4 Easy Steps to Make Zen Fountain for Business – Making fountains out of natural materials is not only a good way to de-stress, but can also be a potential money-spinning hobby. Start-up capital is P700.00 per fountain working only 1 hour of your day.

Why this will click
The market for tabletop fixtures made up to natural elements – known popularly as Zen fountains – is growing, judging by the increasing number of people leading hectic lifestyles and looking for ways to de-stress.

Materials Needed
* Oriental pot with no holes
* Transparent plastic tubs
* Design fixture made of bamboo
* Submersible pump
* Chinese bamboo plant in a small pot
* Three packs of river stones
* Small clay jar
* Tap or soft water
* Scissors

Some of the materials can be bought at local gardening stores. Bamboo fixtures may be made or bought ready-made.

4 Easy Steps to Make Zen Fountain

1. Measure the length of plastic tube where the submersible pump will be attached. Do this by putting the plastic tube inside the bamboo and then cutting it to size. The submersible pump can be attached to the end of the plastic tube. Make sure to adjust the lever on the pump to your desired speed.

2. Put the bamboo and the submersible pump inside the oriental pot. Decorate the container with plants is smaller pots. For this project, the Chinese bamboo plant in a pot was used. Cover the pump, the plant, and the transparent tube with stones.

3. Pour water into the oriental basin until all its contents are submerged. Add embellishments to the top of the bamboo fixture where the pump was attached. The small clay jar can serve as receptacle for water that flows from the bamboo fixture where the pump is attached.

4. After assembling the fountain, plug the submersible pump to see if the device is working. Water should be flowing smoothly from the bamboo to the small jar, then back to the bigger basin. The Zen fountain is then ready to be displayed for personal use or for sale.

Tips: To cut cost, buy materials from local garden stores outside the malls where space rental is low. Buy decorative stones in bulk.

How Much Will You Make
Tack on 10 percent of the total production cost to account for labor, and then add a 30-peso markup to come up with a selling price of roughly P950 per fountain.

Source: Entrepreneur 45 Home-Base Business Ideas Book

10 Easy Steps to Make Clothing for Dogs and Earn Money — Think “fashion designer,” but with the pieces about one-third or one-fourth of an adult’s size. You will be sketching outfits, matching material, and coming up with seasonal collections for man’s best friend! With a start-up capital of P1,000.00 you can make 3 to 5 outfits. Depending on the intricacy, number of outfits, and other design factors, it will take a few days to a week to design and create one outfit.

Why this will click
These days, people pamper their pooches so much that the entire pet care industry – food, haircuts, medicine, etc. – is looking bright, As of now, only a few pet shops offer made-to-order clothes for dogs, so this is definitely a business with much promise.

Materials Needed
* Fabric P60 to P80 per yard
* Fabric accessories (beads, buttons, fabric paint, Velcro, etc.)
* Measuring tape
* Patterns
* Sewing supplies (fabric glue, paper, pencil, needle, etc.)

10 Easy Steps to Make the Clothing For Dogs

1. Sketch your desired pattern. You can find ideas on the internet, you just need to tweak them into your own design. (http://sewing.circleofcrafters.com, http://www.make-and-build-dog-stuff.com.

2. Buy fabric. Just be sure the material is comfortable for the dog, durable, and washable. To save money, you can also use old clothes you have around to the house. Shop around for desired accessories and details you want added to the outfit.

3. Use a measuring tape to get measurements around the neck, across the chest (from inner front left leg to inner front right leg), leg, and inseam measurements. The pattern you selected will have detailed instructions for any other measurements you might need.

4. For example, for an easy shirt pattern, fold a piece of fabric in half, lengthwise, and lay it on the table. Measure the dog from across the shoulders, and measure half of that number onto the top edge of the fabric and draw a line. Be sure it curves, as this part of the shirt will go around the neck.

5. Measure from the side neck area to the top front leg area and draw the measurement onto the fabric.

6. Then, measure from the nape to the mid-back area adding a couple of inches for hemming, and draw this measurement down the fold part of the fabric.

