Samples, samples, more samples…

I have FREE promos for you!  This month, I’ve been swapping bits & pieces with some other crafty types, and now have some great little tasters so that you can sample their wares.  How?  Simply place an order of £5 or more (excluding p&p) in the TangleStore, and I will throw in a free (randomly chosen) promo sampler with your order, while stocks last.  Spend over £10 and I’ll include one of each!  I only have a few, though, so it’s first come, first served…

Here’s a preview of the samples I have for you…

JaguarSnail – welcome!

This post is to welcome the zines of Britta Jarvis of JaguarSnail into the TangleCrafts fold. 🙂  Britta is a local artist & crafter who I met through a mutual friend, a couple of years ago.  We have since spent many a happy hour on the production line together and have discovered lots of common interests – the most obvious being zines, mail art, and a weakness for terrible puns…  We are currently scheming to bring you various collabrative projects (largely involving me harnessing Britta’s amazing – and speedy! – stamp-carving skills!).  In the meantime, 3 of Britta’s mini zines are now available in the TangleStore:

I Love Mail! – quite a maxi mini zine at 20 pages long, but standard mini zine dimensions.  It includes 8 things Britta loves about mail, an envelope tutorial, a postal poem, an interview with a Royal Mail postman, and more.  Illustrated throughout with Britta’s own sketches & doodles, this one is a limited edition in the current format so don’t miss out!

How to Make a Zine – an introduction for beginners.  If you’re tempted to write your own zine but don’t know where to start, this mini zine could be just what you’re looking for!  Lots of tips, guidance and inspiration, but the best bit about this mini zine is that it’s double-sided – open it out, and there’s a unique zine theme-picker on the reverse.  Twice the fun of an ‘ordinary’ mini zine squished into the same amount of space – genius!

A Collection of Experimental Poetry – This one does exactly what it says on the tin, and is a perfect example of Britta’s quirky nature.  These fun little poems are accompanied by original illustrations to make a unique addition to your zine collection.

New Year, new house…

Well, I suppose the New Year just wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t have the prospect of moving house (again) on the horizon…  I did announce several months ago that we planned to be moving, but actually we had recently decided to stay put.  Never mind that, it’s all on again!  We managed 2 whole years at the current property (a record for us), but we have high hopes that the next one we will manage even longer.  Wish us luck, though, because by historic evidence, the property gods are clearly not on our side!

The TangleCrafts & E.T.Printworks stores (etc) will be closed throughout February, but back in March.  The packing ‘festivities’ do not need to begin in earnest quite yet, though, so please do take advantage of the coupon code NEWHOME at Etsy checkout, for a 25% discount until the end of this month.  (If you prefer to order through Folksy, drop me a line with or immediately following your order, and I will apply the discount retrospectively, as a Paypal refund.)  Your help in diminishing the quantities I will need to pack is truly much appreciated! 😉

TangleClub March Update

All change!

The TangleClub has undergone another minor makeover, with a new design for membership cards.  Existing members will receive an updated card with any order placed; but the club discount code is the same, so you won’t miss out, if you don’t place a new order straight away!  The biggest change is that freebies will no longer be issued on a strictly monthly basis, BUT TangleClub Members will still have access to all the freebies in the TangleClub Archive, and new freebies WILL still be added, just at slightly more irregular intervals.  This is mostly to ensure that the free stuff shared is good stuff, and not just random stuff I have scrabbled to put together with a monthly deadline looming!

If you are not currently a member of the TangleClub but want to join us,  click here for all current membership options, and remember, if you spend £5 or more in the TangleStore or TangleStore UK you will qualify for TangleClub Basic membership absolutely free!

So, what else is new?

We also have a brand new Offer of the Month: for March only you will receive a set of 3 Behind the Times badges when you place an order for the latest issue of the Enchanted Times (#4).  (But if you were quick off the mark & pre-ordered your copy of ET4, don’t worry, you don’t have to miss out!  The Behind the Times badge set is also available separately. 🙂 )

Anything else?

 There’s definitely still much more to come this month, so please check back for updates!

Bazaar bestsellers!

