enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

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Right now, my plan for my 4×8 craft fair booth is to have an accordion fold wall along the back edge and a folding table along the front. The table will hold the product and the wall will visually separate my booth from the others and serve as a place to hang print & poster samples.

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I have seen a lot of craft fair photos where people have their booth separated with fabric dividers – they are totally effective and pretty, but won't work for my products. I need something that I can nail framed prints onto – not just a visual divider.

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I bought two pieces of 4×8 plywood at Home Depot and had them each cut down into two 6×2 foot pieces and two 6.5×2 foot pieces (it's a long story why they ended up different heights). I painted each piece with two coats of primer and one coat of our dresser's teal paint. I then joined two pieces together with simple hinges and then did the same with again and TA-DA – four pieces of wood that stand on their own. (I didn't connect all four together because this thing is way too heavy as it is.)

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After that, I went through my house & the local goodwill and found wood frames that I primed and painted white (with wall paint – they are not perfect, but they work). I loaded posters and prints into the frames and hammered them on to my "wall." If I can find a few more frames in the next few weeks, I might be adding to the midddle sections. My felt banner and fabric flower garlands were used to decorate the top. Right now they are taped on. For the actual show, I'll staple gun them into place.

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You might be wondering what my storage plan is for something this big. Great question, I was wondering that myself last week. I did some major spring cleaning on Monday to clear out our office closet to fit the odds and ends that have gathered in the corner since the last office purge. Then I moved my work table and bulletin boards over to the right so there was extra space against the wall near the window. The boards fold into each other (with the nails removed and nail holes marked) and then actually are not too space consuming in the corner. I am seriously daydreaming about the day we have a house with a garage. Extra storage AND I won't have to do extensive painting and drilling on our living room floor.

Next up – I need to come up with my table display. I want something like this but on a smaller scale. I already have 5×7 print display ready to roll.

Oh, and obviously I have to make some books and order more posters and prints. And package everything. But we're getting there.

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32 responses to “as it stands.”

  1. Lisa Avatar

    That looks fantastic! It would absolutely draw me to your booth!

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  2. Alyssa Avatar
    Alyssa

    Just a thought, but I would have had the panels more of a neutral colour, one that the customers’s walls are likely to be. Sort as of a pre-view of what the print will look like in their own homes. I love the white frames however! they look great. I’m really excited for your stall, I hope it goes really well for you. xx Alyssa

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  3. Monika Wright Avatar

    The varying height ‘mistake’ is totally appealing and your whole set-up would totally draw me in…I can’t see you being anything but uber-succeessful in this great adventure, Elise! Fun, fun, fun. Well, okay, lots of work, but it’s fun work.

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  4. LittleMissPip Avatar

    Love the look with all the different sized and thickness of frames

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  5. Monika Wright Avatar

    Oh and I meant to add, there’s nothing wrong with going to the Dollar Tree and getting a $1 frame and spray painting it. No one would know and it takes less time than upcycling/recycling {which is the best good thing to do if you have the time}.

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  6. Jess Lonett Avatar

    that’s looks so gooood. i would definitely check out your table! i really want to try to get into wood type projects like that and your dresser, but they definitely seem very daunting in the apartment type living situation.

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  7. Cara-Mia Avatar

    Looks great!

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  8. Jill Avatar
    Jill

    It “sounds like” there was an issue or mistake with the wood cutting, but I love the variable sizes. I’m also going to argue with the turquoise paint–love the bright color. So impressed–you are working like a crazy woman 🙂

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  9. LMT Avatar

    It looks awesome! Your booth would totally catch my eye. Will people not see the back? Have you considered painting the back too so people can remember where you are if they passed by your table but want to come back later. It would really help them find you easier. But maybe your “stand” will be against a wall, and in that case, disregard my question. I love the color scheme! So eye catching. AND, thanks for sharing here, if I can make it from NYC, I’ll be glad not to have to scour the place for your location.

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  10. Samantha Avatar

    I am in love with this! Perfection and so Elise. How do you do it…

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  11. Chelsea Avatar

    Looks great!