7. Measure around the dog’s waist, and draw half of that measurement onto the fabric.

8. Then, measure from, the mid-back area to just under the front leg and draw this measurement onto the fabric.

9. Finally, measure around the top portion of the dog’s front leg.

10. Cut the shirt pieces, and sew the garment together – attach the front and back shoulder area, hem the neckline, sew the opposite shoulder pieces together, hem both armhole openings, sew one side seam, hem the bottom, then sew the other side seam. The shirt is complete.

Tips: Make sure your selected fabrics are soft and flexible (tough fabrics don’t move with the dog and can be uncomfortable). Also oft for Velero or buttons to attach any details.

How Much Will You Make
Add a 30 percent markup on your final production cost and you are looking at a selling price of anywhere from P200 to P500 per outfit.

Source: Entrepreneur 45 Home-Base Business Ideas Book

Why this will click
You may consign your product with dealers, canteen operators, caterers and grocery stores.

Materials Needed
*Curing salt
*Phosphate
*Vitamin C
*Meat tenderizer
*Garlic powder
*Food coloring
*Binder
*Filter blend
*Measuring spoons and cups
*Kitchen weighing scales
*Mixing bowls (preferably stainless steel)
*Spatula
*Funnel

4 Easy Steps to Make the Tocino

1. Some entrepreneurs prefer using lactic acid to wash the meat before processing ” to preserve its water-holding capacity and kill off bacteria,” says Lourdes Rivera, a lecturer on meat processing at the Ultima Entrepinoy Forum Center in Quezon City and the author of a book on the same subject. “Instead of washing with water, wipe the meat with cloth and rinse with lactic acid.”

2. Chill the meat at 4 degrees Celsius at least an hour before processing.

3. Slice it before curing it with salt, phosphate, vitamin C, and chilled water. Mix the extenders and seasoning and add them to the meat. You may also add spices like pepper, onions, garlic, paprika, ginger, laurel and oregano as well as anisado wine, monosodium glutamate, soy sauce, and hydrolyzed vegetable protein to enhance the meat’s flavor.

4. Cure the meat at room temperature or refrigerate it for eight to 12 hours before packing it in polyethylene bags (half a kilogram for each bag). Finally, store the meat in the freezer where it will keep up to three months.

How Much Will You Make
Rivera says you’ll make as much as P37.15 per kilogram of tocino if you mark it up by 30 to 50 percent of your production cost.

Source: Entrepreneur 45 Home-Base Business Ideas Book

Why this will click
Every girl needs a bag. So it’s best to carve your niche in the market by deciding which customers you want to reach and then studying what they want in a bag. Know the trends by reading magazines, watching television shows, and surfing the Internet. Nothing works like word-of-mouth, so make beautiful beaded bags that people will talk about and recommend to their friends, associates, and relatives.

Materials Needed
* 2 pieces of satin or other cloth (about a quarter of a yard each), P36 to P50
* Assorted plastic beads, P50 to P100
* Nylon strings
* 3 Lobster locks
* 2 double-ring locks
* pins
* Needles and thread
* A ruler or tape-measure
* Scissors

6 Easy Steps to Make the Beaded Bag

1. Cut the satin cloth to a quarter of a yard. ( You’ll need two pieces of cloth for the main bag and the lining, so make sure the sheets are of the same size.)

2. Fold the cloth and put about half an inch allowance for stitches later. Use pins to secure the sides.

3. Sew the beads into the cloth based on your design, but remember it’s best to have a design in mind before you start the beadwork on the satin cloth, which becomes the bag’s exterior.

4. When you’ve completed the beadwork, close the edges of the two satin cloths and then sew them together either by hand or by sewing machine.

5. Attach the cloth where the lining and the bag’s exterior are placed to back. Do the basting first to make sure the cloth stays in place, and then seal the sides of the main bag by sewing them together. Go for a clean look using blanket stitches if you’re sewing by hand. Make sure that edges are aligned and the stitches are not crooked. Turn the bag inside out later.

