmly attached to the fabric with a 160 to 170 degrees Celsius temperature range for about fifteen to twenty seconds.
After heat pressing onto the fabric, set it aside. The hot melt acts as a binder that binds the colored pigment in the inks with the fabric fibers. After a while, you can peel the PET film off using Lotsa Style DTF transfer film. You do not have to wait until it is completely cooled off.
Post-pressing is an optional step, but you should do it on every garment application. In this process, you can press the fabric with a transferred design under the heat press for 10 to 15 seconds.
DTF printing is an advanced printing method for crafters and small business owners. It allows you to print in small quantities. For business owners, you can expand your service by introducing DTF printing as an additional print service to your customers. You can offer low minimum orders while providing top-quality prints. Check out Lotsa Style DTF supplies now!
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I think the simple answer here is YES. Let's see why sublimation is a good business.
Sublimation is a rewarding and profitable business. You can begin a sublimation business or add sublimation to your current design business for under $1000. If you want to start a small business in the comfort of your own home, sublimation has a low barrier of entry.
Most crafters and small business owners make money with dye sublimation to create personalized items for family members and local paying customers and sell them to online platforms like Etsy, eBay, Instagram, and Facebook. Examples of popular items include mugs, T-shirts, drinkware, socks, tote bags, ornaments and many more.
Here are some reasons why sublimation is a good business.
You don't need to spend thousands of money on tons of material. You can get started with sublimation with small capital. What you need is to find a niche idea or concept, and you are ready to go.
If you already have an existing business, offering a more comprehensive array of products means you can fulfil more needs for more people. For example, a mug is a great way to get your business details into someone's home, office, or staff room. It is a great product that lasts and one that can use all the time. You can put the same photo on a mug that you would your business promotional leaflet, but where a flyer handed out or posted through a letterbox will usually end up recycled, a personalized mug will not. Repeat sales opportunity every coffee break!
Do offer products that are unique and new. Customers are always on the lookout for the latest and exciting products they can find online. What do customers want to customize? What do they need? With sublimation, you allow yourself the best opportunity to meet these ever marketing needs. So don't hinder your business by being slow to change. Instead, rapidly adapt to the needs of your buyers.
Adding sublimation to your business is a great way to diversify your income sources, especially if you are into the decoration business. You can offer a broader range of products without running out and buying a piece of expensive equipment.
Buyer expectations are constantly changing. It would be best if you also adapted accordingly. With sublimation, you can quickly meet ever-changing needs. Stay up to trend and meet customers' expectations using sublimation.
Sublimation is a good business. And if you aren't checking it out already, then you're missing out. You can also check out Lotsa Style sublimation ink and supplies here.
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Sublimation printing is a unique printing method that utilizes heat to transfer dye onto fabric or other materials. It is becoming more popular as the designs are lasting and they maintain the comfort of the fabric. Here are 5 fun facts that you probably do not know:
1. The History
A French researcher Noel de Plasse invented it in 1957 when he observed that dyes sublimate, and he could manipulate it for printing while working for a textile company in France. He continued to develop the process and eventually founded a new company titled Sublistatis SA to commercialize this technique.
2. Sublimation Process
The process used solid ink instead of liquid ink, primarily used in inkjet and laser printing. The solid ink is first heated, then imprinted to the fabric or desired product. At this point, the image will transfer to the material. As a result, the picture becomes a part of the material and cannot be felt by touching the fabric of the sublimatable part.
3. It is a versatile printing method
It does not require plates and allows full customization digitally on your computer. This method is performed on a polyester, polymer, or polymer-coated item. You can apply your design to various products such as home decor, sports apparel, keepsake items, and so much more.
4. It is affordable
With the diversity of equipment needed and the multi-step process, dye sublimation printing was once expensive and intimidating. At present, the technology has improved, and the market has expanded. As a result, there are more choices for people and equipment costs are dramatically reduced.
