Busy weekend ahead!

I have been looking forward to this upcoming weekend since...well, last year! It is time for Manoa Elementary's Craft Fair--one of my favorites from last year's holiday season.

Details:

Date: October 19, 2013

Location: Manoa Elementary

            3155 Manoa Road

Time: 8:30 - 2:00

Also, to add a very, very sweet cherry to this weekend, Leaflet has been blessed with an opportunity to sell some of our items at Diamond One in Pearlridge Shopping Center!!! Pearlridge is having a mall-wide sidewalk sale from Friday to Sunday (October 18-20). Diamond One will be selling our owl necklace/earring sets, our "dork" glasses necklaces, and our rose side-swept necklaces. 

Yay for a very fun-filled Leaflet weekend! Hope to see you at the Manoa Elementary Craft Fair, and hope you get a chance to stop by Pearlridge to support one of Oahu's local businesses. :)

A Review: Holiday Craft Fair at the Betsuin

I feel like I'm lucking out with the craft fairs I'm choosing to do this year--every fair so far this holiday season has been a great experience because of the people and family-friendly environment. Leaflet feels right at home! 

This past weekend, the Hongwanji actually cancelled their church services that Sunday in order to accommodate all the vendors and to make sure we had a great selling experience. They had several fundraisers to support the different programs they offer, and there was a plethora of volunteers who stuck around all day and ready to help at a moment's notice.

SO. I have some good and bad news... good news is that our DIY kits are starting to pick up sales. Bad news: we are currently out of "You're a Fruitcake!" DIY bracelet kits. Good news again: we will have more in stock in November! Right now at the craft fairs we have the Button Bling, I 'Heart' You gift tags, Flower Me Up Studs, and Christmas Ornament kits. $3 - $4 ea. More details on those later. :)

A Review: Trinity Lutheran Fall Festival

My, my this craft fair was a lot of fun! From where I was sitting, I had a clear view of the "Splat!" booth which gave the students an opportunity to soak their principal and several of their teachers if they hit the balloon target. All the faculty and staff were such great sports that it was very entertaining to watch! The booth fee was such a reasonable price for the crowd the school drew in, and I was thankful that even though it was pouring at times, we were tucked way, way under the lanai coverings.

Definitely looking forward to doing this fair next year! :)

Updated 2013 Holiday Craft Fair List

Here is an updated list of all the craft fairs Leaflet will be at this year! Next one is in two weeks.

October 19, 2013

Manoa Elementary Craft Fair

3155 Manoa Road, Manoa (Honolulu)

8:30 - 2:00

October 25-27, 2013

Season's Best Craft & Gift Fair at the Blaisdell

Neal Exhibition Hall

Friday: 5:00p - 9:00p
Saturday: 10:00a - 7p
Sunday: 10a - 5p

November 2, 2013

Aliiolani Elementary Season's Best Craft and Gift Fair

1240 7th Avenue, Kaimuki

8:00 - 2:00

November 2, 2013

Hanalani Schools' Annual Holiday Craft Fair

94-294 Anania Drive, Mililani

9:00 - 2:00
*My cousin Kellie will be manning the booth for me

November 9, 2013

Noelani Craft and Children's Fair

2655 Woodlawn Dr., Manoa

8:00 - 2:00

November 23, 2013

Mililani Highschool ABC Craft Fair

96-1200 Meheula Parkway, Mililani

9:00 - 2:00

November 30 - December 1, 2013

HUOA Winter Craft Fair (Okinawan Cultural Center)

94-587 Ukee Street, Waipahu

Saturday: 9:00 - 3:00

Sunday: 9:00 - 2:00

December 7, 2013

Christ Church Uniting Christmas Craft Fair

1300 Kailua Road, Kailua

9:00 - 3:00
*My friend Stephanie will be manning the booth for me

December 14, 2013

Aiea Elementary Season's Best Craft and Gift Fair

99-371 Moanalua Road, Aiea

8:00 - 2:00

December 21, 2013

Mililani Highschool ABC Craft Fair

96-1200 Meheula Parkway, Mililani

9:00 - 2:00

A Review: Ahuimanu Fun and Craft Fair

What can I say about Ahuimanu Elementary? The staff and all the families are so nice and welcoming! You can really sense their emphasis on family and community as soon as you enter school grounds. Even though the rain overwhelmingly "blessed" my booth, hopefully that was just a good luck kiss that means a very successful season is ahead for Leaflet.

