Magazine Review: GreenCraft

Stampington and Company publishes all of my favorite magazines from Somerset Studio, Take Ten, Stamper’s Sampler, Sew Somerset and many more, they are the leaders in crafting magazines! I’ve even been honored to be published in several myself, finding my art in Somerset Studio for the first time was a dream come true and a check off my artistic bucket list! I can always count on them to provide fresh ideas and projects, beautiful photos and tons of inspiration. Their newest publication GreenCraft is no exception! Upcyled, recycled and “green” crafts have always appealed to me, I love using something that might otherwise be discarded and giving it a brand new life.

In the first issue of GreenCraft you’ll find ideas ranging from jewelry, home decor, gardening and clothing with projects like pendants and plant pots made from corks, a vest and tree skirt made from vintage doilies, painted bottles for vases, a fall wreath and photo frame made from tin cans, a bracelet made with pull tabs, a pillow poof made from old jeans and loads more, there are over 80 projects in this issue alone! Each project has detailed directions, a tools and materials list and many have step by step photos of the process. Shown here is a sample page, this pretty project covers a photo frame with snippets of tin cans:

Vanessa Spencer’s “Flora and Fauna” paper covered cigar box project really appealed to me and inspired me to make one of my own. I have a small stash of cigar boxes I’ve collected over the years, they are great for decorating, gift giving and storing little treasures in. Vanessa used a lovely botanical paper for her box but since I love to stamp on everything I covered my box with a light weight manila paper that I layered with Asian stamped images, adding aging by sponging and stippling on ink. My box didn’t have a latch so I used a loop of cord with a bead to open it. It’s all about using what you have!

I’m really looking forward to more inspiring issues of GreenCraft, I’m sure it will be added to my list of must have magazines! Be sure to visit your local newsstand or book shop to pick up a copy of GreenCraft or click here to order it directly from Stampington and Company.

-Heather