The 'Original' Creative Crafting Magazine written by Crafters, for Crafters

Creative Crafting magazine began in August/September 2009, when a group of crafting friends on the Creative Connections network decided that it would be a good idea to raise awareness of the crafting community. From this point they started work and the first issue of Creative Crafting was published in October 2009 and the last was June 2014.
Now we are bringing you everything crafty from the home and beyond.

Wednesday, 27 July 2011

Week 7 . Ready - Set - Post

This week, the competition was to win a Years Subscription for our Live Interactive Banner Advert from our Halloween issue onwards (6 issues). All you had to do was comment on this picture.

Ready - Set - Post Image

Unfortunately, some of you did not leave any contact information, so we couldn't directly email you without 'friending' first. Please remember to leave your email address, or Facebook page address so we can contact you directly in the comments box. Thank you!

  1. Karen Rickard 
  2. Japan Crafts
  3. Miss Bohemia
  4. Mad About Bags
  5. Pirate Pixie Crew
  6. Rach Ael 
  7. Averilpam Design
  8. Natasha Middleton-Lidbetter 
  9. Julia Wykes
  10. Lane Lynn 
  11. Libby's Made It ‎
  12. Melissa Merchant
We used Random.org to choose or winner, and the lucky crafter is.... Julia Wykes from Bodkin and Bead

CONGRATULATIONS!


Wednesday, 20 July 2011

Guest Blog Post - Betty Bee

Crafting over cocktails
Traditionally when you think of a “crafter” you envisage someone working alone, perhaps in a cosy workshop with nothing for company except the radio. For many undertaking a craft project is a wonderful way to carve out some “me” time and tune out the white noise of everyday life.
It doesn’t have to be like this though and for those who enjoy sharing what they are working on social networking has made it much easier to “meet up” with like-minded individuals who share your hobbies. Crafters have been remarkably adept at changing with the times. Websites have sprung up, on-line forums exist and even crafters who specialise in fairly traditional arts casually refer to tit bits they have picked up on twitter or on the creative crafting site. So its no great surprise that there is an increased demand for social events, which include a craft element. Taking the world of cyber socialising and replacing our avatars with real people.
I’d seen a few of these events advertised and was quite intrigued. As I associate my hobbies with that pleasurable time when the rest of the world sleeps and I can be totally alone with my projects I wasn’t sure I liked the idea but a few friends had attended a local event and had been very enthusiastic.  So a few weeks ago I headed to a craft night in Liverpool. The premise was that we would be taught how to make lanterns whilst sitting in a trendy cafĂ©, catching up with old friends and perhaps making a few new ones along the way.
I’m always excited to learn new things and as I did my hair and make up I thought how a few years ago I would have been making the same effort for a night of cocktails. Either crafting has become trendy or I am a young fogey (don’t answer that)
The night itself was surprisingly popular. I had gone along with four friends and when we arrived there were at least another twenty girls already seated with drinks, ready for the tutorial.
So what about the nuts and bolts of learning a new skill in a “girls night out “ type atmosphere. The demonstration on how to make a variety of lanterns wasn’t terribly thorough and even though I consider myself quite adept at turning my hand to new disciplines I wasn’t particularly clear what to do. The saving grace though was that detailed handouts were on each table so we were able to quickly work out what we needed to do and go and load up on materials, which were all, piled high on a supply table.
Maybe it was the company I was with or the pot of delicious apple and cherry tea I was able to buy from the bar but having arrived sceptical about social crafting I absolutely loved the exsperience of making lovely items whilst catching up with friends. Having all opted to glass paint old jam jars it was wonderful to see how different each of our finished lanterns were. One friend Helen decorated hers with red hearts and fashioned a clever little tea light holder using copper wire whilst another Claire went for a delicate green palette and a distinctly vintage flavour. For mine I decided to make a lantern for my little girl so using a little bit of decoupage decorated my lantern with pictures of cupcakes and a pale pink glass paint wash.
In terms of really digging deep and learning all there is to know about a particular craft these classes probably leave a lot to be desired but for a fun creative social experience meeting like minded people I highly recommend them and skipping home carrying my new lantern I had the lovely warm feeling you get from a good night out with none of the hangover the next morning.
Copyright Betty Bee 2011
Betty attended an event run by www.thecraftcreative.co.uk
To follow more of Bettys craft adventures follow her blog http://talesfrombettybeetowers.blogspot.com/

Week 6 . Ready - Set - Post

Welcome back to week 6, of Ready - Set - Post. This week you have the chance to win an interactive A6 advert in the next issue of Creative Crafting Magazine.

