Some more popular creations

Here's a quick summary of my most popular items, which can be created with a bit of notice. 

• Handmade cards (a larger stock than normal 😏priced from £2, mostly £2.50 for A6 size, but a few other larger ones up to £3 price range) and  
• Painted pebbles (£2 each) - usually I hide these when out and about (check out my post why I paint rocks and pebbles, for more info). 

These make great little keepsakes, for yourself or to give to another. There are a few themes available and each comes in a little pouch with card:

Breathe pebble -  Remember to BREATHE mindfulness pebble. Hold in times or stress or during meditation as a tangible reminder to BREATHE.

Worry worm - Tell this little guy your worries, although he doesn't really speak. He will listen when you need him, any day of the week.

Pebble hug - This pebble is a reminder someone cares. Keep it with you and remember it is there.

Pet pebble - Take care of this pebble pet by walking and feeding it every day. Ensure lots of love and attention so it doesn't run away.

Wellbeing and a wellness

Mental health and wellbeing is often at the top of my to do list - simply because it's so important to look after this, just like physical health. When you get sick it takes time to recover. But mental health can often be more difficult as you and others can't always 'see' the symptoms.

I practice mindfulness with crafting whenever I can - this is my go to escape or place where I can lose myself in a creative hobby or project. 

Back in January 2022 I signed up to have a stall at a wellness festival local to my home, with lots of providers, practitioners and businesses which offer something wellbeing related within our community. For me it was an outlet to share what I love and help to raise awareness and ideas to look after mental health and wellbeing. At the same time raise a little bit for Mind, with the proceeds from sales of my handmade cards or crafts. Mind, offers many services - I've personally used their support both via their website and locally and wanted to give something back.

Jewellery inspired by my travels

I've been creating jewellery for years. From macrame bracelets to seaglass earrings, and all sorts in between. A lot of my jewellery is inspired by my travels and sourcing materials/supplies often finds me exploring off the beaten track as well as enjoying some local experiences.

Origami heart card inspiration

Practising the ancient art of origami is a wonderful way to take some time out and channel your inner creativity. I've been inspired by #pauseformind and a pause giftbox that I received.

I do hope you find some inspiration for each of the kits from the designs below.

Why I paint rocks and pebbles

If you haven't heard of kindness rocks check out this site, I'm not the only person who enjoys painting rocks, it's a worldwide phenomenum. 

Practice mindfulness with crafting

Mindfulness is extremely important in supporting wellbeing and is available to us all for free, and yet it's only when we are aware of this and make the time for it that we benefit.

Crafting is my go to mindful practice of choice and I cannot recommend enough the calming effects of being creative. So, of course this is what I spend a lot of my time doing. We all need to be kind and look after ourselves, and others.

Daisy card ideas

Update - Sept 2022: If you have landed here looking for inspiration to make a card - firstly thanks for purchasing the kit. The info included with your pack under the suggested steps is designed to create this card.

Want to make a card like this?

Why not join me at the Friends of Sir Joseph Hood Wellness Festival on 3rd September 12-4pm.

Fabric scraps to ease stress and tension

I'm always looking for ways to be creative and if I can do a little bit to minimise the negative impact on the environment and contribute to living more sustainably then it will probably make the short list of my latest crafting projects. 

I love a charity shop, freecycle and finding a use for something that can be repurposed. Did I mention I love to craft?!

This project was inspired by a bunch of fabric scraps and some discarded rice that just wasn't as good as the usual Basmati I've grown up enjoying (I'm half Chinese!).

Challenging times and supporting better mental health

I'm not one for new years resolutions. Personally I've come to the conclusion that there are just too many challenges at this time of year! However, I've got lots of creative projects to pick through so will try and share a few as soon as I can. 

This is just a quick note to let you know that I will be donating monies from my handmade cards and other crafts to the charity Mind in respect of orders and sales from February so get in touch and stock up to support this great cause.

 

Total donations for Fareshare

Thanks to those who supported my fundraising efforts for Fareshare earlier this month. The total donations of £227.75 have been made towards the Christmas Appeal which is enabling Fareshare to increase the amount of food distributed and in doing so, reach many more vulnerable people at risk of going hungry.

If you want to support my next charity event, check back soon or contact me at jadedcrafter@gmail.com to receive further details.

Christmas cards for charity this year - fundraising for Fareshare

It's that time of year again, and this year I'm raising money for Fareshare. A charity which ensures good food is redistributed rather than wasted. Find out more here.

 

Please consider supporting this great cause. As well as Christmas cards I'm also including my usual brithday and other occasion cards in the fundraising efforts so now is a good time to stock up. Contact me for details of what I have available. A few of the Christmas options are detailed below.

Pack of Christmas cards - £10 for 10 cards, 2 designs (A6 sized)

 

 Individual Christmas cards with a variety of designs, priced from £2 each 

Do get in touch if you are interested in other designs. Please note that patterns shown below may vary slightly and sentiments can be amended (on request) as these are all handmade and can be made to order with alternative sentiments and personalisation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notecards and gifts

Notecards are usually priced at £2 each but I'm offering 3 for £5 on all notecards - patterns and colours may vary:

 

 

And finally, a couple of gift ideas:

 

 

Order deadline is Tuesday 30 November and items will be completed by around 6 December, but please specify if you need them earlier. Normal postage costs (UK only) apply if you are unable to collect.