6. Sew two small meal rings into the two sides of the bag where the straps are to be attached. To make the strap, put beads on either nylon thread or wire and then attach two ends with lobster lock. (The strap is detachable for this bag.) Use pliers to attach and use comfortable length for straps.

Tips:
Organize your workspace. Put your beads, thread, locks, scissors, and strings in canisters and stick your pins and needles into cushions so you won’t lose or displace them.

How Much Will I make
Add 30 to 50 percent to your total cost and you get your markup. If you’re hiring sewers and “beaders,” factor in their pay when setting your price. It’s possible to recover investment quickly with your first customer, but your success will depend on how your market your bags.

Source: Entrepreneur 45 Home-Base Business Ideas Book

Why this will click
No matter where you are or what time of the year it is, mosquitoes will always be a bane to our existence. Catering to a niche market is an added advantage; an example would be INDIGObaby, an online baby boutique whose top-selling product is the baby-friendly Shoo Fly Don’t Bother Me insect repellant. “We added lavender to our formulation to mask the citronella, which can be quite foul-smelling,” says Denise Gonzalez, co-founder of INDIGObaby.

Materials Needed
* Oils including citronella, eucalyptus, peppermint, tea tree, and other scents that naturally repel insects, P72 to P361, per 100 ml.
* Spritz bottles, P29 to P40 each
* Funnel
* Olive or vegetable oil, P69 to P200(1 liter)

Procedure to Make Insect Repellant

1. Carefully measure 10 to 25 drops of any essential oil of your choice (feel free to combine oils to create a unique scent), and pour it into the spritz bottle.

2. Combine 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Shake the moisture to blend.

Tip: As with anything ou put on your body, be sure to test a small amount of the mixture on an area of your body, say your forearm. If, after a day, there are no adverse reactions, you should be good to go.

How Much Will You Make
It will cost about P40 to produce a bottle. You can mark this up about 200 times total cost – after adding labor. packaging, and overhead – and still be competitive in the market. Expect to break even after selling about 100 bottles.

Source: Entrepreneur 45 Home-Base Business Ideas Book

Why this will click
Filipinos never tire of tapsilog. Plus, by preparing this from your home, you guarantee freshness and top-quality ingredients compared to the store varieties. This viand can come in several ways – as lunch boxes, sandwiches frozen bulk purchases, etc. – so you have a number of business options.

Materials Needed
*Meat pounder, P50
*Stainless steel bowl, P150
*Plastic container, P50
*Frying pan, P200
*1 kg. lean beef (beefsteak cut, round, or rump), sliced 1/4 inch thick, P250
*Salt, P3
*Ground Black Pepper, P3
*Sugar, P10
*2 tbsp, finely chopped garlic, P10
*1/2 tsp. msg. P5
*2 tbsp. distilled white vinegar, P10
*Soy sauce (optional), P10
*Vegetable oil, P10

How To Make the Tapa

1. Use the meat pounder to tenderize and thin out the meat.

2. Place the meat into the stainless steel bowl, together with salt, pepper, sugar, chopped garlic, MSG, white vinegar, and 3 to 4 tablespoons of soy sauce. Mix well.

3. Transfer everything to a plastic container, and let meat marinate for about 12 hours in the refrigerator. Remove and mix again.

4. You can opt to repack and freeze the meat for a later date. When the meat is ready to be served, fry in a hot pan, using vegetable oil. Tapa is usually eaten together with rice and egg.

How Much Will You Make
Each serving of beef tapa will cost roughly P30. Even adding just a 70 percent margin (a price of about P50) to cover the equipment and overhead costs will be enough to recoup your investment in a few months’ time.

Source: Entrepreneur 45 Home-Base Business Ideas Book

A pot holder is an easy craft project that can be completed in one afternoon. Most of your capital will go towards buying fabric, as most of the equipment is found in the usual household sewing kits.

Why this will click
People usually don’t think of pot holders until the time comes when they need one! But while these items are basic household necessities, you won’t encounter much competition when it comes to hand-made pot holders. Simply focus on making attractive, quality pot holders that will stand out in the marketplace.

