We have a very nice "Santa Shop". A request for crafters who would like a table is sent out to all families through the newsletter. The only criteria is that items cost under $3.00. We usually have about 15 - 20 tables of crafters. School enrollment 325. The children bring home a form that has parents list who they will allow the children to shop for, how much they may spend and the $ amount the parent is placing (with the form) in an envelope, to be sent back with the student to school on the day of the sale.Crafters are charged $10.00 each for their table. They keep any $ they make. It is certainly not a fundraiser rather, one more thing PTA offers. The money is used to purchase small paper bags for the "shoppers" which are decorated in art class by the older grades. And purchase pop and pizza for crafters lunch. We have volunteers and older graders help the younger ones shop from their list. Things to make? Whatever you do try to find things for the males in the family. (I made chocolate tool kits, golf balls, bats, basketball etc...) Chocolate goes a long way if you know a parent who does it. Big sellers were plain old inexpensive ornaments painted with "grandpa", "mom" etc... jewelry, little "pillows" in kid motifs, potholders. Almost everything was under $2.00. Maybe it would be fun to purchase some materials and have some crafting coffee's.

hi again, ok, I somehow am now chairing the holiday secret workshop (whatever the heck it's called). Here's the issue:
everyone keeps saying that it won't make money, etc.... I personally don't really care if it makes money, I want the kids to enjoy it. We are pairing it with breakfast with santa this year. I don't really want to buy junky stuff, I have a few ideas of things I can make quickly but are cute, candycane reindeer, snowmen head with earmuffs bell necklaces, etc (easy and cheap) Figure I can price them at 25cents for the candycanes and 50 cents for the necklaces. What other ideas do you guys have? Please help!!!! :> ) Maggie