Thank you to Emi Ink for my Leaflet banner!! | www.emiink.com

This Saturday we will be at the Craft, Gift, & Rubberstamp Expo at the Blaisdell - Hawaii Suites. We will be there from 9 to 3! :)

It's a win-win situation

I know it, you know it, probably everyone knows it: craft fair booth fees can be very expensive! However, it's the trade off in order to sell products at different venues and it is a good way to get your name out there. 

This year I figured out some ways to be financially savvy and to utilize different resources when it came to paying for the booth fees. I sold books at Book-Off in Ala Moana, I recycled cans, and I also sold some craft supplies.

My Three "Win-Wins"

One. I don't know if you've ever gone to Book-Off (Ala Moana and Pearlridge) before, but you should take the time to check it out. They not only sell used books, CD's, and DVD's for a bargain price, but they also buy your used stuff as well. The first time I went a couple years ago, I sold around 120 books and received $87 for them. This past time I went was the second time. I sold around 30 books and a DVD season set and got $26 for them. They have a price work sheet that they follow, and they take most books that you want to sell if it is in decent condition. It's not a bad trade if you have these things lying around the house without any intention on using them again. You get to support a business by giving them more inventory, AND you get some extra cash to spend.

Two. Going down to the recycling place to recycle cans can be a pain and time-consuming, but if you have a free day and a bunch of cans--why not? Ask your family, friends, and neighbors if you can take their cans too while you're at it! One time I recycled, I grabbed several month's worth of our cans, my grandparents' cans, and my friend's cans You can feel good that you've did your share to make the earth a cleaner place, and you, again, have more spending money.

Three. My last simultaneous attempt was to sell some of my crafting supplies. Like most crafters who just can't resist buying supplies, I had a LOT to sell. I posted an album to my Facebook page, and I got a lot of inquiries and several sales through there. I also did the Crafter's Clearance Sale at the Blaisdell. This was probably the most satisfying win-win for me. Not only did I make some money, but I also got to offer other crafters inexpensive supplies so they could have fun crafting too! 

Of course, this didn't cover all of the fees, but it paid for one or two craft fairs. Way better than nothing! Last year during the 2012 holiday craft fair season, I did 10 fairs. This year, I had a goal in mind to do at least 15 to 20 actual fair days. I really wanted it, so I made a way. Don't be afraid to conquer your goals and to apply creativity to your (usually boring) financials. It will be so worth it in the end.

Sneak Peak: Christmas Gift Packs

I am looking forward to this weekend -- not only is it the first craft fair of the holiday season, but it is also Leaflet's debut of all the new Christmas gift packs I've been putting together the last couple of months! The gift packs come in different varieties of Leaflet's products with also varying price ranges to fit every Christmas shopper's budget.

Here's a quick look at one of five gift packs. Yes, that is a bento container! 

These oh-so-cute bentos contain a delicious Leaflet collection of one sticky note pad, three magnets, and a necklace-earring set. And it is already wrapped with ribbon and a tag for your convenience! It is a $16 value, but we'll probably sell it for $14. Yes, way!

In Other News:

This weekend, Saturday, September 7, we have the Ahuimanu Elementary School Craft and Fun Fair! 47-470 Hui Aeko Place, Kaneohe, 9:00-3:00.

Don't forget to check back next week for a review of the Ahuimanu Craft Fair! You can see the [almost] complete list of Leaflet's craft fairs here. 

Promise rings are corny

The only piece of jewelry that I wear every day is my not-a-promise-ring-I-guess-it's-just-an-I-love-you-ring from my boyfriend, Kekoa. Kekoa personally believes that promise rings are corny, and I kind of agreed (Shhh, don't tell him..., but whenever someone asks if he bought me the ring, I just tell them it's a promise ring out of convenience). We just wanted to get a simple accessory to wear on our [right] hand so we would be reminded of how much we love each other and to show our commitment to our relationship. 

It took us several weeks to decide on a ring for me (in that time we also ordered a a sterling silver band for him). We wanted it to be simple and dainty, and we definitely found what we were looking for! We ended up ordering this hand-made, sterling silver flower ring from an Etsy shop based in Canada: June Designs. Joelle, the shop owner, is an amazing designer, and she was so friendly in our conversations--making sure our order was perfect. I was so excited when the package finally arrived in Hawaii. I was also so relieved to see that my not-a-promise-ring-I-guess-it's-just-an-I-love-you-ring was even prettier in person! Hopefully, maybe an engagement ring is in our future? *Hint*hint* *cough*cough* *wink*wink*

;)

2013 Holiday Craft Fair List

Next week Saturday marks Leaflet's start to the 2013 holiday craft fair season! Yay! I have been waiting ever so (not) patiently for the "first" holiday craft fair. I am very excited to show all of Leaflet's new products I've been working on this past summer. 

