Categories
Craft Notebooks

Bargain charms

My mum stumbled across these lovely charms being sold off at a local craft fair and thankfully snapped them up for me!
Mini metal charms

They’re perfect for decorating my miniature book necklaces, and there are some bigger ones which will look great on my hard bound notebooks. I love the little heart padlocks! So cute.

Categories
Craft Notebooks Paper Stationery

New Coptic bound books

Handmade A6 notebooks, sewn with sturdy thick waxed thread, purple to compliment the cover paper. Insides are a lovely thick sketchbook paper, perfect for writing or drawing.
Small Coptic bound book
Only two made with this design, both can be found in Made In Northamptonshire.

More designs to follow, back up for sale on Folksy soon! Alternatively you can email me for custom orders ahoythere@thecraftfantastic.co.uk

Categories
Craft Notebooks Paper

Made In Northamptonshire – shop stock

The Craft Fantastic is please to have a small range of products in stock over at Made In Northamptonshire. A new colour for the miniature book/notebook necklaces, lovely soft grey leather:

Grey mini books

Plus, some unisex suede cord bracelets incorporating old French coins:

Cord bracelets

A couple of items sold already, get down there before they’re gone!

Categories
Craft

A bleated happy 2014!!

Mini book press - homemade

Despite the fact that this is my first post this year, I have been doing quite a bit of crafting; mainly mini notebook necklaces! I got my DIY on and made a mini book press out of old shelves (pictured above), which has really helped make the process a bit easier.

The mini journals are now being stocked in ‘Made In Northamptonshire’, a local shop for local makers, I’ve had orders for  via friends, friends of friends and through work, and have just restocked on supplies so I can make more.

 

All in all, a good start to the year!

Categories
Craft General Notebooks Paper Stationery

Weekly inspiration- A Handmade Christmas

Right about now is the time you may want to think about panicking if you haven’t yet bought all your Christmas presents. It’s 2 weeks to Christmas! Just 2 weeks! Quick! Get the things! Order the stuff!

Whatever stress you may or may not be feeling about finishing your Christmas shopping, rest assured there’s still some time. And if you don’t relish the thought of fighting your way through crowded high streets and shops, but you still want to feel like you’ve taken the time to seek out a unique gift, then have no fear: the internet will save you.

While under normal circumstances I don’t condone buying gifts online instead of supporting wonderful local and independent shops, there are several fantastic and well-established websites that specialise in peddling the homemade, hand crafted wares of creative individuals. Here are my favourites:

  • Etsy was where it all started for me. The realization that you could buy things that had been made by other people from around the world – and indeed sell your own things – was a very exciting prospect. They’ve been going for a good while now and their online shop of “all things handmade, vintage, and supplies” is chock full of unique gifts to browse- like these mini kaleidoscopes:

Mini Kaleidoscope - Etsy

  • Folksy is similar to Etsy; it hasn’t been going as long, but is really making a name for itself now as the online home of modern British craft. You can buy some really amazing crafted products on here!

Laser cut night light - Folksy

  • Not On The High Street is basically what it says on the tin. It was founded in 2006, their ideal being “to hunt out the most original items from the best creative small businesses, and bring them together in one place, making it easy for people to browse and buy.” Huzzah!
  • Hannah Zakari is a beautiful boutique full of the cute, the quirky and the unusual from independent designers. If you’re after something a bit different then head here for pretty jewellery, bags, accessories and more.
  • Bottle Green Homes. This London-based company sells only things made 100% in Britain. Well done chaps! This should be your first port of call for great homeware gifts.

Throw - Bottle Green Home

So there you go- now you’ve no excuse! Handmade gifts all round! Happy shopping 🙂

 

Categories
Craft Craft fairs Notebooks Origami Paper Stationery

Craft fair aftermath

It’s official- mini notebook necklaces are a hit! They very nearly sold out at last Sunday’s Christmas craft fair at Delapre abbey. Here they are all tucked up waiting for their new owners:
Mini notebook necklaces for sale!

We had a new frame made for this event to hang the origami mobiles on, which also went down a treat:
Craft stall set up

The event itself was fantastic- the volunteers did an amazing job, the place looked great and it was so busy. We even got a visit from Santa!
Delapre Abbey craft fair

All in all a brilliant day- really hope we get asked back again next year.

Categories
Craft Notebooks Paper Stationery

More mini journal necklaces on Folksy!

Just listed another lot of handmade mini notebook necklaces on Folksy:

Notebook necklace mini journal

Categories
Craft Craft fairs Origami Paper

Froebel star wreath

I posted about these folded paper stars last month – easy when you get used to them and fun to make! Not quite origami, these folded paper stars are made using four equal strips of paper.

Once I got into it I made loads, and have now turned them into pretty wreaths and hanging mobiles:
Christmas paper star wreath

Froebel paper star mobile

All ready to be sold at the Delapre Christmas craft fair in a couple of weeks!

Categories
Craft Inspiration Paper

Weekly inspiration- top Halloween paper crafts

Halloween is nearly upon us and it’s the perfect time to try out some simple paper crafts to decorate your home spook out your neighbours and guests!

Here are my favourites:

  • Paper shadow mice

Paper shadow mice

There are some fantastic Halloween crafts to be found on the Martha Stewart site but these simple paper mice are my favourite.

  • Paper pumpkins

Paper pumpkin

You can find the tutorial for these simple and effective paper pumpkins over at

Craftaholics Anonymous.

  • Cloud of paper bats

Bat silhouettes are easy to do and if you make enough of them they can be used really effectively:

Bat cloud - paper

bat cloud 2 - paper halloween craft

Check out this simple template from Country Living.

  • Paper bag puppets

halloween-paper-bag-puppets

Made by painting basic brown paper lunch bags- these look like they’d be so much fun to do! There’s a handy little tutorial here.

  •  Hungry house!

Why not try this idea for decorating the outside of your house: just cut big triangles of paper and turn the porch entrance into a giant mouth!

Front porch teeth 2 Front porch paper teeth

Have a happy Halloween!

Categories
Craft Paper Stationery

Now on Folksy- 3D paper star gift tags

Just listed these on Folksy! Sets of 4 gift tags- handmade folded cream and white paper stars on a blue tag. The perfect thing to finish off your beautifully wrapped Christmas presents.

Handmade paper star gift tag