Not only does sublimation yield high-quality products, but it is also better for the environment. While other printing methods involve a liquid stage that requires a significant amount of water, sublimation uses little water. Finally, sublimation printing produces very little waste and uses less ink.
UV Color Changing + Glow in the Dark Kids Flip Top Sublimation Tumbler
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Starting a personalization business has never been simpler. Dye-sublimation printing has allowed many creators, makers, and entrepreneurs to build profitable companies online selling high-quality personalized products.
Let's take a look at the top 5 things you must have to begin your sublimation business!
1. Sublimation Printer
The most crucial piece of tool and the most significant investment is a sublimation printer. You can choose to buy a regular printer that requires conversion or those specially meant for sublimation printing. Epson desktop printers are the most popular and most accessible. There are many helpful videos online on choosing the best printer for you and converting a printer for sublimation. We recommend the Epson Workforce and the EcoTank series. If you are an advanced crafter or would like to print even more oversized products, choose the Epson F570. The F570 is the biggest desktop sublimation printer on the market and can print up to 24" paper rolls.
If you want to save the hassle of converting a regular printer, go for the Sawgrass printers. The Sawgrass systems are the most spontaneous and user-friendly printers for beginners, and you can get up and running in no time. In addition, the SG500 and SG1000 are powerful, versatile, and affordable printers that allow you to customize a wide array of merchandise such as mugs, coasters, plaques, T-shirts, mousepads, and so much more.
2. Sublimation Ink
Choosing the suitable sublimation ink is the key to your success. Look no further as Lotsa Style has got you covered! Our Premium Anti-UV Sublimation Ink Easy Refill has got the latest ink technology. Enjoy bright and vivid results and a high heat transfer printing rate with our smooth anti-clog ink.
3. Heat Press
The other primary tool to invest in is a heat press (or a mug press if your personalization focus is drinkware). You can use a regular iron for your clothes, but you must invest in a heat press to produce high-quality, vibrant, and consistent prints.
There are more heat presses to prefer, each with different features, and you can be quickly overwhelmed by the options. But don't panic! The primary consideration for starters is the platen size (the size of the surface where you place your products). An enormous press allows you to customize more oversized products.
4. Sublimation Blanks
Now you need some sublimation blanks to start customizing. We offer various sublimation tumblers at Lotsa Style, including the latest UV color changing and glow-in-the-dark sublimation tumbler. You will also require transfer papers, shrink wraps, and heat tapes.
5. Computer and software
The last thing you need to begin your sublimation business is computer and design software. Your computer does not have to be super elegant; it just requires you to run whichever design software you use. Examples of design software include Adobe Photoshop, Corel DRAW, Illustrator, and Sawgrass Creative Studio.
If you are waiting for the right moment to start your sublimation printing, then you won't start at all. Instead, start slowly, one step at a time. You will make mistakes along the way, but you will learn and grow and benefit in the long run. So start your journey and get help along the way. There are plenty of Youtube videos and a massive community of sublimation printing out there to connect with, learn from, and bounce ideas.
Good luck!
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Sublimation printing is becoming more and more popular. It is a form of digital printing that uses a particular type of paper. Sublimation is a chemical process in which a solid turns into a gas immediately without passing through the liquid stage. There are many pros and cons of sublimation printing. Let's explore them here.
Conclusion
Sublimation printing is one of the most common methods to print pictures onto synthetic materials and supplies – and for a good reason. Not only does the digital print come out firm, clear, and colorful, but the image will virtually never fade. Furthermore, sublimation printing is cost-effective for small batches, making it a popular printing technique for personalized garments like t-shirts and trinkets like mugs.
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1. Hats
- Sometimes the most simple and obvious answer is the best. Hats are always a popular cold weather option. They are practical, cute and make a great gifts! These are a go to item!
2. Scarves
- Just like hats, scarves are always a popular cold weather item. They never go out of style and they make great gifts! People love them.
3. Hat and Scarf Sets
- Around the holidays a lot of people are looking for matching hat and scarf sets. They are looking for a "well-rounded" gift for a friend or loved one.
