Design Team Call

Get Crafty with Creative Connections Monthly Craft Challenge is going to re open in June. The Get Crafty Challenge is open for everyone to enter.

But we need a design team to make samples of each challenge before the challenge goes live. So this is the month to look for new Design Team Members and May is the month for them to settle in. 

So do you have what it takes? 

Could you be on the new all improved Get Crafty with Creative Connections Monthly Craft Challenge Design Team? 

Requirements:

• You must be a member of Creative Connections this is 100% mandatory. It is FREE to join, and you can join here
• You must participate in the Get Crafty Craft Challenge, the challenges are monthly, and we do understand that life and business gets in the way at times, but please just let us know if you are going to miss one please don't just disappear.
• Please provide pictures of anything that you create for the Get Crafty Challenge to be used on the Get Crafty Challenge blog.  
• You must post your Get Crafty Challenge pictures on your blogs, site, Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Pinterest with links back to the Get Crafty Challenge. 
• You must promote the Get Crafty Challenge any way that you can online or offline. 

What's In It For Me: 

• An opportunity to show off your work, this can be stuff made to sell or your own personal items. 
• Links to your blog, shop, or site from our Get Crafty Challenge blog's and the Get Crafty Challenge Pinterest board. 
• Access to our private Get Crafty Challenge Design Team Group
• Opportunity to be part of a lovely supportive team 
• The right to proudly display the Get Crafty Challenge Design Team Member badge on your blog, site or anywhere else you are on the internet. 

Any More Information:

• There is no time limit on being a Design Team Member, you can be a member for however long you want to be or leave whenever you want to leave.
• If you do want to leave then please just email Kerry to let her know so that we can find a replacement.
• We are looking for Design Team Members covering all crafts that Creative Connections covers, papercrafts, jewellery, cards, patchworkers, toy makers, glass work, wood work, fashion, gifts, wedding, baby and child if you are a member of Creative Connections you are entitled to be on the Design Team.
• This design team call is open to Creative Connections members who run their own businesses or who just craft as a hobby. 
• All design team applications will be reviewed and a response sent out at the end of the month
• We are looking to fill 15 Design Team spots 
• This Design Team Call will stay open until midnight on the 20th of April 2014 
• All successful applicants will be notified by the 25th April 2014 at the latest. 

So are you still interested? 

Want to know how to apply? 

• Applications are via email, in this email please include a little information about yourself.
• Your crafting style, and any links to blogs, sites or shops that you may have. 
• Pictures of three examples of your work

Please email scrapbookerry@gmail.com

And GOOD LUCK! 

Louise @ Elsie May and Bertha

I've called this Louise @ Elsie May and Bertha as people sometimes that I'm called Elsie May or Bertha. In fact, these were my two grandmothers, Elsie May Hancock and Bertha Hodson. The name  popped into my head one day when I was trying to think of a name to call my 'shop', I'd gone through lots of names, many of which were already taken. So Elsie May and Bertha (EM&B) it was.

I've been making things for as long as I can remember using a mixture of sewing and knitting. I've now added paper crafting to those two, and attempting crochet, but I don't have enough time for that really (a poor excuse I know).

I've been selling my wares under the EM&B banner since October 2010 after I'd taken voluntary redundancy from work (I have chronic fatigue so I went before I was made too). I sell via my website, Folksy and vintage/craft fairs. The latter are really good for meeting like-minded people and puts names to faces that I follow on Twitter and Facebook.

I really enjoy being able to spend my days (when I can) creating lovely things. I'm especially keen on reusing things and a lot of my stash has come from charity shops and I love coming up with new ways to use something that someone else didn't want.

I've not been able to make any kind of living from my making, as yet (where are all those sale?), so have had a considerable drop in lifestyle, but I do get to make things every day! Some thing are worth more than money (but don't tell the bank manager that!).

I don't really have one style, as I tend to make either for someone specific or to use a specific item from my stash, so the style can depend on that.

I have started to branch out into more arty things, creating collages out of fabrics and/or paper and I participated in my first art exhibition this may. I'm looking forward to doing more of this kind of work.

I really enjoy being a member of the Monthly Challenge design team, I like the discipline of having a deadline to work to. I have quite a few things waiting to be completed in my work basket! I am also looking forward to seeing the things that people make for the different challenges. The ones we've judged so far have been really difficult because of the standard of the entries.

TTFN 
Louise

Who am I? The Old Button Undone

So who, or what is The Old Button? Inspired by a box of old buttons my grandmother gave me as a child, I have to admit I have a love-hate relationship with the name.

On the love side, it's short, cute and fairly memorable. And it sounds a bit retro.  But on the hate side it makes me sound ancient - ok I am approaching the half century but I am still young at heart. It begins with "T" so it is always towards the end of an alphabetical search. And worse of all - I don't sell buttons!  Not exactly what it says on the tin which seems to go against all I advice I've since read about developing your brand. But I've grown attached to it so it is here to stay.

What to say about me?

I've been designing and making things since I was a little girl and needed more clothes for my Sindy dolls. Luckily Sindy is more forgiving than her high maintenance cousin - Barbie - and was more than happy to wear my "Sarongs" - aka clumsy wrap rounds with ribbon belts. She didn't even complain when I made her wear my latest "Dress" design - two "t" shaped scraps sewn together with huge stitches and a neck hole so small I had to pull off her head before I could get it on.

