Categories
Craft Gifts Notebooks Origami Paper Stationery

Wanderlust: make an adventure to remember

Summertime is upon us and the world is calling. Whether you’re taking off for far off places or exploring closer to home, why not chronicle your adventure in a handy handmade travel journal? Blank books are fantastic for planning your holiday, making check lists for what to take and where to go, plus you can take as much space as needed to write about your travels. I love looking back over my old holidays and the check list I write helps me remember what I need to take on the next trip 😀

Over at The Craft Fantastic’s Etsy store you’ll find a wide variety of hand bound blank notebooks for all your journaling needs. Here are some map cover books to help inspire your wanderlust:

Ready for an adventure – A5 – £14
Ready for an adventure – A6 – £9
Off we go – A5 – £14

There’s also a range of miniature books– they’re set on chains to wear as a necklace, so you can easily take it with you on your travels. All the pages are blank, too, so it can be used for jotting down a few things while you’re on the go. Small writing required 😀

*First wedding anniversary = paper! These items make great gift ideas. For more inspiration, take a look at this article from The Wedding Secret.*

Categories
Craft Gifts Lunchtime Lusting Origami Paper

Lunchtime Lusting – Valentine’s Day: To give and to get

Because it’s ok to hint, right? With Valentine’s Day drawing near, I’ve put together a little list of some of my favourite unique, handmade and alternative gifts – to give and to get!

‘Chocolate bar library’ from Fortnum & Mason, £5.50 each. What more would anyone want? Well, how about:

It’s £3 from the Literary Emporium. In fact, you could just point your other half to their site. All of it, please.

  • Are you told old to get soft toys? Are you, though? Really? What about… Robot plushies:

Well I’m in love. This little guy is from an American Etsy store, but they do ship to the UK. Hurrah!

This versatile little dish could be used for so many things: jewellery, keys, food… it’s microwave and dishwasher safe and £10 from Present Indicative.

  • Roses? Sure. But be original and get some that can be a keepsake, like these origami roses from yours truly:

These are £10 from The Craft Fantastic Etsy store – vase included! They’re also available in ‘pretty pastel hues.

 

Remember to leave enough time for your handmade gifts to arrive! The cut off date for The Craft Fantastic is midnight, Thursday 9th Feb for guaranteed delivery.

 

Categories
Craft Craft fairs Gifts Origami Paper

New year, new events

from-the-craft-fantasticA slightly belated Happy New Year! I hope you all had a fabulous festive season. Craft Fantastic HQ is all go for 2017, with new products and new fairs. Here are just a few things in store for this year:

mkhandmadeandvintage

 

This will be my first time exhibiting at one of these events. They’re hugely popular and always full of fantastic handmade goodies and vintage finds. I can’t wait!

For the second year running, The Craft Fantastic will be at Castle Ashby. Crossing my fingers the weather will be as good as last year.

Brand new for 2017 are more origami gifts. I’ve framed ‘Lover’s Knots’ – perfect for a Valentine’s Day or 1st anniversary gift. Alongside the frame is a small, simple paper flower arrangement.

Handmade origami gift

I’m in the process of adding them to The Craft Fantastic Etsy store. These are available in different colours, and I can do custom orders – email me for details.

 

Categories
Craft Craft fairs General Gifts

Pre-Christmas Roundup

the-craft-fantastic-is-having-a-pre-christmas-sale

 

Ahoy there! December 3rd is small business Saturday and I’m running a little pre-Christmas promo: 10% off at thecraftfantastic.etsy.com. Find festive home decor, gift wrap, stocking fillers and more!

I’ve been busy with fairs for the past couple of weekends, but now I’m done for the year. My best fair was a small Christmas coffee morning in Great Brington; a lovely collection of quality makers and lots of customers!

Currently, I’m working on keeping my Etsy shop stocked in the run up to Christmas. My newest makes are up there, these beautiful cherry blossom A6 notebooks:

cherry-blossom-notebook-a6-two

As well as these, I’m trying out some of my slogan notebooks. I’ve sold my prototype ‘GOOD IDEAS’ notebook, but plan to make more of the same, plus some personalised versions:

p1050383

Etsy store aside, I’ve started planning for 2017! I’ll have a full plan in the New Year; look out for my post with dates of fairs, promotions and events.

cf-mini-logo

Categories
Craft Gifts Origami Paper

Handmade Paper Goodness – First anniversary gifts

 

Origami paper flowers

There’s a different theme for every anniversary. I just Googled it to see. It’s CONFUSING. Who’d have thought? There seems to be UK/USA/traditional/modern…

Now, I’ve been married 5 years, and I’ve tried to get something appropriate for each year; and to be honest, I pick and mix from all the lists I’ve found. However it does seem that out of the various suggestions, paper is generally the winner for the first wedding anniversary.

It’s an easy one to do yourself. A couple of the easiest ideas would be:

  • Make a card! Handmade is lovely to receive, and if you’re ever going to do it, this is the occasion for it.
  • Write a letter! Everyone loves post, and a letter to your other half celebrating a year of marriage would make an amazing gift.

