Craft Guides | UKCraftFairs

Ceramics and glass crafts

Glass
Glass is a hard, brittle substance, which can be made in different colours, with varying levels of transparency and ...

Glass beadmaking and lampwork
Glass bead making employs a glass making technique called Lampworking. This technique involves using a torch flame ...

Mosaic
By arranging small pieces of tile, glass, stone and other materials, decorative mosaic pictures and patterns can be ...

Pottery and ceramics
Ceramics are objects such as cups, vases, plates, tiles or figures made from clay which has been heated to make it ...

Stained glass
Stained or coloured glass, often used in architecture and sculptural was popularised in the 19th century during the ...

Fibre and textile crafts

Clothing
Clothes are items worn as body covering, which are made from a variety of materials and as well as protecting the wearer ...

Fabric Printing
Fabric printing can brighten up a plain piece of clothing such as a shirt. It could also be used to decorate soft furnishings ...

Felting
Handmade felting is a traditional craft that involves matting, condensing, and pressing fibers together to create a ...

Lace making
Handmade lace making is a traditional craft in the UK that involves creating intricate designs using needle and thread. ...

Macrame
Macrame is a type of textile in which cords of materials such as cotton or leather are knotted together, to form items ...

Millinery
Millinery is the creation of hats and headpieces from design to manufacturing. A person that makes hats is called a ...

Rug making
Rug making involves the production of floor coverings from materials such as wool, using a variety of tools and techniques ...

Spinning
Spinning is a process in which natural fibres or synthetic fibres are drawn out and then twisted together to produce ...

Textiles
Textiles are materials that have been woven together, using a variety of processes, from natural or artificial fibres. ...

Weaving
Weaving is the interlacing of separate threads of materials such as wool, cotton or silk at right angles to each other ...

Wheat Weaving
Wheat weaving is a traditional folk art of plaiting stalks of wheat or other grains into decorative items, such as ...

Fine Art

Art
Art describes objects valued and appreciated for their aesthetic qualities and expression of human ideas and emotions, ...

Assemblage
Assemblage is an art form in which found objects or gatherings are combined to create three-dimensional works of art ...

Calligraphy
The art of decorative handwriting. The word calligraphy comes from ancient Greek and means beautiful writing. A calligrapher, ...

Collage and decollage
Collage is a visual art form, where pieces of other images are grouped together to create a new piece of art. Collage ...

Installation Art
Installation art involves the composition of various media and objects within a space such as an art gallery. They ...

Painting
Painting is a visual art form, in which a substance such as coloured paint or pigment is applied to a surface such ...

Photography
Photography is a process in which images are captured using a camera to record light, traditionally on photographic ...

Polymer Clay
Similar to traditional clay but cures at lower temperatures and does not include clay particle. The polymer clay is ...

Printmaking
Printmaking is the printing of pictures, generally onto paper, each of which are regarded as being an original art ...

Sculpture
Sculpture is a visual art form in which the chosen material is worked using suitable tools and techniques, to create ...

Flower crafts

Floral design
Floral design involves the creation of attractive and harmonious displays of plants such as flowers for decorative ...

Flower bouquet
Flower bouquets are a composition of flowers chosen for their aesthetic values or symbolic meaning and often displayed ...

Ikebana
Ikebana is the arranging of flowers which considers the shape and form of the whole plant, including the leaves and ...

Food crafts

Catering
Catering describes the provision of food (sweet or savory) and associated services, by a business for consumption by ...

Confectionery
Confectionery is a collective name for food made with a high sugar content like sweets, chocolates, fudge, cakes and ...

Preserves
Jam, pickles and chutney preserves are made from fruit and vegetables that are mixed with sugar and pectin. In jam ...

Leather work

Leather Carving
Leather carving is a specialised form of leather crafting that involves creating intricate designs and patterns on ...

Leather Crafting
Leather crafting is a traditional and popular craft in the UK, enjoyed by many for its versatility and timeless appeal. ...

Literature

Fiction
Fiction is a creative piece of written work which is untrue and usually describes imaginary events and people. It is ...

Illustration
An illustration is a picture in a book, magazine or newspaper that decorates or clarifies text and helps the reader ...

Nonfiction
Nonfiction is literature which is based on true events offering opinions or conjectures upon facts and reality. It ...

Poetry
The word poetry originates from the Greek word poiesis which means making. It is a literary art form which uses language ...