All you had to do was comment on this picture.

Ready - Set - Post Image

Here all all the entrants that entered this week. Not many of you this week though for such a fantastic prize!

Unfortunately, some of you did not leave any contact information, so we couldn't directly email you without 'friending' first. Please remember to leave your email address, or Facebook page address so we can contact you directly in the comments box. Thank you!


  1. Chris Hyde ✫ ✫ ‎Jimmy James Designs 
  2. Tracey Kifford 
  3. Deborah Davey 
  4. Claire Wildgoose 
  5. Vegan Sudz Shop ‎
  6. Denise Higgins
  7. Little Floating Craft Company
  8. Top Sock Drawer
  9. Miss Bohemia
  10. Kelly 'womble' Johnson
We used Random.org to choose or winner, and the lucky crafter is.... Deborah Davey from Two Cheeky Monkeys. 

CONGRATULATIONS!


Wednesday, 13 July 2011

Guest Blog Spot - RedHeadThread

HI my name is Kirsty McGuinness, a redheaded mum of a 14 year old girl and an 8 year old boy. After being a stay at home mum for such a long time I wanted to get a hobby to keep me going during the long winter months so last year my mum got me a cross stitch kit as a challenge as I had always been terrible at sewing when I was younger! I loved it! It took me many hours but the final result was beautiful and everyone was very impressed! I tried a few more kits and started giving them away as presents to friends who had only every really seen cross stitch work their grannies had done and they all fell in love with the art form too. I am only 33 and a bit of a geek at heart so I began doing some stitches of things I loved like star wars, black books, the might boosh and cheeky sayings the kids have said and put my work online for people to have a look and a giggle at and since then my business has taken off in a huge way! I went live online in April and since have sold my work through the internet, in shops around my home town of Belfast and in many markets around the country and love every minute of it. It a very slow art form and each piece can take from 2-22 hours to make so there is a lot of love goes into each unique design. I have also started taking commissions from customers and have converted kids drawings into stitches, business logos and funny quotes from people’s family members and most recently have taken on stitching name places for a wedding! One of my favourite designs was for a lady who wanted me to stitch a Jim’ll fix it badge for her husbands birthday present which was such fun to do, so geeky and retro, right up my street!!
If you would like to pop over and see my work check out my website www.redheadthread.co.uk or facebook/redheadthread for up to date details of new designs and where I will be during the summer season selling my treasures at the many markets throughout Northern Ireland although I post all over the world !
Since starting my business it has opened up my eyes to so many amazing forms of art work I never know existed and through facebook have found some amazing items to buy for my home and met some fantastic friends. Check out Fat Free Felt, Dab and Dash, Pilfred and Fanni loves Fufu all completely different and offering gifts that you couldn’t get on the high street!


Week 5. Ready - Set - Post

It is week 5 already of our all new weekly competition of Ready - Set - Post! This week you all had the chance of winning of an interactive chunky banner advert in the August issue of Creative Crafting!

All you had to do, was comment on this cute little image!

Ready - Set - Post Image


As usual, all the entrants are listed and numbered below. We had 21 crafters enter the competition this week!
  1. Kim Harvey-Nash 
  2. Deborah Davey 
  3. Scottish Princess Designs 
  4. Lisa Garside 
  5. Margaret Forsythe 
  6. Phoenix Brighton 
  7. Charis Lynn Jetton 
  8. Ro Regan 
  9. Kristine Sims 
  10. Mystic MoonShadow's Magickal Jewellery
  11. Judith Brandsness Wolford 
  12. Woodland Gifts 
  13. Karen Rickard 
  14. Kelly 'womble' Johnson ‎
  15. Zhuzh 
  16. Sammi's Wooden Bunting Plaques 
  17. Averilpam Design ‎
  18. Miss Bohemia 
  19. Amanda Bryan 
  20. Anita Mistry 
  21. Eleanor Stafford 
We used Random.org to choose our winner! This weeks lucky crafter is Kim Harvey-Nash from Kims Colourway!