4. Headbands
- Similar to hats and beanies, headbands do really well at craft fairs. Chunky ones are cute for the winter and lightweight ones are even good sellers in Spring and Summer.
5. Washcloths & Scrubbies
- Cotton items for any kind of cleaning or scrubbing are great items to have on hand. They are practical, reusable and make great gifts. They are also a great smaller item.
6. Market Bags
- With the move away from plastic bags, reusable bags are extra practical. They are popular at fairs and markets where you can literally use them as soon as you buy them!
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If you’re looking for some fun Girls Night In craft ideas, I’ve found 5 ideas that would be perfect for you and your friends. And I’m pretty sure that some of them even I could make. Let’s take a look!
PAINTING NIGHT
- Using paint tutorials from the internet and instructions, you can create a fun Paint Night at home!
WATERCOLOR PLANNER STICKERS
- Have friends who love dressing up their planners? Get together to make these watercolor planner stickers — so cute!
DIY BEACH DECOR
- Make the most of your latest beach vacation by using rope and shells for this DIY decor.
PVC PIPE PHOTO PLANTERS
- Add a personal touch to your plants by transferring photos to these homemade PVC pipe planters.
DIY ESSENTIAL OIL DIFFUSER BRACELETS
- Whether or not your friends are into essential oils, they’ll love these diffuser bracelets. Both stylish and relaxing? Yes, please!
When it comes to girls night, crafts are always a great idea. They’re fun to make and give you the perfect chance to catch up on life. Plus, when you’re craft-challenged (like me), it always feels good to have made a cool project with friends.
Which of these are you going to make?
]]>Vinyl is the perfect material for Cricut business sellers. Its relatively inexpensive, lightweight, and super easy to ship, and most importantly, there are so many things you can make.
Wall Art
The possibilities are endless here. Even with Fixer Upper the show not currently airing, farmhouse wall decor is still going strong. There are more than half a million searches on Pinterest monthly for farmhouse wall art. Don’t miss out on the actions.
Customized Decals
Customized stickers are great because they apply for so many end uses from parties to home decor. When you offer customized service, it’s differentiation that the bigger retailers cannot compete with.
Kids Related Wall Decals
Kids related decorating happens all year round. From nurseries to birthday parties to baby showers, there is a never-ending need for baby and kids decor.
Stickers
Similar in vein to vinyl decals, stickers are a hot item both because of the customization possibilities and their shipping costs (as in it doesn’t cost much).
Paper Flowers
Just like farmhouse decor, the popularity of paper flowers is at an all-time high with more than half a million searches for it on Pinterest each month. They are great for all occasions from Mother’s Day to Weddings to Baby Showers. No wonder they so in demand.
Ready to start your handmade business?
]]>Whether you have a rainy day, stuck at home or it’s just way to hot to venture outdoors, these fun ideas will give kids hours of entertainment.
I hope you find some good ideas here and make lots of fun memories with your kids.
Play Lego Bingo
- Enjoy this fun game of Bingo with legos and my free printable bingo cards!
Make Paper Cup Animals
- These cute dogs and cats are purr-fect to make indoors!
Make Duct Tape Hair Accessories
- Duct Tape will come in handy this summer and keep little girls very happy!
If you’re selling shirts, maybe add some jeans and shoes to the pick. Selling onesies? Add moccasins or a stuffed animal to the picture.
You can also use stock photos , or flat lays, and add your SVG to the design. Just make sure that what you are creating matches the stock photo. For example, if you’re using a stock image of a shirt and it’s a Bella+Canvas shirt, make sure you are using Bella+Canvas shirts. You can purchase flat lay photos in a ton of different varieties from Etsy.
If you have no ideas of what you want to make, ask friends and family what things they would like to buy. You can also look in the Facebook Marketplace or Yard Sale Groups to see what people are looking to purchase (look for ISO posts).
Image: CTTO
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