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The Philippines is becoming known for handmade crafts, decor and even for home furnishings. The craftsmanship is there and a lot of natural and artificial materials are available that can be made into handmade products.  Examples of the interesting handmade pieces are home accents like lamps and refrigerator magnets. These home accents are easy and fun to make. You can even engage your kids to make these accents.

REFRIGERATOR MAGNETS
The best kind would be a themed magnet that comes with a clip or clamp so that it will be functional as well as decorative.

Materials needed:   
-Magnet, P30 to P60 depending  on the size and style
-Theme or background material like
    clothes, pin, clip, or clamp, P7 per
    pack  
-Scissors  
-Glue, P22  
-Beads, plastic flowers, other accents P50 per pack

First, decide on a theme or background for your magnet, like a Christmas tree or a favorite type of food. You may either make your own background by drawing it on paper or on a computer or cut it out.
After choosing a background, carefully glue it on anything sturdy, like cardboard. Spruce up your design with additional color, sparkles, feathers, glitter, etc., or draw in additional details with markers. Then glue your finished design onto a clothespin, clip, or clamp. Cut a piece of self-sticking magnet and attach it to the other side of the clothespin, or use glue to attach a regular magnet. Your ref magnet is now ready to hold notes, artwork, etc.

Ref magnets are great crafts projects because you can work with any theme. If you?re targeting sports fans, make magnets out of sports team logos or athletic gear; if your buyer is a foodie, make a magnet out of a mini-chopping board; if it is Christmas, make Christmas tree magnets! The list is endless. You can tie-up with companies or party organizers to sell them as giveaways.

To get the production cost of your home accents, get the price per piece of the materials you used and add up the prices. The sum is the production cost per piece of your finished product. Then, add a 30 to 50 percent markup on the production cost to get your selling price. Depending on your design and materials used, lamps can go as for as much P250 to P500 apiece when sold commercially. For ref magnets, it is advisable to try selling them in bulk so that you earn by volume.


Where to buy supplies:
WELLMANSON
SEWING NOTION INC.
229 Villalobos St., Quiapo, Manila
Telephones: (02) 733.6270;
(02) 734.4475

MICHELLE'S RIBBON AND LACE CENTER
LS 05A-06 G/F Tutuban Prime Block, Claro M. Recto Ave., Manila
Telephones: (02) 254.2968;
(02) 254.2935

Where to get training:
BUSINESSMAKER ACADEMY
1503A West Tower, Philippine Stock Exchange Building,  Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City

Website: http://businessmaker-academy.com