One of the hobbies I’ve picked up in the past couple of years, in addition to camping and RV travels, is crafting! As I have aged, I have not only gotten in touch with my adventurous side but my creative side too. I am obsessed with making camping and travel-related decor, accessories, and jewelry.
I have turned my crafting hobby into a side gig that will supplement my retirement income while my hubby (Major Airhead) and I travel our Great Nation. I sell online through my own website GypsyCrafter.com, Etsy, and a few select specialty stores.
Whenever we travel, I also look for opportunities to set up and sell my crafts at Airstream rallies, craft fairs, and other venues.
Combining my newfound love of travel and crafting creates the perfect niche for me. It’s satisfying to express my passions through art!
Crafting on the Road
My primary crafting tools include a Glowforge laser cutter and a Cricut Maker. The Glowforge doesn’t travel so well, so I typically cut any materials needed for crafting prior to leaving home and bring all my supplies such as paint and glue with me. The Cricut Maker, on the other hand, is easy to tote and even comes with its own travel bag. Cricut also recently introduced an even smaller machine, the Cricut Joy, which is perfect for crafting on the road.
Our Airstream has limited space, but I make it work. Major Airhead put a cap on our pickup truck bed a couple of years ago and it easily accommodates a few plastic totes full of my supplies, plus our regular camping gear.
Crafting on the road makes my life complete. I am definitely one Happy Camper.
Selling on the Road
Selling on the road takes some planning. I bring a supply of boxes, bubble wrap, and packing tape. A printer is also needed so that I can purchase and print shipping labels and packing slips.
Usually, there is a post office or UPS Store within a short drive of where ever we set up camp, so we can easily drop off packages when we are headed out to explore the area.
I love being on a hike and hearing the cash register “cha-ching” from the Esty app notifying me that I just made a sale. On a short hike one day, I heard that glorious sound five times! Sheer joy!
Crafts that Travel Well
There are plenty of crafts you can do on the road. If you travel with a Cricut Maker, you can make specialty cards, t-shirts, vinyl decals, leather/faux leather earrings, and more. These items are small and easy to ship.
I specialize in making laser-cut earrings, small signs, and accessories. I laser cut all the wood for these items in advance with my Glowforge and assemble and/or paint at the campsite. When the weather is nice, I work outdoors. Items are ready to ship in no time flat!
Rock painting is great fun when you are camping. When my granddaughter and I camp, we love to paint rocks and leave them for other campers to find and hide again. I featured this activity in my children’s book series, The Adventures of Shining Hope. Although I’m not talented enough to sell the rocks I paint, I really enjoy the activity.
http://shininghopeadventures.com
Resources on the Road
You have to be resourceful in order to make and sell crafts on the road.
Luckily, no matter where we travel there is usually a Joann or Michaels nearby. If I run out of supplies, a quick trip to one of these craft supply stores does the trick. A few Joann stores that are located in more populated areas even offer Glowforge rentals! They have all the supplies and equipment you need to make a craft from start to finish. The Glowforge rental rates are also surprisingly reasonable. Click here to find a machine rental at a Joann Store near you.
Save up to $500 on a new Glowforge with my referral code.
When we are stationary for a bit, I also may order supplies from Amazon Prime and arrange delivery with the camp office. No matter where you are, Amazon Prime can find you.
Who’s With Me?
Are you a Crafty Camper? If so, I would love to hear any tips and tricks you have to share. Please share your comments below.
About Libby
Libby Trostle loves going on adventures with her husband Brad in their very own sparkly, silver travel trailer. As someone who discovered the joys of RV travel late in life, she writes about her adventures through the eyes of a child. Her hope is to instill a sense of travel and adventure in young readers through her children’s book series The Adventures of Shining Hope. In addition to being an author, Libby is an Airstream enthusiast, a crafter, a commercial Drone pilot, a travel blogger, a wife, a mother, and a grandmother. Libby’s crafts are available for purchase at GypsyCrafter.com.
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