Is there a theme to the benefit? What do you like to do craft-wise? What are you willing to spend on materials? Need some direction...

Allison

People seem to like something smallish and useable. Bookmarks, napkin holders, small decorated baskets, key holders, fleece blankets, baby bibs, jewelery, etc. What are your crafts and what do you really enjoy doing?

Hi,
I'm involved in a silent auction for my kids' preschool. This year I'm donating a basket full of handmade cards (about 20) and 100 handmade envelopes made from wrapping paper (used a die cut from a nearby scrapbook store). Estimated price of basket was $25. In the second basket (2 kids in preschool) I'm giving some sizzix die cuts, and other scrapbook supplies. Also a couple "poop" bags - snowman poop (mini marshmallows), reindeer poop (chocolate covered raisins) etc. I just did a GOOGLE search for snowman poop and came up with TONS of ideas. Just a thought, good luck with everything!

If you sew, this might be an idea for next year unless you can get seasonal fabrics. My friend did a donation one year where she made pillowcases for all of the main holidays. She bought her fabrics in the after season specials. She did them for Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, etc.

Another thought, pillows for a newlywed couple. There are various ways you can do this...pillowcases or small pillows. For hers, you embroider, 'tonight' on one side and 'not tonight' on the other. For his, you embroider 'tonight?' on both sides.

We don't know the scope of your auction. I would think anything aimed towards children's gifts would sell well like fancy barrettes. Or you could buy a wooden foot stool at some place like Hobby Lobby and decorate it. A canned gift might be fun. You can buy empty paint cans at places like Sherwin Williams. You make a label like "Princess" and then fill it with goodies like lip glosses, fingernail polish, etc.

Hi Momof2girls:

Someone posted this in the Tole Painting forum and it sounds really neat - A THANKSGIVING TREE -

"We went camping this weekend and they had up a Thankgiving tree. Decorated with field corn, spray painted yellow and orange. Dried Gourds, raffia, sunflowers. She said the day after Thanksgiving, she takes those decorations down and puts the Christmas ones on. It was beautiful!"

A lot of the Fall decorations are going on super sale right now at Michael's and Joann's Craft Stores - I picked up a corn garland for $2, florals are real cheap right now, so are the faux smaller gourds and sunflower bushes and smaller Fall florals, etc. Get a two foot faux Xmas tree at Walmart (shouldn't be too much) and decorate it as a Thanksgiving Tree. I don't think you'll need a lot of decorations on it either. I bet it will be a real HIT at the silent auction. What folks like to see all the time, definitely something new and different - When making it, I'd lay the tree down or prop it at an angle and use a hot glue gun to glue the floral (such as one sunflower and a couple of leaves attached to it) making sure those pieces are holding on before turning the tree to a different side. Then the gourds, corn, etc. Tie some straw colored raffia into small bows around the trees branches here and there to fill in gaps if needed and I'd top it with a larger raffia bow. OR, don't put the raffia bows all around and make a medium size one to put on top with the raffia strings streaming down the sides of the tree. Use enough raffia for the bow to get a lot of "streamers."

If you don't like that idea, again, all the floral and gourds are on sale and so are baskets. A real pretty floral/gourd/pinecone basket with a pretty Fall plaid ribbon would be an excellent donation for the auction. Here is a pic of a Thanksgiving basket I was "throwing" together. I'm not finished yet and when I say I just threw things in it, I meant it, I do that and then go back and rearrange everything or add more or get rid of stuff. Yes, those are "White Pinecones" and regular brown ones. Here's my secret for White Pinescones (got this out of Martha Stewart mag) - gather (not store bought, they must be covered in something or cleaned to begin with and they just don't work) pinecones and put in 5 gallon bucket or whatever you have to hold them, put enough bleach in the bucket to cover the pinecones, put plate on top of cones and then brick on top of plate to hold them down under the bleach. The cones will close up when wet. (Martha says 4-5 hours soaking), but I let mine go overnight (7-8 hours). Drain the bleach and rinse the cones off and let them dry. Drying them near heat will take less time and they will open up faster, otherwise it's a few days for them to dry and reopen. No, they don't smell like bleach. If you want to, you can set the bucket outside overnight. Yes, you can peek at them and see they are turning white.

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Sorry this is so long, hope you like the ideas.

Sal

Hi,

Hand painted ornaments can be fun for the kids to make and personalize. You can try different themes like Van Gogh, Monet, Electric, Jazz, Rock, etc. You can find the plain ornaments in wood, glass, or even porcelain. I think its fun and can be a really unique piece especially if you display it in nicely.

Other ideas are wreaths or centerpieces.

Autumn Burst Wreath
Here is a link to a wreath I made with a grapevine wreath, fall leaves, and faux gourds. It is stunning.

Please visit my website for more ideas.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pretty Little Things

Themed gift baskets are perfect for silent auctions because they appeal to a large number of people as opposed to certain crafts which may not - you know how it goes at shows - some people like your stuff, some don't. You want as many bids as possible at the auction - hence, more money! Anyway, here's a link for ideas:

Arlene

Here is a link that might be useful: Gift Basket Ideas

I make all kinds of wreaths.Dried flower wreath would be great and really easy to do but looks expensive.I make all kinds,baby,pine cone,dried flowers,yarn,even tissue paper.