Make real money with your crafts by selling original designs to magazines and other publications.
You have probably seen the ads, "Stay Home, Make Crafts to Sell for Money", and like all of us, you were tempted. You might even have sent away for one of the programs, only to be sorely disappointed when it arrived and it was nothing more than a box of paperwork. The paperwork itself not anything more than instructions on how to place an ad similar to the one you responded too. Worse yet, you received a box filled with string and toothpicks that you were suppose to turn into miniature furniture. If you had ever been able to figure the instructions out and actually make a toothpick string armoire, you would have then had to mail it back to the company for 'approval' before they would purchase it from you. By this point, you would have been looking for a job to pay for the expenses of that dream "stay at home" job!
Finding Real Opportunities
Do not despair though, as it is possible to make money from home. Are you always making crafts? Do you receive compliments from others on the striking handiwork you have produced? Have you ever made a craft from scratch, with no instructions, and had people ask you where you bought the item or the pattern? Do you find yourself modifying patterns to the point that nothing of the original is left whatsoever? If you answered yes to several of these questions, you may be able to work from home as a freelance craft designer.
Research
Who buys patterns? Look at all of the craft magazines and publications you have accumulated through the years. Craft magazines, in various genres, purchase patterns every day of the year. Start by browsing current magazines that you have, or head to the library to look through an even bigger selection, to review submission guidelines for each. Most craft magazines welcome submissions of patterns, designs, and completed projects from both beginners and experts. Also, check online for any companies that may be looking for online content. Many of these do not pay as well as print publications, though some do, and the more markets you are submitting to, the better your chances are for publication.