Craft Critique Articles

Some of you might not know that I also write reviews for a fabulous website called Craft Critique.

"What is Craft Critique? We are a collective of experienced crafters (some professional, most not) with strong opinions to share on the craft supplies you want to learn more about."

These are some of the reviews I've written so far:

Martha Stewart vs. Tsukineko Essential: Glue Pad Wars

Enchanted Adornments Book Review

Canvas Concepts

Vendor Spotlight: Copic Marker Tutorials (a compilation of tutorials on the web)

Vendor Spotlight: Copic Markers

Strands Book Review and Giveaway

Vendor Spolight: Shimmerz, Blingz, and Spritz

Vendor Spotlight - Kitschy Digitals Embroidery Patterns

Around the Block Tape Writer

Enchanted Adornments Book Review on Craft Critique

Doesn't the tray of treasures below look absolutely divine? See what master storyteller and jewelry artist Cynthia Thornton of Green Girl Studios and Green Girl blog can do with them in her first book, Enchanted Adornments. I don't want to give anything away here but I will say that I almost guarantee you'll fall in love.

Team Craft Critique Bats 1000!

Craft Critique is posting their 1000th post today! Woot! And to celebrate we're giving away all the goodies you see in this picture. Are you excited yet? To find out how to get your grubby little paws on this prize pack come on over!

Copic Tutorials List plus that little ol' Giveaway

Stamp by MK Colling

Ever wished there was one place to go on the web with an extensive list of tutorials and videos on Copic markers? Guess what? We gotcha covered at Craft Critique. Just popped up an article chock full of educational goodness. Plus it's not too late to get your name in for the giveaway we're having. So head on over and take a peek. :)

More Copic Marker Reviews and a Giveaway!

I am blown away by the reviews we have going on at Craft Critique. Tomorrow's the last day of them. And the funny thing is, I expected there to be a bunch of stampers. Not a one yet. Lots of cute illustrations instead. :) Oh! And get this - we are giving away a set of 12 Copic Atyou Spica glitter pens to one lucky commenter! How cool is that!

Help! Copic Marker Tutorials?

Do you use Copic markers? Do you have or know of any tutorials? I'm putting together a resource article over at Craft Critique and would like for it to be as extensive as possible.

Copic Review at Craft Critique

Wanna see more? Check out my Copic review at Craft Critique.

Strands Book Review and Giveaway at Craft Critique

I forgot to mention I have a new book review up at Craft Critique. Go check it out and enter the giveaway for Jacqueline Myers-Cho's book. Strands Book Review and Giveaway

Marks Paper Company giveaway on Craft Critique

Art work by Taylor Usry

Marks Paper Company has gorgeous papers. Why have I never heard of them before?! We're reviewing them over at Craft Critique. Come check it out and sign up to win some. I'll only make share a little bit of your prize package as a finder's fee. ;)

Kitschy Digitals Review

sneak peek

I don't know where my brain is but I forgot to tell you to go check this review I wrote on Craft Critique a couple days ago. Check out all the Kitschy Digitals reviews while you're there, too. :)

Stampin' Out Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's disease kills 5.3 million people every year. It is the 7th leading cause of death. It is the most common form of dementia. Almost twenty-seven million people worldwide had Alzheimer's in 2006 and this number is expected to quadruple by 2050. The average life expectancy after diagnosis is about 7 years. Fewer than 3% live more than 14 years after they are diagnosed. It is, as of this date, incurable.

If you have a loved one with Alzheimer's you are aware of some of these numbers. But really when you look at them and they don't know who you are, do those numbers mean anything?

Jen Tapler and Susanna Boyd have put together a week's worth of "pay to play" papercrafting fun with challenges and prizes in honor of Alzheimer's, Stampin' Out Alzheimer's. All you have to is give a small donation (they're asking for a minimum $5) through one of their widgets. Then through the generous help of many sponsors they are able to offer participants a whole lot of bang for their buck through free downloads and prizes. At the end of the week 100% of the money raised goes to the Alzheimer's Association. So after you've made your donation go to the Stampin' Out Alzheimer's site and register.

Jen Tapler shares the story of why she put together this event here.

Even if you're not a traditional papercrafter, won't you please consider a donation? It's only the cost of a bookstore coffee. I'll be leaving the widget up all week long on my blog at the upper left. Maybe I'll even throw all the supporters names in a hat at the end of the week and draw one out for something special. If you make a donation, make sure to sign up at the Stampin' Out site and add me as a friend. :) I'm all alonely over there with those scrapbookers. ;)

excuses excuses

Sorry the blog is so quiet. All four of us are sick. And we're sharing it back and forth like a good family should.

This weekend I hope to have some good stuff... a hand-carved stamp excellent for journalers, a review of LK Ludwig's latest beautiful book, and who knows what else I can pull out of my hat?

In the meantime, check out what we have going on over at Craft Critique and don't forget to sign up to win a free e-book while you're there!

Sneak Peek!

What is this? Come over to Craft Critique to find out and check out our latest product review. :)

Check out the giveaway on Craft Critique!

Some days when the dog hair's stuck in the glue dots, you cut all the way through the photo with the exacto, and the kids spilled the paint over the top of the art table it's hard to see the humorous side of scrapbooking. That's when you need to pour a glass of iced tea and sit back with this book.

We just happen to be giving a copy of it away on Craft Critique. So stroll over, check out the review, and be sure to sign up. And if you've never been there before check out all the other amazing reviews as well. You'll be very pleasantly surprised.

Big News - I'm not a secret agent!

I have the official go-ahead - I am a craft reporter/reviewer for Craft Critique. yay! I'm really excited about this opportunity. It also dovetails with other review work that I've been doing. Perhaps one day I'll be back in magazines but this time reviewing books instead of with artwork. Although, who knows? Maybe I'll submit art again someday, too. We can never know where our path will take us.