Metal crafts

Blacksmithing
Blacksmithing is a traditional craft that involves the shaping of hot metal using a forge, anvil, and hammers. The ...

Casting
Casting is the pouring into a mold of liquid metal, to create objects such as bronze sculptures. You can use other ...

Clockmaking
Clockmaking involves the building and repair of clocks. A Clockmaker would also work with watches. Modern clock makers ...

Coppersmith
A coppersmith (redsmith) is someone who makes objects using copper, a metal that can be worked without the need for ...

Enamelling
Enamel is an old and widely used process which uses various techniques. It is an opaque or semi-transparent glossy ...

Etching
An etcher applies a strong acid to the surface of metal (copper, steel or zinc), by either dipping or pouring. This ...

Farrier
Farriers are skilled craftsmen who make and attach shoes to the hooves of horses. They have the ability to shoe all ...

Goldsmith
A goldsmith is someone who makes objects from gold, such as jewellery.

Jewellery
Jewellery is a collective term for items such as rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces worn as decoration and made ...

Metal Clay
With metal clay (gold, silver, copper, bronze, brass or steel) crafts people model jewellery or small sculptures. The ...

Pewter
Pewter is an alloy composed primarily of tin, with a small percentage of hardeners such as copper, lead, bismuth and antimony.

Silversmith
A Silversmith makes hollowware (bowls, vases, urn etc) from sheet silver.

Tinsmith
Tinsmiths make or repair products made of tin. They are also known as white smiths because they work with light coloured ...

Wirework Jewellery
Wirework jewellery can be made by hand shaping soft metals such as silver in wire form, into necklaces, bracelets and ...

Wrought Iron
Wrought iron has a low carbon content, that allows it to be worked using processes such as forging and welding. It ...

Mixed media

Beads
Beads are small, shaped, often colourful pieces of a material such as glass, plastic or wood that can be strung together ...

Boxes
Covering all forms of handmade containers. Boxes of all shapes and sizes can be created from many different materials, ...

Digital
Arts and crafts specifically relating to the use of modem digital technologies and techniques. This is the use of modern ...

Fashion Accessories
Fashion accessories are worn to complement clothing and include items such as handbags, purses, shoes, scarves, jewellery, ...

General Crafts
The general crafts page is a catch all for multiple craft types.

Health and Beauty
The UKs health and beauty industry is valued at around £17 billion and employs more than one million nationwide. Growing ...

Home and Garden
Home and garden refers to a range of crafted goods which can be used for practical or decorative purposes within the ...

Interior Design
Interior design is the planned use and layout of objects and materials within the spaces of a building to create an ...

Musical Instruments
The design, hand making and repair of musical instruments. Often these instruments can be custom made to your own requirements.

Printing
Printing involves the use of a variety of tools and techniques to reproduce pictures and text using inks applied to ...

Recycled
Upcycling, Downcycling or Recycling. The up in Upcycle means to improve, taking an item and reusing it to make something ...

Soap
The process of making handmade soap is called saponification, which can be cold, hot or continuous.

Needlework

Applique
Handmade applique is a traditional craft in the UK, where fabric pieces are meticulously hand-stitched onto a base ...

Crewel embroidery
Wool is used to create a decorative surface layer using various embroidery stitches. Crewel embroidery also know as ...

Crochet
The word crochet derives from the French word for hook and the craft of crocheting involves the creation of fabric ...

Cross stitch
The cross in cross-stitch relates to the x-shaped stitching used in this popular form of embroidery. The stitches are ...

Embroidery
Embroidery is a traditional textile handicraft using a needle and thread or yarn to decorate fabrics with stylised ...

Knitting
Knitting is the process of inter-twinning wool to create cloths or other knitted items.

Needlepoint
Tent (continental, basket weave or half cross) stitch needle work covering fabric to create a picture.

Patchwork
Patchwork is a crafting technique that involves sewing together pieces of fabric to create a larger, decorative item ...

Quilting
Quilting means to create layers, often for keeping out the cold.

Sewing
Stitching together materials with thread. Sewing is a major part of many other crafts.

Stumpwork
Stumpwork is a sewing technique, also known as raised embroidery or 3D embroidery, where the stitches are made in such ...

Paper crafts

Bookbinding
Bookbinding is a traditional craft that involves the process of creating books, journals, and other bound materials. ...

Cardmaking
Cards are a popular way for people to share their thoughts and feelings with friends, relatives or colleagues on special ...