Materials needed:
* Tape
* Ruler
* Pencil
* Scissors
* Needle
* Straight pins
* Fabric, P60 to P80 per yard
* Cloth scraps to use as padding, such as old towels or blankets
* Thread
* Pre-folded bias tape, P16 per pack
(These materials are all available at fabric stores.)

7 Easy Steps to Make Pot Holder
1. Cut your fabric – 7 inches by 7 inches for the front section and 8 inches by 8 inches for the back.
2. Layer the fabric together – with the back piece wrong side up, your padding material on top of that, and finally, the front piece right side up. Carefully, pin the three pieces together.
3. Sew the three pieces together. “Quilt” the stacked layers together, sewing parallel rows of straight stitching about 1 inch apart across the square. Turn the square 90 degrees and stitch parallel rows again at right angles to the first lines of stitching, forming an allover quilted square pattern. Or, if desired, stitch diagonally to make quilted diamond shapes.
4. Once the square is quilted, trim the edges as necessary, using a ruler and a pencil to form an even square. Or, for a round potholder, center an 8-inch plate on the quilted square and trace around it, carefully cutting of the marked corners.
5. Finish the edges of the potholder with pre-folded bias tape. Starting at a corner, place the slightly wider side of the bias tape along the bottom edge of the pot holder, and fold the narrower side over the raw edges of the fabric.
6. Be careful easing the tape around the corners of the pot holder, making sure not to over stretch the tape around corners or curves. Pin the tape into place as you go. At the end of the pot holder, leave 2.5 inches of extra tape.
7. Beginning at the starting corner of the tape, stitch carefully over the thick-side of the tape, as close to the inside edge as possible. At the end of the pot holder, use the extra 2.5 inches to make a loop for hanging the holder. Continue stitching all along the extra tape, and then double the tape back and stitch its end to the edge of the potholder a few times for durability. The loop should lie at the corner of the pot holder.

Tips:
* Two to four layers of old cotton bath towels make the best filling. If you don’t have any you are willing to cup up, you can purchase cheap ones in any department store.
* Cotton denim or twill are ideal back pieces, as they add heat resistance and help the potholder last longer.
How Much Will You Make:
One yard of fabric yields about three potholders. You may sell each for P200 to P250, even higher for highly customize designs which you can sell to cooking schools or at neighborhood markets.

Yes! You can earn money in pot holders making business. Here’s another Best Home Business to study for you to start your own business.
Source: Entrepreneur 45 Home-Base Business Ideas Book

Tie-dying is a fun and simple way to revive your old or plain fabric items, from towels to T-shirts, yielding a surprising result each time. You can experiment with all the different techniques to create a variety of styles and items, ensuring that you’ll always have done a selection the public will love.

Materials Needed
* Large pot or container container (not galvanized and enough to hold all the items to be dyed without crowding), P200
* Long-handled utensil (i.e. old spoon, BBQ tongs), P150
* Rubber gloves
* Large towel P100
* Cleaning items (i.e. cleaner, dish cloth, paper towels)
* Item to be dyed (i.e. scarf, shirt, towel), at least 80 percent cotton or another natural fabric that can be dyed, P50 in Divisoria.
* Venus fabric dye, P4.50 per 2 gram packet
* Rubber bands
* Table salt
* Old Newspaper

10 Easy Steps to Make the Tie-dyed Clothing and Accessories

1. First, wash the t-shirt to remove any possible dirt and prepare it for dye absorption. Tie-dying is best done on damp fabric.

2. Cover your work area with newspaper to protect it form any spills and assemble all your tools.

3. Wear rubber gloves to prepare the dye. Carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions provided on the package. Our particular fabric dye, Venus, for example, calls for the powder to be dissolved in boiling water to get the best, fastest results possible. So fill the large container with lukewarm water, bring it to boil, and pour in the dye, stating with the lightest color if you are using more than one color.

