I know last year or earlier this year there were a few threads on the cake, cookie, or bean soup in a jar craft, I can't find it seems there was some advice or warning about something. I'm getting ready to make some to sell at a local craft show??? Can someone tell me where to find it, I've looked in all the kithcen ones, and the craft one.

-- Carol in Tx (cwaldrop@peoplescom.net), October 02, 2001

Answers

Check under kitchen(baking)

-- DW (djwallace@ctos.com), October 02, 2001.

Thanks I found them and I think I have enough links now.

-- Carol in Tx (cwaldrop@peoplescom.net), October 02, 2001.

Carol, I'm planning to do the same thing this year. I'll be buying all the supplies in bulk and using mason jars I got at a garage sale, and decorating the jars with fabric and ribbons I've got on hand, so my costs should be as low as I think I can get them. I'm wondering how much to sell the completed jars for. I know I have to figure my cost into it and mark them up from there to include my work, time and a little profit (after all that's what I'm doing it for), but I have no idea what they're going for and would be interested to find out what price you get for them. Or if anyone else has done this recently, how did it turn out for you? We'll also be selling handwoven, knit and sewed things, so these will just be a little extra item, not our main feature. Thank you!

-- Rose Marie Wild (wintersongfarm@yahoo.com), October 03, 2001.

I'm not sure how much to charge either, but they were $8.99 in a retail store and I didn't see any seasoning in the soup one. I think I'd like to make at least $5.00 off each one, does that seem to high to ya'll? Where are you buying your stuff in bulk at, we let our Sam's card lapse and think I've done just as well at super 1 foods and wally world, you have t watch it also, buying the bigger bags isn't always cheaper and the pkg's are easier to handle anyway in the smaller things, it may be just a diff of a few cents per bottle or pkg but hey it makes a diff to me. I was going to go buy the stuff as cheap as I can get it and try to figure the cost of each jar then figure my markup, I already have all my jars but will figure a cost for them also cause I may have to rebuy them for next years canning season, also can get at garage sales etc. goodwill chgs 50 cents a jar so I may figure .50 into the cost. My sis paints gourds,(she got the artistic gene) I got the good cook and being frugal gene!!! LOL She has two craft show in the next month so she'll try to sell this stuff, plus I'll be giving them as gifts, if I have time I thought I'd put together a whole gift pkg, like a cookie mix in a jar with a bowl and wooden spoon, or a cookie sheet, spoon, measureing cups and the mix, of course this will drive the price up considerably but thought I'd make a couple just to see if they sell, I'll have to buy shrink wrap and big ribbon to make it look really nice and professional, which both are high, not sure I want to invest that much money! Whew there are my ideas. If you have any or decide what to chg. let me know o.k.

-- Carol in Tx (cwaldrop@peoplescom.net), October 03, 2001.

http://members.tripod.com/~MaryMae/jarlinks.html

-- Judi (ddecaro@snet.net), October 03, 2001.

I was thinking of charging about $9 each also, depending on how my costs work out. The first morning of a craft sale, I always take a quick walk around the place and see if anyone is selling same or similar items and what they're price is. I don't undercut their prices, usually mine are pretty close to the same. People buying at these sales understand that everyone does things a little differently, so they don't mind a little difference in price, but they won't pay a huge difference I've noticed. First time I did the jars for sale was 10 years ago, I did a "dozen bean pot" soup mix that people went crazy for! It was a big hit, very cheap to make and looked great in the jars. I did a spice packet with each jar also. I can post that recipe if anyone is interested. I think the advice or warning you were looking for was that it's suggested you use wide- mouth mason jars in order to be able to pack the ingredients. We're in Central Wisconsin and have a couple of Amish grocery stores that sell baking products in bulk. That's where I purchase most of my baking supplies. The price is better, the quality is fresher, and they're closer than the nearest Sams Club which is 60 miles away! So that really helps me with my costs. I also sell pumpkin and apple pies the week before Thanksgiving. A couple of weeks before I drop off flyers with pricing and pie choices and sizes at the bank, post office, grocery store, etc. where I do business anyway and I've gotten almost more orders than I can handle. We grow the pumpkins and a friend grows the apples, so this turns out to be a profitable endeavor also. Carol, tell your sister that I also grow gourds, but am not artistic, so have just been making birdhouses! I wish her luck with them. We've taken them to several sales recently (finished and unfinished) and a lot of people look at them, etc. but not too many buyers. I also like your idea of including a cookie sheet, mixing bowl, spoons, etc. with the jars, but would skip the shrink wrap and expensive ribbon till you make enough off the jars themselves to pay for it. I've been doing the craft fairs for several years now and have noticed that sale items go through phases and come in and out of popularity fairly quickly. So always keep thinking up new items for next year and never invest too much $$ in any one thing. Good Luck! our big sale is the 2 days after Thanksgiving, should be good sales.

-- Rose Marie Wild (wintersongfarm@yahoo.com), October 04, 2001.

What is the bean soup recipe and seasoning packet recipe?? That sounds like a great christmas gift!!

-- pjc (zpjc5_@hotmail.com), October 04, 2001.

i went to google search engine and put in jar mixes- there are alot of websites here with yummy recipes hope this helps

-- j schlicker (schlicker54@aol.com), October 06, 2001.

Ah, Rose Marie Wild... what part of central Wisconsin are you from... I'm from Portage County

-- Yarrow (lovelyladyofrenassiacne@hotmail.com), October 07, 2001.