Grab our Spring 2014 Issue!

Our Spring Issue is now available!

Grab a copy as a digital download or a luxurious printed copy. 

Find it here http://creative-crafting.com/march_2014.html

We have been publishing crafters since 2009!

Feature: I had a stall at the 2013 Handmade Christmas Market at the 02!

It was summer 2013 and I was wiling away some time in twitterland. I chanced upon a tweet from I Love Markets (ILM) that mentioned the Handmade Market at the O2 in December and invited crafters to register their interest in a stall.

So I did!
I followed the instructions and sent an email stating what I did and that I was interested. I received a reply via email requesting my website address and was very pleased when I received a further email offering me a place.

At first I found communication with ILM to be slow and a few times I had to send the same email twice before a received a reply. This was frustrating, but then, the person I was dealing with at I Love Markets changed and I met the lovely Hollye, and communication was suddenly quicker.

There was a lot of work to be done, designing my display and creating my collection.

The event at the O2 was being run by Peninsula Exhibitions with I Love Markets working with them, having a number of stalls with which to fill. The event itself was over 3 days,

Friday 13th, Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th December. ILM had to balance stall holders who wanted to

have a stall for either, 1, 2 or all 3 days. Not an easy task, whilst working with Peninsula Exhibitions. During the months leading up to the event a lot of information was sent out to the stall holders, some from Peninsula Exhibitions, including an exhibitors manual and some from I Love Markets.

Hollye from ILM kept us as informed as possible, stall numbers, a layout of the stalls so we knew where we were and even photographs of the stalls as they were being constructed. Invaluable information and allowing us to make adjustments to our display before the day.

My experience as an exhibitor at the O2 was not a particularly pleasant one, however, before I proceed to
explain why, I would like to let you know that the issues faced were in no way the fault of Hollye or ILM, the blame lies with Peninsula Exhibitions.

Walking into the entrance of the O2, myself and a friend who had volunteered to help me, began looking around for signposts or directions to guide us to where we needed to go.

There were none.

However, luckily, security guards were present and they provided the required directions. It was quite a long walk and we were worried that perhaps we hadn't fully understood the directions given. Then, thankfully we spotted a sign, though a rather discreet one.

There was much still being done and metal fences were ringed around the stalls giving no obvious way
through. Again we had to ask. Then we had to ask where our stall was. The stall layouts and locations we had originally been given had been changed. Instead of the ILM stall holders being given a nice location, we were placed at the back. In fact my particular stall was facing the back wall and the row was inset so that
approaching from the entrance you were unaware that those stalls even existed.

For a Christmas market, set indoors there was no music, no atmosphere and promises had not been
kept regarding an appearance from Father Christmas and activities for children. The estimated footfall of 20K people compared to actual footfall fell so short of estimations to be a complete joke and a charge of £8 entry put off many potential customers wishing to browse.

The highlights of the event were meeting Hollye from ILM who chatted with all the stall holders booked

through I Love Markets and photographs were taken and placed on facebook. Then of course there was the opportunity to walk around the stalls, meeting the very talented crafters, enjoying the great mix of
products and styles.

In summary, would I book an event through I Love Markets again? Answer- yes! But I would not make a booking if Peninsula Exhibitions had any involvement.

Written by Tina Cook from Shinyies www.shinyies.co.uk

Grab the full issue here

http://creative-crafting.com/march_2014.html

Valentines Day Craft Ideas

Written by Sarah at www.craftymagpie.co.uk
 
Valentine’s Day should be a day of fun and romance, so I’ve had a look at my favourite inspiration site – Pinterest and chosen some of my favourite ideas to make your own gifts.

1. Spooning

I absolutely love this idea, such a simple yet effective present, all you need is a frame, spoons, paint, glue and letter stencils. I had a thought….if your partner is a keen baker you could use a mini wooden spoon to reflect their character!

Picture Link: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/21603273186372286/

2. Love Heart Sweet Tree

Yet another simple but great idea, and the tip would be to use your partner’s favourite sweets. All you need is a foam ball, sweets (remember you will need to fill the pot too), cocktail sticks or edible glue (depending on the type of sweets you are using), a strong stick, ribbon and a pot.

Picture Link: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/21603273186372279/

Tutorial Link: http://blog.tinyprints.com/diy/diy-valentines-day-candy-topiary/

3. DIY Man Mug

What would you say about your man? – It would be easy to get carried away and design a set of personalised mugs!

Picture Link: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/21603273186372284/

Tips Link: http://acupofgatsby.com/2013/02/14/diy-man-mug/

4. Felt Fortune Cookies

If you’re feeling extra creative and have plenty of time, these fortune cookies may be a great idea….and you can create your own fortunes…maybe a proposal?

Picture Link: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/21603273186372269/

Tutorial Link: http://www.marthastewart.com/266523/felt-fortune-cookies-from-the-martha-ste?backto=true

5. Heart Cake Pops

I do enjoy a cake pop, and with these you could also personalise them – If you have a steady hand!

Picture Link: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/21603273186372359/

Tutorial Link: http://littledelightscakes.com/heart-cake-pops/

If you’d like to see more ideas, take a look at the Crafty Magpie Valentine’s Day Crafts Board on Pinterest

BIG NEWS!

*** BIG NEWS! ***

We had an editorial meeting at Creative Crafting HQ yesterday afternoon and some big decisions were made.

For 2014 Creative Crafting will be changing to a quarterly magazine where we flow with the seasons giving our writers more time to submit their work and more defined issues. If you would like to be involved in any of the following issues please let us know. (Thank you to everyone who is already going to submit for our March Issue, previously Feb)

Spring Issue - 1st March (copy deadline 1st Feb) themes to include spring and Easter and other holidays through spring.

Summer Issue - 1st June (copy deadline 1st May) themes to include, holidays, summer, beach, back to school etc.

Autumn Issue - 1st September (copy deadline 1st August) themes to include autumn, Halloween etc.

Winter Issue - 1st December (copy deadline 1st November) themes to include Christmas, Winter, Valentines etc.

In between these issues we will also be releasing some Kindle Books on Amazon and other e-reader sites.

LOTS to look forward to. 

If you would like to write for us please email articles@creative-crafting.com 

Christmas Candy Bark

Christmas Candy Bark     written by Claire from Elderberry Arts

 

This is a very simple recipe that can be made by children of all ages with minimal help. It is delicious as a treat or prefect to wrap up and give as gifts. The recipe can easily be doubled or even tripled to make larger amounts, just make sure you have a baking tray or other similar surface to spread the chocolate on once melted. 

Feel free to choose your favourite brand of chocolate and milk and dark chocolate work just as well. The finished bark can be varied greatly by adding or omitting ingredients to suit your own personal tastes and an attractive marbled bark can be made by spreading the milk chocolate and then swirling in some melted milk chocolate.

For a more grown up version dark chocolate with dried cranberries and flaked almonds or white chocolate with dried cranberries and hazelnuts are delicious. 

200g milk chocolate
100g of Christmas themed sweets such as chocolate coins, jelly beans, shape jellies etc.

1. Line a baking tray with cling film or greaseproof paper.
2. Break the chocolate into small pieces and place into a bowl. Melt the chocolate in short bursts in a microwave oven or over a pan of boiling water.  
3. Once the chocolate has melted spread it over the covered tray. It should be only around five millimetres thick.
4. Add your sweets as toppings, gently pressing them into the chocolate.
5. Leave the chocolate until completely cool and hardened and then snap into pieces.