4. While the water is coming to a boil, lay the t-shirt flat on your work area. grab the center of the t-shirt with your thumb and index finger, and lift it up. Run your other hand down the cloth, twisting the fabric as you gather it together tightly.

5. Wrap one rubber band around the gathered t-shirt, right below the spot where you lifted. Then, wrap a few more rubber bands, about one to two inches apart from each other. Feel free to make up your own spacing.

6. Once you’re satisfied with the rubber band placement, immerse the entire t-shirt in the first color dye. Boil the t-shirt for 10 minutes, stirring constantly.

7. Then, stir four level tablespoons of table salt into the mixture for each gallon of water used. Boil for another 20 minutes, stirring constantly.

8. Remove the t-shirt and rinse in cold running water. Wring out the garment until water runs almost clear.

9. For designs requiring more than one color, repeat steps 3 to 8, using colors in order from lightest to darkest.

10. When you have finished dying the garment, remove rubber bands and lay t-shirt flat on your workspace. Place a towel over the still-damp garment, and iron it flat.

Tips:
Be careful when washing the items. Most dyes usually recommend washing in cold water. They may bleed the first few times, so place them with like colors or alone.

How Much Will You Make
If you sell t-shirts that cost P85 on wholesale for a retail price of P350, you can profit over P500 just by selling a dozen T-shirts.

Source: Entrepreneur 45 Home-Base Business Ideas Book

Why this will click
Candles are the perfect home accessory – they not only look elegant, but are also beautiful in brightening up or creating a cozy atmospere in any room. And with the number of styles and varieties you can make, these products are always in season.

Materials Needed
* Heat source (electric stove)
* Heating containers
* Oven thermometer
* Pouring and stirring containers
* Towels and old newspapers
* Shaped mold, P500. You can also use old cans or jars, as long as the bottom is not larger than the top so that you can easily remove your candle
* Dipping tanks P1,000 (optional)
* 10 kg or more of candle wax (beeswax, palm wax, paraffin wax, etc.) P 1,000
wick, P60
Optional Ingredients
* Colored dye or chips, P250
* Separator (i.e. petroleum jelly, cooking oil, liquid soap), P100
* Perfume/potpourri oils, P225

8 Easy Steps to Make Aromatherapy and Decorative Candles

1. Place all your equipment in a large open area, preferably near your kitchen or heating source so the wax stays hot before pouring. Line the workspace with old newspapers.

2. This makes clean up easier and faster.

If your wax is still in block or cube form, prepare it by breaking it into small pieces. This will help it melt faster.

3. Heat the combined wax in a double boiler. They help distribute heat evenly and prevent temperatures from reaching a dangerous level.

4. Make sure wax is completely melted – the liquid is clear and the bottom of the container is seen. Make sure wax isn’t burnt (indicated by smoky fumes and brown coloration). About 100 degrees Fahrenheit is good for most wax types.

5. Remove wax from heat source and transfer contents to another container. Add dye and scent (optional) – these should always be added last. The wax is now ready for dipping and/or molding.

6. To dip candles, cut wicks 3-4 inches longer than desired candle height. If you wish to dip several candles at the same time, tie the wicks 2 or 3 inches apart on a rod or hoop. Dip the wick into the melted wax. Withdraw the wick and pull on the other end to make it taut. When the wax hardens, continue dipping until candle reaches desired thickness, allowing each layer of wax to harden and cool after every dipping. To make the bottoms of the candles flat and smooth, heat a metal spatula over a gas flame and rub it against the candle bottoms, melting the wax until the bottoms are flat.

7. To make decorative, molded candles, prepare the mold by heating ( to prevent surface cooling) and lining the inside with a thin layer of your chosen separator liquid. Cut wicks 3-4 inches longer than desired candle height, and place in the mold (holding the tips up manually) while the wax is being poured. Hold the mold at a slanted angle, and slowly pour the wax into the mold. Cool the mold.

