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This article was written by Michelle G Brown, Creative Director at Mixed Media Art

I can’t remember now how I came across the Craft Test Dummies website in internet-land but I was certainly captivated by the simple product reviews and tutorials that the Craft Test team were undertaking. I loved seeing markers used on different papers, inks used across different mediums and interesting and unusual ways to make cards and other craft projects. I was so intrigued by the work that Jenny and her team do that I wanted to know the behind-the scenes details of this remarkable website. So, with the wonders of the internet, I reached out to the women-behind-the-website, Jenny Barnett Rohrs and we had a great Skype chat, all about life, crafting and mixed media art.

Craft Test Dummies started from humble beginnings in 2008. Jenny had an extensive crafting background, and along with her background as a cognitive behavioural therapist, wanted to get into the details of the “why”s and “how”s of crafting products. She wanted to know which markers were suitable to include on her fabric quilts and how long should this adhesive take to dry. After searching for these answers online , Jenny realised that there wasn’t anyone consistently reviewing the products with transparency and honesty. So Jenny set out to review these products on our behalf and share them via her website, in a fun way – like talking with a best friend or sister, not as a consumer report.

And so the Craft Test Dummies website was started and has been steadily growing and attracting like minded people who what to play, create and answer questions – to be our online craft mentors. Jenny now has four other “Testers”, all volunteers.

The key to the Craft Test Dummies success is their two key principles:-  “we are provided product to review, but the review will be honest first, and helpful second” Jenny says “our audience can smell a fake and we will turn stuff down if it’s not right for the blog”. Not only does Jenny and her Testers tell us about what these products can do, they also provide feedback to the manufacturing companies if there are problems with the product, like one coloured marker tends to dry out before the others, or if measurements in instructions are incorrect.

“You need to believe in what you are doing”,  Jenny continues – and we can see how her passion for all things crafting shines through.

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As with every working mother, Jenny juggles her family and business; having a supportive partner helps and the family understanding that CTD is a business and needs time to support it. Jenny is lucky to have a third floor studio, like a mini apartment, complete with bathroom but minus the computer and internet access. Her day starts with some exercise and the morning focusses on the writing and social media side of CTD. After lunch, until the kids come home from school, it’s crafting time. Jenny enjoys a range of craft and will “play with anything”.

“Paint, mist, stencil, draw, Zentangles – what ever is at hand”, Jenny says with a laugh. “I taught myself how to quilt. It’s like free drawing, not the patterns or matching prints, but quilting on newspapers, and up-cycling and painting with fabric”.

With a professional background in music therapy, painting found objects became a collision of her two worlds. Jenny started painting guitars and drums, and then moved into making her own drums and decorating them.

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When asked whether social media is a blessing or a curse, Jenny laughs. “I just marvel at the wonders of the internet,” she says. “It wasn’t around 10 years ago and look at what we can do with it now”. Jenny finds that each social media channel (Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Youtube, Pinterest) all have their own personality and following. Being a social person and an extrovert, Jenny loves keeping in touch with the crafting community and it helps to offset the potential loneliness with working form home.

We discussed the rise of the popularity around the mixed media art movement. We note that scrapbooking seems to be in decline but crafters are moving towards pocket journals and other transportable art forms, including all sorts of media. “I’m so pleased to see the “product vomit”approach to scrapbooking slip away; this doesn’t tell a story” Jenny comments. ” We want to use our personal style”, she continues “Long live mixed media” Hear, hear, we all say!

Jenny reminds us that we are all creative and craft is everywhere. We need to know our products and be confident with the tools and materials we do have, so we can create without restrictions. and if you need a “quick craft fix”, Jenny tells us you can’t go past making a handful of greeting cards. Jenny donates cards to Operation Write Home every year and uses the extra materials from product reviews to make the cards.

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The Craft Test Dummies meet up each year for their Winter assault at the Craft and Hobbies Association show in January 2014. Jenny and her team were on the look out for the latest crafting trends and you can find their reviews at Craft Test Dummies: CHA 2014 New Product Recap

I had a chance to catch up with Jenny and two of her team members at CHA – we FINALLY caught up on the last day and had so much to share. I have a definite feeling that the Craft Test Dummies and the Mixed Media Art team will be collaborating on a project in the near future!

Until then, you can read and see more of Jenny at:

Craft Test Dummies on Facebook

Craft Test Dummies on Pinterst

To see Jenny in all of her crafting glory, watch her here with Julie Fei-Fan Balzer on Scrapbook Soup TV

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Michelle G. Brown is passionate about mixed media art and enjoys sharing her knowledge and techniques with you to allow you to express your own creativity. Michelle understands that many of us have an inner need to create. By learning a few basic techniques the amazing world of mixed media art is accessible to everyone!

You can see more of Michelle’s work at Mixed Media Art or via Facebook – Creating Mixed Media Art

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