Hi there!

[Dianne]

Hi Everyone
My name is Dianne and I have been into crafting since I was very small, I have been into the card making side of crafting for a number of years now.

I am in the throws of joining Particraft as a demonstrator and would love to hear as many hints and tips of how to get started, advertising etc.
It's lovely to be with all of you fellow crafters and look forward to hearing from you
Lots of love & best wishes
Dianne :)

[Michelle]

Hey Dianne

Great to hear that you're going to be joining us! We're a very friendly bunch so I'm sure that some of the others will stop by & leave you a message very soon!:)

First question from me.. Whereabouts are you from & how did you hear about us? It's always good to know as there may be other people near by who can really give you the low down on your area!;)

I live in Surrey (near Epsom) & have been with PartiCraft since the beginning which is just about a year now. It's great fun, the products are really fab & it's great to be part of the PartiCraft team.

I'ver been quite lucky & have probably done 15 or so parties/demos now - it has been quite quiet lately though with the whole economic downturn etc - hopefully this will pick up really soon! I had a slight advantage as I already ran a local card making club so atleast I knew quite a few crafty people already!!

There have been a few other questions lately about being a demonstrator so do have a good look through the forum posts - also once you get onto the demonstrator side of the website you'll find lots of useful info to help you get started! Obviously any questions or you can't find anything in particular then just shout & someone will point you in the right direction!

Take care & i look forward to chatting to you again on here soon

Love Michelle x:)

[anneh316]

HI Dianne
Welcome to Particraft. I live in the Cotswolds and have been part of Particraft since September last year when I took my first tentative steps into the world of party plan demonstrating and selling. As Michelle has said things have been very quiet of late with the economic situation and as I work full time it is impossible for me to do very much during the day, but I have had a couple of parties in the evening that were hosted by work colleagues. If you work that is a good starting point - ask if anyone is willing to host a party and take your cards into work to show them what you can do. This might just arouse their curiosity and interest when they see what is possible with the products.

You have a craft background so shouldn't find the demonstrating side of it too daunting. This was the part that I was least worried about as my background is in teaching, needlework, cardmaking and art but drumming up business is more difficult. If you can start a craft club it does give you a ready-made client base but I appreciate that is not possible for everyone - I am investigated this myself at the moment.

Everyone at Particraft is very friendly and helpful so I am sure you will soon feel very welcome. You have nothing to lose but everything to gain - so go for it!

Anne X

[Becki and Alan]

Hi Dianne,

Welcome to the team! I'm sure you'll love it - we certainly do! Will we be seeing you at Ally Pally?

Becki
xx

P.S. Excuse the brief message. I'm typing this on my Mum's PC and it's in semi-darkness!! :)

[Dianne]

Hi Anne & Michelle
Thank you both for your kind words of welcome!
I live in Alnwick in Northumberland and first saw the advert for Particraft in one of the craft magazines I sometimes purchase.
I used to run a craft club, but last year due to ill health , I had to give it all up I'm afraid.

Can I ask you both, how long did it take before your kit arrived please?
Do either of you advertise anywhere at all to create interest? Just wondering if it worked for you or not!
I look forward to be able to get more info and help from the site once my registration comes through.
Nice to hear from you both, hope to speak again soon
Dianne x;)

[Dianne]

Hi Becky and Alan
Nice to hear from you!
I am not sure where Ally Pally is I'm afraid!!
I live in Alnwick in Northumberland, and work part time, so I may not be able to do that one!
Take care, speak soon
Dianne x

[Maureen]

Hi Dianne
Welcome to the team, the kit does not take too long to come through and you will be thrilled with it. I advertise in my car window. In the side window and often find people reading this when out doing the shopping. I also run 2 craft clubs and have given everyone a catalogue. This does generate some orders. I hope this helps and that you soon get started with parties or demonstrations. Good luck. Mo x

[Lynne]

Hi Diane
Nice to hear you have decided to join Particraft. I'm sure you will have a wonderful time. I, like you , have been crafting as long as I can remember and card making for the past 5-6 years. I love the fact that I can now make a few pennies doing something I love. Although, I don't see myself being able to give up work!!! -Unfortunately!!!
I have done quite a few parties and have set up a craft club since I started with Particraft last May. It sometimes can be a bit of a struggle getting the contacts but just keep persivering and eventually things will get going.

The kit shouldn't take long to arrive. It's just like Christmas when you get that knock on the door! If you're anything like me, you'll get started on making some Demo cards straight away!!!

If you have any questions at all I'm sure someone will be able to help. Just post a message on the forum !

Have fun and do let us know how you're getting on.

Love

[Dianne]

Hi Maureen
Thanks for all the information, very useful indeed. I can't wait to get started, it will be more interesting getting into Particraft than anything else I have done before, simply because it is something I enjoy totally, and have been doing for quite some time. Also we really don't have a decent supply of crafting goodies around here, our nearest place is Gateshead Metro Centre which can take you anything up to about 45 minutes on a good day. When all shoppers decide to go it is a nightmare. We have a couple of small outlets eg local shops and a garden centre, but with due respect they don't have a great deal of choice!
Thanks again
Speak soon
Dianne x

[Dianne]

Hi Lynne
Thanks for the information, very kind of you. I, like you will still have to work too, not fair is it??
Never mind I look forward to my kit being delivered and yes you are right I will want to get straight in and make a couple of demo cards!!
I will keep my eyes and ears open for any signs of interest, I did run a card making club, but had to give it up due to ill health last year. So maybe now I can set something up a little different to what I did before.
Speak again soon
Dianne xx

[Lynne]

Good Luck Dianne.