So far, I have signed up for the following craft fairs:

September 7, 2013

Ahuimanu Elementary School Craft and Fun Fair

47-470 Hui Aeko Place, Kaneohe

9:00-3:00

September 21, 2013

Craft, Gift & Rubberstamp Expo and Crafter's Clearance Sale

Neal Blaisdell Center - Hawaii Suites, 777 Ward Avenue

9:00-3:00

September 28, 2013

Trinity Lutheran Fall Festival

1611 California Ave., Wahiawa

9:00-2:00

October 6, 2013

Holiday Craft Fair at the Betsuin

Honpa Hongwanji, 1727 Pali Highway

9:00-2:00

October 19, 2013

Manoa Elementary Craft Fair

3155 Manoa Road, Manoa (Honolulu)

8:30 - 2:00

November 2, 2013

Aliiolani Elementary Season's Best Craft and Gift Fair

1240 7th Avenue, Kaimuki

8:00 - 2:00

November 2, 2013

Hanalani Schools' Annual Holiday Craft Fair

94-294 Anania Drive, Mililani

9:00 - 2:00
*My cousin Kellie will be manning the booth for me

November 22, 2013

SEOTY Craft Fair

2600 Campus Road, QLC Building, Manoa

9:30 - 2:00

November 23, 2013

Mililani Highschool ABC Craft Fair

96-1200 Meheula Parkway, Mililani

9:00 - 2:00

November 30 - December 1, 2013

HUOA Winter Craft Fair (Okinawan Cultural Center)

94-587 Ukee Street, Waipahu

Saturday: 9:00 - 3:00

Sunday: 9:00 - 2:00

December 7, 2013

Christ Church Uniting Christmas Craft Fair

1300 Kailua Road, Kailua

9:00 - 3:00
*My friend Stephanie will be manning the booth for me

December 14, 2013

Aiea Elementary Season's Best Craft and Gift Fair

99-371 Moanalua Road, Aiea

8:00 - 2:00

I will be signing up for several more in the next upcoming weeks, and I'll update the list when I do. Hope to see you at some of the craft fairs! Stay tuned for different promotions Leaflet will be doing at each craft fair! :)

Instagram

Oh, the ever-so-addicting Instagram. I was actually pretty late jumping on this band wagon (I made an account in January when I finally got an iPhone).

Leaflet's Instagram:

instagram.com/leafletdesigns 

I think small businesses are really starting to take full advantage of social networking sites such as Instagram and Facebook. I've made several sales through Instagram inquiries, and I know a couple other local business owners who can attest to this free advertising resource. Instagram is such a handy tool for quickly uploading photos for the world to see. It's so much fun to edit and to put filters on the pictures, making it aesthetically pleasing. I've done several giveaways on here, so if you haven't already, please follow!

:)

A Review: Crafter's Clearance Sale

This event was probably one of the hardest for me to be at--cheap craft supplies EVERYWHERE. Luckily, I made it out with only a couple new things...

Leaflet's booth was tagged red with a bunch of sales. Thank you to all the customers who took advantage of our "Spend $20, get a free necklace" deal! We'll probably have different kinds of those rewards throughout the craft fair season (which I'm totally psyched for, by the way). The next time Leaflet will be selling craft supplies is at the Rubberstamp Expo on September 28 at the Blaisdell. It is coordinated by the same company who organized this event. 

A very big THANK YOU and I LOVE YOU to my boyfriend, Kekoa. He stayed with me all day, calmed me down when I got crazy, and he even did a coffee run for me. 

<3

2013 Spring Craft Fairs in Review

This post is a little late, but seeing as how I just started blogging a few days ago, I think that I can have a free pass for this one (hehe). This year was the first time I did any spring craft fairs. I was a little wary of them since it was after the very busy holiday season, but I was still on a high from the 10 craft fairs I had just done during the 2012 holiday season. Needless to say, I did as many as my busy school schedule allowed me to! Six to be exact.

Ha'a Hula Competition

Ko'olau Ballrooms, Kaneohe

This was my first event at a hula competition--the crowd and competitors were really friendly. I also had a beautiful view from my balcony booth facing the mountains. Everyone there seemed to know each other, so it was a very family-oriented event.

