Build it and they will come...

Yes, it has been a long time since Our Craft Shops graced our computer screens.

Some of you will be familiar with the name, some of you won't, and all of you are in for a treat!

I've been working on this new page for a while now, in secret, cos that's how I roll. So when facebook introduced Timeline for pages this week, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to launch it ~ oh, and it's looking pretty gorgeous already, thanks to you lovely craft sellers out there!

So why not click that 'Like' button, pop over for a nosey, and lose yourselves in pure, unadulterated inspiration!

W I N D O W * T W E N T Y * F I V E

Welcome to everyone following this year's Advent Calendar, and thank you all for your continued support...YOU make it worthwhile. I hope you enjoyed this year's projects as much as I enjoyed putting them together for you.

If you missed any windows this year , then pop over to the Calendar blog now and have a peak...they're all OPEN!

2 0 1 2 * p o c k e t * c a l e n d a r

You will need:
* 2012 calendar template
* A4 paper
* Card (cereal box)
* Decorative paper
* Embellishments

Step 1: Print out the calendar template onto A4 paper

Step 2: Before cutting out, fold between blue dotted lines. This will divide your A4 sheet into 12 sections. Now cut out Calendar around grey border.

Step 3: Starting between January & August, cut along fold through 3 of the 4 sections. Turn and cut between December & May (see pic).

Step 4: Glue the back of February to the back of March, then glue the back of April to the back of May, and so on until you have glued all the pages, leaving the first and last page a single thickness.

Step 5: Cut out a cover from card using the template as a guide. Decorate, then glue January to the inside front, leaving a 3mm border around outside edge (see picture). Glue December to the back.

Holidays are coming, holidays are coming...

It's official! We can now say the 'C' word, YAY! Not that it has stopped me these last few weeks, and today was no exception when this little fella popped into my head. He finally stopped tweeting after I'd finished writing up the instructions...and I shall be posting those soon on facebook. So, if you have an account, please 'Like' my page below and I'll send you a copy in the newsfeed:



Also this week I have been working on Our Craft Shop's Advent Calendar. Have you added your copy to your blogs yet? I shall be changing to 'no peeking' mode real soon, so be sure to tell your own followers to visit your blog and open the windows from 2010 before they are firmly glued shut! And there's no need to change the code when that happens...our calendar will update like magic.

Copy this code where you want your calendar to go:
<IFRAME src="http://www.secretcorridor.co.uk/snags/adventcalendar/snag.html" width=150 height=225 margin=0 padding=0 scrolling=no frameborder=0 style="overflow:hidden;">Sorry your browser does not support frames</IFRAME>
Customise your copy HERE

Do let me know if you would like your free projects featured in this year's calendar...there's only a few empty windows left, so hurry! You can contact me on facebook or by commenting on this post, or by regular email...whichever is easier for you.

All that's left is to add the customary mistletoe to the top of my blog (get yours here) and that's me done for the evening.

Happy Christmas crafting everyone!

The story behind this year's Advent Calendar design...

My daughter came home from school Friday with a Christmas Card design she'd done in class, attached to an order form - £5.50 for 12 prints. Hmm...

The thought of paying that much for printed cards really niggled
me, especially as I haven't bought cards in years. But she was so excited about showing me her design, and about the positive comments she'd received, how could I refuse?

I listen as she explains her technique, then we carefully put the card back in the envelope, and I promise to "sort it out later".

So now it's Sunday, and I have to fill out the order form, and I'm becoming more and more niggled by the minute. I've got to hand it to the company, it's a great idea, but to market children in this way? Justifying it with "your school receives a £1 donation for every pack sold" just felt like bullying to me.

That was it, I decided there and then that, no matter what, I was NOT going to be ordering those cards. I would give the school £1 so they didn't miss out, and some crafting materials as an extra gesture, and a note explaining my donation. Now to tell my daughter...

"Oh, but MUM!"

In my most cheerful voice, I point out that we can scan the picture in and make our own printed cards, and tags, and notepaper and -

"But they put our designs on their website so everyone can buy them!"

Oh jees! I can't bare the thought of my family feeling obliged to buy from a company that charges its designers (no order, no upload of course). As I look into my daughter's pleeading eyes, that's when it hit me...

"Hey Sweetheart, Mummy
can put it on lots and lots of websites, and thousands and thousands of people will see it.
It can be this year's Free Advent Calendar!"

Her face said it all. We had a deal.

More about Daisy's Card coming soon.

Hot tip!

The problem for most crafters is, we never seem to have time to do things for ourselves. While it's nice to put others first, sometimes that can be a problem if you are also in the market of selling your design services.

So, as a way of bridging the gap between now and when my 'proper' website is finished, I have created my own facebook page, so anyone wanting web design or facebook marketing help & advice can find me. And here's the link. Thanks for liking :)

And that was Christmas!

Well, that was another enjoyable Christmas I am pleased to say. A little too short for my liking, but it's quality and not quantity that counts I suppose.

One of the good things about this year is, I prepared the Calendar that far in advance I'd forgetten myself what was behind each window. So that was an unexpected treat for me.

Another was the 40,000 page views it received this year. That's a whopping jump from last year, and I can't thank you all enough for adding it to your Blogs. Let's hope it generated some well-deserved traffic for the designers too.

Why not pop over to the Advent Calendar Blog and browse our previous calendars. All the windows are OPEN!

T W I N K L Y * D A N G L Y * T H I N G S

It seems I have the blog bug this week. Oh, you lucky readers. Here are a few more decorations to get you in the mood for Christmas (like you need the help!)