CONGRATULATIONS!

Tuesday, 12 July 2011

Guest Blog Spot - Claire Toplis

Hi meet Rainbow Fish part of my classroom display for the play corner. Now I have no art skills at all, but I managed to do this. I managed to sketch out the basic shape of Rainbow Fish and gradually painted it and added the detail. What do you think do you like it?
The theme this term is water So I was put in charge of this classroom display and play corner . The play corner is on a under water aquarium theme. Here are some photos. I designed the whole thing, I must admit Rainbow Fish is a great educational resource.
Note the cut out rainbow Fish characters on blue film ( which is the water ).
Here we go inside the aquarium shell material to the side and blue material covering the top. Honestly it really feels like an aquarium in there, shame I am too big too play in there. Look who it is! It is Olivia the bozz eyed Octopus though sadly her lips fell off.






Careful those giant waves don't sweep you away! more Rainbow Fish characters on the waves.
More Rainbow Fish art . I hope you have enjoyed my pictures and I hope it gives you ideas for your classroom or at home. It is so simple to do and encourages a multitude of play ideas and helps promote their leaning. I welcome your comments. Thank you.

You can visit Claires blog at http://ninjakillercat.blogspot.com 



Monday, 11 July 2011

Guest Blog Spot - Roood Boogie



We are Cara and Paul, the people behind Roood Boogie Bespoke Temporary Tattoos. 
 Along with the obligatory passion for all things arty, crafty and creative, we both come from the 9 to 5 slog in merchandise design, which covers an array of disciplines from product sourcing, branding, design and marketing.    

But outside of office hours, we’re just your average pair of rock n’ rollin’, hippy, internet junkie, cocktail-pitcher swilling, inked and pierced, music loving nerds – and that’s pretty much the spirit of Roood Boogie…

it all started when Cara was putting together gift bags for her mates hen night and we realised we had the means to actually make these one-off temporary tattoos, customised with the names etc of the bride and groom, and using our own artwork based on the hen nights vintage theme.  Needless to say, at the hen-do they went down a storm...

We were bombarded with enquiries, so started to look into the possibility of setting it up as a small business.  We looked around and, there are other companies who can produce temporary tattoos to spec, but none of them offer the service on small quantities.  

And to be honest it was all a bit dreary and business-like – none of them came from a true ‘tattoo art’ angle – it was all corporate logos and football club crests, and very little in the way of the free spirit art vibe that we have at Roood Boogie...  plus there were no bespoke temporary tattoo services in the uk with any social media presence, so we decided to step in and fill the gap...
And that’s when we began to really see the full scope of potential markets for the service - 
Things like
  • ·         hen and stag night
  • ·         themed parties
  • ·         product and brand launches/promotions
  • ·         a good merchandise line for bands
  • ·         a fun product for illustrators and designers to promote or sell their work
  • ·         and of course, a service to tattoo artists, who can have their flash sets produced as temporary tattoos, for re-sale as a kind of 'try before you ink yerself permanent' kinda thing...

It's this last concept that's really caught the imagination of a couple tattoo artists who we ran the idea past.  They loved it and ordered several packs on the spot.  



And we were lucky enough to get the awesome Joolz Denby on board with the idea – Joolz gave us license to use some of her New Model Army artwork and various tattoo designs, and these special edition sets can be found on our Etsy shop.  Plus it was Joolz’s endorsement which contributed to us getting over 100 likes within days of creating our facebook page, which is still our main web presence. 

So at the moment we’re busy scribbling and building up our design catalogue, with tattoos which can be bought off the peg or customised at no extra cost, or just used as inspiration for customers’ own designs – things like henna-inspired, maori and inca, floral designs, even working anaglyph 3D tattoos – which we are sure are truly unique!

On the whole we are overwhelmed at the initial success of the project, and we can’t wait to see how it develops.  At the moment we are looking to work with more artists and designers who would like to use their artwork for tattoo sets to be available through our Etsy shop.

But we’re also loving the personal, bespoke element of the service – so far we’ve produced personalised tattoos for festivals, bands, clothing labels, as well as smaller individual orders for people who want to trial different designs or tattoo positioning before they face the tattoo gun for real.

If anyone out there has any ideas and/or would like to collaborate, just give us a shout!