New year and with it new goals

Welcome to the ever anticipated 2016!!! did you think we would get here? I admit before Christmas I was willing for more time but now it is here and the weather seems a lot more palatable it is perfect for making plans.

I have been having a think.... as you do... my thinks have led me to a few new exciting ideas (some of which I'm not quite ready to share yet)  here are a little list of some goals I hope to achieve in this coming year.

1-  Create mini video tutorials, preferably at least one a week. - Well I have managed one already ... yippeee!.. but will this momentum last I wonder?
Here is my first mini video DIY, There is lots I've decided to change already so hopefully this will help me plan for the next.

These tutorials will be of tutorials I have either already blogged or ones that are over 6 months old that have been included in the monthly boxes.

2 - Create some mini kits.  These kits will be between £5 and £20.  Some of you may have seen the 3D flowers kit I already do for £20 but I want to create smaller ones as well.  I have a dozen or so ideas already and they will range from quilling to beadwork as well as a few papercraft ones too. Perfect to try something in particular rather than taking pot luck with the monthly mystery boxes.

3 - Launch a new monthly box designed for preschoolers.  This one is still a bit hush hush but I am soooooo excited about it and it will make use of all those years working with young children.  What I can tell you is that they will be themed but not contain things like the adult ones, they will be totally different.  I will bring you news on these soon!

4 - I really need to get my head around social media! Do you find it a total headache?? which ones to use?  I have most of them but only really focus on facebook, This is mainly because I don't know how to best use the other formats. Twitter makes my head ache at the speed, Pinterest I love but what on earth can I use it for with a business and Etsy.... well how on earth can I get seen in an ocean of wonderfulness, I feel like floating pea!  I do use Instagram occasionally, I like to post behind the scenes things on there from time to time which is fun but I really don't understand how to use it for business.   So basically step 4 ... find out what on earth I need to do to help my business!

5 - Try to be more organised!

6 - Loose weight.  I guess that is a bit like so many people who have managed to get past the Christmas indulgence and reaching a new year with a few extra pounds.  I managed a stone before Christmas and I actually lost over Christmas too (I don't really care for much of the Christmas food to be honest) but it is a slow old process so fingers crossed for the new year,

Well I think that's my list, it may change soon though!

Do you have any new year plans? what do you hope to achieve this year?

I will leave you with images from the 'Crafty Night Before Christmas' box (I can't show you January's yet as there are a few being delivered outside the UK and these always take a few extra days and don't want to spoil their surprises!)

And the handmade gift was this lovely mini album

Hope you all have a wonderful 2016!

Jen xx

I hope you will pop by and visit Lucy Blossom crafts

and visit a few other blogs too

December's Crafty What Nots unveil!

How are your Christmas preparations going?? Mine are so last minute if I'm honest.  I very stupidly released 2 boxes for Christmas!!! (I know crazy!)  There was the standard monthly box for December but I also released the Christmas eve (or the crafty night before Christmas box).  So that was double the work (what was I thinking!)
I have to say though, despite the stress of Christmas as well as my various crafting deadlines it has been fun!
I can't show you the contents of the Christmas eve boxes yet (I will publish that after Christmas)...But... I can now show you Decembers box.

The theme this month was Silent Night and was a mixture of snowy blues and silvers.  The papers included this month were the beautiful Silent night papers by First Edition.  I particularly love these papers as they are such good quality, they are a great thickness and half the papers are double sided while the other half are embossed or textured.
 

This months tutorials were to make these beautiful origami stars ...

And these fantastic felt snowflakes.

There was also a bonus tutorial which I blogged last time as well as a video this month to help with the origami.  I think in future I will video more tutorials and supply my subscribers with exclusive access to them, this will help with some tutorials that are particularly hard to write.

The handmade gift this month were these palm sized felt hand warmers which can be reheated again and again.  

I loved this box, the only downer was my camera breaking, so the photo quality isn't as good as I would have liked at all but sometimes we just have to do the best we can.

Also included in this box were ~

papers, card blanks, snowflake brads, ribbons, glitter card, peal offs and domed glitter pearls.

January's order books are now closed I'm afraid but if you would like to get in with February's love fest then why not pop over to www.craftywhatnots.com and get yours now. 

I am also running a giveaway on my facebook page to win an exclusive mini kit box which won't be available to buy until next year so do pop by to enter.

Well that's it from me folks until after Christmas so I do hope you have a wonderful time and a great new year.

xxx

Christmas... already?

How are you all this week?  Do you feel those Christmassy feelings of warmth and goodwill sweeping over you yet? The burning desire to get the tinsel out and the mulled wine cooking? No?? Well who can blame you, Christmas is fast approaching but with some lovely sunny days I must admit I am being consumed by Autumn loveliness! The stunning autumn colours and the falling leaves.  All that aside however as a crafter we have to think about Christmas far too early.  I know many who have been making since way before the school holidays!  I thought I would share my latest Christmas venture with you all.

I was introduced to Christmas Eve boxes a few months back. It seems something that originated in America and goes hand in hand with the 'Elf on the Shelf'.  Don't worry if you are new to Elf on the Shelf too.  The general idea in a nutshell, is you have a small toy elf who arrives on the 1st December.  He watches your children everyday and reports back to Santa every night to tell him if they have been good or not! When the elf returns in the morning he gets up to a little mischief.  He may spill cereal all over the counter or tie your shoe laces together etc. (this is where parents have fun and get creative!)  Then on Christmas Eve the elf leaves to go and help Santa sort out the toys and load the sleigh.  When the elf goes he leaves behind a Christmas Eve box, a box full of treasures.  Usually these treasures seem to consist of a Christmas film, book, slippers, new pyjamas and a few yummies to enjoy while watching your film.  Well my pondering took me to... what if the Christmas box contained lots of crafting goodies!!! How about instead of being full of food and dvd's etc that it contained tutorials and craft supplies to create some Christmas crafting memories.  So I give you the Crafty Night Before Christmas box!

Each box contains at least three tutorials, all the crafty supplies you need to complete them and lots extra and a small handmade gift from me to you!  I have designed 4 different boxes based on ages.  There is the under 5's, 5+, teenager and adult.  I am also more than happy to personalised.

Well I'm off to carry on planning my boxes. If you want to found out more or take a peek at my brand new kit box v visit www.craftywhatnots.com

I'm stopping off to visit all those lovely blogs at Handmade Monday so why not pop over and see what others have been up to.

 Xxx