Make your Handmade Products Stand Out! Using Creative Packaging
How can you make your products look special?
There are some easy and creative ways to make your handmade products different from the rest at festivals or shows and make a special surprise for customers ordering your products. This lens is all about using creative packaging to make your creations stand out from the crowd and make them memorable for your customers.
How much time and effort you want to put into your packaging is totally up to you. You can quickly create simple stylish packaging or spend more time creating something totally customized to your business.
Check Out my Other Handmade Business Lenses
Why Is Creative Packaging Important?
You are competing with not only other producers of handmade products but with mass produced items. Your handmade products are more expensive than those from a factory assembly line, but, for very good reasons. The extra time, effort, and expertise (not to mention passion) that goes into handmade products are what make them worth the extra price to your buyers. Your packaging needs to reflect this care, effort, and passion.
Here are a few general tips:
Include photos of your packaging in your shop, let your customer know how their items will arrive.
Plan your packaging ahead of time and keep all your packaging materials organized in one place (I just use a large box).
Any tools for your packaging like scissors, rubber stamps, paper punches, etc. should also go in the box.
Books on Creative Packaging
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Customizing your Hang Tags & Display Cards
Ideas for making your own tags
Print tags out on colored card stock.
Use big shape punches to create fun shapes for your tags.
Use colorful ribbon, yarn, or embroidery floss to tie your tags on.
Add beads or tassels to the tag for added decoration.
Emboss the tags.
Add color with markers, colored pencil, or watercolors.
This is a tag I used to use (redesigned them a few months ago). Not only do they have my business name for my customer but they also have my contact info, background on my creations, and how to care for my polymer clay creations. I think the glass bead on each adds a nice touch.
You can use these same tips to create custom earring cards as well. The Handmade Business Blog has this post on how I made mine.
Business Cards as Hang Tags
Green Floral Tag by HandmadeBiz
creating business cards is easy on zazzle
Another easy option for hang tags is to take your business cards, punch a hole in it, and add a piece of ribbon or string. You can also poke a couple small holes and add an adhesive earring card adapter for custom hanging earring cards.
I love Zazzle and they are my choice for a lot of my printing. They do a great quality job, 2-sided and in full color.
Making a card is very easy, use one of Zazzle's templates or upload your own images and then add text.
Tips and Resources for Making your Own Tags and Display Cards
- Jewelry Hang Tags and Earring Cards
- Tips for jewelry hang tags and earring cards that lend your jewelry a very professional impression and give your customers a way to keep in touch with you.
- GalleriaLinda Showcase: How to Make Beautiful Earring Cards!
- How to Make Beautiful Earring Cards! Now that I am addicted to making earrings after I took a wire wrapping class, I have had to figure out new photo elements, as well as how to display and ship the earrings.
- Make Jewelry Tags from Business Cards
- Make jewelry tags from business cards that you have printed professionally online, for a fantastically professional look. Pamela Vale shows you how to do it cheaply and easily.
- Art Bead Scene Blog: Bead Biz...Make your own Earring Cards
- Any little bit of money we artists can save these days helps, right? One way I save a lot of money is by making my own earring cards. I have been doing this for years, they are a great way to get your name on your jewelry and they work well in a display. Now mine are pretty simple, but you could make these as elaborate as you would like. You could put your contact information, a little bio, or images the sky's the limit.
- The Handmade Business Blog: Pretty DIY Earring Cards
- A number of jewelry supply companies sell these great adhesive earring card adapters. You can design your own hanging earring cards for display at craft shows.
Beautiful Custom Printed Tags on Etsy
There are some wonderful shops on Etsy that sell unique hang tags.
- Etsy :: BarkingDogsBoutique :: Scrapbook and Paper Craft Boutique
- Handmade Cards and Tags
- Etsy :: maxandbella :: Welcome to Max and Bella!
- I am a graphic artist by nature and LOVE to create so if you have a special request, please convo me and I'll do my best to create something spectacular for you. =) Please note that a $5. custom design fee will apply. Thanks!
- Etsy :: pacokeco :: Pacokeco's Scribbles - Yummy Paper Goodness
- Yummy Paper Goodness
- Etsy :: entertainingangels :: ....prettier than e-mail & cheaper than hallmark....