Baubles
These baubles will attach themselves to the top of your blog and swing happily all day. Choose from left or right to suit your blog design:

<A href="http://secretcorridor.blogspot.com/2010/11/free-christmas-decorations-widgets-for.html" title="click to copy"><img src="http://www.secretcorridor.co.uk/snags/GRAPHICS/baublessmall.png" style="position:fixed; top:0px; left:0px;"/></A> left
right

Twinkling lights
Or maybe you'd prefer these attached to the top of your blog instead..?

work best on light backgrounds

<div style="position:fixed; top:0px; left:0px; height:1px; width:100%; text-align:center;"><A href="http://secretcorridor.blogspot.com/2010/11/free-christmas-decorations-widgets-for.html" title="click to copy"><img src="http://www.secretcorridor.co.uk/snags/GRAPHICS/twinklinglights.gif"/></A></div>

And don't forget the Christmas Trees and Mistletoe I posted Sunday.

More coming soon!

F R E E * B L O G * D E C O R A T I O N S

psst...you'll find even more blog decorations HERE

Yes, I know it's still only November, but I also know that Christmas has to be the favouritest time of year for Crafters, so...why not!

If you want to get into the Christmas spirit on your Blog then help yourself to one or two of these decorations. Oh, and don't forget the free Crafter's Advent Calendar!

Don't forget to
F O L L O W * T H I S * B L O G

This Mistletoe fixes itself to the top of your Blog.

<div style="position:fixed; top:0px; left:0px; height:1px; width:100%; text-align:center;"><A href="http://secretcorridor.blogspot.com/2010/11/free-blog-christmas-decorations.html" title="click to copy"><img src="http://www.secretcorridor.co.uk/snags/GRAPHICS/mistletoe.png"/></A></div>

These trees will fix themselves to the bottom of your blog

bottom-left
<a href="http://secretcorridor.blogspot.com/2010/11/free-blog-christmas-decorations.html" title="click to copy"><img style="position:fixed; bottom:0px; left:0px; border:0px;'" src="http://www.secretcorridor.co.uk/snags/GRAPHICS/tree.png"/></a>

bottom-right
<a href="http://secretcorridor.blogspot.com/2010/11/free-blog-christmas-decorations.html" title="click to copy"><img style="position:fixed; bottom:0px; right:0px; border:0px;'" src="http://www.secretcorridor.co.uk/snags/GRAPHICS/tree.png"/></a>

bottom-left
<a href="http://secretcorridor.blogspot.com/2010/11/free-blog-christmas-decorations.html" title="click to copy"><img style="position:fixed; bottom:0px; left:0px; border:0px;'" src="http://www.secretcorridor.co.uk/snags/GRAPHICS/tree2.png"/></a>

bottom-right
<a href="http://secretcorridor.blogspot.com/2010/11/free-blog-christmas-decorations.html" title="click to copy"><img style="position:fixed; bottom:0px; right:0px; border:0px;'" src="http://www.secretcorridor.co.uk/snags/GRAPHICS/tree2.png"/></a>

More blog decorations this way...

F R E E * 2 0 1 0 * A D V E N T * C A L E N D A R

Get this!

It seems like only yesterday I was packing away last year's calendar, and here I am again rolling out 2010! Where does the time go?

Talking of time, there is still plenty left if you want to contribute this year. All you have to do is send me a link to a craft freebie on your own blog or website, and I shall do the rest. And in return? I will send you ooooodles of free traffic!

Don't worry if your blog is not award-winning standard, our Calendar has never been about that. What we all want to see is clever, original designs that will inspire other crafters...cos you can never get enough inspiration. So what are you waiting for? Get in touch!

Can't wait until December 1st?

Why not pop over to the Advent Calendar Blog and browse our previous calendars. All the windows are OPEN!

G R E A T * F A C E B O O K * G I V E A W A Y

Has it really been a year since I posted my last craft freebie? I suppose I'd better make up for it and post you TWO today then!

Well OK, strictly speaking this is a competition and not a freebie, but it is free to enter! If you have a facebook account, all you need do is 'Attend' this virtual event and 'Like' my new Page, and that's it! Once the Page reaches 300 fans, all your names will be put in my random-thingy and a winner will be picked. Don't forget to invite your friends too...the sooner we reach that all-important target, the sooner I can announce a winner.

The prize? These gorgeous red & gold wine glass charms...perfect for adorning your Christmas table, or even to give away as a gift if you can bear to part with them.

Good luck to all who enter!

2 0 1 1 * C A L E N D A R

click here

I thought I'd get this freebie out nice and early for you this year, because I know some of you will want to pop one in with your Christmas cards.

Do feel free to share the pdf on your own Blogs (with a link back to me would be great!), and when you leave a comment please post a link to your own pics if you make one (or lots) as I love to see what other people do with my designs.

Happy crafting!

The Knight's next move...

try it!

Some of you will recognise this game, as I made a larger version for websites around the time I started this Blog. I've had this smaller version knocking around for a while now but only just got round to sharing it with you.

The object of the game is to swap the green and purple marbles over using only the Knight's Move (1 forward 2 left or right, OR 2 forward 1 left or right).

This game is simple to learn and highly addictive, and this new size fits perfectly on your Blog's sidebar. Definately one to keep your visitors coming back for more, so help yourself!

copy the code:

<IFRAME src="http://secretcorridor.co.uk/snags/knights/small/snag.html" width=150 height=225 frameborder=0 scrolling=no>Sorry your browser does not support frames</IFRAME>

(c) Claire Butler, 2010