10 Must-Know Craft Sites for Every Crafter: Conquering the Craftosphere

comments (0) August 25th, 2009

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PepperberryAndCo, member

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I have no doubt at all that when I first entered the online crafting world, I resembled a very confused infant who'd just been told to fend for themselves.

There were millions of colourful websites, thousands of online sellers, hundreds of genres of craft... and then there was little ol' me.

Terms like blogging, tweeting, facebooking, swaps, Etsy and tutes may as well have been in French, for I had no idea what they meant or how they even vaguely related to my crafty dreams.

I stumbled around in the dark, and slowly built up a base of websites, blogs and articles that helped me find my feet and build an understanding of the Craftosphere. What I yearned for from the start, however, was a map: a guide to the absolutely key crafty websites that would tell me everything I needed to know. And so it is with pleasure that I present to you just that: the Pepperberry & Co. guide to the Top 10 Must-Know Craft Sites for Every Crafter.

CRAFSTER
Craftster is an online community where people share hip, off-beat, crafty D.I.Y projects. It's the largest online community for indie crafts. Craftster has 700,000 active monthly members, making it the prime location to find enough crafty projects to keep you busy for the next ten years!

CUT OUT + KEEP
Cut Out + Keep is an online community for crafty and creative people to make and share step-by-step tutorials. You can browse through thousands of craft projects and tutorials, keep track of your favorites and add your own versions, post your own tutorials, read their monthly magazine, and chat on their boards to make crafty new friends. A great resource for all crafty types!

INDIE FIXX
Indie Fixx is a celebration of the creativity, tenacity, and general spunky goodness that is the indie design movement. The site lets you explore a delectable smorgasbord of indie products, and also has great Tutorials on Tuesdays from crafters across the globe!

CRAFTPLACE
Craftplace is an online space for crafters to connect with other crafters, share projects and ideas, make suggestions, and find inspiration. Craftplace also brings you the best crafting content, resources, ideas and inspiration from around the web, and lets you know about shows, markets and other exciting events that are coming up.

CRAFT GOSSIP
Confused about everything crafty out there? Not sure where to go and what to buy for your latest craft idea? Can’t find that kitsch pattern that everyone else is talking about? Well worry no more! Craft Gossip covers news written by craft people telling you about all the good stuff. They scour the net looking for the best craft ideas and projects and review them for you. With dozens of categories to search through, every crafter will find something fun to play with here!

HELLO CRAFT
Hello Craft is dedicated to the advancement of independent crafters and the handmade movement, as well as empowering small business owners and educating the public to the benefits of buying handmade and teaching the joys of making. With useful articles, tutorials, links and stories, you'll soon find yourself saying Hello to Craft more often!

CRAFT
Celebrating the D.I.Y spirit, CRAFT's goal is to unite, inspire, inform and entertain a growing community of highly imaginative and resourceful people who are transforming traditional art and crafts with unconventional, unexpected and even renegade techniques, materials and tools; people who undertake amazing crafting projects in their homes and communities. You'll find a whole range of quirky, fun tutorials here!

LIVING CREATIVELY
LC is your place to discover what’s happening in the world of creativity, and to unleash some of your own. The monthly LC magazine uncovers the best on offer in the worlds of art, craft, design, urban living and fashion from around the world. With articles on creative people and brands, business tips and views, step-by-step project sheets and ideas, a handmade marketplace, special offers and competitions, online forums and an extensive calendar of events in Australia, LC will definitely keep you busy!

CRAFT BITS
Craft Bits provides resources for teachers, therapists, and craft enthusiasts, with tutorials, articles, great pictures and inspiring projects galore. As an independent craft website, their aim is to satisfy the needs and promote the awareness of the benefits of creativity in everyone, young or old. Go explore and get crafty!

CRAFT STYLISH
Lol- you're here! You'll already know that Craft Stylish is the ultimate crafting resource- a place to connect, discover and share with other crafters. It’s the destination for fabulous inspiration and expert instruction on the latest trends, projects, ideas, and materials. Whatever craft you love—knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting, embroidery, jewelry making, and more- you’ll find great information and community on this site!

I hope that helps at least a few of the newbies (and maybe even some oldies!) find their feet in the Craftosphere! For more great hints and tips, come say hi at my blog :-)