Raising Money for the School

Last year, to raise money for the school, they held a Christmas shopping evening where local people could 'buy' a table and sell their wares - it was suggested that I go and sell some of my crocheted items - I went, I sold, I took orders and I learned that I didn't really want to do it again - my mania had crashed long before then so I literally had to drag myself there to see at least one thing out that year!

So, this year they may be holding another shopping evening (I've not actually found out for sure yet, but if not they always have a Christmas Fayre and that would be as good a place as any - why they could even do it at both!)  This year, I am going to make things to be sold except I'm not going doing it for personal gain.  Instead, 100% of the money taken will go straight back to the school - and what am I selling?  Upcycled Gift Wrap of course!  Here is my plan:

60 packets of ribbon @ £2 each = £120

60 packets of bows @ £2 each = £120

60 packets of tags @ £1 each = £60

TOTAL = £300

I think that's pretty good going just for giving up a few evenings of my time don't you?

Although I'm dubious as to how much people should pay for the gift bows, the come in packs of 8 so I'm not sure whether the school should charge £1, £1.50 or £2 - how much would people be prepared to pay? The more money they charge the more money they make, but if something is too dear then less people might buy them and the school could actually make less money - see my dilemma - maybe I should just let the school decide after they know their options.

Two reels of ribbon takes 10minutes and I managed to do ten of them today - only fifty more to do then! - but I find them strangely enjoyable to do (maybe its because there is a screwdriver involved, plus the fact its super quick?) but it is with the bows where in lies the rub!  60 packets of 8 bows means 480 bows in total and as there are 10 squares to each one (9 of which are folded) there are 4800 squares!!!  It seems a never ending task, and then when those are complete I'll have to start on the 480 gift wrap tags with pre-cut strings!!

Luckily I haven't actually informed the school yet so if it never comes to fruition I haven't let anyone down, but I'd love to see their faces when I donate all this stock that they can sell - it would almost be as good as writing the cheque out myself (if I had that kind of money to just give away of course!).  Wish me luck....

TOODLE-PIPS

x♥x

Thinspiration - in more ways than one...

Well, I am certainly multi-tasking these last few days, either that or my concentration span is seriously short at the moment. I was going to post yesterday but I couldn't find the right picture to describe how I felt - 'blue' just didn't cut it. I think the mix of insomnia (I'm into my 8th week now), the peak of this constant cold I seemed to have had pretty much since Spring, husband being away and all the niggles that seem to be never ending just totted up and spilled over. I seem remarkably improved today, joyous even, despite our excursion to the Emergency Eye Clinic after my son poked himself in the eye with a whiteboard marker - no need to worry, he has a small hemorrhage which should have cleared itself up in about 10 days - the hospital staff were rather impressed with his eyesight too - my children are superhuman - no...really.

Anyhow, I finished making 80 gift bows intended to be given away at Christmas along with other upcycled gift wrap, so today I spent all morning designing my 'brand' and the labels to go with it. Then, as usual, I got carried away and thought "hey, why not create another blog, but this time purely for upcycling"....so I did: RENAÎT breathe new life...  I finally got to use my logo I designed donkeys ago for upcycling (pictured left) which not only features itself  on the new blog but also on my packaging labels - which coincidentally are the same as the blogs header - so naturally I gave my British & Barmy blog a shout-out too. 

I made lots of clear bags from old plastic wallets chopped into quarters, printed off my labels, cut out brown header-tabs (OK, so I've only actually managed 5 of these so far) from a store paper bag, stuck the label on, put the ensemble together and stapled shut.  Then took a photo.  I have 11 more to do but I will save them for another time - then to start all over again to bag up the gift tags.  I'm going to make the ribbon out old VHS video reel, but I've not got as far as smashing the cassette up yet - I'm hoping to work out how I can open it so I can make something else out of it afterwards.  Optimistic maybe?

One more thing.....I'm trying to rack my brains for Kids Kraft ideas - they need to be easy, quick and produce (almost) instant results, and look good at the end (obviously) - so far its proving to be impossible.  My girl is 6 and my boy is 3 so finding something they can both do is proving to be tricky.

So, I'm thinking thin (PMA and all that) and inspiration is pretty thin on the ground too (and also concentration and sleep)

TOODLE-PIPS

x♥x

Look Mummy....

When our daughter was a toddler she drew orange and black stripes all down her arms and over her face - apparently she was a tiger - it wouldn't have been so bad if she had not used permanent marker pen for the black stripes!! Thankfully after morphing into a zebra she faded clean and back into a little girl again. Naturally, it was only a matter of time before our son followed suit; today he found a green spiral stamper-pen and proceeded to cover his hands (front, back AND sides), extremely proud of his decorating skills he declared himself to be a snake. Yet again, the pen of choice turned out to be a permanent one!!

TOODLE-PIPS

x♥x