- ....prettier than e-mail & cheaper than hallmark....
DIY Design Book
D.I.Y.: Design It Yourself (Design Handbooks)
Amazon Price: $9.00 (as of 02/22/2012)
Examples
Some examples of gift bags I've use.
Custom Gift Bags and Boxes
Giving your customers something to keep their purchases in is a very helpful touch that they will appreciate. But instead of a plain bag or box give them something special. Try some of these ideas for making your gift bags and boxes stand out.Spicing up gift boxes.
Use custom printed stickers
Or a custom rubber stamp
Sign them
Add ribbon around the edge
Decoupage vintage clipart onto them
Add a charm or button on top
Use ribbon or cord to make a carrying handle
Draw or paint on them.
Embellishing gift bags.
Add beads to the drawstring
Print out your logo onto iron-on transfer paper and iron the design onto the bag
Screen print your bag. Here is a DIY screenprinting tutorial
Sign the bag using fabric markers
Use iron-on transfers or applique.
Add a hang tag to the bag.
Try making your own bags and boxes!
Examples
Some more of my packaging
Tutorials and Patterns for Making your Own Gift Bags and Boxes
- Make a Jewelry Pouch without Sewing - Tutorial
- Make a jewelry pouch with this tutorial - it's simple, fast, elegant, and no sewing is needed!
- Good Luck Gift Bags - the purl bee
- Very cute bag pattern. I adapted it for making my gift bags.
- YarnEnvy: How To Make My Leetle Bag
- As promised, I made another Leetle Bag and documented the process for you.
- How to Make Jewelry Boxes
- You can make jewelry boxes for your customers quickly and easily, with this fun do-it-yourself project.
- Origami Instructions - Origami Box Instructions
- Origami folding instructions - Use pretty colorful papers for gift boxes to make them stand out.
- Gift Boxes by Shala
- Free Printable Boxes by Shala
- Packaging Templates
- Different box designs.
- » Packaging vettoriale gratis » Idee Montabili
- Vector based package designs. Site is in Italian but it's pretty self explanatory/
- Craft Leftovers » Boxing Up Giving
- These boxes are great to add a little extra something special to any small gift. I like them for any kind of jewelty, stitch markers, and other small handmade goodies for friends.
Pretty Gifts Bags and Boxes on Etsy
Sellers with great containers for your products.
- Etsy :: gamiworks :: gamiworks ~ International and Wholesale Orders Welcome!
- Chiyogami Gift Tins
- Etsy :: Cornerstop :: Corner Stop
- Cute bags, boxes, envelopes, etc.
- Etsy :: tweedylane :: Tweedy Lane Designs
- Pouches
- Etsy :: boxbliss :: Custom Designed & Sized Packaging for Products & Favors
- Custom Designed & Sized Packaging for Products & Favors
- Etsy :: paperpanache1 :: PAPER PANACHE
- Cello Bags - cellophane candy bags
- Etsy :: CobwebSupplies :: CobwebSupplies
- Organza bags, vinyl bags, bottles and boxes.
Examples
Handmade gift boxes I use.
Custom Bubble Mailers
Bubble mailers are those cute little padded envelopes that are great for sending small items. They also work great as protective packaging for your small items sold at shows and festivals. 27 Things has a great tutorial for making your own cute custom bubble mailers out of colorful art paper.
Make Your Own Bubble Mailer Tutorial
Alternately you could cover pre-made mailers with wrapping paper, add a custom sticker, or rubberstamp of your logo to one.
Bubble Mailers to Decorate
Other Easy Ideas
Instruction or care sheets. Make these colorful as well as useful.
Custom rubber stamps.
Use embossing powder to give your stamps some added impact.
Custom stickers (you can buy sticker paper for printing them at home).
Business cards. Include one or two with each purchase.
For jewelry makers make custom earring and pin display cards.
Ribbons are always an easy touch.
Packaging Resources and Inspiration
- TheDieline.com: The Leading Package Design Blog
- The Ultimate Package Design Blog! TheDieline.com defines good graphic design and product packaging in consumer products in industries such as food and drink, bath and beauty, alcohol, and more. Well designed packaging establishes consumers' perception of the brand and the product. We showcase the be
- Packaging Digest
- The online packaging resource for delivering packaging solutions to packaging professionals
- DZINE - PACKAGING DESIGN
- Smitten by packaging design
- COLOURlovers :: Color Trends + Palettes
- Find design inspiration with thousands of palettes and color schemes to fall in love with. Influence color trends by rating, commenting and sharing.
