For as long as I can remember, I have been crafty! My Nanna was crafty, my Mum is crafty and now my kids are crafty!

You will have seen on Instagram some of my projects (I am especially proud of the Alegría and Isaac’s Santa sacks)! It is my aim to start sharing tutorials with you so that you can do simple (and not so simple) creative projects with your children at home and on the road.

Spotlight and Kids Business invited us to a VIP event specifically for bloggers recently to introduce us to some exciting crafting trends as well as to celebrate Spotlight National Craft Month which is happening throughout the entire month of April 2016.

Spotlight is an amazing place to unleash your creativity! They provide their customers with do-it-yourself supplies and know-how to learn new skills and techniques in sewing, baking, craft and dressmaking.

During the event, we enjoyed new product previews, live demonstrations and interactive workshops hosted by some amazing presenters.

The guest speaker was Pip Lincolne from Meet Me at Mikes who spoke about her new book “Craft for the Soul- How to get the most of your creative life” and the benefits of crafting for wellbeing. I loved Pip’s analogy of families crafting together from an excerpt from “Little House on the Prairie” , I fondly remember my childhood connection to craft.

It was fantastic to go around the room, from table to table, meeting the presenters and doing hands-on activities. The creative buzz within the room was palpable!

Trixi Symonds (www.colouredbuttons.com) demonstrated easy sewing projects for kids – and I loved it! I made a felt toy and the kids have already put in their orders for a giraffe, elephant and tiger … best I get the felt and buttons out now!

Zorrato Designs demonstrated Wilton Colour Right, Colour Swirl and Treatology systems and I fell in love! I love cake decorating and now I know how to do the perfect triple swirl on top of a cupcake!

Carla Hackett (www.carlahackett.com) showcased hand lettering techniques and the new Heidi Swapp Mini Mic Machine. So pretty!

Rachel Burke (www.imakeyouwearit.com) demonstrated pom-pom making techniques using a horse-shoe shaped cutout as opposed to the traditional “donut” cutout we all learned as children! Rachel’s “Apomogies”- the art of saying you’re sorry with a pom-pom are fantastic!

Alyce Keegan (www.kitandclowder.com) – Alyce is the Australian Craft Educator of the Year and 2015 Australian Small Business of the Year finalist and teaches over 9,000 people her colouring techniques for skin, hair and clothing and paper crafting. She is very talented – me, well … I have some practice to do!

If you would like to get involved, there will be two key in-store events taking place at all Spotlight stores: