Read on for the March 2007 issue of the Crafty Goat newsletter, which includes contest winners, an announcement about the CraftyGoat.com monthly contest, and plenty of spring cheer.

CONTEST NEWS

Dan S. of Olathe, Kansas, and Carole J. of Baldwin, New York, were the latest winners in CraftyGoat.com’s monthly sweepstakes. Dan won a $25 Gift Certificate, and Carole won a year’s worth of cards. Congratulations to both of them!

Today is the last day to enter the March contest for a $25 Gift Certificate. Visit http://www.craftygoat.com/entry.php.

Also, this is our last monthly sweepstakes for a while. The store is long overdue for a makeover, and we don’t want to be worrying about losing contest entries while we’re making site changes. We will have contests in the future, though they’ll probably be on a less frequent basis. Stay tuned to the Crafty Goat newsletter or our blog to get notification of future contests.

SPRING TIME IS HERE

Order right away if you need Easter cards before next Sunday. If you want, we’ll even hand-write a message and send the card directly to the recipient — just put their address and your preferred message in the order comments field. See our Easter cards here: http://craftygoat.com/get/easter

And if you’re a gardener, then this is an exciting time of year for you. Why not keep notes about all your planting projects in this handy garden-themed notepad: http://craftygoat.com/product_info.php/products_id/122

NEW PRODUCTS

Check out what’s new on CraftyGoat.com:

• Jeans Pocket Birthday Card
• Hemp Necklace with “Leather” Flower

RECENT POSTS ON OUR BLOG

Our blog, Crafty Goat’s Notes, gives tips on crafts and crafting. Here are some of the topics we’ve covered in the past month:

• Make your Own Mobile Crafting Station
• Video: Altered Clipboard in Action
• Using Rubber Cement the Right Way
• Testing Clay for Fun & Profit

The blog address is: http://blog.craftygoat.com

Posted in: CraftyGoat.com News | TrackBacks (1)

While I was working on my latest hemp project, I thought it'd be fun to show my "mobile crafting station" in action. This is my first attempt at video, so let me know if you have suggestions.

Also, in case you need it for this project or any other, here's a print-quality ruler image [926K] from that measuring tape I scanned in.

Posted in: Hemp Jewelry , Videos | Comments (7)

Here's how to turn your boring-looking, utilitarian clipboard into something that's great to look at and totally useful. While I was specifically thinking about hemp projects when I altered my clipboard, there's no reason this wouldn't work just as well for paper crafts or anything else you want to take along with you.

Step 1: Make it Pretty

ModPodge works great if you want to cover the clipboard with decorative papers. Just brush one layer of ModPodge onto the clipboard, trim the papers to size, then adhere the papers and brush another layer of ModPodge on top.

Of course, decoupage isn't the only option for making it pretty. Paint it, stamp it, add photos -- whatever you like!

Step 2: Add a Thing-Holder

Pill boxes with screw-on lids work great for keeping beads, jewelry findings, or eyelets handy while you work. Don't want to permanently glue it on? Try using super-strong magnets. I have a magnet on the inside of my plastic pill box, and it still holds firmly to the clip.

Step 3: Add a Bag

Need a place for slightly larger things like scissors, ink pads, or markers? Use velcro strips to add a makeup bag to the back of the clipboard. It gives you some nice extra storage -- but you can still have a flat surface if you want one. Just be sure to use the fuzzy side of the velcro on the clipboard so you don't scratch things (like your own legs!) when you're using the board without the bag.

Step 4: Make it Useful

Brainstorm what else you might need while you're crafting. Need to measure stuff? My friend Linda had the great idea to scan in a measuring tape for the edge. Or maybe you're always having to look up instructions or measurements for a particular project? Just print them and decoupage them to the board.

Here are some other ideas for making it useful:

• Use multiple bags for multiple crafts. If you craft in multiple mediums, consider having one bag for each medium -- i.e., a bag with all your hemp stuff, a bag with all your paper crafting tools, etc. Add velcro to each one, so you're ready to swap 'em out and go. (It probably goes without saying that those of you who are handy with sewing machines can make all sorts of cool bags for this.)
• Hook it. Think about hardware that would make your project easier. Since I'm using this for hemp, I'm thinking about adding a hook under the clip for holding the cords a little more securely.
• Keep things clean. Clip a sheet of wax paper under anything potentially messy you're working on. Makes clean-up easy for stamping, gluing, or even polymer clay.
• Look for other cool add-ons. Maybe blackboard paint, corkboard, or sticky notes? Figure out what would be useful to you...

Making your own, portable crafting station is as easy as that... and of course, you could come up with endless variations. I'd love to hear from you if you have some ideas!

