I like to keep my home office filled with pretty things and objects that radiate peace, love and incentive.  In my line of work I especially need all of the inspiration I can find. I have  project for you that takes pennies to make and will offer you a world of inspiration.
Here is what you will need to get started:

Transparent glass paint (blue and green)
Dry air enamel paint (white)
Stencils (inspirational words)
Sponges
A paper plate
A couple of old jars with lids or small glass cups
½ inch brush
scissors
A craft knife (xacto knife)

Remove any labels from the jars and wash in hot soapy …read more

Today’s Wordy Wednesday is about finding inspiration in everyday things.
How often do we go through our houses, without really appreciating all the lovely little details?
I found my favorite fruit basket today, and decided to pop some of my fruits and veggies into it – and then realized how beautiful the colors were together.
See what I mean?

I written posts about getting from photo to finished artwork, so I won’t get into that now – but next time you need some inspiration, why not check out what’s in front of you?
You never know what might happen…
images: C Findlay-Harder

“Where do crafters find ideas?” beginning craftspeople often wonder.
Here are a few resources for crafting inspiration:
Books and magazines – There are any number of ideas on the printed page.  They can act as a springboard for generating your own.
Classes – You’ll find workshops in many crafts at senior centers, continuing education departments, town recreation centers, public libraries, and guilds to name a few.
The world around you – Crafters find inspiration from daily life and the environment around them.  Often they take photos of nature, people, animals, objects and textures that inspire their work.
Family activities – Incorporate family activities, sports, and …read more

I am sometimes inundated with calls from publications and media outlets — asking me to advertise with them.
As you can quite imagine, a small company often has a minuscule marketing budget, as is the case with The Pet Set — therefore, I have to be selective with my advertising strategies.
What tends to irritate me the most is that more likely than not, the caller hasn’t even taken the time to do some homework about my company and our products.
I can understand the person is trying to close a deal; but I feel that not only does the advertising need …read more