Alan and Barrys crafts (www.alanandbarryscrafts.com) will shortly be launching its Affiliate scheme and people who run craft related sites / blogs could earn extra money by signing up. They will become one of the first major UK craft suppliers to run an affiliate scheme which have become a common method of promotion for a wide range of products over the last decade.

Site owners who sign up will receive the following:

A percentage of the income from all sales made from customers linking from their website.

An individual account into which they can log in and view sales / click statistics.

Links and Banners in common internet sizes (IAB)

The ability to link to specific sections of Alan and Barrys shop or even individual items.

Online support AND a named individual account manager.

Permission to use pictures and information on products from the A&B website (in relation to the affiliate scheme only)

At a minimal level an affiliate will just have to sign up and place a banner on their website (with the correct code). Those who would like to aim for higher earning can use a number of additional methods, product reviews, featured products, projects using the products and more.

Alan and Barry are looking forward to this further expansion of their online presence complimenting their existing shop, live web shows, forum and projects.

For further information and to register your interest email affiliates@alanandbarryscrafts.com

Another site to keep all the paper crafters happy. Backing Papers for Free has over 200 completely free downloads for Card Makers and Scrapbookers. Sorted into categories such as “celtic”, “textures” and “patterns” they have been made in the higher resolution of 150 DPI for improved print outs.

Backing Papers for Free 

Craft Bargains is a brand new site which has just gone live. A community based site it aims to hunt down the most competitive prices for craft materials on the Internet in the UK. Covering a whole range of crafts: Card Making, Decoupage, Glass Painting, Wood Work, Metal Work, Folk Art etc it is looking to visitors to join and post their own best finds in the forum.

There was a time when the internet was ONLY about sharing, before the e-commerce, the aderts, the pop ups… it was purely about people with a shared interest getting together, swapping ideas, information and support.

Well that all seems like a long time ago now but the idea does remain in some dark corners of the net although they are becoming harder and harder to find. The bonus with the development of the internet of the last 20 years if THE WAYS peple can shre information hae become better and better. Forums, clipart galleries, picture sharing and home pages have all become common ways of getting your information “out there”

Free Craft Stuff attempts to cut through some of the waffle and take you directly to the stuff you want, free designs, graphics, programmes, backing sheets, decoupageetc etc. The site should be of interest to Card Makers, Glass Painters, Stained Glass workers, wood worker, in fact a whole range of crafters… gie it a quick visit and you’ll be hooked for hours ( and your hard drie will fill up with useful design and clipart).

www.freecraftstuff.co.uk 

p.s. Don’t forget to use the “leave comments” facility to let other crafters know what you thought of the links you isited.

This week saw the launch of a great new site for all crafters. Craft Demos TV brings together great crafting videos from all over the internet into one easily searchable site. Over 500 videos offer hints and tips on crafts as diverse as Card Making and Chainsaw carving.

The site will also let you add any relevant videos you may find yourself on a list of approved sites (Google Video, Youtube etc etc).

So if your into wood work, glass painting, wood turning, glass blowing, decoupage, origami or any other craft why not pop along to craftdemos.tv and see what is ther for you.

No sign up, no membership, just 100s of projects and demonstrations.

www.glasspainting.co.uk has been relaunched after an extensive overhaul. Out has gone the static pages and instead there is a fully interactive site where glass painting enthusiasts can ask and answer question, have their own gallery and even write reviews, news and articles. There is even a section on glass painting designs.

Over the next few weeks they will be building up their directory of glass painting links, adding more projects and opening a new designs section.

All articles, news, links, questions, reviews and techniques can be submitted directly on the site

Following a successful trial Alan and Barrys Crafts have announced a series of “Live” craft shows accessible over the Internet. The shows will be demonstrations of various crafts including paper craft techniques and featuring some of the products available on their site. Unlike previous shows the duo have been involved in, they have promised they will not be rushed and each demonstration will be given the time it needs. Members of their forum will be able to ask questions and make comments whilst the show is on air.

Alan and Barry are the founders of both Rainbow Glass and Alan and Barrys Crafts. They are the authors of a series of Craft Books, Videos, DVDs and Crafting CDs. As well as having been presenters on several shopping channels they have also featured on Television programmes in the USA and other countries around the world.

A new series of art programmes on The Information channel (Sky 181) will be starting on 30th October 2006.

The series is hosted by Keith Fenwick, well know for his Television shows, Book, Videos and teaching courses. Entitled “The New Art Doctor” following up on the success of “The Art Doctor” it will be a set of 6 painting which you will see created in real time from start to finish. All of the painting are done outside at beautiful venues including Ashness Bridge and Eagle Crag both in Borrow Dale.

You will find full details of the series together with pictures of each finished piece on Keiths Website at http://www.keithfenwick.co.uk

The launch of a new online gallery Studio 7 Art means that art lovers everywhere can afford to display stunning artwork on their walls. With over 23,000 hits last month alone, the Studio 7 website sees a mother and daughter from Greenhithe team up to reproduce artworks at a fraction of the original prices.

“We have produced oil and acrylic art works for years but they take time to complete meaning a high retail price for the finished product. By reproducing our artwork as giclee canvas prints, we enable art lovers to purchase striking works of art at affordable prices that are almost indistinguishable from the original piece. Sales of each piece are limited to 250 so buyers are assured a friend won’t have the same artwork on their wall, which happens very frequently with art bought at high-street retailers.” says Jennie Thomas.