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Did you set any goals for your crafting this year?

Do you need to set challenges for yourself in order to push the artistic envelope? I sure do. I guess I’m totally goal-driven. If I don’t have a deadline, gift to make, customer order or commission, is just doesn’t get done.

In January, I picked a phrase for myself: One-Hour-a-Day Art. It was supposed to mean one hour a day dedicated to creating art for myself - just things I truly want to do.

How has it worked? About as well as could be expected, which means I actually did it about 30 days out of 180. lol.

My personal art accomplishments this year: I

• Started doodling,
• Entered several art inspiration and layout challenges,
• Picked up watercoloring again,
• Made a bunch of hybrid cards and learned new papercraft techniques courtesy of Jessica Sprague,
• Designed some digital products.

I wonder if I could possibly make up the hours I am short of my goal in the second half of the year. Ya think?

How about you? Did you set an artistic goal for the year? If so, how are you doing?

BIG NEWS: The Artful Crafter Flickr Members Gallery went live last month. Woohoo!

To get in on the fun, join The Artful Crafter and then contact me for a Members Gallery invitation. Once approved, you’ll be able to send photos to the Members Gallery from you own Flickr account to share with one and all.

When your photos are viewed in the Members Gallery, other members can:

• View them,
• Leave comments, and
• Click on over to your own Flickr account (which is especially nice if you have craft items to sell like Teresa who is featured in the Reader Letter of the Month below).

For MORE BIG NEWS, be sure to read about Free For All Fridays, a new weekly feature at The Artful Crafter blog.

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

Please read on for all the fun details.

Eileen

New Articles Added Last Month

Getting Started in a Home Based Craft Business - It’s hard to know where to begin when you’re new to something. Here’s some craft business advice from one who’s been there.

Red Hat Card - Here’s how to create a Red Hat card or a cowboy hat card for a child’s birthday party, or a ladies hat card for a luncheon or afternoon tea … or – well, you get the idea.

Do You Tablescape? - News of more tablescapers … I hope some of them will join our Flickr Members Gallery. It just fascinates me to see the wonderful fantasies which competitive tablescapers create.

Doodling Around - Kids are natural doodlers. Perhaps yours can teach you a thing or two. How about a family doodlethon?

Free For All Fridays

Fridays at The Artful Crafter blog are now Free For All Fridays.

We’ve featured some fantastic prizes and free downloads:

Several bundles of scrapbooking/card making supplies from Blue Moon Scrapbooking; and a Beautiful Batch of Stones from Mama's Minerals;
Lots of crafting books on topics from beading to knitting to crafting with tin; and
Free downloads from eBooks on all types of crafting to digital products you can use in your scrapbooking, card making or mixed media art.

Mark you calendar and be sure to stop by The Artful Crafter blog each Friday or become a Follower so you’re automatically alerted to all new posts.

Reader Letter of the Month: How to Make Homecoming Chains

I sell an e-book on how to make 10 different Homecoming Chains and was wondering how to get listed on your site.

I love this site and visit it often!!

Teresa

Thank you.

You have terrific timing! I just set up The Artful Crafter Flickr Members Gallery group page and added a folder for Homecoming Mums plus related things like weaves.

If you become a member of The Artful Crafter, I can send you a group invitation for the Members Gallery. Then just send your photos from your own Flickr account to the Members Gallery. That way, your personal contact info will be available for viewers to click on and find you.

Be sure to load a photo of your book. That will be the best way to let viewers know you’re offering it for sale.

You can join The Artful Crafter at the bottom of any page on the website.

I’ll be blogging about Homecoming Mums more as homecoming season approaches, so you might want to sign up to follow The Artful Crafter blog. You can comment on a related post and mention your book. There again, people will be able to click on your name and find your website to order.

Now why didn’t I think of writing that book?! Lol. Good luck with it.