The Honolulu Festival

Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu

I remember the days leading up to the Honolulu Festival...I was so nervous! It was my first big event that lasted over two days. Vendors were already setting up their booths a couple days before the event started, so I knew it was going to be very exciting. This event definitely wasn't boring--I was neighbors to a snack store vendor that had yummy local treats, and I was also next to two costumed Menehune. This was actually the first time I attended this festival. There were a lot of fun family activities and make-and-take crafts for the children. Admission was free for the public, so I would definitely suggest taking advantage of this cultural event next year!

Mililani High School ABC Craft Fair

Mililani High School, Mililani

The Mililani High School craft fair was very kind to me during the last holiday season, so I was anxious to do the one in the spring. The crowd wasn't as big as the Christmas one, but it was still worth attending. My younger cousin, Kellie, kept me sane (I can get pretty crazy before/during craft fairs)--she's one of Leaflet's rock stars. She's not only good company, but she also is always willing to help!

Manana Elementary Craft Fair

Manana Elementary, Pearl City

I remember the Manana craft fair as a sweet surprise. I had actually never heard of this elementary before I saw the sign up banner when I was driving down Kamehameha Highway. I wasn't sure what to expect in regards to sales and the crowd, but I was pleasantly surprised that it was one of the most successful of the the Spring fairs. I had a lovely neighbor, Margie, from Flowers by Margie. She helped me tidy up my booth when the wind unexpectedly knocked over my tree and bulletin board--twice!

Dole Cannery Spring Craft Fair

Dole Cannery, Honolulu

The one thing that really stood out to me in this craft fair are the vendors. This is where I met Stefanie from Death By Scrapbooking--I actually "liked" her on Facebook several months prior, and I always wondered when I would bump into her at a fair! Also, my friend, Kahae from Capped HI, got her first craft fair booth! I bought my first bottle cap lei from her that's made out of 75 beer bottle tops--only $12! I also had a lovely time chatting with other random crafters all of whom are very, very talented. A lot of them actually sell their products in stores and boutiques which was encouraging to hear since I some day would very much like to sell Leaflet products at boutiques/shops as well.

MTA Mother's Day Craft Fair

Mililani Rec Center 5, Mililani

The Mother's Day craft fair was the very next day after the Dole Cannery fair. I was tired from the previous day, but once this craft fair started rolling, I soon regained energy to finish this fair strong. Hmmm...what was popular that day? I sold several $18 long necklace/earring sets along with the rest of my already-made owl necklaces. I think the sets were popular since it was Mother's Day the weekend after. I also got my first (that I know of anyway) repeat customer! When she came up to my booth, I thought she looked so familiar. She then told me she purchased some earrings from me at another fair, and she was hoping that I would be at this one. Totally made my day! :) 

Crafter's Clearance Sale!

This Sunday! 

Leaflet will be doing the Crafter's Clearance Sale this Sunday (August 11) at the Blaisdell. We will be selling craft supplies and DIY kits along with some of our normal products. All the craft supplies such as elastic baby head bands, ribbon roses, craft punches, and embellishments will be at a VERY low price. 

Details

Where: Blaisdell - Hawaii Suites, 777 Ward Avenue

Time: 9 am to 3pm

Admission: Free (yay!)

None of the craft supplies will be over $2, and our new necklace/earring sets will be ON SALE for $8. Our DIY kits will only be $3. Also, for every $20 you spend, you will receive a free necklace :D

Don't forget to check back for a review of how the event goes. Definitely hope to see you there! 

So... What is Leaflet?

To put it simply--Leaflet is my baby whom I love very much! I can't believe that it has actually been a year since I launched my small crafting business into the craft fair world. It has been a very exciting and eventful 2012 through 2013 year thanks to all of my family, friends, and loyal customers.

Why the name Leaflet?

I'm not really a nature girl, but I always loved the look of leaves. Leaves are basically decorating trees, and we crafting peeps love embellishments, don't we? It took me a while to think of a name to change from my former name Bliss Earrings (my earring-only 'business' I had for fun in high school). I wanted to evolve from just earrings and move on to...well, every single craft that I could think of! So why not something cute like "Leaflet"? It was a name that I could define on my own. The name change symbolized a season of growth for me, and I'm hoping this season will never end for Leaflet.

Through this blog, I would like to bring you along for Leaflet's journey as I will be posting--hopefully--quite frequently! I will be featuring my jewelry/stationery along with some other products. If you haven't already, "like" our Facebook page! And follow us on Instagram!