Following a week consisting almost exclusively of upcycled postage stamp badge sales, it was interesting at the (very quiet) craft fair yesterday, This is Bazaar, to find that my bestseller of the day by far was my brand new Truth-Be-Told Mirrors.  These proved very popular as stocking fillers & Secret Santa gifts, with several people unable to decide between the 2 designs, White Liar and Bold as Brass.  In celebration of this success, I have added a new twin-set of mirrors so that you don’t have to make that difficult decision (I’m so selfless!), and can explore the duality of your nature with impunity.  Or give one to a friend (with a sense of humour).  Or give one to an enemy (sense of humour optional)… 😉

One of the best things about being a vendor at This is Bazaar is seeing all the other cool stuff that local creative types are making (This is Bazaar is always very good at highlighting quirky and original makers rather than traditional/cutesy crafts).

Here are a few of my favourites:

the gorgeous mosaics of Julie Vernon.  Yes, I fell for the bird motifs again – I couldn’t find a pic online, but what I really fell in love with were some bird mosaic ‘pebbles’.  I say pebbles in inverted commas as the term feels slightly insubstantial for items which were large/heavy enough to use as very sturdy paperweights…;

the chunky and colourful resin & silver jewellery by Natonia Pickup.  We had a good long chat & I discovered Natonia also dabbles in bookbinding (amongst other things), so I’m holding out to see some unique hand-bound books at the next Bazaar… 😉

…and I also had an interesting conversation with my ‘next door’ vendor, Steve Brown of Rusty Spoons.  He writes comics(/graphic novels) by creating characters based on emotions & I felt like I got a great deal when I traded an Enchanted Times Mini for the Vanity mini comic! (In retrospect, I think my subconscious decided I should choose this one because of the mirror connection…)  The mini comic is produced on top quality glossy paper for vibrant colour reproduction, but just as importantly, it’s really a great story.  It made me laugh, but the stories are definitely on the darker side, so don’t say you haven’t been warned!  I can highly recommend the Rusty Spoons book, for a compilation of 13 tales which has rather wonderfully been reviewed as “delightfully devoid of hope”.  Love it!

TangleClub February Update

Well, who’d’ve thunk it?  Just over 2 weeks until moving day and despite having had 2 days off work, have I done any packing?  Of course not!  Following on from my diversionary sketchbook discussion yesterday (thanks all for chiming in!) I have since spent some happy hours preparing a mini arti-philately album for you lovely TangleClubbers to store your faux postage.  (Because I’m sure everything will pack itself if I just leave it long enough…! 😉 )  So head on over to the TangleClub Archive and you can claim your February freebie.

If you’re brave enough, the Etsy Store will still be up & running for the next week or so, and there are some lovely free samples from my Etsy friends up for grabs, if you do.   You’ll notice stock is currently somewhat depleted: this is because I have only left up items which are already made up & ready to be lovingly stuffed into an envelope.  The store will be closed again from mid-month, as I am expecting to be off-line for a while after the move.  However, I really truly honestly have lots of new things to add once everything has settled down a little (not to mention the return of some old favourites).  So continue bearing with me – another month, & it’ll be like all this house-moving nonsense never happened, promise. 🙂

Happy New Year! (& TangleClub January update)

Sorry I’m a little late with my New Year greetings, but I am now finally catching up with myself!  An update on the Friends & Faux project will follow in the next few days plus details of a brand new mail art project to join – but in the meantime, the Etsy Store is up and running again (new items to be added soon) and the January TangleClub freebie is now available to download in the TangleClub Archive – a printable sheet of doodled dandelion mailing labels.  Hope they brighten up your day, as well as your mail! 🙂

I also have some fun extras to offer TangleClub members:
when you place an order in the TangleCrafts Etsy Store by the end of January, I will include with your order a selection of special promo packs from some of my Etsy-selling friends:
Craftgasm (oh-so-cool re-purposed stationery sets and notecards),
La Papierre (customisable letter sets & card sets) and
Kitty Darkness Designs (lots of kawaii fun and the coolest hand-carved stamps).