[anneh316]

Hi Dianne
My ears pricked up when you said you lived in Alnwick as we lived in Killingworth, North Tyneside for 23 years before venturing further south in 1998. I still really miss the Metro Centre and late night shopping not to mention Fenwicks and Bainbridges and Newcastle city itself. Having said all that I am not a Geordie - we moved from Scotland shortly after we were married (husband's job) but we did put down roots there and I loved living in the north east - our son is a Geordie though, complete with accent and assorted unintelligible phrases and words.

Alnwick is beautiful as are all the little towns along the A69 - Corbridge, Stocksfield etc. I used to run patchwork classes in Stocksfield and I taught City & Guilds patchwork and quilting at Kirkley Hall College, Ponteland. I am beginning to feel very homesick!

Your starter kit should arrive quite quickly and then you can have fun playing with all your goodies. Enjoy !!!
Anne X

[Dianne]

You just never know who you are talking or writing to! Well I never!
My mum and dad still live in Shiremoor, which is where I was born, I have 2 brothers who still live around there, 1 in Wallsend and the other one in Seaton Delaval.
Geoff and I have also done a "run" of moving around with his job etc, but we moved back from Derby in 1997 and have live in Alnwick since Jan 2000. WE live in a nice part of Alnwick and it is only about 10 mins walk into town, so it is really lovely to do that when the weather is good!
Hope to hear from you again soon
Dianne xx

[Sue Ramsay]

Hi and welcome Dianne,
ahhhh The Metro Centre lol, my car knows how to get there all of its own accord ! I may be the nearest demonstrator to you ( dont quote me on that though ) as Im in Cumbria, just an hour or so away. I know what you mean about the lack of craft shops in the Metro Centre, once youve sampled the 'delights' of the Paper Mill thats just about it isnt it?
I started with Particraft round about June/July of last year, so far Ive only had one demo/party but I keep on putting the word around. Im employed by the LEA and work in schools on a one to one basis and next term I will be running a craft class once a week initially at one of the schools I work in - watch this space !
If I can help at all feel free to PM me anytime.
Take care and have fun.
Sue x

[Dianne]

Hi Sue
Thanks for your warm welcome!
What sort of things have you tried and who have you contacted? I did start to make a list of WI groups etc and even start a class of my own again. Once my kit comes, which Sue at Particraft told me they were planning to despatch it this afternoon, I will have a bit play first of all (of course!!), get my website going and then get some cards made to hand out and leave in various places.
Any other things you can think of will be gratefully received.
We don't have many places to get bits and pieces from in Alnwick (where I live) either, so that was another reason to start up with Particraft.
Well, will speak to again soon no doubt
Take care
Dianne x

[johnandvictoria]

Welcome to the happy band of demonstrators. We live in the London Bourough of Redbridge (Barkingside, Es***). There are several websites where you can put ads, I can't remember them all but somewhere on the forum there should be a list - if you can't find them then I'll do a check and and repost.

If you are a member of Ebay.co.uk (NOT ebay.com) then you can list your services under 'Local Services' for free - you need to relist every 28 days.

As you ran a craft club do you still have any contacts with the members? If so why not send one of them a flyer and see what happens.

***John***

[Dianne]

Hi John & Victoria
So nice to hear from you!
I will certainly have a look on the forum for the advertising links, and will def have a look at ebay.
I know where a couple of them live, I was thinking of putting out some flyers too, when I have a minute to do so!
Thanks for you help, hope to hear from you again soon
Dianne xx

[Sue Ramsay]

Hi again Dianne
I tried advertising on a couple of online sites but didnt receive any business through them, I well and truly plastered the area with 1200 fliers and 50 A4 posters and Ive also left boxes of leaflets in several doctors surgeries, I left a box of A5 leaflets in a local farm shop/restaurant complex that also has a swimming pool, hairdressers and has a little shop selling patchwork quiltiling materials. I also have A4 laminated leaflets up in several windows ( post offices etc. ). We drove around looking for notice boards to put laminated posters on, weve put them on village hall doors where there were no boards too ! I also have an A4 laminated poster in my car on the rear parcel shelf thats visible at all times, apart from passing word round everyone I know I think thats about it but Ive probably forgotten something!!!!!! phew. Dont know if thats of any help to you but hopefully it may have given you a few ideas. If theres anything I can help you with dont hesitate to get in touch, okay? Take care and enjoy your kit when it arrives - if theres anything in there that you havent encountered before dont hesitate to ask.
Catch you soon
Love
Sue x

[Sue Ramsay]

Lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Forgot who I was writing to and put love at the bottom - hope you dont think Im being overly familiar !
Sue

[Dianne]

No problem Sue
I find myself doing that a lot sometimes. No worries
Dianne x