Posted in: Paper Crafts , Project Instructions | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (1)

I just finished playing with clay for a couple of hours -- and I got paid to do it!

Sounds like a cheesy infomercial, doesn't it? But it's mostly true...

Back in October I came across a listing on the Polyform (maker of polymer clay products like Sculpey & Premo) web site. They were asking for product testers, so I shot off an email saying I was interested. They sent me a couple of surveys, which I filled out and returned -- one of them grudgingly since I don't care for companies asking my household income. After hearing nothing from them for several months, I finally got an email a few weeks ago informing me I'd been selected to participate in a clay product review.

While I don't think I'm allowed to share the specifics, I will say I thoroughly enjoyed playing with the clay. I made this and that, trying various techniques. It made me realize just how little time I allow myself just to play. I definitely need to change that.

It did take me longer than their estimated 1.5 hours to complete (almost twice that, actually) -- but that was because I was taking my time and enjoying myself. They will be "paying" survey respondents with some free products, plus an entry to win a cash prize -- nice thank you gifts for participating.

I don't know how often they do these, but if you're interested, check out their website for details (see the green box towards the bottom). Maybe you could get paid to play with clay too!

Posted in: Polymer Clay | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (1)

I'm still catching up from my trip, so you may have already seen these two great podcasts featuring polymer clay artists. If not, be sure to check them out:

• Craftcast's Alison Lee interviews Celie Fago
• CraftyPod's Sister Diane talks to Sarajane Helm

I especially enjoyed the interview with Sarajane Helm. She is doing such interesting things -- her latest book is on my must-read list, and have you seen this miniature quilt shop!? One of the things she mentioned in her interview is that she enjoys trying lots of different techniques -- it's nice to hear confirmation that it's okay not to specialize.

One of my favorite parts of the interview was towards the end, where Sarajane talks about why polymer clay is so accessible AND so addictive for everybody -- young, old, even those who think they don't have a creative streak. According to Sarajane, it's not the clay that's addictive:

"It's the opiates in your own brain when you're having fun that are addictive. When you're having a good time, your body secretes chemicals that make you feel good -- and polymer clay is one of the quickest venues to having a great time that I've ever seen."

Posted in: Polymer Clay

This will probably be a "well, duh" post for most of you -- but I thought I'd share it just in case there's anyone else out there like me.

We stopped by my parents' house on the way back from Austin, and I was chatting with my Mom about her scrapbooking supplies. She mentioned a new glue, and I responded that I could use a good glue. Specifically, I complained that when I'd used rubber cement, it would sometimes peel right off. My Dad looked up and said, "Well, it may have changed since I used it, but that used to be one of its purposes." (I hadn't considered that maybe I learned my hesitance to directly contradict someone from my Dad!) He said that back when he used it, putting the rubber cement on one surface made it such that you could peel it off, while putting it on both surfaces made it permanent.

When we got home, I looked at my bottle of rubber cement. And what d'ya know? It's right there in the instructions: "Low tack: Apply even coat to one surface and press together immediately. To remove, carefully peel from one edge. Stronger bond: Apply even coat to both surfaces."

So I tried it -- and sure enough, that did the trick. The thing is, I'm not the type that's averse to reading instructions -- it's just that I assumed I knew how rubber cement worked. I mean, doesn't everybody...?

Apparently not.

So thanks to Dad for pointing that out. Wonder what other instructions I need to go read now?

Posted in: Paper Crafts , Tips & Techniques | Comments (3)

Just a quick note to say I'll be in Austin this week attending SXSW. I recently joined my husband full-time on our web development business, and I'm really looking forward to an inspiring week with some exciting online innovators.

I haven't had a chance to decide my whole schedule, but I do know I'll be at BlogHer's Friday night Meetup and Boss Lady's Saturday session. If you're going to SXSW, let me know -- I'd love to chat!

Posted in: Blog News

Polymer Clay Central has announced their March 2007 Challenge theme: Face the Music. Lots of ways to interpret this one:

• Take it literally. Make something with faces and/or music. Try Free Sheet Music for royalty-free sheet music, or check out these Antique Music Brushes for Photoshop.
• Take it figuratively. The idiom "face the music" means to confront the consequences of one's actions. An interesting theme for a sculpture...?
• Take it to the movies. IMDB lists several movies and TV shows called "Face the Music." It's also the title of a 1975 album by Electric Light Orchestra. Maybe you could draw inspiration from one of these?

Mail your entries in by March 15, 2007, for a chance to win one of three gift certificates to The Clay Store.

Speaking of music, I saw another cool swap-bot swap: the Music to Craft To CD swap. A fun way to share the music that inspires your creativity!

Posted in: Polymer Clay