Based on the way Heather started her question, I guess it bears repeating that we love to receive reader questions and suggestions at The Artful Crafter.

Our motto is, “The Artful Crafter – Helping Crafters to Be”.

In the September newsletter, I coined a word to describe my crafting style – multi-crafter. I love to try new crafts and research your questions.

Since launching The Artful Crafter over three years ago, my readers have given me the impetus to try many new craft forms – from Homecoming Mums to Polymer Clay.

Some I have absolutely fallen in love with – like Digital Scrapbooking and Wire-Sculpted Jewelry.

And where I don’t have the tools or time to become an expert on crafts that require years of training and very specialized equipment – like kiln-firing handmade ceramics or making dichroic glass – we’ve now got a bevy of contributing experts to answer your questions.

So please, keep the inquiries coming in. We love to hear from you!

If you would like to see what’s going on at The Artful Crafter more frequently than this monthly newsletter allows, please visit The Artful Crafter blog and mark it as one of your favorites.

Thank you for subscribing to “The Artful Crafter Digest”. As always, your comments, suggestions and questions are welcome.

For Ease of Reading

If your copy of this newsletter is difficult to read, please go to the the archived version to see it in its original (intended) format.

Eileen

Join in: Be Published on The Artful Crafter, Win Prizes & Have Fun!

As I said above, The Artful Crafter’s motto is “The Artful Crafter – Helping Crafters to Be”. We have over 700 pages of craft ideas and craft business ideas – perhaps 90% of them authored by yours truly. I’ve also been honored to advise "crafters on starting up their own home-based business as well as helping to solve their crafting problems.

I’d like to turn our motto around and ask our readers to get in on the fun. But I wouldn’t ask you to do it for nothing. We’re running a contest for the Best Craft Idea.

The best craft idea will win a $50 Amazon Gift Certificate. If your idea is accepted for publication, we will send you a link to Your Page (at your option) that you can share with friends and family.

Browse around the other ideas submitted and add your comments. Reader feedback will be a factor in choosing the winner. I look forward to seeing your terrific craft ideas! Contest ends midnight November 15.

It’s Homecoming Mum Season!

If you’re looking for Homecoming Mum how-tos, I want to tell you that The Artful Crafter has the largest selection on the Internet – bar none. The Artful Crafter was named one of the top three Homecoming Mums websites by Yahoo Buzz two years ago. Our definitive article on Homecoming Mums currently appears in Wikipedia.

I wish Yahoo did a ranking every year because I’m sure we’ve moved up to # 1. We’ve added about 50 new pages in the interim!

You’ll find the basic directions for assembling a mum corsage, illustrated directions for various love chain weaves, directions for weaving lights into your corsage, even directions for making a garter for your guy. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, please write and ask for it.

We don’t sell the supplies; but we tell you where to find them.

We don’t sell the finished mums; we tell you how to make your own.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Southwestern tradition of outsize, outrageous, out-of-this-world Homecoming Mum corsages, we even have that covered.

What Else is New on The Artful Crafter This Month?

Advanced Tips for Open Door Cards - Paper cutting and scoring tips.

Raster vs. Vector Images - Understanding these basic image types will help you with all your computer graphic work – from attaching pictures to e-mails to creating gorgeous digital scrapbook pages.

Perspective - Some insights on perspective and optical illusions can help you improve the (perceived) quality of your paper crafting.

Make Your Own Digital Scrapbook Embellishments - a how-to.

Homecoming Mum Home Business Advice - How to price your craft work.

Scan Smartly - How to determine the “correct” scanning resolution.

Tips for Painting a Tot’s Toy Box - Safety first; durability second.

Reader Letter of the Month

Hi!

I just found your site and I am loving all the ideas and tips for starting a craft business. I just have a couple of questions, if that's ok.

First, I'm thinking of starting a craft business, but I have scattered interests and several ideas ... how do you focus in on what to center your business around? Most articles I've found assume you already know your product.

Also, I'm passionate about crafting and passionate about starting my own business, but I also want to be realistic. You've obviously been successful in your crafting business - do you think it is feasible for a person to create a profitable craft business?

I'd love to hear the story of your craft business and how it came about.

Thanks so much for your wonderful and informative site!

Holli

You just made my day! Thank you so much for your compliments on The Artful Crafter. You’ll find the story of how my craft business came to be.

You’ve probably noticed that I have scattered interests too. I haven’t yet found “my product”. In fact I don’t think there is only one.

What I focus on is The Market. I try to gauge what The Market wants at any point in time. This has garnered me much repeat business and a lot of good word-of-mouth.

I can’t count how many new customers come to me saying, “I want (you name it) and so-and-so told me ‘Eileen can make that for you’.” So, do I think it is feasible for a person to create a profitable craft business? Do I really need to answer that?

Good luck!