- Beautiful and Expressive Packaging Design | Monday Inspiration | Smashing Magazine
- Packaging design has the primary goal to attract customers' attention. For this purpose, package designs can not simply inform customers, but also provoke feelings and communicate emotions. An effective packaging looks attractive, impresses with its
- 10 Innovative Packaging Ideas - 9/8/2008 - Packaging Digest
- Is your product getting ignored? Here are some great ideas on how to make your packaging stand out, get more attention, and sell better.
- Seasonal Creative Label Packaging Ideas
- Graphics.com: The shared resource for creative design. The shared resource for creative design.
- Etsy :: The Storque :: How-To :: Seller How-To: Packaging Ideas
- My very favorite thing about buying on Etsy is getting packages - it's like a little mini party each time, thanks to the thoughtful packaging Etsy sellers put together! Ribbons, stickers, stamps, extra little goodies, oh my. What a delight! So, dear sellers, why not show this off in your item listings?! Use one of your photos to let your shoppers know how beautiful your handmade items (and packaging!) are! With the holidays around the corner, it's also good to let your buyers know your items will come ready for giving. I've selected a few sellers who do this already, and do it quite well. Click the items to see the gems that are hidden inside!
- Once Wed - DIY: Making Sweets Sweeter
- How to make custom candy packaging. The article is wedding themed but change the colors and it'll work for any candy or even bath and body iems like handmade soap and bath bombs.
- Enthral Designs: Do it Yourself Packaging for Your Handmade Jewelry - Earrings
- All of us that are involved in a small craft based business know that we have to make every dollar count. We also know that presenting our products professionally, and in nice packaging is extremely important. Especially if you want to wholesale your products to brick and mortar shops, or display it well at craft shows.
- Creative Packaging for Handmade Soap - LoveToKnow Crafts
- Creative Packaging for Handmade Soap From LoveToKnow Crafts Soap makers who plan to give their creations as gifts or start a soap making business have a number of choices in creative packaging for handmade soap.
Thoughtful packaging choices turn ordinary soap into a beautiful handmade gif
Packaging as Branding
Examples of Creative Packaging on Flickr
For added inspiration
Would you like the chance for your photos to be displayed here? Join Flickr and tag your photos with "handmade packaging".
What Not to Do
Inconsistent. Keep things looking consistent, I don't mean everything has to be the same, but the style and theme of your packaging should all have a similar feel.
Inappropriate. This should be easy, make the product and packaging match. If it's retro styled give the packaging a retro look. If it's Victorian don't put it in a tied-dyed box.
Unproffessional. If you're here I'm sure your not planning to just slap something together quickly. Make sure glued items don't have edges sticking up, corners aren't ripped off tags, all text is correct and spellchecked.
Presentation at Art and Craft Festivals
Festivals and shows are a great opportunity to put your packaging ideas to the test. Don't hide all your packaging away in a box behind the checkout area. Put out a little display to show your customers exactly what they'll gets when they purchase one of your products. Getting Started with Festivals and Shows
Handmade Business Books
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Leave your comments or questions here.
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Betsi_Goutal
Feb 20, 2012 @ 9:36 am | delete
- Love this, what a fabulous source of ideas!
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CrazyIM
Feb 19, 2012 @ 6:18 pm | delete
- Very informative lens. Thanks for sharing.
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karanlugani
Feb 17, 2012 @ 1:38 pm | delete
- Great lens. Packaging matters and presentation of packaging should not only be good but be great.
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merinaau
Feb 16, 2012 @ 4:18 am | delete
- Nice ideas... people can improve their ideas by the help of your lense, thanx.
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eternaljoi
Feb 11, 2012 @ 1:36 pm | delete
- Great lens! I sell Young Living Essential Oils and the information you have provided will be a great asset to my business. Thank you again! :-) http://eternaljoi.com
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Hi! I'm Sheryl, a sculptor and jewelry designer, I create in polymer clay and mixed media, please visit Noadi's Art to see my work or my Etsy shop to buy.
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