I agree, Jacqui - a lot has changed since I first started crafting. For instance, I remember carefully measuring card before scoring it with the back of a pair of scissors and folding it - no scoreboards around then! But, boy, was I glad when the first scoreboard arrived as it freed up more time for the artistic side of crafting.

I love the contraptions which save time so that I can get on with the imaginative side of crafting. However, I guess it is a personal preference - some love spending hours cutting out decoupage, for example, whilst others prefer it ready die cut. You mentioned foiling, and I must admit I love it - I never cease to get a kick out of seeing something coming out of my laminator perfectly foiled and knowing that I've created it myself. Same goes with machine embossing and die cutting. I think it is the putting it all together to make something nice (I hope - lol!) that enables me to say it is hand crafted. The ones I've seen in the shops which say 'hand crafted' usually consist of just a couple of bits stuck onto the main printed card - not a lot of skill and effort there!

Having said all that, there's still something satisfying in 'getting back to basics' sometimes, and perhaps we're in danger of forgetting the original old skills which we once used so much.

So, in my view, whatever we do at home and however it is achieved, it is still hand crafting.

Sue xxx

Crafting is now big industry, and the manufacturers have jumped on the bandwagon of making bigger and better machines and accessories of all kinds to tempt us all. How many times have we seen something on, say, C&C and thought "I've just got to have that!". In this, I guess I'm as guilty as the next person (finances permitting of course).