Week 1 of National Craft month was a huge success and we're continuing the party this week with an even bigger giveaway for you. 

For Week 2 of National Craft Month you can enter to win:

• A Free Download of Shannon's Newest Craftsy Course: Crochet Toolkit: Designer Tips & Tricks
• An LED Mini-Flip Light from Ottlite
• A Gift Pack of 5 Bottles of Rinse Free Wash from Eucalan

​That's a LOT of swag my friends! Here's the full rundown.

This class is a FAB fav topic of ours: Tips and tricks to take your crochet from good to great! In this course, Shannon takes you step-by-step through the process of how to make solid and lace fabrics, brush up your math skills, and he teaches you how to keep those edges clean and tidy for a professional appearance.  Dreaming of smooth, drapey fabric? Find out how linked stitches can close the gaps and make it happen. Then, add some "wow" techniques to your toolkit, such as crochet I-cord. Yup… two types of crochet cords including attached cords for edges!

Everything you learn here you'll be able to apply  right away! You get techniques and stitches we use in real life, every day.

For more info about this class including a promo video where Shannon tells you all about it, click on the button below.

We LOVE our OttLite lamps.  Shannon has two in his study and Jason uses them in his photo studio to get clear photos with clean white light.  We know you'll love this clip on LED light from OttLite!

• Ottlite will send you a MiniLED flip-lite to pack in your bag or carry in a pocket so you always have clear bright light with you.  We recently used ours at the Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Show on the show floor to better see the colors of yarn perfectly without having to go outside. 

With OttLite you’ll see more clearly and comfortably, which makes everything you love to do – from sewing and scrapbooking to reading and computer work to crafts and crossword puzzles – easier and more enjoyable. It’s like natural daylight indoors! Click here to learn more.

We can't say enough good things about Eucalan.  Their product is tailor made for crochet and knitting handcrafter... although quilters and sewers swear by this cleaning product as well.  This set of 5 bottles of Eucalan is neatly packaged in a clear re-usable zip bag in each of their scents: Natural, Grapefruit, Eucalyptus, Lavender, and Jasmine. 

Check out their Washing Basics page HERE for tips on using their product.

There are a few ways to enter this giveaway. You earn entries by visiting our Facebook page, our sponsors Facebook pages; and earn daily entries by tweeting a message. 

​Click the button below to register with Rafflecopter for this giveaway and good luck to you all! 

Did we neglect to tell you there's a Grand Prize Giveaway including an Ottlite Desk Lamp, Full sized bottles of Eucalan, and a FULL GARMENT'S AMOUNT OF YARN?  Well now you know!

To enter the Grand Prize you'll need to post a photo, video, or other proof that you have purchased the Shibaguyz' new book, Crochet Geometry.  Post a pic of you starting your favorite pattern... do a video review of the book... take a picture of your favorite pattern and post it on Pinterest… or take a book selfie with you and your copy of Crochet Geometry.

Don't have your copy of Crochet Geometry yet? Just go to CrochetGeometry.com by clicking on the button below and you'll see a video and more photos from the book as well as links for where you can buy your book online!

March is National Craft Month, and all this year we will be celebrating with a series of fun blogbosts, exciting news, and of course the GIVEAWAYS!  We all like a little free stuff right? How about 5 weeks of giveaways?! WOOHOO!!

Lets start off this month with a bang!  We're going to give one of you lucky readers an enrollment to Jason's brand new class on how to take FAB photos of your handmade items using your smartphone or tablet.

This Nation Craft Month Week #1 prize is provided by our friends at F&W Media in association with their Craft Online University.  This class officially goes live March 15, and one of you lucky folks gets to take this course free! 

​I’m so excited, I just can’t hide it, I’m about to lose control… forgive that Pointer Sister’s moment.

This class will teach you how to create photography tools out of common objects to use in conjunction with your smartphone or tablet to produce images to help you sell or exhibit your work. 

If you want to take better photos of your handmade items, and have a mobile device you owe it to yourself to enter this contest for a chance to win this course free.

Enter through the Rafflecopter widget below starting at 12:00am PT on February 28, 2016. The winner will be randomly chosen at 12:00am PT on March 6, 2016. Some of the entry points can be earned daily so take advantage of that and be sure to come back every week to see what FAB National Craft Month fun we have in store for you!
​

Thank you to everyone who entered this week's contest.  The winner of the Week 1 Giveaway is....
Drum roll please... Linda K.

I've sent an email off to Lynda with information on how to register for Jason's class.

Be sure to check back often this month and register for our other weekly giveaways as well as our Grand Prize.  Directions for entering the grand prize are in all subsequent weekly giveaway posts all month.

Good Luck and Stitch On!

Inspiration… weeks of work… elbow grease… the occasional tear… They’ve all gone into making perfect handmade item. It’s finished! Time to show it off on social media or sell it online; but alas, photography is not a skill you’ve honed. Now what? 

It’s time to pull out your phone… Your smartphone camera is the ideal tool for taking that perfect shot of your handiwork; compact, powerful, and almost always found in your front pocket. It’s capable of capturing any special moment. You only need to learn to harness its full potential. 

In my course you will learn the basics of how Smartphone cameras work, find the right light for photographing any handmade project, create a professional environment for taking your photos, explore a few downloadable apps to assist you in your quest for the perfect photo, and I’ll give you one sure-fire tip that is certain to take your photos from drab to FAB.

I’ve spent the past 10 years learning how to take breathtaking photographs of handmade items on any camera. Come and learn the simple techniques you can use to get professional quality photos of your handmade projects with your Smartphone.
​
The class runs from March 15th – May 9th 2016, and covers topics such as: 

• Intro to Smartphone Use 
• Get to Know Your Smartphone Camera
• How to Manage Light & Other Useful Tools
• Composition, Creativity, & Personal Style
  
• Lightboxes, Swoops, & Backgrounds
• Editing Your Photos
• File Types, Sizing, Compression, & Storage
  
• Final Thoughts from a Professional Photographer
  

To make learning simple and because we know you're going to want to practice each technique before going on to the next, only one segment will be released weekly.  You'll never feel pressured to sit down and try to absorb everything one evening. You can register anytime during these weeks but I recommend you register now to take full advantage of the time available to re-watch previous lessons. Here's an added bonus... I'll be monitoring the forum/gallery, answering your questions and giving feedback to all your posted projects.