…and if you’re not up for that, then of course the lovely crafters of the world have got your back.

I put together this treasury on Etsy to give you same idea of what’s out there:

First anniversary treasury

If you don’t already know, paper is my main medium! And, as it happens, I’ve just launched a range of handmade first anniversary gifts over in my Etsy store. I’ve made origami coasters/vase mats, miniature hardback books with coloured pages and some paper bead necklaces. I’ll be adding to my collection over the next week or so – look out for more paper bead jewellery, origami flower keepsakes and more!

Ombre beads in box

Categories
Craft Gifts Inspiration Notebooks Stationery

Argh! Panic! Last minute Father’s Day ideas

Father’s Day is Sunday 19th June – that’s THIS SUNDAY people – and if you haven’t got anything yet, there’s not much time left!

If you’re thinking of ordering something handmade made from Etsy or Folky, I’d say you’ve got until Wednesday 15th to guarantee delivery in time. And if you’re not sure what to get, never fear! The internet is here to help!

Any online store will have a search facility, and of course that’s the ideal place to start; but head on over to Esty and they have a Treasury section. This is where lovely Etsy members have done the hard work for you and hand picked a selection of relevant goodies. For example:

Father's Day treasury

You can also head over to Folksy and take a peek at their Father’s Day Gift Guide. I really like this Superhero Report:

Dad's Superhero report

This Beer Time key ring/bottle opener:

Beer Time

And this fancy schmancy Shaving Bowl:

Shaving Bowl

Last of all, what kind of craft business woman would I be if I didn’t plug my own shop a wee bit? I’ve got a range of compact hand-bound notebooks in my Etsy store, perfect for the back pocket of your dad’s jeans. My favourite is this one here which fastens using a pencil – so you’ve always got something to write with to hand:

Dad's pocket notebook

I hope that’s given you last-minuters some good ideas! And if you really leave it too late, take him out for ice cream 😀

 

Categories
Craft Gifts Inspiration

New talent on etsy

Etsy

There’s so much talent online at the moment it can be a bit overwhelming when searching for handmade things. Making your brand stand out can be a real challenge, especially when you’re just starting out. Having opened my own etsy shop at the end of January, I know how hard it can be; so I thought it would be a nice idea to give a shout out to other people in the same situation!

Here, then, are a handful of recently opened etsy shops – show them some love and support! I got a huge response in my request to feature on here and couldn’t include everyone (much as I’d have liked to!), so at the bottom you’ll find a ‘further reading’ list 🙂

  • Homespun Wonders – this mother-and-daughter team create beautiful knitted, crocheted, felted and embroidered things. They have quite a range up there so grap  cup of tea and go take a look!
  • Rosie Freckles makes baby quilts and play mats as well as very pretty notice boards. I really like the whole look of this shop; the name and logo fits really well and compliments the range of products sold.
  • Wee Sleepy Bee Crafts is super cute. My favourite items are the kawaii puffy star charms. Oh and the mermaids. And the ponys! And… well, most things really.

Mermaids

  • The Crafty Red Button shop sells quality envelopes and letter sets – really unique and interesting! There are some sweet buttony items too 🙂
  • Slada Home does ‘pretty little things for your home’. And they certainly are. There are just a few things in stock at the moment but I can’t wait to see more!

Illustration

  • Ip Dip Design is home to fun, colourful prints sporting fun slogans like ‘When in doubt doodle it out’ and ‘Creative Cat Lady at work’ (yep, that’s me!). The lettering on these are superb, the layouts and designs original and fun. Keep up the good work!
  • Over at Makka Beads you’ll find some unusual and wonderfully detailed beaded delights. Clearly a lot of hard work goes into these creations.
  • Silvicultrix Shop has the start of what will clearly be a fantastic range of illustrations. The style is very personal and unique, and though there are only a few up at the moment, the style and quality of these means they’re sure to take off.

Dragonfly

  • Canvas Magic by Melanie creates beautiful hand-lettered canvases, wall art and more. Her style is really beautiful and she offers custom orders too!

And the rest… well worth checking out and sorry I didn’t have time to write about all of you… but crafting calls!

www.elistonbutton.etsy.com

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/byLiiL

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/KayeHTextiles

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/POGOandCo

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MADEtoPLAN

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/AtlanticRose

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/OlofsonSkincare

www.oscarblaiseart.etsy.com

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/HazImagination

www.biscuitandsusie.etsy.com

www.etsy.com/shop/ooodledoodle

penguinspaperchains.etsy.com

Www.littlebluegirlco.etsy.com

www.pixiesmagichook.etsy.com

Moongazerglass.etsy.com

www.DeborahBeckJewellery.etsy.com

http://etsy.me/1SkmKIW

https://www.etsy.com/ie/shop/matildasworld15

www.maggiebaggagemakes.etsy.com

Categories
Craft Gifts Origami Paper

Last minute Valentine’s Day gifts

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, there’s not much time left to order your gifts! There’s a range of handmade goodies over at my Valentine’s page. As Valentine’s Day is on a Sunday this year, I suggest ordering by Monday Feb 8th to guarantee getting your items on time.