Crafty Hearts is run by Jennifer and Leanne, a mother-daughter team. With both of us having time on our hands (Jennifer, a housewife, and Leanne, recently having finished A-levels and in need of a break!), we both decided in Summer 2008 to look for craft shop premises in our home city of Preston.
What was your inspiration?

We still wonder now, how we transformed from crafters to shop-owners! We have always crafted in one way or another: be it sewing, knitting, card-making, painting, making mini photo-book gifts, etc. We travelled (and still do!) all over the North-West, seeking out new shops that stock cardmaking and scrapbooking products. Lots of brands that produce papers, ribbon, stamps, stickers, punches – some of the many items that are used in papercrafts – are American brands. Just recently, cardmaking and papercrafts has really taken off, mimicking the emerging trends of do-it-yourself and recycle. Brands are easier to find. But just a couple of years ago, we had to venture all around the North-West to find different products, and still missed out on products that did not often reach this part of the world. We were inspired to open our own shop so we could find new products, meet other crafters and share creative ideas.

The doors of our little colourful shop first opened in November 2008.

We are specifically a papercrafts shop (there are so many types of crafts, we had to start somewhere). Walk through the doors and you are greeted with all sorts of products with which to make cards, invitations, journals, artwork, scrapbooks and memory albums, wrapping paper, papery gifts….you could even make a photo frame or your own paper bunting. We stock cardstock, patterned 12×12 papers (made for scrapbookers, but can be used for all sorts). Then there are stamps and ink, paint and ribbon, decoupage and embellishments, card packs, punches, and other tools of the crafty trade.

The craft market invents and produces all sorts of products, and it is neverending. Whatever you want to make, there are products out there that will help you do the job. Punches to give your cards lace edges, endless varieties of patterned paper, instant images with wooden or acrylic stamps…I could go on. What I like about papercrafts, is that you could go out and buy a card, a gift, a cake, wedding invitations. Anyone can do that. Making your own requires time and care, but it’s such a great feeling. Giving that handmade gift and receiving that appreciation, it’s fab. Even if you just decorate the gift bag, or make a little card, the little things matter.

We offer workshops for cardmaking, stamping and embossing, altered art, mini books, papercrafts, and scrapbooking. We try to think outside the box, teaching how to make items, not just cards, and how to use a variety of materials. We have just begun a Crafty Gathering,every 2nd Friday and 4th Saturday of the Month: for a small entry charge, you can bring a crafty project, and sit and craft and chat. It’s within a crafty environment so there’s inspiration, plus there’s refreshments and tools out to use.

A snapshot of our upcoming classes are: Hearts and Flowers cardmaking, Altered beeswax journal, and a Heart-themed Papercraft day.

Last but not least, every couple of months, we hold open evenings for the crafty community to come and visit the shop, see new products and classes, with demonstrations and 10% off all products.