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I wonder if anyone notices when my monthly newsletter is late. Most of us are so busy that we tend to pay little attention unless some critical e-mail is late - like a bank statement, order information or family news we’re anxious to hear.

Whether you noticed or not, I’ve been late with the newsletter two months in a row. Shame on me ;-(

Between travel, home remodeling, holidays and family illnesses, I’ve been struggling to keep up. Things are a bit calmer now and I’m looking forward to my favorite time of year.

My mother always used to say, "Better late than never", so here it is. Even though The Artful Crafter newsletter is a few days late, I hope you enjoy it.

If the holidays have you in a tizzy, why not take a break. Tell the family you need some "me" time; pour yourself a warm cup of tea or whatever and take a look at what we have for you on The Artful Crafter this month.

We have some new projects on site as usual. Plus you’ll find lots of other holiday projects to inspire you in our Holiday Craft Ideas Section.

Best wishes,
Eileen

New Articles

• Decorate Ornaments with Poinsettia Wired Ribbons - Dress up some Christmas ornaments with this quick and easy project.

• Mail Art - Have you heard of mail art yet? It’s yet another way to spread your creative wings and some creative joy.

• More Mail Art - Look at the beautiful mail art I received from Joyce at Calico Paint.

• It’s Raining Crafty Goodness at Right as Rain - Whether you’re in the mood for crafting or buying someone else’s handmade items, at Right as Rain all proceeds go to charity. Help make a Merry Christmas for someone who has suffered a tragedy.

• Hello Fabulous and Crafty Rainmakers - CEO Sarah Dale reported the fantastic results from Right as Rain’s 1st fundraising effort. Chelsea Meythaler will now be able to get some much-needed equipment to help her walk again after a tragic accident.

• Kids’ Craft Project: Mosaic Tile Mural - Read about this ambitious fund raising project a group of moms is planning to do with their first graders.

• Work-at-Home Opportunities for Crafters - Do you know of any legitimate craft companies that will pay you to assemble their crafts?

• Every Bead Has a Story - Review of Chapter 4 of Cyndi Lavin’s beautifully illustrated mixed media bead embroidery eBook.

What Makes Crafty Bloggers Tick?

Have you ever thought about starting a craft blog?

We get to craft; we photograph; we write; we learn to program and write links; sometimes we whine or rant a bit. We get to connect with other craft lovers all over the world.

It’s a lot of fun and a lot of work. What keeps us going or makes us wanna quit? Let some of my craft blogging friends tell you why they do it.

Here are some answers from the very talented Creative Dreamer June Crawford and The Impatient Crafter Margot Potter.

Reader Inquiries

We get a lot of mail at The Artful Crafter - mostly for help with specific projects or finding supplies. Here are a few samples.

• Make Your Own Wallpaper Border and How to create a Smooth Finish on Glass Decoupage
• Finding Glass Plates for Découpage and How to Turn a Poster into a Faux Oil Painting

Do you have any questions for the Artful Crafter?

Contact us by clicking here.

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