8. Once cooled, you may notice that the area around the wick has a cavity. Pour wax into this until even. When the wax has set, slowly pull the wick to remove the candle. If the candle won’t budge, place it int the refrigerator to help shrink the wax. (Do not put it in the freezer for it will crack the candle.)

How Much Will You Make
To produce a significant amount of candles (about 5,000 a day), it is suggested that you hire 2 skilled workers ( P350 a day per worker ). With other overhead expenses , costs will be about P1 per dipped candle and P12.53 per molded candle, which usually requires more wax. If you sell each candle at a 50 percent profit, you can expect to begin making a profit after four to five batches.

Yes! You can earn money in candle making business.  Here’s another Best Guide on Candle Making Business to study for you to start your own business.

Source: Entrepreneur 45 Home-Base Business Ideas Book

Materials Needed
*Cardboards or recycled folders for pattern making
*1/6 yard long of long fur plush cloth preferably in shades of brown of biege
*1/10 kilo of silicon fiber fill for stuffing
*A pair of #16 plastic eyes with lock
*A piece of #16 plastic nose with lock (Available at crafts stores)
*One lot of cotton thread
*A yard of half-inch wide ribbon
*Pencil or permanent marker for tracing patterns
*Scissors
*Pins
*2.5 inch long needles
*Cutter

9 Easy Steps to Make Your Own Stuffed Toy

1. Use the cardboards or recycled folders to make a pattern for the stuffed toy. You may get ideas from the Internet or from books or magazines then incorporate your own designs. Trace the pattern using a pencil or permanent marker, and make sure you label the pieces before cutting them. The pattern shoulld also indicate whether or not it will be traced twice on the cloth to form a pair (such as ears, face, body, etc.), using labels such as “cut 1? or “cut 2.”

2. Put arrows on your pattern to indicate direction when you attach the parts while sewing. Broken lines can also be used near the edge of the patterns to place pins, while letters can indicate which side or body part should be attached to another body part.

3. When the patterns are cut and labeled, start tracing them onto the interior of the plush cloth material. Lay out all the patterns on to the cloth, following the directions of the arrows and the labels on them. Maximize every part of the cloth and take note of patterns that need to be traced twice.

4. Cut the plush cloth with only the tip of your scissors to avoid damaging the fur. Join the pieces together by hand sewing it or with the use of a machine. Use a similar colored thread or opt for white since the plush materials will cover the thread anyway. Choose which body part to attach first. For this project, start attaching parts to the two sides of the body by securing the plush cloth to each other using pins. Make sure that the parts are attached to the correct side of the cloth. If sewing by hand, use either blanket- or back-stitching.

5. After attaching the cloth pieces, pin them to the cloth that will be used for the lower part of the body. Give a 1/8-inch allowance on the hemline when fastening them with pins. Sew the parts together and then turn the material inside out.

6. Prepare the parts for the face and head. Assemble the ears by securing them with pins, sewing them and then turning the cloth inside out. With pins, attach the ears to the two cloth pieces cut to make the stuffed animal’s face and then sew. Attach this piece to the head gusset.

7. To make the nose, sew the two cuts together. Allow space to make tucks in the upper part of the two cuts and then attach it to the gusset to complete the head. Turn the material inside out to check if the parts are aligned properly, if not correct them by sewing some more.

8. Mark the spot where the eyes and nose will be fastened. The technique is to hold the plastic eye in place, then make a slit using scissors or a cutter in the spot for inserting the eye. Fasten the eyes by putting its locks inside the cloth. Do the same for attaching the nose. Make the slit just above the tucks.

9. Finally, stuff the assembled head and body parts with silicon fiber. Make sure that no space is left unfilled. The amount of silicon you put would depend on how soft you want your toy to be. Then connect them manually. Tie ribbons around the neck or by the ears.

How Much Will You Make
To get the selling price, tack on a 100 to 150 percent markup to the production cost. Each stuffed toy can now be sold for P150 to P175

Yes! You can earn money in candle making business. Here’s another Best Home Business to study for you to start your own business.

Source: Entrepreneur 45 Home-Base Business Ideas Book