Latest donations

Happy October!

It's been a quiet couple of months but I still raised £103.75 from purchases during my latest fund raising period for Hey Girls.

 

  

If you want to get in involved and support period poverty in the UK Hey Girls have a range of reasonably priced sustainable period products available to purchase. The "buy one, give one" pledge means all purchases support those with periods who are in need.

If you want to support my next charity event, check back soon or contact me at jadedcrafter@gmail.com to receive further details.

Raising awareness of period poverty and sustainable period products

It's that time of year again - I'm fundraising for charity with 100% of the money from my handmade card and other craft sales going to another important cause. 

As it's Plastic Free July I'm also trying to spread the word on switching to plastic free products and encourage people to consider switching to sustainable options. Therefore I've chosen to support Hey Girls which I hope will also make more people aware of period poverty in the UK. Not only do they have a range of reasonably priced sustainable period products available to purchase, they have a "buy one, give one" pledge which means all purchases support those with periods who are in need.

If you need a handmade card, now's the time to stock up. Get in touch via email at jadedcrafter@gmail.com to place an order. All money raised will be donated to Hey Girls which will also mean my donation will be doubled through their Buy One Give One model.

 

Herb and veggie markers

Here's a couple of gift ideas that started out as a little something for my parents for Christmas. Since then their friends have been ordering these faster than I can collect the pebbles to paint.

I've just been making up more sets on request and with a week or two's notice can probably get them to you all year round - just £6 a set.

 

Thanks for supporting Friends of the Earth - Craft for your Planet event

 

Thanks so much to those who made a purchase during my Craft for your Planet event, fundraising in March and April, for Friends of the Earth. The total raised was £212.75, which was above my target so pretty pleased with that.

I am working out the next charity event, so check back soon or contact me at jadedcrafter@gmail.com if you are interested in receiving further details.

Earth Day and related

With Earth Day on the calendar this week, I thought I'd share a quick update on my fundraising efforts for Friends of the Earth. I'm almost at my target of £150. Still have plenty of handmade cards up for grabs if anyone is interested.

The plantable eggs from Easter are not showing a great deal of growth but there are sprouts and there is plenty growing out in the garden. Although I think a great deal is weeds - but there are flowers and bees so that counts doesn't it?

There are still a few £1 'save the bees' bees still available - and I can of course always make more (can post if needed - normal charges apply).

Help save the bees

Since the beginning of March monies from my handmade card sales are being collected for donation to Friends of the Earth in support of their Craft for your planet fundraising efforts. Although I haven't really had time to promote what I'm up to so far I've raised £86 against my target of £150.

Continuing efforts this month, I'm focussing on increasing awareness of specific issues and helping to save the bees is high on the list. 

For Easter I've created an alternative Easter egg activity/gift for the kids in my community which will hopefully get them involved in growing some flowers to help save the bees.

 

Take a look at the Friends of the Earth site, sign a petition or two or even make a donation. 

A donation of £5 towards the Bee Saver Kit will provide you with wildflower seeds to grow, a garden planner and plenty of other info to help with saving bees. If you have young children then there is a Planet Protector Pack containing an activity handbook and a pack of seeds, which will keep them occupied as well as teach them about how they can help protect the planet.

Every little helps. Even my painted rocks are helping spread the message... I'm hiding these out and about, but if you want one for yourself they are just £1 (can post out if needed - normal charges apply)  and monies will go in the pot for my Craft for your planet target.

In case you need a little note card I had a few eggs left over so have created these - just £1 each and the money all goes to Friends of the Earth. Normal postage costs apply. Just email me at jadedcrafter@gmail.com.

Thanks in advance for your support.

Fundraising for Friends of the Earth

 

Although sending an ecard might be a more eco-friendly way to acknowledge a birthday, Mother's Day, Easter or any other occasion - personally I think receiving a handmade card, or hand written card is so much more personal. So despite my ongoing efforts to live more sustainably, reduce plastics and be eco-friendly I'm still making handmade cards, but they are at least recyclable. 

In March and April I'm taking part in the Friends of the Earth - Craft for your planet fundraising efforts. Which means that 100% of monies from my handmade card sales will be donated to Friends of the Earth, so now is the time to stock up. Get in touch via email at jadedcrafter@gmail.com to place an order.

Thanks in advance for your support.

Kindness Rock Garden #RandomActsofKindness

 

'The gardeners' haven't been for some time as we are still in lockdown, so as it's Random Acts of Kindness Week I thought a little Rock Garden might spread some love locally... 

If like me you are missing travelling right now, and want some travel themed creative ideas, check out my travel blog. This month I'm getting creative with recipes from my travels. There's plenty of older posts that might work to keep the kids occupied this half term too... 

Cards for Chinese New Year 2021 - Year of the Ox/Cow

Unfortunately my plans for Chinese New Year cards this year didn't really work out, the lockdown has played havoc with getting my hands on the stamp set I was going to use, so instead I have had to improvise.

These are the card designs available for ordering - please indicate what date you require the cards for posting etc, and allow a minimum of 1 weeks notice.

Design 1 - A6 size (£2)

Design 2 - A6 size (£2)

Design 3 - 13.5cm square (£2.25)