Use Your Crafty Talents to Help MPA!

Milwaukee Pets Alive invites you to contribute to our 2nd annual “A Crafty Christmas – Craft, Gift, and Bake Sale” in the form of a donation of a handmade item (or several!).

Milwaukee Pets Alive is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that rescues 100% of our animals (cats, dogs, and small animals) from our local Milwaukee Animal Control with a focus on those that have been passed over by other shelters and rescues – they may be shy, scared, aged, differently-abled, or need extra medical resources - and would have no other option for life except for through Milwaukee Pets Alive. All deserve to be loved and cherished. We are all about Milwaukee, building community and relationships, and all that is unique and one-of-a-kind (as represented by the special pets we rescue!).

Milwaukee is a city of art and craft – and come the holidays, our residents who appreciate this great part of our Milwaukee culture are looking to decorate their homes and give gifts that are special, unique, and not something everyone else will have (no big-box purchases for them)!

We thought we would bring these two worlds together to help everyone with all their holiday needs through a craft, gift, and bake sale while raising much-needed funds for the special animals Milwaukee Pets Alive rescues.

The actual event is free and open to the public, and will be held on Small Business Saturday, November 25, 2017, in space generously donated by the Hudson Business Lounge in the 3rd Ward. An epicenter of small businesses, the 3rd Ward is sure to be bustling on Small Business Saturday with lots of foot traffic passing by that will stop by to shop.

To make the event a success, we are in search of donated, handmade items to fill the very large space that is being donated to us by the Hudson for the event. We are reaching out to all of you now, while the weather is still warm, so you can craft early and often, and hopefully have lots of creations to donate to us for the sale! Please share this message with other crafters, artists, and creative types who you think would like to share their talents to help our pets in need!

We are looking for items that fit into the following 4 categories:

1.) Holiday Crafts – Craft items that one would use to decorate their home or place of business that are of a Christmas, holiday, or winter theme. Including, but not limited to: ornaments, decorations, art, wrapping embellishments, etc., etc.

2.) Wreaths – A signature holiday decoration for every home and place of business, a wreath is a must! But no one wants to have the same wreath on their door their neighbor has. A Crafty Christmas will be the go-to shopping destination for those that want to ensure they have a one-of-a-kind piece for their front door or above their mantle. All wreaths will be sold “silent-auction” style where guests will write in their bids in designated increased increments and the wreath will go to the highest bidder (who will be contacted by phone) at the end of the event. To up the level of fun – and for some friendly competition – we will invite event guests to vote on their favorite wreath (which will be displayed around the Hudson). To the creator of the wreath with the most votes by guests will go a trophy (and bragging rights, of course). We welcome donations of wreaths of all sizes – oversized, “standard”, or small. To help you decide what size wreath you may want to make, for a standard, 36” wide, front door, a wreath that is 28” – 30” in diameter will add dramatic impact, whereas a wreath 20” – 24” creates a classic understated look. For oversized doors, a wreath 30” – 36” in diameter will carry the appropriate scale in relation to the size of the door. Don’t forget small wreaths! A small wreath can bring charm and holiday spirit to your workspace, or a cluster of small wreaths can create big impact on a wall inside the home! All wreaths should be Christmas, holiday, or winter-themed.

 

We will be doing a pre-sale of wreaths on our Facebook page starting Monday, November 20 – Friday, November 24. Purchased wreaths can then be picked up at the Crafty Christmas Event at the Hudson on Saturday, November 25th. For extra fun and motivation to craft a wreath for this fundraiser, the Facebook sale will also double as a wreath contest, where our supporters can “vote” for their favorite by “liking” the one that they are most drawn to. The creator of the wreath with the most “likes” during the Facebook pre-sale 11/20-11/25 will receive a “Best Crafty Christmas Wreath 2017” trophy (and bragging rights, of course,).

3.) Gift Items – Gift items DO NOT need to be Christmas, holiday, or winter themed. Consumers that frequent small businesses are often looking for items that aren’t found elsewhere, so our guests are likely going to be out and about shopping on Small Business Saturday looking for gifts for that person in their life that embraces the unique, the special, and maybe that person that “has everything”. The sky is the limit and let your imagination inspire you to create! Think accessories, jewelry, clothing, scarves, hats, blankets, art, trinkets, items for pets, etc., etc.!!! What would someone be so delighted to receive that says the giver really took the time to look for something special? Maybe YOU will be the one that creates that special gift for someone!

4.) Baked Goods – The weekend after Thanksgiving, our guests will likely be visiting family and friends or have these visitors to their homes and will be looking for sweet treats to share! Think cookies, cakes, pies, candies, etc. Baked goods DO NOT need to be Christmas, holiday, or winter themed, however, there are seasonal favorites that tend to go over well at this time of year (gingerbread, pumpkin pie, peppermint, etc.). Baked goods should be donated in packaging ready to sell.

As a craft sale or “fair” all donated items should be HANDMADE (not manufactured or store-bought, though components used to make many of the completed items obviously will be).

YOU CAN DONATE YOUR COMPLETED CRAFT, WREATH, OR GIFT ITEMS AT ANY TIME BETWEEN NOW AND SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2017 to our Crafty Christmas drop off location bin at Urban Beets, Café & Juicery, 1401 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Milwaukee (just north of the new Bucks stadium) T-F 7 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., (Closed Mondays).

To preserve their freshness, DROP OFF FOR DONATED BAKED GOODS WILL BE AT THE EVENT VENUE (The Hudson Business Lounge, 310 E. Buffalo St. - Third Ward), THE MORNING OF THE EVENT (Saturday, November 25th) BEFORE IT OPENS FROM 9:30 A.M. - 11 A.M.

100% of the sale of each donated item will benefit Milwaukee Pets Alive to help our very special rescued animals!

Any donated items not sold at this year’s sale will be held for sale at next year’s sale.

Craft, have fun, and do good by donating handmade items to Milwaukee Pets Alive for our 2nd annual, “A Crafty Christmas – Craft, Gift, and Bake Sale”!

If questions, please email contact@milwaukeepetsalive.org

Woof! Meow! Thank you!

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