Luckily both my skills and technique developed and as a teenager I made some of my own clothes and "improved" others - despite what my teenage daughter thinks - customising clothes isn't a new thing. Unfortunately this was during 70s and 80s and both my taste and style was severely compromised - think bright pink polka dot ra-ra skirt with matching boob tube. Or wide leg jeans turned into drainpipes by taking in the inside seam - looked fabulous if worn with an oversized t-shirt to hide the baggy bottom. But I got through this and graduated onto evening dresses, cushions and curtains and even designed and made my own wedding dress. Wish I was still that slim...

.... fast forward a number of years. I live in South Wales with my fabulous husband, two gorgeous children that love performing and two pesky cats. Our house is an under-maintained Edwardian semi that my poor parents keep nagging us about and a lovely garden that I sadly don't spend enough time in. I work part time as a Financial Resources Manager in the NHS and have a second "job" as Mum's taxi. My "me" time is reading, sewing and designing - I make stage costumes as well as gifts for children and the home - and more recently I've discovered I love writing blogs.

I am really looking forward to sharing some of my ideas and inspiration with you and finding out what you are all up to.

Sharon- The Old Button

Who is Maelotti

Many people have asked where the name comes from and I can tell you it is not Italian it is actually the names of my two grandmas, May and Lotti. In 2011 I set up a website to display my creations and showcase my husbands art, which in 2012 had a shop added as requests were coming in.
Recently I have had some of the artwork converted into cross stitch patterns which are now available on my website.

So, about the person behind it all. My name is Claire and I cant remember a time when I didn't do some form of craft. From a young age my grandma, May, used to spend time with me teaching me to knit, crochet and make pompoms, lol.

About 20 years ago I started making the occasional card and it spiraled from there. Know i cross stitch, make bobbin lace, glass paint and have recently began to draw under my husbands tuition (he is a teacher of fine art) I have a passion for anything that sparkles so jewellery seemed the next best thing for me to make. Silver Angel started after I had made a necklace for a gift and then was asked if i could make another.

I now live on the Suffolk coast with my wonderful husband, Phil who puts up with all of my crafting stash. Our two beautiful children Keianna and Reggie, our dog Angus and new addition of Misti the kitten. 

I am pleased to be on the design team and am looking forward to seeing all of your creations.I am still fairly new blogging, but I hope you enjoy my creations, some of which may not be quite as planned. 

Claire
xx

Who is Nikki K?

Who am I?  Now there's a question.

I'm Nikki K, passionate about mixed media, stamping, resin jewellery and polymer clay.  Owner of Fairy Elephant Design, where my jewellery started.  The name came from my mum, she used to shout it at me as I ran up the stairs at home when I was young. 

I've recently decided to expand and show my other loves, and let people see 'me', - stop hiding behind the elephant if you like!  So here I am, Nikki K.

The painting above sums me up really, nothing but a dreamer!

I live in the Midlands with my husband, dog Luna, and cat Magic.  I'm an IT Technician four days a week, and get to run my business mainly on Monday's, weekends and evenings. 

I'm pleased to join the Get Crafty team here on the new blog, and to be a contributor.  I hope to bring you randomness, humour, and lot's of tutorials, and look forward to hearing what you would like to learn from us here.

Best Wishes,

Nikki K.
x

noodleBubble ...Who am I?

Who Am I ? 

*Sits at cluttered desk twirling a curl round a biro* 

WHO am I??? 

oooh. 

 I feel a bit like I need to be locked in a high school on a Saturday morning with Judd Nelson & Molly Ringwald for this one (If you’re too young to remember  The Breakfast Club just stop reading now- I have nothing to offer you. Honestly! GO! ...& take your youthful elastic skin with you)

So Fact One…  I never quite left the 80’s.

*stares out of the window* hours pass…  It goes dark.

Next day at same untidy desk .

*dunks biscuit in tea* Sorry, do you want one? *proffers packet*

Do you want the truth? I have the concentration span of a gnat.  Hate talking about myself & even worse *shudders* photos of myself…luckily I’ve discovered an app on my phone that makes you look less like yourself…

I’m noodleBubble aka Lisa… I’m a full time felt fiddler and button collector. I always have a book on the go. Adore a charity shop rummage. Throwing things away causes extreme distress so I don’t do it often. I sell my work online, in a few shops and at the occasional fair. I also sell supplies online. I enjoy working at home but do find that I miss the watercooler moments that going out to work provides. For this reason I embraced social media… and seemingly forgot to let go… I WASTE spend a vast amount of time on Twitter… Look me up & say Hi…. @noodleBubble on Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Words with friends…  

Thanks for reading

noodleBubble

X

And Here's To The Beginning!

So as you can see there have been a few changes around here.

We used to be the Creative Connections Monthly Craft Challenge, and were held on the 1st of every month over on the Creative Connections Network but we had a little jig about and decided that a change was long over due.

So we moved the challenge, we renamed it and we got the design team more involved.

And...

Get Crafty With Creative Connections was born!

This isn't JUST about the challenge. The challenge is still happening, it will be posted on this blog every month, on the first of the month with a nice linky on the post so you can all join in. Nothing has changed there, except the place it is hosted.

But this blog is about more than just the challenge.

It is a place for all of our Design Team to be regular contributors. We will all be writing posts and tutorials and showing you, our readers, our inspirations.

But it will also be a place for us to help you. Got a crafty question then send it over, as we may just be able to help.

It will also be a place for the winners of the Get Crafty Challenge to show of their talents by having the opportunity of doing a guest post themselves!

So there will be lots of things happening. So keep your eyes peeled. Get following via email or the Google Friend Connector on the side of the blog and lets get this party started!

Kerry