Free Craft Supplies

Do companies offer free craft products to the general public for testing?

In going down a very long list of unread e-mails, (close to 800); I ran across this one for The Artful Crafter Newsletter and decided to check it out and save it.

A while back, I received the first crafts book from your club.

As I was determined to send it back; I requested a mailing label (which, by the way never came). Anyhow, I browsed through it and decided that there were indeed some of the crafts that I'd like to try to make ... especially the garden crafts and picture frames.

Although by no means anywhere near being a professional; I am an avid gardener from spring through autumn. Let's just say I'm an advanced garden hobbyist (mostly veggies). I love flower gardening as well. Have lots of rose bushes. I'm also experimenting with herbs as I love to use them (especially the rosemary) in my cooking.

Recently, I sent in the full payment of $11 for the first book.

Although I realize any future craft books will cost more; I am willing to try maybe another one or two of them, provided they are not too expensive. (I live on a limited means of income).

With my payment; I enclosed a paper sent to me to fill out my crafting interests. Although I've done precious few of them; I am willing to learn.

So, please ... if you will; add me to your testing of craft products; I would very much appreciate it.

I realize that as a company; you have to make money. I would very much like to learn some new crafts.

However, I realize too that this crafting thing can get quite expensive. Anyhow, I'd like to give it a shot...so if you would please send me your first crafting project; I will be looking forward to getting started on it.

Thank you for your attention and may God bless...

Mary

It's nice to hear from you. I always enjoy learning what's on my readers' minds.

The Artful Crafter doesn't have a book club. In fact the only products we sell are my original patterns for tote bags, fabric bread baskets, etc.

We're a free online magazine which carries advertising to keep us going.

When you received the craft book, did it come with any literature about the club? That way you could track back to the providing company.

Crafter's Choice is the largest crafting book club I know of which covers a wide variety of crafts.

I would be very interested to learn of a craft book club which offers its members the opportunity to test craft products. Just make sure before you send any money for "shipping and handling" or any type of fee for the privilege, that the company is legitimate.

Some work from home companies run scams like that. You can read the warning signs in this article on Crafts Kits by Barbara Brabec.

If you browse around The Artful Crafter website, you'll find tons of craft tutorials that can be made for next to nothing - often using materials you already have around the house.

If you send me an idea of the type of crafts you're interested in trying, I can direct you to beginner's articles to get you started.

In the meantime, here is our general  Craft Ideas page.

Further, in the left column of the Home Page you'll find our Craft Topic Index - from beading and candles to wall coverings and wood working. I hope you enjoy browsing through them.

I don't have much time for gardening anymore. The Artful Crafter takes most of my time - lucky me!

But I used to have an extensive vegetable garden. I loved trying to grow things that most home gardeners would avoid. I had asparagus, strawberries, even potatoes one year. I still grow herbs because they're so easy and there's nothing quite like snipping off some fresh sprigs and dropping them right into the pot.

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