Happy Friday!
First off a very happy Friday to you, it has been another freeing cold week here in Rutland , which has fuelled my creativity somewhat- I have lists and lists of project ideas and am making sure to actually put some of the things on my lists into ACTION!
that is why I'm here today, because I have been meaning to start the shop blog for ages now, but I haven't managed it before now!
So... who are we ?
I am Rachel, the 27 year old owner/crafter of Crafty Little Creations , I am based in Market Overton,in Rutland UK, and I live amongst varying levels of chaos , which is provided by my husband, my five year old son and my three year old daughter(shown in the picture above).... and no mentioning the cat, who is quite enough chaos all by herself!
Lily, my daughter quite often 'helps' behind the scenes as a constant source of inspiration, and she likes to be given small tasks to make her feel part of a mother and daughter team-
and my husband is often persuaded into making the post runs to the local post office two miles away, whilst I get busy with the next order, and that is why I described Crafty Little Creations as a 'We' Rather than an 'I'!
Why Cardmaking?
When my daughter Lily, was a baby I was forced into deciding what I was going to do with my time- I was struggling to carry on in the care sector which I had been doing ever since I finished my schooling at Oakham School at the age of 18, and since I have always been happiest creating, I started going handmade.
a close friend of mine put me on the path of card making in early 2013 and I have never looked back, even though it is almost a daily challenge these days to run a small business, especially with so many other card makers out there.
Since I made that decision I have had several operations and been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, so I made the right decision not returning to the care sector.
Design teams
As well as running my card and papercraft making business, I work alongside some fabulous image artists in their design teams.
One question that I get asked fairly regularly on my page is 'WOW, did you draw that?' the answer is quite simply 'NO'.. I don't have the skill (or the time now) to learn to draw to the level where I'd be happy to release my artwork on the unsuspecting public.
Instead I have harnessed the amazing skill of these ladies (and gentlemen) and often get to play with brand new images , making items to showcase them for the designer.it really is a fantastic opportunity , and I am blessed to be on the three design teams I am currently on.
A lot of the time you will find these creations for sale HERE in My Got shop (a fantastic new selling platform where I list all the cards and Items I have up for sale) once they have been used to promote the images.some of these projects I have a very hard time parting with , as with every card I make it has my heart and soul poured into it! Below are examples of my work for each Designer's design team I am currently on!
Karleigh Sue Digi shoppe
Sugar , from That Craft Place
Rick St Dennis MFA
More about my cards
I do use a lot of other designers work on my cards too, other than the three I currently design for- without boring you silly, the way it works is that I purchase usually a digital stamp sometimes a real physical rubber or polymer stamp. with that purchase I have the right to use that image in accordance with their terms of use. that means sometimes when people want something I will have to suggest an alternative, as I will not break these terms of use and copyright- if you are only interested in Disney and copyrighted items on cards, you are in the wrong place...
but if you want a beautiful handmade one of a kind card, made lovingly, you are definitely in the right place, and please stick around!
Custom work
Unless I am at a particularly busy point in the year my order books are pretty much always open for a special one of a kind personalised card.
I will work with you to create what you need for any occasion- happy or sad. I have made wedding cards, cards for new arrivals, and birthdays, and on the other end of the spectrum I have created cards for funerals and bereavement both for adults and sadly babies /small children. I will undertake pretty much any task set of me as long as it is physically possible.
Below I have included a couple of my customised pieces, and if you want to browse more of my previous work, head to the CLC FB page...
I have now waffled enough about us, and plan to make the next postings more exciting! thank you for reading, and I hope you will come and introduce yourselves and hang around on the Crafty Little creations Facebook Page!
Rachel
AKA Mrs CLC
