It came to my attention very recently that toys sold within Europe have to legally have the CE marking on them. This process involves rigourous tests (and so it should to ensure the safety of children) on each and every item used during the manufacturing process right down to the thread used for stitching. I haven't made and sold many toys at all but I have sold a handful and I am making this statement now that I had no idea about the testing process at the point I made the sales (mostly at craft fairs). I would never have knowingly sold them had I not been so naive and made myself aware of this legal requirement. If anybody would like a refund then please contact me (craftgardenshop@aol.com) or by the contact us button on the website (www.thecraftgarden.co.uk).
As I like to make my items as unique as possible and as stated above every item used has to be tested rigorously then I have taken the decision that I will no longer be making toys.
It is an absolute minefield surrounding these rules. Simply adding a warning that an item isn't suitable for children under a certain age is not enough, neither is adding your contact details or stating that it is not intended to be a toy. If it looks like a toy then it needs the CE testing. So many people are potentially putting themselves at risk of a hefty fine or prison sentence for selling soft toys such as sock monkeys, knitted toys etc at fairs. Even charities need to have the resting. Like I said - it is a minefield.
Sunday, 17 March 2013
Thursday, 7 March 2013
~~ Design Team Call ~~
We have some gaps to fill on our design team for various reasons so I welcome you to our design team call.
A little about what we are about - we are a monthly challenge blog so there would only be one project required per month. I don't rely on sponsors, although they are welcome, so you would be producing work with your own products. There is no payment for work. It is intended to be fun. You are expected to produce a project (can be anything) every month for the design team term which runs until November 2013 with the option of staying on for the next term should you wish. I will provide you with the schedule of challenges at the beginning so you can be fully prepared for your months with the team.
HOW TO APPLY
Please send me an email titled DT Call to craftgardenshop@gmail.com with the following
Your name
A link to your blog or online gallery
Please attach to your email at least three examples of your work
A little bit about yourself and your craft interests etc.
Anything else you want to tell me about you.
The design team call will be open until midnight(GMT) on 31st March 2013.
International applicants are welcome
If you are interested then I would love to hear from you.
A little about what we are about - we are a monthly challenge blog so there would only be one project required per month. I don't rely on sponsors, although they are welcome, so you would be producing work with your own products. There is no payment for work. It is intended to be fun. You are expected to produce a project (can be anything) every month for the design team term which runs until November 2013 with the option of staying on for the next term should you wish. I will provide you with the schedule of challenges at the beginning so you can be fully prepared for your months with the team.
HOW TO APPLY
Please send me an email titled DT Call to craftgardenshop@gmail.com with the following
Your name
A link to your blog or online gallery
Please attach to your email at least three examples of your work
A little bit about yourself and your craft interests etc.
Anything else you want to tell me about you.
The design team call will be open until midnight(GMT) on 31st March 2013.
International applicants are welcome
If you are interested then I would love to hear from you.
Friday, 1 March 2013
March Challenge
Welcome to March.
This month your challenge is from our design team member Helen who was lucky enough to visit Monet's garden last year.
Helen sent me a couple of photos to help inspire you.
You can use these photos or be inspired by Monet in some other way to create your project.
Your project can be anything but it must be created between 1st and 31st March 2013 and if you choose to enter with us this month we would request that you don't enter any more than 3 other challenges with the same project.
Entry is by the linkz button below and entry is until midnight on 31st March.
This month we are very lucky to be sponsored by My Creative Classroom. Here is a little bit about them:
My Creative Classroom is an online arts and crafts learning center. Our interactive and in-depth courses are instructor led and filled with wonderful projects and techniques to help you get the most out of your supplies. Our Spring Semester is just beginning with over 100 workshop classes to choose from.We have just announced the addition of our Library and Foundation category! The Library features retired classes at 40-50% off their original price and our Foundation classes help you get started on your crafty journey right away!
Here's a sampling of our Workshop classes:
Here is what our wonderful design team have to share with you:
The link button to enter is at the end of the post.
Our February winner is Trish Bee and she wins a selection of ribbons
We are having a design team call this month - watch out for full details in a blog post later in the week.
This month your challenge is from our design team member Helen who was lucky enough to visit Monet's garden last year.
Helen sent me a couple of photos to help inspire you.
You can use these photos or be inspired by Monet in some other way to create your project.
Your project can be anything but it must be created between 1st and 31st March 2013 and if you choose to enter with us this month we would request that you don't enter any more than 3 other challenges with the same project.
Entry is by the linkz button below and entry is until midnight on 31st March.
This month we are very lucky to be sponsored by My Creative Classroom. Here is a little bit about them:
My Creative Classroom is an online arts and crafts learning center. Our interactive and in-depth courses are instructor led and filled with wonderful projects and techniques to help you get the most out of your supplies. Our Spring Semester is just beginning with over 100 workshop classes to choose from.We have just announced the addition of our Library and Foundation category! The Library features retired classes at 40-50% off their original price and our Foundation classes help you get started on your crafty journey right away!
Here's a sampling of our Workshop classes:
- Social Marketing for Crafters
- Scenic Basics and Beyond
- Beginner's Quilting 101
- Shadow Boxes
- Artful Cards
- Embossing Enamels
- and much, much more!
Here is what our wonderful design team have to share with you:
What beautiful inspiration this month ... I decided to go with a 'scenic' layout.
Emma
Such beautiful and serene photos I took my inspiration from the water in Monet's paintings and made my first ever bracelet. The beads are very water inspired and as in Monet's paintings he uses lots of shades of the same colour when working on a particular area so I have tried to emulate that here :)
Such beautiful and serene photos I took my inspiration from the water in Monet's paintings and made my first ever bracelet. The beads are very water inspired and as in Monet's paintings he uses lots of shades of the same colour when working on a particular area so I have tried to emulate that here :)
We had such a fabulous time in Giverny, the gardens were simply stunning and I could just imagine Claude Monet wandering through them and contemplating where to sit and paint. I decided it would be appropriate to use paint to stamp with for this layout which is what I used for the leaves (Dylusions), the flowers are from various sources but mainly Prima. On the chicken wire stencil for the background I use chalk sprays and carried on the theme using a honeycombe stamp from Indigoblu. The paper I used as a mat and for the journaling is a left over page from a Smash album.
For my project this month I was inspired by all the green and the lilys in the water. It made me think of frogs on lily pads so I came up with a frog Prince card!
Our February winner is Trish Bee and she wins a selection of ribbons
We are having a design team call this month - watch out for full details in a blog post later in the week.
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