Creative Crafting Magazine

Well, we are already a week into the year 2014 and some exciting changes are already happening! As well as creating and selling jewellery and accessories, I am also the Technical Editor of Creative Crafting Magazine. (original post)

Creative Crafting magazine began in August/September 2009 when a group of crafting friends on the Creative Connections Crafters 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.  You can find this issue on our back issues page.
This issue was welcomed by the community and subsequent issues have followed. The magazine attracts worldwide readers and its popularity is growing rapidly. The most popular issue so far has been the February/Valentines issue which received over 66,000 unique page views in its first two months until the next issue was published. All of our issues are still online to be discovered today and we look forward to creating many more.You can find all of our issues up to number 23 free to read on our site. All later issues are available for purchase both in digital and printed format.

You can purchase our Christmas Issue here!  

For this coming year we have some BIG NEWS!

We had an editorial meeting at Creative Crafting HQ on Monday 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 (sprinks@creative-crafting.com) (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.

There is LOTS to look forward to.

Ageeeeees!

It's been ages since I updated my blog. Sorry :( I've been really busy with Creative Crafting Magazine, getting the site ready, re-launching Creative Connections who we are now proudly sponsored by WowThankYou.

Creative Crafting Online Magazine is now on its 6th Issue, the Summer Edition! You can read it below. Click the magazine to view in full screen.

We have now brought the magazine and the network together. So Creative Crafting and Creative Connections are now one, although on two sites! On Creative Crafting you can view all the magazines projects, interviews, recipes from back issues, and on Creative Connections, network with fellow crafter's, upload your recent projects, host chat events, more! 

On the Sprinkles Sparkles side of business, we have recently had an order from a company for lots and lots of mobile phone charms! I won't mention who as it might spoil the surprise for some of you at Christmas. But I'm really chuffed to been asked to do the order. 

I've also just today had a commission to re-string some gorgeous freshwater pearls. I'm just waiting for the pearls to be dropped off here, so I can start work on them. 

I decided to take two days off, well, Saturday and Sunday, so yesterday I just chilled out, and today I started on Sprinkles Sparkles 'Zip Zip' range. This is a new venture for Sprinkles Sparkles. It's not jewellery, but lovely homeware gifts.

Here is what I made today (sorry about the picture. I took it with my mobile phone to show you all) 

It's a little sewing bag for all your sewing accessories.
The fabric is so scrummy!

I hope you all enjoyed your weekend. I enjoyed my two days off, even though I still ended up doing work!

Great Advertising.... pass it on!

The next issue of Creative Crafting magazine is going to include a colourful crafters directory with click through links to everyones websites. It's only £2 for a text link with a description and a button straight to your website. Please join in and grab some cheap advertising (the last issue had over 66,000 views in 2 months) and also to support the team that brings you the magazine. Despite rising costs to produce lets aim to keep our free community magazine available.

You can book your slot on the Creative Crafting Website

Please post this on your blogs and twitter about it, pass it on in any way that you can.

Thank you

Creative Crafting Magazine - Easter Edition

Creative Crafting Magazine is OUT NOW! 

This is our 4 issue, with the focus on Easter. 

Check it out here!
Click on the magazine to view it full screen for a better read.

This issue we have two competitions.
1. To win an A5 advert in the next issue of the magazine.
and
2. Win the egg cup candles featured in the candle make, kindly donated by Sweet Scented Soy.

Read the magazine to find out how to enter!

We also welcome 3 new contributors to the magazine
Amy - Amyorangejuice http://www.amyorangejuice.co.uk
Trevor - Trev's Carvings https://sites.google.com/site/tl2sculpture
Dianne - Heartmade Gifts https://www.heartmadegifts.wordpress.com

If you would like to contribute to the next magazine, we will be focusing on Father's Day. So any features, makes, etc will be strongly considered. Please contact sprinks[@]creative-crafting.com

(please remove the [] before sending!)

We also have advertising space available. We are working on our media pack, that will give you all the information you need to know about advertising with us. 

Hope you enjoy the read!

Until next time, 

Sprinks xx

Happy New Year!

from Sprinkles Sparkles!

I hope everyone had a lovely new year celebration. whether they stayed at home, went to friends, or went out partying!

I went out, into Reading, for my new year celebration, only to come back at 10:30pm armed with burger and chips, as the whole 'being out' surrounded by lots of people, was starting to bring on an anxiety attack.  But, to be honest, I had the best time just slouched in front of the TV, watching Russel Howard on BBC3, then switching over to ITV to watch Big Ben strike 12.

During December, Sprinkles Sparkles Online got hacked into! I lost everything on the database, and had to start again. So during the Christmas holidays, I started making a new website. It's up and running - Sprinkles Sparkles Online! - but there are still a couple of teething issues with it, and as January progresses, more stock will be added!

We are also making a start on the February/March, Valentine & Mothers Day, Creative Crafting Magazine. This will be available to read from the 1st of February.

Like with everything and anything, we have had fantastic feedback, and also criticisms.  If you have any feedback for the team, good or bad,  please email us!
We are finding it very difficult to trawl though lots of forums to find out about your impressions of the magazine! :) Although, Man of the Month, seems to have created great feedback!

We will start to expand on many more crafts over the next coming issues to make sure everyone's craft doesn't feel left out!
We started off with a small team of jewellers, knitters, and crocheters, so the features and articles were based around those crafts. In the coming issue we will have a card maker, so you will be able to learn how to make a Valentines card for your loved ones.

That's all for now folks! Enjoy your day, and lets all make 2010 a better one!

Sprinks xx