Before the Internet became popular the crafter didn’t have many choices when it came to selling their handmade crafts. They could sell their unique handmade crafts at garage sales, rent a space at a flea market or they could rent a table at their local craft show. These kinds of venues gave the artisans and crafters the opportunity to sell some of their handmade items, but now thanks to the internet artisans and crafters can sell their handmade crafts to customers from around the world.

Craft Malls have become very popular in the crafters community. Craft Malls make it easy for the crafter to open an internet store and have their handcrafted goods available for sale worldwide in a matter of hours. There is a big demand for handcrafted items and pretty much everyone has something that was hand crafted in their home or garden. So if you are an Artisan or Crafter who wants to turn your craft into a business that you can run from your own home now maybe the time to get started.

Once you open and setup your craft shop there are a few things that are essential to your success online. Make sure that the pictures of your product is crystal clear, remember that someone who is buying online cannot touch and feel your product so your pictures have to do the selling. Take many picture of each product, back, front, close up etc. most craft malls give you the opportunity to show many pictures of the same product. The customer cannot ask you questions about your unique handmade goods, so make sure that the information about your handcrafted items are so detailed that it will answer most of the questions your customer might ask.

The quality of your images and the details in your description can make the difference between the customer buying your handmade products or moving on to another shop. Not all craft malls are created equal, so you need to find one that will not charge you a listing fee, will not charge you commission on your sales and you do not have to sign any contracts. In fact some craft malls will allow you to open a store for free, however with this option you are limited to listing 12 items at a time in your shop, the other option allows you to list unlimited items in your store for a small monthly fee of just $12.00 per month.

Making your own jewelry is a fabulous activity that can be done for a variety of different purposes. It is a great way to do something with kids, as most children will have a blast putting together a piece of handcrafted bead jewelry. The following is a quick guide to help you create attractive handmade jewelry from the confines of your own home:

Pick your beads. Ready-made beads are available from any bead or craft store. They generally come in glass, crystal, precious metal, plastic, gems, and wood. For the super-artsy types, beads can be made using clay, paper, or any other materials around the house that can be rolled into a small ball.

Make a lay out of the design for your necklace or bracelet (or anklet) on a hard surface. This should be done on a table or countertop. Flimsy surfaces will make it nearly impossible to keep the design sturdy.

Cut your bead wire. This can be done with anything from a string to a thin metal wire, However, the best choice would be a soft-flex wire. Be sure to cut it at least 5 inches longer than you want the actual necklace to be. As a frame of reference, shorter necklaces tend to be about 20 inches long, while longer pieces may stretch up to 25 inches or greater.

Fasten one end of clasp to the end of the wire, then slide on a crimp bead. Slide the end of the wire back through the crimp bead to assure that the necklace will stay together. Slide the beads you chose on to the wire. Be mindful of the pattern you created, as a small mistake will force you to start from the beginning.

After the final bead is attached, slide on the final crimp bead and clasp piece. Pull the end of the wire back through the crimp bead and tighten to assure there is no space between the beads and the necklace is snug. Crimp the bead and cut off any extra wire that is hanging.