Here’s how the offer will work:

• Spend up to $10 (before postage) and you will receive 1 free sample with your order
• Spend up to $20 (before postage) and you will receive 2 (different) free samples with your order
• Spend over $20 (before postage) and you will receive 3 (different) free samples with your order

*Hopefully I will have enough promos for everybody, but should I run out, you will receive a surprise promo from TangleCrafts, instead, so you won’t miss out!

TangleClub – October update!

Have you joined the TangleClub yet?  If not, click here for all the different options!  Alternatively, spend $10 or more on anything else in the TangleCrafts Etsy Store and receive a Basic Membership Package absolutely FREE!

For existing members your club-exclusive freebie for October awaits you!  This month, you can print your very own ‘Ideas Grow’ mini-zine notebook, perfect for tucking in your pocket, and can be used to design your own comic rather than take notes, if you prefer!  Click on over to the TangleClub Archive for full details. 🙂

Another exclusive offer for existing TangleClub members:
Place an order anytime throughout October and receive a First Day Cover postcard of the latest TangleStamp!  The design is called ‘Star of Daphne’ and is derived from a hand-carved block print.  The postcard also tells you the story behind the Star of Daphne, an element of Tangledom’s unique folklore.

Craft Leftovers, old & new!

Happy days are always here, whenever a new issue of Craft Leftovers Monthly plops onto my doormat! 😀 The September issue arrived last week while I was catching up after the Bazaar, and it was lovely to finally have to sit down for a good read with it, over the weekend. 🙂

The September issue of CLM is all about miniatures and includes:

• Smitten Kitten miniature 3-dimensional knitted cat project
• miniature fabric banner project
• an interview with amigurumi queen Denise
• The Crafty Life cartoon by Fanie Gregoire
• mini tie-quilt project, how to knit in miniature
• …and quite possibly the cutest project EVER – the entire zine reproduced at doll’s house scale, for you to cut out & staple together. Genius!

This issue also features 2 projects by yours truly (previously available in my currently discontinued half-size Borrowers zine):

• how to make your own matchbox (inc. templates)
• plus a Borrower-scale rug (or mug rug) in retro waves, to cross stitch or needlepoint.

SPECIAL OFFER TO CELEBRATE THE MINIATURE THEME:
Buy your copy from the TangleCrafts Etsy Store and receive a FREE ‘mystery’ mini-zine!

Don’t forget that previous issues of Craft Leftovers Monthly are also available!  The most recent 3 are available in my Etsy store, and the full range is available from the Craft Leftover Shop, including:

• August 2010 – My favourite issue to date – all about books!  This issue includes: Woven & Stitched Bookmark project, an interview with Susan Angebranndt of Green Chair Press, a Library Bag to crochet, an awesomely simple fabric-covered book holder project, The Crafty Life cartoon by Fanie Gregoire, a wonderful book-cover journal project, AND a 5 page article about zine-making by me.

• SUMMER 2010 – This bumper issue features: the M.A.P. (Museum All Purpose) Bag pattern, Plaited Paper Basket mini-zine & kit, paper plate masks, a crafty city guide to Montreal by Fanie Gregoire, crafty cartoons, puzzles and reviews, lots more fun stuff and stories from Kristin, AND a mail art travel kit feature by me, to accompany Kristin’s awesome Postal Clutch.

• August 2009 – It’s all about drawing (especially for the slightly scared, like me!).  Includes: how to make your own charcoal, book reviews, fold-out pattern to sew your own Pencil Wrap , & lots more inspiration.

• July 2009 – This issue was my favourite until this year’s August issue came along!  July ’09 features: a block printing tutorial, all about silk screening, reviews of books about bookmaking, plus how to make your own mini-book.

TangleClub – August update

If you are a member of the TangleClub, now is the time to check out the TangleClub Archive for the latest club-exclusive freebie.  This month, I have put together an online exclusive for TangleClub members, combining the very first Going Postal mini-zine with the most recent, completed on August 2nd.

Inspired by the contributions so far?  There’s still time to contribute!  Submissions are still accepted until August 31st – click here for full details.

Not a member?  All you need to do is place an order for any item in the TangleCrafts Etsy Store, and your TangleClub membership package will be despatched with your order.

Already a member?  Don’t forget, you are entitled to 10% off your next order (or different discounts/offers if you have already placed a second order) so browse the store, and see what’s new!