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  12. Funnelcloud Rachel Avatar

    Wow – this looks great and I am so impressed with the progress you’ve made! Now I feel even worse about the lack of progress I’ve made. The market I’m doing is outdoors, so I have to figure out how to hang my work on something that isn’t solid (otherwise, one gust of wind and it will blow over)!

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  13. MichelleGB Avatar
    MichelleGB

    Love it – great color and style! It’s great showcase for your products!

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  14. Megan P Avatar

    Looks great Elise!! I would definitely stop by your booth, except for the fact that i am hundred of miles away!
    Good luck at the show!
    Megan

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  15. Michelle Wengert Avatar

    I just have to say I love that they’re not the same height…perfectly imperfect! Love the bright color + white frames and banner + flower details. I have a feeling you’re going to ROCK this craft fair!

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  16. Angie Avatar
    Angie

    It’s really great!
    I am very tempted to build a similiar one for my Christmas craft fair 🙂
    The color is divine as well!

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  17. elise blaha Avatar

    I am pretty sure that the booths all back eachother. So more than likely, someone will be behind me with a fabric divided booth. But you are totally right, the blue color would be good on the back if it was more free standing. I guess Ill see how this one goes. 🙂 Thanks for the sweet comments!

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  18. elise blaha Avatar

    Oh yeah, I have no shame in buying new frames if I need them … I just havent gotten to an inexpensive store this week. 🙂

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  19. sarah Avatar

    looks great elise!

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  20. daisy Avatar

    I’m french, i don’t know english but i would like to say that I love your blog! you are a source of inspiration !Thank you very much!

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  21. elise blaha Avatar

    hi Alyssa,
    I hear what you are saying. If my posters were expensive or originals, I would go with white walls and fancy matted frames. But for this setting & with this product, I wanted something eye-catching and more fun – hopefully it works well. 🙂

    Like

  22. Nancy Avatar

    I too love the varied height of the walls. Looks great! I just painted a piece of pegboard for my craft room that same color!

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  23. desiree Avatar

    I love this! LOVE This… I think your display alone would attract me immediately.

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  24. Morgan Avatar
    Morgan

    This is looking really great – visually appealing and creative! Best of luck!

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  25. Alexandra Avatar

    I love this! It all looks so great, and I would DEFINITELY stop at a booth that obviously put so much thought into how they were presented (like yours!) Great work! I’m jealous of anyone who is close enough to stop by this craft fair!

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  26. Dana Avatar
    Dana

    Looks amazing.

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  27. Grace Avatar
    Grace

    Looks fantastic!! I like the different heights of the divider even if it wasn’t intentional… it looks fabulously intentional! LOVE, love love the teal.
    Excited for you + the upcoming craft fair. Let me know WHEN you start taking part in international fairs! (I live in Hong Kong & soon to move to Cambodia!) =)

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  28. michelle ramirez Avatar

    Dang, I LOVE this. The variance in height is splendid. Colors…awesome!!
    Look fantastic Elise.
    Now I better getting working on mine…thanks for the reminder. Wanna go to Home Depot? 🙂

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  29. Hannah Avatar

    Looks great! I LOVE that background color!!
    I am SO excited because, after 11 years, I am getting on a plane to San Diego for a college friend’s wedding…and as luck would have it, it is the same weekend as The Queen Bee Market!!! I’ve already told the other ladies about it and we hope to hit it up while in between wedding festivities, and definitely stopping by your booth!! I’m a daily reader of your blog, took your Big Mini class, and truly inspired by your work, so I’m excited to meet you in person!! Yippee!!

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  30. elise blaha Avatar

    how fun! I hope you ladies can come!

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  31. Suzanne Avatar

    This is a great display! I love all the happy colors and the way your banner looks at the top! I can see it being totally eye-catching at a craft market! …I wish it was September already so I could come! Best of luck!

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  32. *Dream Weaver* Avatar

    I think the happy colours are going to stand out! Hope u have a good time at the craft market!! 🙂
    Wish I could be there

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