Decoupage
Decoupage is an art form that involves cutting and gluing paper cutouts onto an object to decorate and enhance its ...

Iris folding
Handmade iris folding is a popular papercraft technique in the UK, where folded strips of coloured paper are arranged ...

Origami
Origami is the art of paper (kami) folding (ori).

Paper embossing
Creating patterns in paper by compressing or raising or sinking an image on to paper. This created a three dimensional ...

Paper Embroidery
The craft of writing and drawing with embroidery threads on paper and card, to create beautiful, unique and contemporary ...

Paper Goods
This is a catch all for people that make using paper.

Paper marbling
The art of creating uniquely paper designs by transferring water based paint patterns onto papers.

Paper model
Paper models are made from thick paper or card, onto which have been printed images which when cut, folded and glued ...

Papercutting
A paper craft that involves the cutting of paper into designs.

Papermaking
Although most paper these days is mas-produced you can still find specialist makers of unique papers.

Papier mache
Papier mache is a low-cost and versatile art material made by combining paper strips or pulverised paper with a wet ...

Parchment craft
Parchment craft is the working of suitable paper using a range of tools and techniques to create pictures with an often ...

Quilling
Quilling is a decorative art in which paper can be used to make pieces such as flowers, birds or animals. Narrow strips ...

Scrapbooking
The creation of scrap books involves putting together pictures, articles, clippings and other things of interest. Scrapbooking ...

Stationery
Stationery is the range of products used in written communication, such as pens, pencils, paper, cards and envelopes.

Performing arts

Dance
Dance is the art of movement, by a person or group of people. There are many forms of popular dance like ballet, modern, ...

Music
Musicians and composers

Theatre
Stage actors and the arts and crafts of theatre life.

Stone crafts

Knapping
Knapping is the use of hand tools to shape stones such as flint, through pressure flaking to produce objects such as ...

Letter carving on stone
Letter carving on stone involves the skilled use of tools and calligraphy to carve letters and numbers in a chosen ...

Stone carving
A stone carver will take a rough natural piece of stone and by a process of removing materials, create a sculptural ...

Stone Mosaic
Stone mosaic involves the use of pieces of stone, which can be cut into tiles, to create patterns or pictures and could ...

Stonemasonry
The craft of working stone into beautiful sculpture or architecturally geometric shapes.

Toys Games and Collectables

Automata
One of the worlds most treasured and popular ideas. This guide will take you through the ins and outs of automata creation. ...

Dolls
Dolls are toys designed to resemble people. Many different materials can be used both for the main structure of the ...

Puppets
Puppets are the original form of childrens entertainment. In the hands of a skilled manipulator, puppets can come alive ...

Teddy Bears
Handmade teddy bears are a traditional and beloved toy in the United Kingdom. Crafted with care and attention to detail, ...

Toys and Games
Toys have been the loyal companion of every child and big kid for thousands of years. They never let you down and people ...

Wax crafts

Candles
Candles are blocks of wax into which have been set a wick, generally a length of cotton string, that when lit to give ...

Encaustic art
Encaustic means to burn in and is a technique used to create hot wax paintings The heat turns the wax into a solvent ...

Wood and furniture crafts

Cabinet making
Cabinet making in the UK is renowned for its intricate craftsmanship and traditional techniques. With a rich history ...

Carpentry
The skilled carperter can create many things in wood, chairs, tables etc.

Furniture
Furniture describes products made from materials including wood and metal, such as chairs, tables and beds which are ...

Intarsia
Intarsia is a traditional UK woodworking technique where different coloured and textured woods are used to create intricate ...

Marquetry
Marquetry involves the addition of decoration, in the form of pictures or designs made up of pieces of veneer, often to furniture.

Pyrography
Burning the surface of wood to create a pattern or picture.

Upholstery
Upholstery involves the use of various materials (leathers and textiles) to provide covering and padding for furniture, ...

Willow weaving
Willow is a natural pliable material for creating long lasting and often beautiful pieces of furniture, baskets, decorating ...

Wood
Wood has long been used to produce a wide range of both practical and decorative objects and is a popular material ...

Wood carving
Handmade wood carving is a traditional and highly skilled craft in the UK, where artisans use hand tools to create ...

Wood turning
Handmade wood turning is a traditional craft technique in the UK where artisans use a lathe to shape wooden objects ...

Arts & Crafts Be inspired to be creative