HAPPY WORLD CARD MAKING DAY 2022 and ROUND UP OF SEPTEMBER 2022.

 

Hello everyone

Happy World Card Making Day to you all.  What projects will you be working on, or will you be treating yourself to some new crafting items?  Whatever you decide - raise a glass and acknowledge this great hobby that brings us all together.

I have become increasingly frustrated by the limits placed on me in maintaining our Facebook Group.  I still haven't made sense of the notification settings. Therefore, I thought I would try writing an extensive blog post to you all so that I can share your September creations, and some new ideas for October and celebrate some magnificent achievements with you too.

One Sheet Wonder

Thank you to our Group Experts for all their efforts over the past few weeks.  I was very impressed with the results achieved by Gail Mands, Caroline Pattenden and Liz Cavill using the One Sheet Wonder Challenge.  I love the variety of these designs and how the ladies added their own style to the design.  I hope these cards will inspire you with your future makes.  It is really amazing to see how many cards can be made from one sheet of 12x12 paper.

October Challenge - Word prompts

October sees the start of a new word prompt challenge ( which is featured in the CMKH planner)  You will find a copy of the list below.  As always you can set yourself a target to complete any number of days or you could just concentrate on stamping cards or making all your Halloween projects with the prompts.  These challenges are great for giving your mojo a kickstart or making you think about your craft in another way.   

The words can be interpreted as you wish.  For example, on Day 15 a card could be created using brush pens or watercolour paint.  Alternatively, a picture of a "brush" could be the main focal point of your card.   I will set up a new album however I am very aware of all the problems Facebook causes with their constant updates.  The main thing is to share your work - so add it to the main discussion page and add the day you are making it for.  It makes sense to post your cards/projects on the date ie the 3rd Bewitched should be added on the 3rd of October.  

Albums

When I set up this version of Creative Minds Kind Hearts - the album system worked very well and everything was pretty easy to follow.  Through no fault of my own, Facebook has made uploading and finding albums increasingly tricky.  Don't panic if you can't find an album - simply add your photos to the main discussion page and ask one of the Group Experts to help you add them to an album.  Photos don't need to be in an album unless you want to save them for the future.  If you are sharing monthly Happy Posts then please tag Elisabeth or Gail so that we know cards have been sent/received.

If you want to have a go at finding the albums on your mobile/tablets.  Look for the three dots in the left-hand corner of the main page.  Tap on them to reveal a drop-down menu.  Albums will be one of the headers.  Tap on Albums and a whole list of various albums will appear.

On a computer - look for the menu underneath the page banner.  Then scroll across to Media.  Click on the tab and Albums will appear.

The address album is saved lower down the list.  Names are stored as Christian names rather than surnames so my name is saved under E for Elisabeth not H for Hogarth.

The birthday album is one of the last on the list.  If you would like a mention at the start of your birthday month then look for the month and tell me in the comments below the photo your birth date.

The Christmas Card - a- long is filling up nicely now.  You can join in at any time and you can also use the album as a source of inspiration.

Wednesday Wonders/ Sketches are paused due to limited interest.  If you want to find the older versions then either view them in the WW Album or look for the Ultimate Sketch Album to view the entire collection we have created.  Most of them have a link to a YouTube tutorial or a blog post.  

Poll

A few weeks ago I held a series of polls.  It is good to see how many of you enjoy visiting the group.  The main reason you seem to use it is to connect with the other members.  Many of you are talented crafters who enjoy looking for inspiration.  Creative Minds Kind Hearts can only stay fresh and interesting if its members engage and let us know what they like.  Emojis and comments on posts really help us to know what content to create so please do try to engage and share your work.

Expanding from card making to all crafts

It is wonderful to see so many crafts shared on Mixed Up Monday.  I would like to know if you would prefer to keep the group as a predominantly card-making group or would you prefer to share all of your crafts every day of the week?  Please let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

A big shout out to Miriam Lowrie, Elaine Thomson Smith and Gill Cox for all the brilliant makes and wedding decorations they shared with the group.

It has also been great seeing the really stylish cards that have been made this month.  It is heartwarming to see so many company design team members willing to share their work and their ideas with the group.  If you have questions about how these cards are made then do ask the questions because as crafters we can all share our knowledge.  Thank you for sharing Donna Cleary, Heidi Hobson, Mary Kelly and Lorraine Sanders.

Of course, you don't need to be on a company design team to share your cards.  Look at these classy numbers from Janet Roberts, Elaine Thomson Smith and Tracy Shephard.

And as always there have been some fancy folded cards created by  Karen L Williams and Lesley Chambers.

As you can see there really is something for everyone in Creative Minds Kind Hearts.

Five Year Anniversary

The group as you know it - will be celebrating its fifth anniversary in November.   During that time, I myself have worked with several craft companies including Craftwork Cards, The Hobby House, Splashcrafts, Kanban Crafts, Lisa Horton Crafts, Craft Consortium and most recently Graphic 45.  As I have evolved so has this group (of which I am very proud). This group would not work without the ladies who have committed to being Group Designers/Group Experts.  Many of them have gone on to achieve so much in their own right. 

Congratulations on your achievements.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate 

Lesley Kilby on joining the Craft Consortium design team and this week completing a full magazine spread in Papercraft Essentials Issue 217.

Gail Mands on setting up her own Card Design Page and celebrating its 2nd Anniversary.  Please follow the link and help Gail's page grow.  https://www.facebook.com/gail.mands.card.designs

Congratulations should also be given to Lisa Shaw who has recently joined the Nitwits Collections Design Team.  It is great to see that all the Fb Lives Lisa shared with us got her noticed and she is able to share her love of digital crafting with others.

I would also like to congratulate Heidi Hobson on achieving her dream role of becoming a Guest Designer for Oakwood Direct on Hobby Maker.  You can watch her live on Freeview Channel 73 on 1st October at 1pm.

In addition, many congratulations to Natasja Bosker upon joining the Oakwood Direct Design Team and for creating her own set of stamps with Pronty stamps.

It is really important to celebrate and applaud each other's achievements. We may be a small group but "Great oaks from little acorns grow"

CMKH Planner

During Christmas 2021 and New Year 2022, I pulled together a Crafty Planner dedicated to the members of this group.  More than 30 copies were sold.  I would love to know from those of you that bought a copy if you found it useful?  If you didn't buy a copy is it something you would like to receive this year.  If there is enough positive interest I am willing to create a 2023 planner which would be available to buy in time for Christmas 2022.

Finally...

I would love to know your thoughts on this blog post.  Did you enjoy reading a monthly round-up of September?  Is it helpful to have all the news and information in one place rather than hopping around the Features area on the group page?  Please let me know in the comments below.

Finally, I will be setting up the October Happy Post list on the 1st of October and you have until the 5th of October to sign up.  If you have friends who are interested please would you point them in the right direction because I hate it when people miss out.  

HAPPY CRAFTING

Love Elisabeth

Be Creative - Be Kind - Be You

PS Here is a little something I have been working on for Kanban Crafts.  It includes a new must-have crafting product.  I will let you know the showtimes and availability soon!